Top Alternatives to Quickbase for Workflow and App Building

April 28, 2025

Quickbase has been around for decades as a low-code platform helping teams digitize workflows and manage business processes. But for many small and midsize businesses today, it often feels outdated, overly complex, and cost-prohibitive. If you're searching for Quickbase alternatives that offer a smoother, more modern experience, this guide will help you explore the top options built for today's operations teams.

Why Teams Look for Quickbase Alternatives

Quickbase has earned its place as a legacy platform in the low-code space, but it’s not always aligned with the speed, flexibility, or budget that today’s small and midsize teams need. Before diving into specific alternatives, let’s look at the most common reasons why teams begin searching for something more modern and accessible.

Costly Pricing for SMBs

Quickbase’s pricing model can quickly become a barrier for small teams or fast-growing startups. With per-user pricing that scales rapidly and limited flexibility in packaging, many businesses find themselves paying enterprise prices for mid-level functionality. For SMBs with leaner budgets, this creates friction when trying to scale internal apps or bring new users into the fold.

Legacy UI and Limited Flexibility

While Quickbase is powerful under the hood, its interface and customization capabilities haven’t kept pace with more modern no-code tools. Building an intuitive, user-friendly frontend requires workarounds or external add-ons. Visual workflows, flexible page layouts, and role-based user views, now standard in newer tools, are limited or require custom scripting in Quickbase.

What to Look for in a Quickbase Alternative

When evaluating alternatives to Quickbase, focus on platforms that simplify internal tool creation while offering control over workflows, users, and data.

Feature Why It Matters
No-code builder Enables business users to create and update apps without IT dependencies
Custom UI control Allows users to design portals, dashboards, and internal tools tailored to team workflows
Permissions system Manages access with secure, role-based controls
Integrated forms Collects and manages structured inputs easily
Automation Triggers actions with AI-automated workflows
Scalable backend Centralizes external data or provides an internal solution
Modern UX Ensures adoption with intuitive, clean, and responsive apps

Strong Quickbase Alternatives

Noloco – Scalable, Secure Apps for Internal Ops

Noloco is a no-code platform built with SMB teams creating internal tools, CRMs, and portals in mind. It offers modern UI design, structured data models, and built-in automation, all without code.

✅ Visual app builder
✅ Secure, role-based permissions
✅ Native form builder for data input
Workflow automation without complexity
✅ Works for back-office tools, client portals, and custom CRMs

Unlike Quickbase, Noloco offers a clean interface, faster app deployment, and a better fit for teams without technical resources.

Related comparisons: Top Retool Alternatives | Best Bubble Alternatives

Knack – Database Tools with Public-Facing Options

Knack is a long-standing no-code database builder that allows users to create portals and internal tools using structured data.

  • Offers embedded apps and custom views
  • Moderate learning curve for building logic
  • Good fit for basic internal tools and directories
  • UI is dated compared to modern platforms

Zoho Creator – Form-First Legacy App Builder

Zoho Creator is part of the Zoho ecosystem and offers low-code app development focused on forms and internal workflows.

  • Strong for data collection and reporting
  • Logic requires scripting (Deluge) for advanced use cases
  • Ideal for teams already using Zoho CRM or other Zoho tools

Airtable + Interfaces – Lightweight Combo

Airtable provides a visual database and project-tracking tool, and its Interfaces feature helps present data in a simple app-like view.

  • Great for small apps or dashboards
  • Limited in permission control and deep workflow logic
  • Requires external add-ons or integrations for full app functionality

Creatio – CRM and Workflow Suite

Creatio is a process-focused platform with strong workflow and CRM tools.

  • Tailored to sales ops and business process automation
  • More powerful than Quickbase but also more complex
  • Best for mid-market to enterprise teams with technical support

Comparing Top Quickbase Alternatives

Here’s how the top Quickbase alternatives compare in terms of usability, workflow power, and flexibility for modern teams.

Platform Best For Skill Needed Automation Permissions UI Flexibility Notable Limitations
Noloco CRMs, internal ops tools, portals No-code ✅ Visual ✅ Built-in ✅ High Less suited for building SaaS apps
Knack Internal tools, directories Low-medium ⚠️ Limited ✅ Moderate ⚠️ Basic UI is dated
Zoho Creator Form-heavy internal apps Medium ✅ Scripted ✅ Advanced ⚠️ Template-based Best if already using Zoho
Airtable + Interfaces Lightweight dashboards Low ⚠️ Limited ⚠️ Basic ⚠️ Moderate Not designed for full apps
Creatio CRM + enterprise process workflows Medium-high ✅ Advanced ✅ Strong ✅ High Overkill for small teams

Noloco vs. Quickbase: Which Is Right for You?

Let’s break down how Noloco compares to Quickbase for teams focused on internal tools, permissions, and scalable automation.

Feature Noloco Quickbase
App Builder ✅ Point-and-click UI + logic builder ⚠️ Form-focused, scripting for logic
Permissions ✅ Role-based with field-level control ✅ Advanced, but less intuitive
Forms ✅ Built-in with conditional fields ✅ Yes
Automation AI-powered workflows ⚠️ Requires scripting
Data Sources ✅ Noloco Tables, Airtable, Google Sheets, SQL ✅ Custom tables
Learning Curve ✅ Low/no-code for ops teams ⚠️ Medium to high
Use Case Fit Internal tools, CRMs, ops apps Process automation and form-heavy apps

Modernize Your Stack with Noloco

Quickbase was built for a different era of internal tooling while Noloco is built for the teams of today. With a modern interface, powerful permissions, and workflow automation that’s easy to manage, Noloco helps your team move faster, stay secure, and scale smarter.

Start building with Noloco’s app builder today!

FAQs about the Best Quickbase Alternatives

What is the best Quickbase alternative for SMBs?

Noloco is the top Quickbase alternative for SMBs. It delivers structured data, automation, permissions, and a modern UI without enterprise complexity or cost.

Why choose Noloco over Quickbase for internal tools?

Noloco is easier to use, more flexible in UI design, and built for non-technical teams. It supports internal CRMs, dashboards, and workflows without requiring scripting.

What tools combine workflow, apps, and secure data access?

Noloco, Creatio, and Zoho Creator offer some of the best combinations of app building, workflow automation, and secure permissions. Noloco, however, stands out for its ease of use.

What are some other resources related to Quickbase alternatives?

Related Resources Related Use Cases Templates
Best Bubble Alternatives Client Portal Client Portal Template
Top Retool Alternatives Back Office App CRM Templates
Best SuiteDash Alternatives Workflow Automation All Our Templates