Saltcorn

Saltcorn is an open-source platform for building database-backed apps, suited to power users, developers and organizations that want to shape software around their own processes. Its visual builders and deployment flexibility are compelling; production use calls for your own hosting or a paid hosting option.

Overview

Saltcorn combines relational data, interfaces and workflows in one app-building platform. It can serve internal databases, approval and compliance tools, customer or staff portals, reservations, payments and legacy replacements. That range makes it worth considering when an organization needs custom operational software rather than a fixed-purpose app. The trade-off is that building and deploying the resulting system still requires technical ownership.

The MIT-licensed platform has no licence fee or per-seat cost. Saltcorn Collective Ltd, its UK-based original developer, also offers build, support, training and enhancement services, aiming to respond to enquiries within two working days.

Key features

Visual drag-and-drop builders cover relational tables, forms, dashboards, portals and workflows. This breadth lets teams connect their data and day-to-day processes in one application, though the flexibility puts responsibility on the builder to design and maintain that application.

Saltcorn runs on PostgreSQL or SQLite and includes a JSON REST API for other systems to read and write data. Its plugin store offers extensions such as Apple Pay, CalDAV, CAPTCHA, charts and AI agents; plugins can also add data types, views and themes. That makes it adaptable to varied projects, but access control has a clear ceiling: its ordered public, staff, user and admin roles cannot express department-specific rules. Organizations that need those distinctions should not assume the role model will meet their requirements.

Apps can be packaged for iOS and Android, with offline use supported through local SQLite storage and later synchronization. Deployment options include Docker, Kubernetes, npm, marketplace templates, desktop use and air-gapped self-hosting. Self-hosted instances make no telemetry calls, and Saltcorn can run fully offline behind a firewall. These choices suit teams with deployment and privacy constraints, but self-hosting also means taking responsibility for operating the platform.

Pricing

The Saltcorn open-source platform costs free under the MIT licence, with no per-seat fee, and is self-hosted. It suits technical users who can run their own instance; the price does not include managed operations.

Saltcorn free evaluation hosting is also free, but it is a shared instance for evaluation only. It has no availability or security guarantee and weak tenant isolation, so it is not appropriate for production or real data.

DigitalOcean marketplace deployment starts at $6 a month, billed from approximately $6 per month, with a one-click droplet and database included. It offers a simpler deployment path while leaving the instance on a marketplace droplet.

Managed hosting via Elestio starts at $16 a month, billed from about $16 per month. It includes a dedicated VM, managed installation, TLS/SSL, encryption, backups, monitoring and updates. This is the more suitable route for teams wanting hosting operations covered, though it carries a monthly charge rather than the free self-hosted platform.

Platforms

Saltcorn supports web, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows, as well as API access and self-hosted deployment. Mobile packaging and offline synchronization broaden its reach beyond browser-based use, while air-gapped deployment serves environments that cannot rely on internet connectivity.

Who it's for

Saltcorn is a strong fit for individual power users, developers, agencies, growing companies, enterprises and local government seeking custom database applications and able to manage deployment or choose managed hosting. It is less suitable for teams that need department-specific permissions or expect the free shared instance to protect production data.

Pros and cons

• Pros: No licence or per-seat fee for the MIT-licensed self-hosted platform, making it an option for teams building many internal users into custom applications.
• Pros: Visual builders, API access and extensible plugins bring data, interfaces and integrations into one platform.
• Pros: Offline mobile use, air-gapped operation and no telemetry calls from self-hosted instances suit privacy-conscious or restricted environments.
• Cons: Self-hosting requires operational responsibility; the free shared host is explicitly unsuitable for production and real data.
• Cons: The role system cannot set department-specific access, limiting its fit for organizations that need fine-grained internal permissions.

Alternatives

For broader comparisons, see No-Code Development Platforms, No-Code Database Software and No-code app builders.

Ninox is worth considering when a defined free allowance is preferable: its free plan supports up to five users, 100 MB of storage, 5,000 records and 1,000 API calls per month. FlutterFlow is an alternative for app-building projects where its free tier's limits of two projects, 10 Lite credits, five lifetime AI requests and two API endpoints fit the work.

Adalo may suit builders who want a free build-and-test plan capped at 500 records per app and one app editor, with unlimited test apps. Bubble offers another free web and mobile option, with one app editor, 50K workload units per month and six hours of server logs.

MIT App Inventor is a free educational platform for building Android and iOS apps. Noloco is an alternative with a free allowance of unlimited team seats, 50 active clients, 2,000 records and 30 AI credits per month.

Ragic offers a free plan with three custom sheets, 1,000 records per sheet, unlimited users and 10 GB of upload storage. Retool is another option with a free plan and a paid Team plan.

Verdict

Choose Saltcorn if you want to build custom database applications with visual tools and value deployment control, offline options and no per-seat licence cost. Its strongest case is flexibility for teams willing to own the platform; look elsewhere if you need department-specific permissions or production guarantees from the free shared host.