Stackby Free replaces 3 paid apps

One genuinely free tool, 3 subscriptions it can stand in for. Each pairing below is curated and verified by hand, with the honest catch spelled out. No votes, no pay-to-list.

Stackby Free $0→replaces $37/mothey host it Databases
the facts, verified

Licenseproprietary, free

Platformstheir cloud

InstallationHosted signup

ModelsAI co-builder is available with low free usage; AI fields/agents require paid plans and can connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini using user-supplied keys

DataStacks and attachments live in Stackby cloud; individual tables/views export to CSV and complete stacks can export to Excel

Setup✓ Installation verified

facts verified 2026-08-10

what it lets you cancel
SmartSuiteWith trade-offs$20/mo

A smaller operational tracker with views, interfaces, linked API columns, and 100 monthly automations.

the catchIts free workspace is much narrower and its dashboards, permissions, reporting, and workflow depth do not approach SmartSuite's team operating system.

the verdict →all SmartSuite alternatives →
StackbyWith trade-offs$9/mo

The same product's free plan does the actual job: 20 stacks, 1,500 rows each, two API columns, views, and 100 automations.

the verdict →
RowsWith trade-offs$8/mo

Rows with tables instead of theatre: two live API columns, manual refresh, and 100 automations a month.

the catchStackby is a database table with connected columns rather than a full spreadsheet, so cell-level formulas, analysis, and flexible connected calculations are weaker.

the verdict →all Rows alternatives →

last updated 2026-08-10 · up to $444/yr replaced · no votes, no pay-to-list

Rather build your own version of any of these? Every verdict page above has the exact one-shot prompt, free.all escape hatches →

New ideas on your radar.

Get catalog updates and prompts for your next project.