Alternatives / AppSheet
Looking for an open source AppSheet alternative? We compared 4 open source low-code platforms for internal tools by license, data sources, and maintenance. Appsmith and Budibase are the closest, Refine is code-first, and NocoBase has a custom license.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Appsmith | Drag-and-drop internal tools | Apache-2.0 |
| Refine | React framework for admin panels | MIT |
| Budibase | Business apps from many data sources | GPL-3.0 + MPL-2.0 client libraries |
| NocoBase | Extensible no-code platform | NocoBase License (Apache-based) |
We looked for open-source tools that build business apps from data like AppSheet. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and self-hosting in its repository. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Appsmith is a low-code platform for internal tools with a drag-and-drop UI, prebuilt widgets, many integrations, and role-based access control. Budibase connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and others with automation and JavaScript extensibility.
Refine is a React framework for admin panels with data providers, authentication, and automatic CRUD, so it is less no-code. NocoBase is a no-code platform with customizable data models, workflows, and a plugin system.
NocoBase uses its own license based on Apache, so check the terms. Budibase is GPL-3.0 with MPL client libraries.
Appsmith is Apache-2.0. Refine is MIT. Budibase is GPL-3.0 with MPL-2.0 client libraries. NocoBase uses the NocoBase License.
All four had commits within days of this update.
AppSheet is a proprietary Google product priced per user and tied to Google Workspace. Open-source platforms are free to self-host and connect to many databases, but need more setup than a spreadsheet-based builder.
Appsmith is an Apache-2.0 low-code platform for building internal tools, admin panels, and dashboards with a drag-and-drop interface, many database and API integrations, and customizable workflows. It can be self-hosted or used in the Appsmith cloud, with paid plans for advanced and enterprise features.
Pricing: Free to self-host; cloud and enterprise plans are paid.
Refine is an MIT-licensed React meta-framework for building admin panels, internal tools, and data-heavy applications in code, with connectors for many backends and UI libraries. It requires coding in React, and its last commit was in September 2026.
Pricing: Free and open source; a paid enterprise offering exists.
Budibase is a low-code platform for building custom business web apps on top of your own data, with data integrations, automations, and self-hosting. The platform is licensed GPL-3.0 and its client and component libraries are MPL-2.0, so the apps you build are not themselves subject to the GPL. Paid cloud and enterprise plans add features.
Pricing: Free to self-host; cloud and enterprise plans are paid.
Build CRM, ERP, approval, and back-office applications using visual data modeling, workflows, permissions, plugins, and AI-assisted development. Its license adds restrictions to Apache-2.0.
Pricing: Self-hosted options; commercial licensing applies to restricted uses and features.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appsmith | Low-code platform | Apache-2.0 | Yes | Closest replacement |
| Refine | React framework | MIT | In your app | Developers |
| Budibase | Low-code platform | GPL-3.0 + MPL-2.0 | Yes | Business apps |
| NocoBase | No-code platform | NocoBase License | Yes | Custom business systems |
Want drag-and-drop internal tools
Appsmith has prebuilt widgets, integrations, and role-based access control.
Want to build with React
Refine is MIT with data providers and automatic CRUD.
Want a plugin-based no-code system
NocoBase offers custom data models and workflows under its own license.