A standard de facto feature of any business process is a database application. No-code platforms have made it very easy to build your own database builder in just a few clicks. There are scores of online database builders to choose from in the market right now. While any database tool allows for greater productivity and profitability, there are several companies out there that are still searching for the perfect fit, the one application that can meet all their specific requirements.
Some organizations may need a drag and drop interface while others require an API-based platform. Building your own online database builder with as little coding as possible is the one constant feature that everyone is looking for.
One tedious task ahead of you would be to sift through numerous database builders out there, identify their pros and cons and match their features with your necessary requirements to bag the right tool for your company. Instead, you can peruse our list of the most popular and useful online database creators that provide state-of-the-art features and save a lot of the time that would have otherwise gone into research.
What is an online database builder?
Any online tool that allows you to create, edit, and manage your own database and all of its settings without writing a single line of code is an online database builder. The major features of an online database creator include a drag-and-drop responsive UI, intuitive data gathering, the ability to limit access controls and enhanced data security.
Online database builders can be used with ease by anybody, right from a database management expert to a user with minimal database administration experience.
They allow you to manage huge amounts of data efficiently, provide improved accessibility of data from any location and help to automate repetitive database operations.
Why do you need an online database?
There is so much more than you can do with a database like controlling your workflows, tracking email/ newsletter subscriptions and managing inventory.
One sure-fire way to cut down on costs is to shift your database to the cloud. An online database builder allows you to reduce the expenses and a significant amount of time spent on installing and maintaining all the IT infrastructure in-house. You just need to log in to your account to access the database.
Another attractive feature is that you can work from virtually anywhere in the world, from any device, with no hassles at all. All you need is an internet connection and you are good to go!
A web-based database vendor is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the database application, saving you time and money. Upgrades take place automatically and keep your application running smoothly. This leads to enhanced performance and scalability of your business.
Some online database tools — simple as spreadsheets
Now that it has become clear that an online database builder is an extremely important tool to have in your corner, let’s look at some of the options available in the market that may be worth your while.
Airtable
Noted to be a combination of features taken from Trello and Excel, Airtable is a good business solution for companies who organize their daily workflows in a database form. It works like a spreadsheet but channels the power of a relational database, allowing you to organize everything as you wish. Using another feature called Blocks, users can combine and customize these five features to suit their requirements. Here's a detailed look at why Airtable stands out in this context:
Key Features
1. User-Friendly Interface
Airtable is known for its flexibility and user-friendliness. It offers a spreadsheet-like interface with support for custom fields, relationships, and automation. Users can create databases to manage various types of information, from project tracking to inventory management.
- Spreadsheet-Database Hybrid: Airtable functions like a spreadsheet but offers the capabilities of a database. This design makes it accessible to users familiar with spreadsheet tools like Excel or Google Sheets.
- Visual Appeal: The interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy for new users to navigate and organize data.
2. Customization and Flexibility
- Custom Fields: Users can create various field types such as text, numbers, dates, checkboxes, and more. This flexibility allows businesses to tailor their databases to their specific needs.
- Views: Airtable offers multiple views like Grid (similar to Excel), Calendar, Kanban, Gallery, and Form. These views help in visualizing data in different formats, suiting various project requirements.
3. Collaboration and Sharing
- Real-time Collaboration: Teams can collaborate in real-time, similar to Google Sheets, making it a great tool for collective projects and team management.
- Permissions and Sharing: Offers granular access controls. Users can set permissions at different levels, ensuring data security while facilitating collaboration.
4. Integration and Automation
- Third-party Integrations: Integrates with a plethora of apps and services like Slack, Dropbox, Zapier, and many others, enabling users to connect their databases to other tools they use.
- Automation: Airtable Automations allow users to set up custom triggers and actions, reducing manual tasks and streamlining workflows.
5. Scalability and Reliability
- Scalable for Businesses: Capable of handling the needs of both small businesses and larger enterprises. The platform scales well as business data requirements grow.
