Originally published at Digital Innovation & Solutions Consortium.
Two weeks ago, I came across a discussion on Reddit where a user shared their experience testing various CRM systems — like Monday, Zoho, SuiteCRM, and Odoo — only to find them all frustrating to use.
A user in the r/CRM community complained
Their feedback was blunt: these tools are overly complex and rigid, making things harder rather than easier.
The core issue? They’re too generic and overloaded with features, forcing users to adapt to the system’s logic and workflows.
But ideally, it should be the other way around: users should be able to build exactly what they need — and nothing more.
That’s where no-code platforms come in. Instead of adjusting your processes to fit a tool, you can build a tool that fits your processes. Flexibility and control are the biggest advantages of using no-code to build a CRM.
That’s why many companies start with no-code tools like Airtable when building their first CRM.
💡 Related Read: Top 7 OSS Airtable Alternatives Ranked by GitHub Stars
So instead of asking, “What’s the best CRM tool?” — a better question might be:
Which platform gives me the freedom to build the CRM I actually need?
In this article, I’ll take that approach.
I’ll break down 8 standout no-code tools into two categories — open-source and SaaS — and explore how each performs in CRM-building scenarios.
Open Source vs SaaS: Which No-Code Path Is Right for You?
Before choosing a no-code tool, start with this fundamental question: Do you want full control over your data and system, or do you prioritize speed and convenience?
- Web Development platforms offer greater control and customization, making them ideal for teams with strict requirements around data privacy, permission logic, or self-hosted deployment.
- SaaS platforms, on the other hand, are better suited for quick launches, low-cost validation, and non-technical users.
In the sections that follow, I’ll recommend 8 no-code tools — divided into open-source and SaaS categories — and walk through how each one performs in real-world CRM scenarios, including their capabilities and limitations.
1. NocoBase
GitHub: https://github.com/nocobase/nocobase
Website: https://www.nocobase.com
If you want to build a CRM that truly follows your logic — rather than being locked into rigid templates and predefined workflows — NocoBase is a platform worth serious consideration.
NocoBase is a data-model-driven no-code development platform built for medium to high-complexity business systems. It offers flexible data modeling, visual interface design, and a plugin-based architecture, making it ideal for creating fully customized CRM systems.
Recently, the NocoBase team also released a preconfigured CRM solution. With just one click, users can duplicate the template and get started quickly — significantly lowering the barrier to entry. If you’ve ever tried building a CRM in Airtable or Notion but found them limiting, NocoBase might be the upgrade you’re looking for.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Teams looking to build a CRM system tailored exactly to their business workflows
- Use cases requiring strong permission control and workflow automation
- Organizations with moderate or higher IT capabilities — or those willing to invest in learning
2. Baserow
GitHub: https://github.com/bram2w/baserow
Website: https://baserow.io
Baserow is a spreadsheet-style data modeling platform and one of the most well-known open-source alternatives to Airtable. It offers a lightweight, self-hostable no-code experience — ideal for quickly building clean, table-based CRM systems.
Primarily positioned as a no-code database tool, Baserow is especially well-suited as a starting point for small to mid-sized teams looking to set up a practical, easy-to-use CRM.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Teams managing relatively simple CRM structures with spreadsheet-friendly data
- Quick setup with low maintenance requirements
- Early-stage startups or non-technical teams seeking an open-source, easy-to-use CRM foundation
3. Appsmith
GitHub: https://github.com/appsmithorg/appsmith
Website: https://www.appsmith.com
Strictly speaking, Appsmith is a low-code rather than a no-code tool. As an open-source platform focused on building internal tools, it offers a rich set of drag-and-drop components, flexible data source integrations, and JavaScript extensibility — making it a strong choice for development teams building custom CRM frontends.
