Ninox

Overview

Ninox is a configurable business-app platform for teams that need to shape data and processes around their work. It is strongest for organizations willing to build and manage their own workflows; the free tier is a low-risk starting point, but its storage and record ceilings are tight for ongoing use.

Its range covers sales, orders, inventory, projects, HR, patient records, and care, with relational data, automation, collaboration, and document tools in the same platform. That breadth can suit teams replacing scattered process-specific tools, but it asks them to design the system rather than simply adopt a ready-made app.

Ninox was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Berlin. The company says it serves individuals through large enterprises, with more than 5,000 customers and over 100 partner companies. It belongs among No-Code Database Software, No-Code Development Platforms, and No-code app builders.

Key features

• AI-assisted low-code building: Users can describe a need in plain language, then organize data, set business logic, create interfaces, and automate processes with AI and low-code tools. This gives process owners a route from an idea to a tailored app, though it still requires decisions about how the app should work.
• Relational data and permissions: Relational data support and role-based permissions suit connected business records and controlled access. Change history and local database backups add useful oversight and recovery options.
• Workflow automation: Event triggers, conditions, and scripting can automate business processes. The scripting option offers flexibility for specific rules, while making the platform a less obvious fit for teams seeking only a simple, fixed workflow.
• Documents and collaboration: Teams can collaborate in real time and generate, email, share, print, or export documents including contracts, invoices, and reports. This connects operational records with routine business paperwork.
• Integrations and API: Ninox connects with Zapier, Make, and n8n and provides a public REST API, giving teams ways to connect workflows with other systems.
• Security and privacy: Ninox says it is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, hosts on AWS servers in Germany, and encrypts data at rest and in transit. It also provides GDPR-compliant processing agreements with hosting and technology partners. These controls will matter to teams handling sensitive records, but do not remove the need to assess their own compliance requirements.

Pricing

Ninox uses a freemium model, with paid prices excluding VAT. The Free plan costs nothing and remains available indefinitely for up to five users, without a trial period or expiry. It includes 100 MB storage, 5,000 records, 1,000 API calls per month, 100 generated documents per month, and seven-day history. That makes it useful for a small team evaluating a workflow, but the storage and record limits constrain its use as a growing operational database.

Team costs €25 a month, billed annually. It raises capacity to 5 GB storage per user, 50,000 records per user, 10,000 API calls per user per month, 1,000 documents per user per month, and 30-day history. For teams moving beyond a prototype, its per-user allowances provide room to grow, though the annual billing commitment and VAT exclusion affect the real cost.

Business costs €40 a month, billed annually. It includes 10 GB storage and 250,000 records per user, 50,000 API calls per user per month, 5,000 documents per user per month, and unlimited history. It fits busier teams that need higher per-user quotas and a complete history, at a substantial step up from Team.

Enterprise has custom pricing and offers custom solutions, security, governance, compliance, dedicated support, and expert assistance. Individual email support is included on paid plans, with premium support for Enterprise. Ninox provides documentation, tutorial videos, a forum, a Discord community, and a contact form.

Platforms

Ninox supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API, and self-hosted deployment. Its FAQ says it runs in a modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile; native iOS and Android apps are in development. Browser access gives teams broad device reach, while readers specifically seeking finished native mobile apps should weigh that distinction.

Who it's for

Ninox is a good fit for small teams and larger organizations that need custom business software for linked records, internal processes, or document-heavy work, and are prepared to configure it. Its permissions, history, automation, and security controls support more governed use cases such as HR or patient records. It is less suitable for teams that want a ready-made application, or whose needs exceed the free tier but do not justify annual paid plans.

Pros and cons

• Pro: One platform spans relational data, interfaces, automation, collaboration, and business documents, making it practical for connected processes.
• Pro: An indefinite free tier supports up to five users, so a small team can continue using a modest workflow without a trial deadline.
• Pro: Germany-based AWS hosting, encryption, permissions, change history, and backups provide meaningful security and oversight features.
• Con: The Free plan's 100 MB and 5,000-record limits can make it a proving ground rather than a durable home for expanding data.
• Con: Team and Business require annual billing, and VAT is additional, increasing the commitment beyond their monthly headline prices.
• Con: Customization is central to the product, so teams wanting a fixed-purpose tool may not benefit from its flexibility.

Alternatives

Choose Airtable instead if a freemium database is a better match and its Team plan's 50,000 records per base and 100,000 API calls per workspace per month suit the workload; it also offers a free trial.

Grist is worth considering for a free plan with unlimited documents and up to 5,000 records per document, plus a 30-day snapshot history; it also offers a free trial.

Lark may suit teams looking for a broader collaboration platform: its Starter plan lists 20 users, 100 GB storage, 18 months of message history, and 1,000 automations per month.

Consider Matrify or Memento Database as other freemium options. Ragic offers a free plan with three custom sheets, 1,000 records per sheet, and unlimited users, as well as a free trial. Saltcorn is a free option, while Stackby offers a freemium plan.

Verdict

Choose Ninox if your team needs configurable business apps that connect data, workflows, permissions, and documents, and has the capacity to shape them. Its indefinite free tier lowers the barrier to starting, while security controls and higher paid quotas support more serious use. Look elsewhere if you need a ready-made tool or cannot work within the free tier's tight limits and annual paid-plan terms.