Open-source alternative to Notion databases

Open-source alternative to Notion databases: the short answer

If your trackers and tables live in Notion databases and you need them on your own servers or under a licence model you can audit, the strongest options are Grist and Baserow for relational tables with views, and Docmost Bases for teams that want tables next to their wiki. Grist (Apache License 2.0) and Baserow (MIT for its non-premium features) both handle relational tables, filters and multiple views. Docmost Bases is part of Docmost's paid edition, so budget for that licence if you want tables inside the wiki rather than in a separate tool. Choose by where the data should sit and who uses it, not by feature count alone.

The work is rebuilding structure, not copying data. Notion's CSV export gives you rows and flat values, but relations, rollups, linked views and formulas do not carry over as working logic, so each one must be recreated as a column type, lookup or view in the target tool. Inventory every database before you choose a target: list the relations between tables, the rollups and formulas that people depend on, and the views that filter by person or status. Confirm which of these each candidate supports in your version, because Baserow's Airtable importer, for example, already documents that formula, lookup and rollup fields are not imported and must be rebuilt.

DeployOpen plans and implements these migrations inside your own infrastructure, including the target platform, the database rebuild, user access mapping and the cutover from Notion. The scope, deliverables and timeline are agreed in writing before work starts, so you can see what is rebuilt, what is retired and what needs a business owner's decision.

Which open-source tool covers each Notion database capability

This table maps common Notion database capabilities to Docmost Bases, Grist and Baserow, and flags where each tool needs confirmation or rebuild work. Formulas, rollups, automations and permissions often need separate checks because importers and open-source cores do not carry them over in the same way. Confirm every row against the documentation for the version you plan to deploy before you choose a tool.

Capability	Docmost Bases (paid edition)	Grist (grist-core)	Baserow (open core)
Properties and import	Bases is a paid-edition feature. Confirm supported property types and import paths in current docs.	CSV and Excel import and export. Documents are SQLite-based, so stored data is readable by standard tools.	CSV, Excel, XML and JSON import. The Airtable importer copies field types, but not every field kind.
Formulas	Confirm formula support in Bases before migrating any Notion formula properties.	Full Python syntax with the standard library, plus many Excel functions. Expect to translate Notion formula syntax.	The Airtable importer skips formula fields. Rebuild Notion formulas manually as Baserow formula fields.
Relations and rollups	Confirm relation and rollup behavior in your Docmost version. Plan manual rebuilds if unsupported.	Confirm reference columns and summary behavior in Grist docs. Test rollup equivalents on a sample table first.	The Airtable importer skips lookup and rollup fields. Relationships copy, but rollups need rebuilding.
Linked and filtered views	Confirm which view types Bases offers and whether views can link across tables.	Confirm linked widgets and view configuration in current Grist docs before designing the layout.	Grid views with filters and sorts copy from Airtable. Interfaces and dashboards do not, so rebuild them.
Permissions and SSO	Page-level permissions and SAML 2.0 or OIDC SSO are paid-edition features. Confirm scope for Bases.	Forwarded-header and getgrist.com sign-in on all editions. OIDC or SAML needs an activation key.	SSO is on Advanced and Enterprise plans with an activated license. Role-based permissions are listed for Advanced.
Automations	Not covered in the researched facts. Confirm whether Bases supports automations and how they are triggered.	Automations sit outside grist-core, so they need the full edition. Plan alternatives for Notion automations.	Automations are part of the product. Confirm which license tier includes them before you rely on them.
API and integrations	REST API with personal keys is a paid-edition feature. Confirm endpoints for database records.	REST API with an interactive console. The built-in MCP server is outside grist-core.	Headless and API first. Confirm token types, scopes and rate limits for your deployed version.
Export and exit path	Pages export as Markdown or HTML. Confirm the export format for database content before you commit.	Export to Excel and CSV, with data stored in SQLite for direct reads if needed.	Confirm export options and formats in your version. Keep CSV copies of every table as a fallback.

When Docmost Bases, Grist or Baserow fits a Notion database

Each option below fits a different kind of Notion database. The right choice depends on whether your wiki already runs on Docmost, whether your team writes formulas in Python, and whether you need an API-first app built on spreadsheet-style tables. Check licensing and feature gaps in a trial before you commit records to any of them.

Docmost Bases in the paid edition

Docmost Bases is a good fit if your team already keeps its wiki in Docmost and wants trackers next to the pages that describe them. The core is licensed under AGPL-3.0, but code in the Enterprise directories falls under the Docmost Enterprise license, and Bases is listed among the paid-edition features. Budget for a paid plan before you migrate databases. In a trial, confirm which Notion database views, relations and rollups you need and whether Bases covers them.