- Consistent Performance: Known for its reliable performance and uptime, making it a dependable choice for critical business operations.
Strengths
- Intuitive Interface: Easy to use for those familiar with spreadsheets, lowering the learning curve.
- Customization: Highly customizable to suit various business needs.
- Collaboration: Supports real-time collaboration, making it suitable for team projects.
- Integrations: Robust integration capabilities with other apps and tools.
- Versatility: Suitable for a wide range of applications and industries.
Weaknesses
- Limited Free Plan: The free version has limitations in terms of records and features.
- Performance Issues with Large Databases: May experience slowdowns with extremely large datasets.
- Complexity: While user-friendly, it can become complex when dealing with advanced functionalities.
- Cost: The cost can be a barrier for small businesses or individuals, especially at higher tiers.
Use Cases and Applications
- Project Management: Used for tracking project progress, assigning tasks, and managing deadlines. Its Kanban view is particularly popular for agile project management. Particularly helps tech companies and startups in product planning, bug tracking, and sprint planning.
- Content Management: Ideal for managing editorial calendars, content pipelines, and collaborative writing projects. Used by marketing agencies, design firms, and content creators for project tracking and content planning.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Customizable for tracking customer interactions, sales pipelines, and lead management. Used by a lot of non-profits and community organizations for donor management, event planning, and volunteer coordination.
- Inventory Tracking: Useful for retail businesses to keep track of stock levels, supplier details, and order management.
Pricing
Airtable offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $10 per user per month when billed annually and include more advanced features, such as additional storage, records, and access control.
Grid
Grid facilitates the creation of databases with an intuitive drag-and-drop builder, within minutes. It provides thousands of pre-built templates and layouts to build secure, shareable databases that also provide real-time insights.
With Grid’s solution, it is possible to go beyond spreadsheets and do so much more with databases. Completely customisable and flexible to any requirement, Grid’s platform is well-equipped to build custom online database software with no coding involved.
Key Features
1. Extensive Template Library
- Pre-built Workflows: Users can choose from a wide range of pre-built templates tailored to various industries and use cases, ensuring a quick and efficient setup process. For example, you can simply select the CRM template from the library and customize it to fit your specific needs. This saves you valuable time and effort, as you don't have to start from scratch or hire a developer to build a database from the ground up.
- Industry-tested Dashboards and Reports: The template library also includes widely used dashboards and report formats for industries like mining, infrastructure, manufacturing, apparel production, and F&B. You get instant access to personalized data visualizations and KPIs.
2. Customization and Flexibility
- Custom Fields: Users can create various field types such as text, numbers, dates, checkboxes, and more. This flexibility allows businesses to tailor their databases to their specific needs.
- Views: Airtable offers multiple views like Grid (similar to Excel), Calendar, Kanban, Gallery, and Form. These views help in visualizing data in different formats, suiting various project requirements.
3. Collaboration and Sharing
- Real-time Collaboration: Teams can collaborate in real-time, similar to Google Sheets, making it a great tool for collective projects and team management.
- Permissions and Sharing: Offers granular access controls. Users can set permissions at different levels, ensuring data security while facilitating collaboration.
4. Integration and Automation
- Third-party Integrations: Integrates with a plethora of apps and services like Slack, Dropbox, Zapier, and many others, enabling users to connect their databases to other tools they use.
- Automation: Airtable Automations allow users to set up custom triggers and actions, reducing manual tasks and streamlining workflows.
5. Scalability and Reliability
- Scalable for Businesses: Capable of handling the needs of both small businesses and larger enterprises. The platform scales well as business data requirements grow.
- Consistent Performance: Known for its reliable performance and uptime, making it a dependable choice for critical business operations.
