Matrify

Matrify is a configurable database for people and teams who need structured records they can link, search, and share. It is a stronger fit for information management than for spreadsheet work: there are no formulas for calculations.

Overview

Users can build tables for information such as customers, products, assets, or action items, choosing field types to suit the records. Links between records and tables, alongside validation rules and constraints, give the data more structure than a set of disconnected lists. That makes Matrify worth considering for shared tracking, but users who rely on in-table calculations should look elsewhere.

Key features

Tables can include text, date, number, image, video, and comment fields. Multi-column search and shareable filters help users find and present relevant records, while table permissions let collaborators have different levels of access. These tools support shared information management without requiring every participant to have identical privileges.

CSV import and export support moving data in and out, and Matrify stores its database natively as XML. Its RESTful API can read, write, delete, and query data, which gives teams a route to build their own automations and connections. The maker does not name specific integrations, so organizations seeking ready-made connectors should not assume they are available.

Hosting is flexible: teams can use cloud hosting on Amazon AWS, with a server dedicated to each team, or install the server software themselves. For self-hosted deployments, SSL/TLS encryption and IP access restrictions can be configured, but secure installation remains the user's responsibility. That option gives organizations control over deployment, while also making security configuration an operational obligation.

Pricing

The free Standard License costs nothing and allows up to 300 records and 3 users. It is a useful starting point for a small personal or team database, but the record cap makes it a constrained choice for growing collections.

The 1–10-user Starter annual license costs $10 a year and includes maintenance; the perpetual license costs $20, paid once and includes one free year of maintenance. These are low-cost steps beyond the free tier for small teams, with the perpetual option trading a one-time payment for maintenance included only in its first year.

For larger teams, annual licenses cost $500 a year for 11–15 users, $1,000 a year for 16–25 users, $2,000 a year for 26–50 users, and $4,000 a year for 51–100 users; each includes maintenance. Perpetual licenses cost $1,000, paid once for 11–15 users, $2,000, paid once for 16–25 users, and $4,000, paid once for 26–50 users, each including one free year of maintenance. Teams should weigh the higher upfront perpetual fees against the annual renewal model, and note that a perpetual tier is not offered for the 51–100-user band.

Platforms

Matrify supports web, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows, as well as API access and self-hosted deployment. The maker lists Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer compatibility; the server runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows.

Who it's for

Matrify can serve corporations, organizations, and private users who need configurable tables, linked records, controlled sharing, and API access. It is best suited to teams comfortable with structured data and, for self-hosting, taking responsibility for installation security. It is a poor fit when calculations are central or when a small team expects to outgrow the free plan's 300-record ceiling quickly.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Linked records, validation rules, and constraints help keep related information structured and consistent.
• Pros: Table permissions, shareable filters, and multi-column search support collaboration without giving every user the same view or access.
• Pros: Cloud and self-hosted options, CSV transfer, and a RESTful API allow different deployment and data-workflow approaches.
• Cons: No formula calculations, so teams needing spreadsheet-like computed fields will need another tool or workflow.
• Cons: The free plan stops at 300 records and 3 users, limiting its usefulness as a long-term home for expanding datasets.
• Cons: Self-hosted users must secure the installation themselves, and integrations require API-based work rather than a named ready-made connector.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see No-Code Database Software. Lark is worth comparing for teams drawn to a free 20-user Starter plan with 100 GB of storage, 18 months of message history, and 1,000 automations per month. Ninox may suit a small team that values a larger free record allowance: its free tier supports up to 5 users and 5,000 records, alongside 100 MB storage and 1,000 API calls per month.

Saltcorn is an option for users seeking a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted open-source platform with no per-seat fee. Airtable may be a better fit for teams that need a 50,000-record-per-base Team plan and 100,000 API calls per workspace per month, priced at $20 a month billed annually. Grist is worth considering when unlimited documents and up to 5,000 records per document on a free plan matter more than Matrify's deployment choices.

Memento Database offers a free tier with unlimited entries and 100 MB of cloud storage, making it an alternative for users prioritizing those allowances. Stackby may appeal to teams wanting a free plan with 20 stacks and 1,500 rows per stack, alongside 5 editors and 50 read-only users. NocoBase is another freemium option for users looking for a community edition with unlimited applications, users, and data volume.

Verdict

Choose Matrify for linked, permission-controlled tables when you want the choice of team-specific AWS hosting or self-hosting and can work without formulas. Its low-cost small-team licenses and API make it practical for structured tracking, but calculation-heavy workflows, a rapidly growing free-tier dataset, or self-hosting without security ownership are good reasons to choose another tool.