Comparison
ScratchBoard vs NocoDB
Open-source database UI for any SQL backend
TL;DR
NocoDB provides a clean spreadsheet UI on top of any database. ScratchBoard goes beyond the database layer with workflow automation, customer portals, marketplace apps, and enterprise features that power complete business operations.
Feature comparison
| Feature | NocoDB | ScratchBoard |
|---|---|---|
| AI App Builder | AI agent builds complete apps | |
| Business App Templates | Ready-to-use business app templates | |
| Customer Portals with Checkout | Built-in with Stripe checkout | |
| Workflow Automation | Webhooks + basic hooks | 20+ action types, approvals, AI actions |
| Field-Level Permissions | Basic roles | 70+ permissions with field-level control |
| Dynamic Entity Engine | UI layer on existing DBs | 24 field types, no migrations |
| Vector Search / Semantic AI | Built-in semantic search | |
| Pricing Model | Free (self-hosted) | Affordable plans available |
Where ScratchBoard wins
- Full business application platform with app building capabilities
- AI agent that builds complete apps from a conversation
- Customer portals with Stripe checkout for end-user transactions
- 20+ workflow action types for automating business processes
- Unified platform where all apps share data through a single entity engine
NocoDB's strengths
- Spreadsheet UI on top of MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and more
- REST and GraphQL API auto-generation
- Self-hosted with full data control and no vendor lock-in
- Lightweight deployment with minimal resource requirements
When to choose NocoDB
Choose NocoDB if you want a free, self-hosted spreadsheet UI on top of your existing database and do not need workflows or portals.
When to choose ScratchBoard
Choose ScratchBoard if you need a full business platform with application building, workflow automation, customer portals, and a marketplace.
Ready to try ScratchBoard?
Start with our $1/month Basic plan and see for yourself how ScratchBoard compares.