Zoho Creator
Zoho Creator is a significant player in the online database builder space, known for its versatile drag-and-drop interface and extensive customizability. It's particularly favored for its ability to cater to both non-technical users and developers, making it a comprehensive tool for creating custom applications and managing databases. Here's a detailed overview of Zoho Creator in the context of being a top online database builder:
Key Features
1. Ease of Use and Accessibility
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: Zoho Creator features a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that simplifies the process of building custom applications and databases.
- No-Code/Low-Code Platform: It caters to both non-technical users with its no-code capabilities and developers with its low-code environment for more advanced customizations.
2. Customization and Flexibility
- Custom Application Building: Users can create tailored applications to suit specific business processes and data management needs.
- Wide Range of Field Types: Supports a variety of field types, enabling the creation of detailed and functional databases.
3. Integration and Automation
- Integration Capabilities: Offers integration with various Zoho products and external services, including popular CRMs, email services, and financial software.
- Automation Features: Includes powerful automation tools like workflow rules, scheduled tasks, and custom actions, helping streamline business processes.
4. Advanced Data Management
- Robust Reporting: Provides comprehensive reporting tools that allow users to create custom reports and dashboards, turning data into actionable insights.
- Data Import/Export: Facilitates easy data import and export, ensuring flexibility in how data is handled and shared.
5. Mobile Optimization and Accessibility
- Mobile App Support: Zoho Creator's mobile app enables access and management of applications and data on-the-go, enhancing flexibility and accessibility.
- Offline Access: The mobile app also supports offline data access and entry, syncing data once reconnected to the internet.
Retool
Retool has gained recognition as a top online database builder, particularly for its focus on empowering developers to build custom internal tools rapidly. It stands out for its flexibility, extensive integration capabilities, and powerful interface designed for more technical users. Here’s an in-depth examination of Retool and its standout features:
Key Features
1. Developer-Focused Interface
- Custom Tool Building: Retool is primarily geared towards developers, providing a platform to build bespoke internal tools quickly and efficiently.
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: Despite its technical focus, Retool offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it easier to assemble interfaces without writing extensive frontend code.
2. Extensive Integration Capabilities
- Broad Range of Integrations: Supports integration with virtually any database or API. This extensive range includes SQL, NoSQL databases, and third-party APIs.
- Pre-built Components: Comes with a vast library of pre-built components, including tables, lists, charts, forms, and more, which can be customized as needed.
3. Advanced Customization and Flexibility
- High Customizability: Users can create highly customized interfaces tailored to specific workflows or data requirements.
- JavaScript Support: Allows for writing JavaScript directly in the tool, enabling complex operations and interactions that go beyond standard drag-and-drop capabilities.
4. Real-time Collaboration and Version Control
- Collaboration Features: Supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously.
- Version Control: Offers version control features, enabling teams to track changes and manage different versions of their tools efficiently.
5. Security and Compliance
- Robust Security: Implements strong security measures to protect sensitive data, including options for on-premises hosting for enhanced control.
- Compliance Standards: Adheres to various compliance standards, making it suitable for industries with strict data security and privacy requirements.
Knack
Knack is a prominent online database builder known for its simplicity and powerful customization options. It stands out as a top choice for businesses looking for an easy-to-use yet robust database solution. Here's an in-depth look at Knack and its features that contribute to its status as a leading online database builder:
Key Features
1. Ease of Use and User-Friendly Interface
- Intuitive Design: Knack's interface is designed to be user-friendly, catering to users with little to no technical background. Its straightforward design simplifies the process of database creation and management.
- Drag-and-Drop Builder: The platform features a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy to create databases, forms, and applications without any coding.
2. Customization and Flexibility
- Custom Fields and Objects: Knack allows users to create custom fields and objects, offering flexibility to tailor databases to specific business needs.
- Versatile Views: Provides various views like Table, Calendar, Kanban, and more, enabling users to display and interact with their data in multiple formats.
3. Data Management and Reporting
- Powerful Data Management: Supports complex filtering, sorting, and searching, allowing efficient management and manipulation of large data sets.
