Budibase vs Refine: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Budibase and Refine side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Budibase leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Budibase
Open-source low-code platform for internal tools
Best for you if:
- • You want open source low-code platform
Refine
Build enterprise-grade internal tools with AI, turning APIs into production-ready React apps.
Best for you if:
- • You want accelerates internal tool development with AI
| At a Glance | Budibase | Refine |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $10/mo Pro (Cloud) plan | Free plan, paid from $20/mo, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | No-Code App Builders | App Builders Internal Tools |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 67 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Budibase or Refine?
Choose Budibase if
- You want open source low-code platform
- You want self-hostable
- Budget matters ($10/mo vs $20/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in no-code, not app builders
Choose Refine if
- You want accelerates internal tool development with AI
- You want provides full ownership of generated React codebase
- You work in app builders, not no-code
In-Depth Analysis
Budibase
Open-source low-code platform for internal tools
Budibase offers a very generous freemium model with its Open Source tier, providing significant functionality for free.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source low-code platform
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good for internal apps
- Pro: Database integrations
- Pro: Automations included
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Some features less polished
- Con: Documentation could improve
- Con: Limited components vs Retool
- Con: Performance varies
Key features
Refine
Build enterprise-grade internal tools with AI, turning APIs into production-ready React apps.
Refine's pricing is quite generous, especially with a robust free tier offering 300 credits/month.
Strengths
- Pro: Accelerates internal tool development with AI
- Pro: Provides full ownership of generated React codebase
- Pro: Strong security features for enterprise use (self-hosting, SSO, access control)
- Pro: Flexible for various use cases (admin dashboards, CRM, CMS, HR, etc.)
- Pro: Supports existing backend infrastructure
Weaknesses
- Con: Relies on a credit system for usage, which might require monitoring
- Con: Enterprise features like SSO and dedicated support are in higher-tier plans
Key features
Plans and prices: Budibase vs Refine
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Budibase |
| budibase.com/pricing read Oct 21, 2026 |
| Refine |
| refine.dev/pricing read Oct 22, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Budibase pricing and Refine pricing.
Key Takeaways
Budibase
- Lower entry price: $10/mo vs $20/mo, billed monthly
Refine
- Choose if you want build enterprise-grade internal tools with AI, turning APIs into production-ready React apps
What the data shows
On the data below, Budibase leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Budibase has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 67 reviews); Refine has none we can show.
- Budibase has the lower entry price: $10/mo (Pro (Cloud)) against $20/mo, billed monthly (Pro) for Refine.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Budibase and Refine compare in 2026?
On the data below, Budibase leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Budibase has a published user rating (4.5/5 from 67 reviews); Refine has none we can show. Budibase has the lower entry price: $10/mo (Pro (Cloud)) against $20/mo, billed monthly (Pro) for Refine. Both have a free plan.
What are Budibase and Refine used for?
Budibase: Open-source low-code platform for internal tools. Refine: Build enterprise-grade internal tools with AI, turning APIs into production-ready React apps.
What does Budibase cost vs Refine?
Budibase's cheapest paid plan is Pro (Cloud) at $10/mo; it also has a free plan. Refine's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $20/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 22, 2026.
What's the main difference between Budibase and Refine?
Budibase's main strength: open source low-code platform. Refine's main strength: accelerates internal tool development with AI.