While Appsmith is more geared toward frontend construction, it allows you to connect your own database and build a complete customer management interface through a visual UI.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Teams with an existing database or backend service, looking to quickly build a CRM frontend
- Developer-driven teams comfortable writing scripts or working with APIs
- Use cases where frontend customization and permission control are priorities over built-in data modeling
4. Budibase
Website: https://budibase.com
GitHub: https://github.com/Budibase/budibase
Budibase is an open-source no-code platform designed for building internal business tools. It excels in lightweight use cases like data entry, approval flows, and role-based access control. While it doesn’t offer a dedicated CRM template, its flexible data modeling and UI configuration make it a solid option for building simplified CRM systems — especially for small teams.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Teams looking to quickly build a clean, lightweight CRM with basic role-based access
- Small teams or individual users who don’t need complex automation or collaboration features
- Use cases centered around customer tracking or data entry rather than full sales process management
1. Airtable
Website: https://airtable.com
Almost every team exploring no-code CRMs starts with Airtable.
It turns data management into an Excel-like experience, combining tables + views + automations to help you quickly set up a basic customer management system. You can use it to track customer details, assign sales tasks, set reminders, and even build simple kanban boards or reporting views.
However, many teams eventually run into its limitations:
- No field-level or condition-based permission control
- Limited layout customization, which makes it hard to handle complex workflows
- Relationships between tables can become confusing at scale
- Extensibility is limited, and custom development is costly
As a first step into CRM building, Airtable is an excellent choice. But as your needs grow — especially around roles, data flexibility, and process automation — it may start to fall short.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Lightweight CRM use cases like customer tracking and sales follow-up
- Rapid prototyping and MVP Development
- Early-stage projects without complex access control or workflow needs
💡 Related Read: NocoBase vs Airtable: A Flexible and Customizable Open-Source Alternative
2. Glide
Website: https://glideapps.com
Glide is a data-driven app builder that turns your Google Sheets, Excel files, or Airtable bases into interactive web or mobile apps in minutes.
While it’s not purpose-built for CRM, its lightweight and intuitive approach has made it popular among small to mid-sized teams — especially for mobile-first use cases like visit tracking, client follow-ups, and field sales management. It’s an excellent choice for building simplified CRM tools with minimal effort.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Small teams needing a quick customer follow-up app (e.g., field sales tracking, client info lookup)
- Simple CRM structures with minimal access control needs
- Projects focused on delivering a mobile-friendly CRM experience
3. Softr
Website: https://www.softr.io
Softr is a no-code platform built for non-technical users. Its core value lies in transforming data from Airtable (or Google Sheets) into fully interactive web applications. With Softr, you can quickly build member portals, customer dashboards, or lightweight CRM tools.
Compared to Airtable itself, Softr offers more control over page layouts, better login and permission management, and a broader set of UI/UX Design components — making it ideal for building user-facing “data frontends.”
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Teams already using Airtable and looking to build a CRM frontend with access control (e.g., customer profiles, deal tracking)
- Projects that require a CRM portal for external clients or partners
- Use cases focused on fast deployment and usability, without the need for complex workflows or analytics
4. Tadabase
Website: https://tadabase.io
Tadabase is a no-code platform aimed at helping small and mid-sized businesses build internal systems. It supports core features like data modeling, page building, and user permission controls. While its interface and design feel more traditional, it offers practical modules such as form automation, data filtering, and role-based access — making it suitable for building structured customer management systems.
Tadabase works well for mid-level internal CRMs such as customer intake, order tracking, and workflow-based operations. However, for highly customized processes, complex permission logic, or deeply modular systems, it may show some limitations.
CRM Capability Overview
Best For
- Mid-sized businesses or IT teams building a long-term CRM with strict access control
- Complex CRM workflows requiring collaboration across multiple roles (sales, support, finance, etc.)
- Projects that need deep customization of forms, fields, approval processes, and permission logic
Choosing the Right No-Code CRM Tool for Your Team
No-code platforms are changing the way we build CRMs — giving you the freedom to start from a blank slate and design a system that truly fits your business logic.
You no longer have to bend your processes to fit the tool. Instead, the tool adapts to your needs.
If you prioritize data control, fine-grained permissions, and customizability, open-source platforms like NocoBase offer long-term flexibility and value.
If you’re looking for speed, ease of use, and a way to quickly validate ideas, SaaS tools like Glide or Softr may be the better fit.
Still unsure? Here’s a comparison table to help guide your decision:
Ultimately, the right tool isn’t the one that’s “best overall” — it’s the one that fits your current stage, your team’s capabilities, and your CRM goals.