- Advanced Reporting: Offers robust reporting tools that help in generating insightful reports and analytics from the stored data.
4. Integration and API
- Third-Party Integrations: Integrates with numerous external services, including Zapier, enabling connections to a wide array of other tools and platforms.
- API Access: Provides a RESTful API, allowing for more advanced customizations and integration with other systems for extended functionality.
5. Security and Reliability
- Data Security: Implements strong security measures, including encryption and secure hosting, to protect sensitive data.
- Reliable Performance: Known for its stable and reliable platform performance, ensuring consistent availability and access to data.
Caspio
Caspio is widely recognized as a leading online database builder, especially notable for its no-code platform that enables users to create custom database applications swiftly and efficiently. Here's a detailed overview of Caspio's features and capabilities, highlighting why it's considered a top choice in the online database builder category:
Key Features
1. No-Code Development Platform
- User-Friendly Interface: Caspio's no-code approach allows non-technical users to build data-driven applications easily. The drag-and-drop interface simplifies the app creation process.
- Rapid Deployment: Facilitates quick development and deployment of applications, significantly reducing the time from concept to launch.
2. Customization and Scalability
- Highly Customizable: Offers extensive customization options for databases and applications. Users can tailor applications to fit specific business needs and workflows.
- Scalable Solutions: Caspio is built to scale, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.
3. Integration and Extensibility
- Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with various third-party services and platforms, including popular CRM, marketing, and finance tools.
- APIs and Extensibility: Provides robust APIs that allow for further customization and integration with existing systems and data sources.
4. Data Management and Security
- Robust Data Management: Offers powerful data handling capabilities, including data import/export, reporting, and complex query execution.
- Strong Security Measures: Adheres to high-security standards, including compliance with regulations like GDPR, making it a reliable choice for sensitive data management.
5. Collaboration and Accessibility
- Team Collaboration: Facilitates teamwork with features like shared views, real-time data updates, and collaborative editing.
- Accessible Anywhere: Being cloud-based, Caspio allows users to access and manage their databases and applications from anywhere, enhancing flexibility.
QuickBase
QuickBase is another prominent player in the realm of online database builders, known for its robust features tailored towards workflow automation and process optimization. Here's a detailed exploration of QuickBase's strengths and functionalities, specifically in its role as a top online database builder:
Key Features
1. Customization and Flexibility
- Custom Apps: QuickBase allows users to create custom apps without the need for coding. The drag-and-drop interface simplifies the process of building tailored applications.
- Data Modeling: It offers advanced data modeling capabilities. Users can define relationships between different data sets, making it highly effective for complex data management.
2. Workflow Automation and Process Optimization
- Automation Tools: Features a powerful automation engine that enables users to automate workflows and processes, reducing manual tasks and improving efficiency.
- Dynamic Dashboards: Provides dynamic dashboards and reporting tools that help in visualizing data and tracking key performance indicators in real-time.
3. Integration and API Access
- Extensive Integration: Supports integration with a vast array of external services and platforms, including popular CRM, ERP, and project management tools.
- API Access: Offers comprehensive API access for further customization and integration with other systems, enhancing its scalability and adaptability.
4. Collaboration and Accessibility
- Collaboration Features: Facilitates team collaboration through shared views, notifications, and real-time updates, ensuring that all team members are on the same page.
- Access Controls: Robust role-based access controls allow administrators to manage user permissions effectively, securing sensitive data while promoting teamwork.
5. Scalability and Enterprise-Grade Features
- Enterprise Focus: Designed with enterprise needs in mind, QuickBase is capable of handling large-scale data requirements and complex business processes.
- Security and Compliance: Adheres to high security and compliance standards, making it a reliable choice for industries with stringent data security requirements.
Choose wisely!
A good online database builder can make or break your application. Cloud-based services are gaining popularity steadily and for good reason. Online database software is a viable option for many companies, given that it is a modern, cost-effective and flexible alternative to legacy and complex software.