Grist for Python formulas

Grist is the option for teams whose Notion formulas have grown into logic that needs real programming. The grist-core repository is released under the Apache License 2.0, but features such as OIDC or SAML single sign-on, automations and the built-in MCP server are not in grist-core and need a paid plan. Formulas support full Python syntax, and documents are stored in SQLite, so your data stays readable by standard tools. In a trial, verify your identity provider setup and whether the full edition fits your funding status.

Baserow for API-first apps

Baserow suits teams that want a database behind internal apps, portals or automations, not just a table view. Its core is MIT licensed, but premium and enterprise features sit outside that grant, and single sign-on for SAML and OpenID Connect requires the Advanced or Enterprise plan with an activated license. An instance can run only one license type. In a trial, test the REST API against your Notion integrations, confirm which field types and views your tables need, and check the import limits for your data.

Choosing by existing wiki and identity setup

The tool that fits best often follows from what already runs in your environment. Teams with Docmost as their wiki may keep tracker data beside pages, while teams with separate Grist or Baserow deployments may find that identity federation and paid features drive the cost more than the table design. Confirm which identity provider you will connect, which edition each option needs for it, and who will administer the instance after the trial.

What the license model means for a database rollout

Running only the open-source core keeps software licensing costs at zero, but it also limits which features your team can use. Each candidate draws the line in a different place, so the feature list must be checked against your requirements before the decision is made.

Docmost: The core is AGPL-3.0, and Bases sits in the paid edition. Self-hosting the Community edition is free, but the Bases tracker features you may have come to rely on in Notion are not part of that core.
Grist: The grist-core repository is Apache License 2.0. Features not in grist-core include OIDC or SAML single sign-on, audit log streaming, automations and the built-in MCP server.
Baserow: All non-premium and non-enterprise features are MIT licensed, so a self-hosted instance can run without a paid license, but SSO is limited to paid plans.
Confirm which features your users need, and whether a free tier covers them, before choosing this path.

Ask each vendor to list, in writing, the exact features included in the open-source distribution you plan to deploy.

How to export Notion databases as CSV and rebuild relations

This sequence moves Notion databases into a self-hosted table tool by exporting each one as CSV, then rebuilding the relations, rollups, formulas and views that CSV cannot carry. The result is a set of tables that have been checked for row counts and access rules against the original.

Inventory every database and its structure
Before exporting anything, list each database in the workspace, its row count, and every property type it uses. Mark the relation, rollup, formula, person and linked-view properties separately, because a CSV file keeps none of their logic. Record which views, filters and sorts each team depends on and which people have edit or view access. Done means you have a written inventory that a second person has reviewed and that another owner has signed off as complete.
Export each database as CSV from Notion
Open each database, use the export option and choose CSV, then save the file with the database name. A workspace-wide export can take up to 30 hours according to Notion, so for a small number of databases, export them individually instead. Include subpages only where the plan allows it, since PDF subpage inclusion is limited to Business and Enterprise plans. Done means every CSV is saved, its row count matches your inventory, and you have opened each file to check that dates and multi-select values look correct.
Choose the target tool for each database
Decide per database whether it belongs in Grist, Baserow or a Docmost Bases table. Consider how many users edit it, whether it needs relational links between tables, whether it needs an API or automations, and whether the paid-edition features of each tool are required. Confirm licensing, single sign-on needs and hosting model with each vendor before committing, since the editions differ in what they include. Done means each database has a named target and an owner who accepts that choice.
Import the CSV files into the target
Create one table per exported database in the chosen tool and import its CSV. Check the column types that the importer assigns, particularly for dates, numbers, checkboxes and multi-select fields, and correct them before loading more data. Keep the original Notion property names where possible so that later reconciliation is simple. Done means each table exists in the target with its full row count and the column types have been reviewed.
Recreate relations as link fields
CSV holds relation values only as text, so each Notion relation must be rebuilt as a link field that points to the matching table in the target. Create the linked tables first, then import or map the references so that each row connects to the correct record. Where a Notion relation is two-way, decide which side is the source of truth and set the reverse link deliberately. Done means a sample of rows in each relation shows the same linked records as in Notion.
Rebuild rollups, formulas and views by hand
Rollups and formulas do not survive a CSV export, so rewrite each one as a formula or summary in the target, checking the results against the values recorded in Notion. Recreate the views, filters, sorts and groupings that teams used, including any board or calendar layout, since these must be configured again. Where a formula uses functions that do not map directly, document the replacement logic next to the field. Done means each rebuilt calculation matches a set of reference rows from Notion and each team has confirmed its views.
Validate row counts and permissions
Compare the row count, a checksum or key-column sample and the relation totals for every table against the inventory from the first step. Set access rules in the target so that each user or group has the same level of access they had in Notion, and test that restricted rows stay hidden from people who should not see them. Note any differences and their causes in a migration log. Done means every table matches its source counts, the permission tests pass, and the owner has accepted the migration log.

