Self-hosting NocoDB the easy way
Yulei ChenNocoDB is an open-source Airtable alternative that turns any MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite, or MariaDB into a smart spreadsheet. You get forms, kanban boards, galleries, and a full REST API out of the box. Airtable's free tier is limited and paid plans start at $20/user/month, so self-hosting NocoDB is a great way to get the same functionality without per-seat pricing.
Sliplane is a managed container platform that makes self-hosting painless. With one-click deployment, you can get NocoDB up and running in minutes - no server setup, no reverse proxy config, no infrastructure to maintain.
If you want to go the manual route with Docker Compose and PostgreSQL, check out our NocoDB Docker deployment guide: it covers local testing, SQLite, and Postgres setups in detail.
Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have a Sliplane account (free trial available).
Quick start
Sliplane provides one-click deployment with presets.
Deploy NocoDB >- Click the deploy button above
- Select a project
- Select a server. If you just signed up you get a 48-hour free trial server
- Click Deploy!
About the preset
The one-click deploy above uses Sliplane's NocoDB preset. Here is what it includes:
- Official
nocodb/nocodbDocker image - Specific version tag (
2026.04.3) for stability - Persistent volume mounted at
/usr/app/datafor your databases, uploads, and metadata - Health check against
/api/v1/healthso Sliplane knows when NocoDB is ready - Port
8080exposed over HTTPS with automatic SSL
By default, NocoDB uses SQLite as its backing store. The data lives inside the mounted volume, so it survives restarts and redeployments. If you need PostgreSQL or MySQL instead, you can deploy one of those as a separate service on the same Sliplane server and point NocoDB at it via the NC_DB environment variable.
Next steps
Once NocoDB is running, open the domain Sliplane assigned (e.g. nocodb-xxxx.sliplane.app).
First login
On the very first visit, NocoDB shows a signup form where you create your admin account. There are no default credentials - you pick your own email and password during this initial setup.
Connecting an external database
NocoDB can connect to external databases as data sources. If you deployed PostgreSQL or MySQL on the same Sliplane server, use the internal hostname (e.g. postgres-xxxx.internal) to connect. You can add data sources from the NocoDB UI under Integrations.
Environment variables
You can customize NocoDB by adding environment variables in your Sliplane service settings. Some useful ones:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
NC_DB | Database connection string (e.g. pg://host:5432?u=user&p=pass&d=dbname) |
NC_AUTH_JWT_SECRET | Custom JWT secret for authentication tokens |
NC_PUBLIC_URL | Public URL of your NocoDB instance |
NC_DISABLE_TELE | Set to true to disable telemetry |
For the full list, check the NocoDB environment variables documentation.
Logging
NocoDB logs to STDOUT by default, which works perfectly with Sliplane's built-in log viewer. Check our guide on how to use Docker logs for general tips.
Cost comparison
Of course you can also self-host NocoDB with other cloud providers. Here is a pricing comparison for the most common ones:
| Provider | vCPU | RAM | Disk | Monthly Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sliplane | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | €9 (~$10.65) | Flat rate, 1 TB bandwidth, SSL included |
| Fly.io | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$18 | Disk and bandwidth billed separately |
| Render | 1 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$35 | 100 GB bandwidth, Disk billed separately |
| Railway | 2 | 2 GB | 40 GB | ~$67 + $20 plan | Pro plan floor, usage-based, bandwidth billed separately |
Click here to see how these numbers were calculated.
(Assuming an always-on instance running 730 hrs/month)
- Sliplane: flat €9/month for the Base server. Unlimited services on the same server, 1 TB egress and SSL included.
- Fly.io:
shared-cpu-2x2 GB = $11.83/mo + 40 GB volume × $0.15/GB = $6 -> ~$17.83/mo. Egress billed separately ($0.02/GB in EU). - Render: closest match is Standard ($25, 1 vCPU / 2 GB) plus 40 GB disk × $0.25/GB = $10 -> ~$35/mo. Stepping up to Pro (2 vCPU / 4 GB) costs $85/mo + disk.
- Railway (Pro plan): CPU 2 × $0.00000772/s × 2,628,000 s = $40.57; RAM 2 × $0.00000386/s × 2,628,000 s = $20.29; volume 40 × $0.00000006/s × 2,628,000 s = $6.31 -> ~$67/mo compute, plus the $20/mo Pro plan floor and $0.05/GB egress.
Bandwidth costs can add up fast on usage-based providers. Use our bandwidth cost comparison tool to see what your egress would cost on each platform.
FAQ
What can I use NocoDB for?
NocoDB works great as a project tracker, CRM, inventory manager, or any workflow where you need a spreadsheet-like interface backed by a real database. It supports forms, kanban views, galleries, and a REST API for integrations. If you are looking for automation tools to connect with NocoDB, self-hosted options like n8n or Activepieces work well alongside it.
Can I use PostgreSQL instead of SQLite?
Yes. Deploy a PostgreSQL service on the same Sliplane server, then add the NC_DB environment variable to your NocoDB service. The format is pg://hostname:5432?u=username&p=password&d=database. Use the internal hostname from your Postgres service (e.g. postgres-xxxx.internal).
How do I update NocoDB?
Go to your NocoDB service settings on Sliplane, change the image tag to the new version, and redeploy. Check Docker Hub for the latest stable version. NocoDB handles database migrations automatically on startup.
Are there alternatives to NocoDB?
Yes. Popular options include NocoBase (more of a no-code app builder), Baserow (another Airtable alternative), and Grist (spreadsheet-database hybrid). Check out our post on open-source NocoBase alternatives for a detailed comparison.
How do I back up my NocoDB data?
Since NocoDB stores everything in the /usr/app/data volume, you can use Sliplane's volume backup features. For a detailed walkthrough, check our guide on how to upload and download files from Docker volumes. If you are using an external PostgreSQL database, also back up your database separately using our Postgres backup guide.
