Ninox

Ninox is a low-code platform for creating custom business software and workflows, with AI tools that let users describe what they need in plain language. Users can organize data, set business rules, build interfaces, and automate processes. The listed applications range from CRM and sales to invoicing, inventory, projects, HR, patient records, and care. Automations can use event triggers, conditions, and scripting. Teams can collaborate in real time and generate, share, email, print, or export documents including contracts, invoices, and reports. Ninox connects with Zapier, Make, and n8n and provides a public REST API. Its free plan has no expiry and allows up to five users, 100 MB of storage, and 5,000 records. Paid plans start at €25/user/mo (annual). Ninox says it is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, hosted on AWS servers in Germany, with data encrypted at rest and in transit. It works in a browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile; native iOS and Android apps are in development.

Ninox combines low-code app building with workflow automation and team document tools. The free plan has clear user, storage, and record limits, while the listed native mobile apps remain in development.

Ninox may suit individuals and organizations that want to build tailored business tools, automate workflows, or coordinate records and documents. Its listed use cases span sales, operations, HR, and care.

Ninox is a configurable business software platform for teams that need their data, rules, interfaces, and documents to fit a particular operation. It is best for organizations prepared to design their own workflows across areas such as sales, inventory, HR, or care. The free edition is useful for a small proof of concept, while serious shared use requires a paid plan and browser access rather than a finished native mobile app.

Overview

Ninox combines relational data management with an interface builder and workflow automation. Users can describe a desired process in plain language, then use AI and low-code tools to organize records, define business logic, create screens, and automate recurring work. That flexibility is valuable when several departments need one adaptable system, but it also puts responsibility for the app’s structure and upkeep on the customer.

Use cases include CRM and sales, invoicing and orders, inventory, projects, HR, patient records, and care. Real-time collaboration supports shared work, while the document tools can generate, email, share, print, or export contracts, invoices, and reports. Ninox was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Berlin; the company says it serves everyone from individuals to large enterprises, with more than 5,000 customers and over 100 partner companies. It is also listed among No-Code Database Software, No-Code Development Platforms, and No-code app builders.

Key features

• AI and low-code customization: Plain-language prompts can provide a starting point for data structures, logic, interfaces, and automations, reducing the amount of conventional development needed.
• Relational business data: Linked records and permission controls suit processes that span customers, orders, projects, staff, or cases rather than a single simple list.
• Workflow automation: Event triggers, conditions, and scripting let teams turn business rules into repeatable actions. This is more powerful than a static database, although complex setups demand ongoing administration.
• Documents and teamwork: Collaborative editing and generated contracts, invoices, reports, and similar documents keep operational output close to the underlying records.
• Connections and governance: Integrations with Zapier, Make, and n8n, plus a public REST API, support external services. Role permissions, change history, local backups, GDPR-compliant processing agreements, and ISO 27001 certification address access and audit needs. Ninox runs on AWS servers in Germany with encryption in transit and at rest.

Pricing

Ninox uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing, lasts indefinitely, and supports up to five users, 100 MB of storage, 5,000 records, 1,000 API calls per month, 100 generated documents per month, and seven days of history. There is no trial period or expiry, making it a practical way to validate a small app, but the storage and record ceilings will constrain a growing team.

Team costs €25 a month when billed annually, excluding VAT. Each user receives 5 GB of storage, 50,000 records, 10,000 API calls per month, 1,000 documents per month, and 30-day history. It is the sensible entry point for a small operational team that has outgrown the free caps.

Business costs €40 a month when billed annually, excluding VAT. Per-user allowances rise to 10 GB, 250,000 records, 50,000 API calls per month, and 5,000 documents per month, with unlimited history. Choose it when retention, high-volume records, or heavier integrations matter. Enterprise uses custom pricing and adds custom solutions, security, governance, compliance, dedicated support, and expert assistance. Paid plans include individual email support, while Enterprise receives premium support.

Platforms

Ninox is offered for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API use, and self-hosting. The product runs in a modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile. Native iOS and Android applications are still in development, so mobile users should expect the browser experience rather than a completed dedicated app.

Who it's for

Ninox fits organizations that need one configurable system for connected processes and have the staff to model those processes. It is particularly suitable for small and midsize teams moving beyond spreadsheets, and for larger companies that need permissions, audit history, document generation, and integrations. It is a weaker fit for anyone wanting a ready-made app with minimal configuration or a mature native mobile client.

Pros and cons

• Pros: AI-assisted low-code building; relational data, interfaces, and automation in one platform; document generation and collaboration; REST API plus Zapier, Make, and n8n connections; German hosting, encryption, permissions, backups, and compliance features.
• Cons: The free plan allows only five users, 100 MB, and 5,000 records; paid pricing is billed annually and excludes VAT; native mobile apps remain unfinished; advanced plans become substantially more expensive per user.

Alternatives

Airtable is the better choice for teams wanting a free trial and a Team plan at $20 a month billed annually, with 50,000 records per base and 100,000 API calls per workspace per month.

Lark suits teams prioritizing a broader collaboration suite, with a Starter plan for 20 users, 100 GB of storage, 18 months of message history, and 1,000 automations per month.

Matrify is an alternative for a smaller database deployment with a free Standard License supporting up to three users and 300 records.

Ragic is worth considering when unlimited users on its free plan and three custom sheets are more important than Ninox’s workflow breadth.

Memento Database is aimed at lightweight personal or small-team databases, with a free plan offering 100 MB of cloud storage and three libraries.

MobiDB Database focuses on Windows, Android, and iOS database use, including a free ad-free edition.

Saltcorn is the alternative for users who want an MIT-licensed, self-hosted platform with no per-seat fee.

SeaTable offers a permanently free plan for up to 25 users, 10,000 rows, 2 GB of file storage, and 3,000 API calls.

Verdict

Choose Ninox if you need to assemble a tailored business system that combines relational records, automated workflows, permissions, and documents, and you can invest in configuring it. The free tier is a credible long-term sandbox, but its tight quotas and the absence of finished native mobile apps make it unsuitable for larger or mobile-first operations without a paid upgrade and browser-based access.