Top pick · highest health
Dify.ai
Build, test and deploy LLM applications.
★ 160k 2410 commits / 90d ⟳ today Apache-2.0 Docker
Category
Open source software development - low code
A low-code development platform (LCDP) provides a development environment used to create application software through a graphical user interface. 12 self-hosted low code tools are listed here, ordered purely by a repository health score that Repoly recomputes nightly. Dify.ai leads at 100/100 with 2,410 commits in the last 90 days and 160k stars, followed by Appwrite (99) and Appsmith (98). 10 of the 12 score 70 or above, 11 publish a Docker image, and the median health is 97. MIT is the most common licence, carried by 4 of them. Between them they stand in for Retool, Bubble, Firebase, Mendix and OutSystems.
updated Oct 2026 12 tools ★ 448k stars 11 with Docker median 97 1 archived
Best for…
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Most starred
159,976 stars on GitHub, the largest community in the category.
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Most active
10,001 commits in the last 90 days, the fastest-moving codebase here.
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Most permissive
Apache-2.0 licence with health 98/100: the strongest option if you need to embed or fork commercially.
Ranked by health
Table view
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Appwrite
End to end backend server for web, native, and mobile developers 🚀.
★ 58k 10001 commits / 90d ⟳ today BSD-3-Clause Docker
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Appsmith
Build admin panels, CRUD apps and workflows. Build everything you need, 10x faster.
★ 41k 214 commits / 90d ⟳ today Apache-2.0 Docker
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Budibase
Build and automate internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, CRUD apps, and more, in minutes (alternative to Outsystems, Retool, Mendix, Appian).
★ 28k 2560 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday ⊘ Proprietary Docker
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Halo
A powerful and easy-to-use website building tool (documentation in Chinese).
★ 40k 148 commits / 90d ⟳ today GPL-3.0 Docker
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ToolJet
Low-code framework to build & deploy internal tools with minimal engineering effort (alternative to Retool and Mendix).
★ 41k 2011 commits / 90d ⟳ today GPL-3.0 Docker
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TrailBase
Open, sub-millisecond, single-executable FireBase alternative with type-safe REST & realtime APIs, built-in JS/TS runtime, auth & admin UI.
★ 5.7k 400 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday OSL-3.0 Docker
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PocketBase
Backend for your next SaaS and Mobile app in one file.
★ 62k 122 commits / 90d ⟳ 4 days ago MIT Docker Archived
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Saltcorn
No-code database application builder for web and mobile applications. One platform for user interface, data backend, durable workflows, email, PDF generation, and AI applications.
★ 2.1k 84 commits / 90d ⟳ 2 days ago MIT Docker
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UI Bakery
Build internal tools, customer portals, and CRUD apps quickly. Configure scheduled jobs and webhooks. Create structure and manage data through a GUI.
★ 301 0 commits / 90d ⟳ 4 days ago ⊘ Proprietary Docker
| # | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dify.ai Docker | 160k | 2410 | Apache-2.0 | today | |
| 2 | Appwrite Docker | 58k | 10001 | BSD-3-Clause | today | |
| 3 | Appsmith Docker | 41k | 214 | Apache-2.0 | today | |
| 4 | Budibase Docker | 28k | 2560 | ⊘ Proprietary | yesterday | |
| 5 | Halo Docker | 40k | 148 | GPL-3.0 | today | |
| 6 | ToolJet Docker | 41k | 2011 | GPL-3.0 | today | |
| 7 | TrailBase Docker | 5.7k | 400 | OSL-3.0 | yesterday | |
| 8 | SQLPage Docker | 2.6k | 170 | MIT | today | |
| 9 | PocketBase Docker Archived | 62k | 122 | MIT | 4 days ago | |
| 10 | Manifest | 7.6k | 435 | MIT | yesterday | |
| 11 | Saltcorn Docker | 2.1k | 84 | MIT | 2 days ago | |
| 12 | UI Bakery Docker | 301 | 0 | ⊘ Proprietary | 4 days ago |
How the low code tools compare
Dify.ai edges Appwrite 100 to 99, and most of the difference is stars: 160k stars against 58k stars. Appwrite is the busier codebase, though, with 10,001 commits in 90 days to 2,410.
The most recent release is ToolJet v3.20.252-lts, published today. Saltcorn and UI Bakery publish no tagged releases, which costs up to 25 of the 100 points. PocketBase is archived upstream. UI Bakery scores under 40, so check recent activity before adopting it. By stack, Nodejs (4), Java (2) and Rust (2) are the most common. Appwrite, Appsmith, SQLPage and 3 more are permissively licensed; Halo, ToolJet and TrailBase are copyleft. Dify.ai, Budibase and UI Bakery are source-available rather than open source, which limits commercial reuse.
Software Development - Low Code: common questions
What is the best open source low code tool?
By Repoly's GitHub health score, Dify.ai at 100/100 (2,410 commits in 90 days, 1.18.0 from 7 days ago). Appwrite is next at 99; Dify.ai's lead comes mostly from stars. The score measures maintenance, not features, so shortlist the top few and try them.
Which low code tools are the most actively developed?
Appwrite (10,001 commits in 90 days), Budibase (2,560 commits in 90 days) and Dify.ai (2,410 commits in 90 days). Commit activity is 35 of the 100 health points, the largest single term.
Which low code tools can I run in Docker?
11 of 12 publish a Docker image or Compose file, led by Dify.ai, Appwrite, Appsmith, Budibase, Halo and 6 more.
Which low code tools have a permissive licence?
6 of 12: Appwrite (BSD-3-Clause), Appsmith (Apache-2.0), SQLPage (MIT), PocketBase (MIT), Manifest (MIT) and 1 more. 3 are copyleft.
Which paid products can open source low code tools replace?
Retool (Appsmith ranks highest here), Bubble (Appsmith ranks highest here), Firebase (Appwrite ranks highest here), Mendix (Appsmith ranks highest here) and OutSystems (Appsmith ranks highest here).
