NocoDB vs Zoho Projects: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of NocoDB and Zoho Projects to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
NocoDB
6.7/10
NocoDB is a source-available, Airtable-style no-code database that puts spreadsheet views and APIs on top of SQL databases, available as cloud or self-hosted software.
Zoho Projects
7.3/10
Cloud project management software with tasks, Gantt charts, timesheets, issue tracking and automation, built for small and mid-sized teams using the Zoho suite.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | Z Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.7/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $15/user/mo Plus | $4/user/mo Premium |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Community (Self-hosted) | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Kanban boards | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Client collaboration | Not listed | |
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| Databases | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Spreadsheet interface | Not listed | |
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Task management | Not listed | |
| Team messaging | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| Timeline view | Not listed | |
| Whiteboards | Not listed | |
NocoDB vs Zoho Projects cost by team size
NocoDB and Zoho Projects cost the same up to 5 users.
| Team size | NocoDB | Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree (Cloud) | FreeFree |
| 5 users | FreeCommunity (Self-hosted) | FreeFree |
| 10 users | FreeCommunity (Self-hosted) | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | FreeCommunity (Self-hosted) | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | FreeCommunity (Self-hosted) | Contact for pricing |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose NocoDB
- Better fit for developers (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for it teams (7/10 vs 4/10)
ZWhy choose Zoho Projects
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Support score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for mid-market (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for small business (9/10 vs 7/10)
Pros & Cons
NocoDB
Pros
- The self-hosted Community edition is free, with no limits on records, storage or seats.
- It connects to existing PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server or SQLite databases without migrating data.
- Every table gets an automatic REST API.
- On Plus and Business you pay for at most 9 seats, and any further users are free, which is cheaper for larger teams.
- Higher tiers add row-level security, audit logs and SAML SSO.
Cons
- Reviewers find the interface less polished than Airtable's.
- The formula language is less deep than Airtable's.
- The cloud free tier is capped at 1,000 records and 1 GB of storage.
- Self-hosting needs Docker and server skills.
- The Sustainable Use License restricts reselling NocoDB as a managed service.
- It lacks dedicated project management features such as time tracking.
ZZoho Projects
Pros
- Paid plans start at $4 per user per month on annual billing, which reviewers rank among the cheapest in the category.
- The free plan supports 5 users and 3 projects, enough for very small teams to run real work.
- Built-in timers, timesheets with approvals, and budgeting serve teams that bill for their time.
- Blueprints, automation rules and custom functions allow detailed workflow control.
- Integrates closely with other Zoho apps such as Desk, Analytics and Sprints.
Cons
- Reviewers say the learning curve is steep, especially for blueprints and custom functions.
- Client and guest access cost extra on top of the plan price.
- Users report weaker portfolio and multi-project management than enterprise-focused rivals.
- Some reviewers find the configuration screens crowded and say support can be slow to respond.
- The free plan has no project templates, and its automation limit is low at 50 actions per month.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Zoho Projects scores higher on our Project Management criteria: 7.3/10 against 6.7/10 for NocoDB. The largest gap is in Analytics: 4/10 for NocoDB and 7/10 for Zoho Projects.
Yes, both NocoDB and Zoho Projects have a free plan.
NocoDB is the better fit for developers: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 5/10 for Zoho Projects.
