Flashboard vs Budibase

Flashboard and Budibase solve similar problems in different ways. Budibase is an open-source low-code platform for building custom internal tools. Flashboard is an instant admin panel that auto-generates from your database schema. This page documents the differences and trade-offs to help you choose.

Quick comparison

What Flashboard does well

Instant setup, then customize. Connect your PostgreSQL database and get a working admin panel in under 2 minutes. Flashboard reads your schema and generates the interface automatically. From there, you can customize field labels, configure which columns are visible or editable, set up team permissions, define foreign key display labels, and more.

Unlimited seats on higher tiers. Flashboard's Team and Pro plans include unlimited seats, so you can add your entire team without the cost scaling per person. Budibase charges per creator plus per app user, which adds up as your team and apps grow.

CMS built in. Write and edit rich text content with a Notion-like editor. Edit images, upload files to your storage service, and manage content alongside your application data.

End-to-end credential encryption. Your database credentials are encrypted with a key only you own. Even Flashboard's team cannot access them.

Safe for non-technical users. Configure what each team can see and edit, down to the column level. Non-technical team members can work confidently without risk of breaking things or needing to learn JavaScript.

No maintenance required. Flashboard is a managed service. No servers to maintain, no updates to deploy, no infrastructure to manage. Budibase self-hosted deployments require ongoing maintenance and security patching.

What Budibase does well

Open source and self-hostable. Budibase is Apache 2.0 licensed. You can inspect the code, contribute, and run it on your own infrastructure. For organizations with strict data residency requirements or air-gapped environments, self-hosting is essential. The self-hosted free tier supports up to 20 users.

Build any internal tool. Budibase is a platform for building custom applications. Forms, portals, approval workflows, multi-step processes, custom business logic. If you can design it, you can build it with drag-and-drop components.

Multiple database support. Connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, MSSQL, Google Sheets, Snowflake, and more. Budibase works with most data sources your organization might use.

Automation workflows. Build automated workflows with triggers, conditions, and actions. Replace cron jobs and manual processes with visual automation that runs on schedule or in response to events.

Budibase AI. Use AI to help build apps faster within the Budibase platform (available on cloud plans).

ISO 27001 certified. For organizations that require specific compliance certifications, Budibase has ISO 27001. Flashboard does not currently have SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification.

Plugin ecosystem. Extend Budibase with custom components and data sources through plugins. The community contributes additional functionality you can install and use.

When to choose Flashboard

• You need an admin panel or CMS now, not in days or weeks
• You have a growing team and want predictable pricing with unlimited seats
• Non-technical team members need to manage data without learning JavaScript
• You're working exclusively with PostgreSQL
• You don't need custom workflows, forms, or app building
• You want to avoid building and maintaining internal tools

When to choose Budibase

• You need to build custom internal tools beyond basic CRUD
• You need to connect multiple database types
• Self-hosting is a requirement for your organization
• You have technical resources to build and maintain custom applications
• You need automation workflows, approval processes, or complex forms
• You want open source with community contributions and plugin support

Frequently asked questions

Is Budibase worth it for an early-stage startup?

It depends on what you need. If you need a straightforward admin panel for CRUD operations and content management, Budibase's development time and per-user pricing may not be worth it. If you need custom internal tools, automation workflows, or multi-database support that Flashboard doesn't offer, Budibase's flexibility makes sense. Many startups start with simpler tools and move to low-code platforms as their internal tooling needs grow.

What are the best Budibase alternatives?

For low-code internal tool builders: Retool, Appsmith, and Tooljet. For instant admin panels that don't require building: Flashboard and Forest Admin. The right alternative depends on whether you want to build custom tools or get something working immediately without development.

Can I use Budibase as an instant admin panel?

Budibase can create admin panels, but they aren't instant. You'll need to configure data sources, build table views, create forms, and wire up the logic. This gives you more control but takes more time. If you primarily need CRUD operations with minimal setup, dedicated admin panel tools are faster to deploy.

Should I self-host Budibase or use Flashboard?

Self-hosting Budibase makes sense if you have strict data residency requirements, need air-gapped deployment, or want to avoid recurring SaaS costs at scale. It requires infrastructure expertise and ongoing maintenance. Flashboard is managed, so there's nothing to maintain, but you're trusting a third party with your database connection (credentials are encrypted end-to-end with a key only you own).

Can I migrate from Budibase to Flashboard?

If your Budibase usage is primarily CRUD operations and basic data management on PostgreSQL, migrating to Flashboard is straightforward. Just connect your database. If you've built custom apps, workflows, or forms in Budibase, those don't have equivalents in Flashboard and would need alternative solutions. Budibase also supports databases Flashboard doesn't, so you'd be limited to PostgreSQL.

Can I migrate from Flashboard to Budibase?

Yes. Since Flashboard doesn't modify your database schema, you can connect Budibase to the same database at any time. If your needs grow beyond what Flashboard offers, transitioning to Budibase (or any other tool) is straightforward. Note that you'll need to build interfaces from scratch in Budibase, and CMS features would need a different solution.

Which is better for non-technical team members?

Flashboard is designed for users who don't know SQL or JavaScript. The interface auto-generates from your schema, and team members can search, view, and edit records without training. Budibase requires someone technical to build the interface first. Once built, the resulting application can be simple enough for non-technical users, but building it requires development skills and ongoing maintenance.

Is Budibase really free?

Budibase's Community Edition is free and open source (Apache 2.0). You can self-host it with up to 20 users without paying license fees. The cloud free tier includes up to 5 users. Paid tiers add features like unlimited users, Budibase AI, custom branding, and enterprise support. Pricing is per creator (people who build apps) plus per app user (people who use them), so costs scale with both builders and end users.

How does Budibase pricing compare to Flashboard?

Budibase charges per creator plus per app user. Flashboard charges per team with unlimited seats on higher tiers. For small teams, both have accessible entry points. As your team grows, Flashboard's unlimited seats model becomes more predictable since adding users doesn't increase costs. Budibase's model means costs scale with both the number of builders and the number of people using the apps they create.

Still not sure?

If you need an admin panel for managing data in a PostgreSQL database without building anything, try Flashboard for free. If you need to build custom internal tools with open-source flexibility and self-hosting options, explore Budibase. Both offer free tiers, so you can evaluate each without commitment.