How database tables link back to Docmost, XWiki or other wikis

Decide early whether narrative documents and trackers must live in one tool. Many teams keep procedures, decision records and policies in a wiki while the tables that drive them, such as a risk register or vendor list, sit in Grist or Baserow. The working pattern is to keep the wiki page as the narrative owner and link it to a stable view or record in the table tool, so readers land on current data rather than a pasted snapshot. Snapshots go stale quickly, so avoid them for anything that changes weekly.

Two mechanisms do most of the work. The first is a plain link or embed: confirm whether your target Docmost version can embed a self-hosted Grist or Baserow view, because Docmost's documented embed list names Airtable and other tools but not Grist or Baserow by name. Test this on a staging instance before you promise it to users. The second is an API call: Grist offers a REST API with an interactive API console, and Baserow is API first, so a scheduled job can push a summary table into a wiki page. That job is custom work with its own maintenance, so price it as a build item in your scope.

Moving everything into one tool is simpler when the team is small, the tables are few, and access rules are the same for both. In that case a single Docmost or XWiki structure avoids two permission models and two backup routines. Keep separate table tools when the data needs its own relational model, formulas or stricter row-level access. Whichever path you choose, document which system owns each dataset and who can edit it.

Questions buyers ask before replacing Notion databases

What drives the cost of replacing Notion databases?

The cost is driven by how much database structure you have, not by the number of pages. Count the databases, the relations between them, the rollups and formulas that depend on those relations, the automations that run on them, and the people who need access. Each relation and rollup takes design and testing time to rebuild, and each automation has to be recreated and checked by hand. Your costs are one-time (export work, rebuilding tables, testing, training) and recurring (hosting, storage, staff time for administration, and any paid edition seats). The Docmost Business plan is priced per seat per month with a 10-seat minimum, and Baserow Premium and Advanced are priced per user, so seat count is a recurring cost to model. Ask any partner for a quote that lists each database, relation, rollup and automation as its own line.

Can our team migrate Notion databases without outside help?

A small team with one or two simple trackers can often do the work in-house, provided someone has spreadsheet and data modeling skills and admin access to the new platform. Notion's CSV export carries the rows and most field values, but it does not rebuild relations, rollups or linked views, so those have to be designed again in Grist, Baserow or Docmost Bases. Teams with many interlinked databases, formulas that depend on other tables, or regulated data usually find it safer to scope the work in writing first. Whichever route you choose, decide who will own the schema after cutover, because a database that only one person understands becomes a risk when that person leaves.

How long does a database migration take, and what makes it longer?

Duration depends on the shape of your data, not on the export itself. Complexity rises with the number of linked tables, the number of rollups and formulas to recreate, the volume of attachments, and how many distinct field types you use. Notion says a full workspace export can take up to 30 hours, so schedule that step early and plan for the link to expire. Other drivers are the number of users who must validate their views, the number of automations to rebuild, and whether you run a parallel period. Ask any implementation partner for a timeline built from a written inventory of your databases, since no duration can be reliably given before that inventory exists.

What do we need to provide during a Notion database migration?

The work needs named data owners who can confirm what each database means, which fields are required, and which views people actually use. It also needs administrator access to the target platform and to the Notion workspace, since workspace owners control exports and Enterprise workspaces can disable exports in security settings. Plan for sign-off from each data owner on a test copy before cutover. Confirm in writing who approves the final cutover, who handles user accounts, and who can restore data if a rebuilt view or formula is wrong.

Do we need a paid edition for single sign-on or Bases?

Often yes, and the answer differs by tool. Docmost lists Bases, SAML 2.0 or OIDC single sign-on, LDAP, SCIM and MFA among paid-edition features, while its Community edition is free to self-host. Baserow single sign-on is available on the Advanced and Enterprise plans with an activated license, and an instance can use only one license type. Grist allows forwarded-header authentication and Sign in with getgrist.com in all editions, but connecting directly to an identity provider over OIDC or SAML needs an activation key. Check which features your identity model requires before choosing a tool, and get the license terms in writing.

What can we verify before cutover?

Verify record counts for every table against the export, field-by-field samples for dates, numbers, select options and attachments, and that each relation links to the correct record. Rebuilt rollups and formulas should be checked against values you calculate independently for a sample of rows. Test permissions with real user accounts from each group, including the cases where a user should not see a row. Confirm which items did not carry over, such as automations and comments, and record how each gap is handled. Keep the Notion export and a rollback plan until the business owners sign off in writing.

Will the data stay on our own servers after migration?

Only if you choose a self-hosted deployment and configure storage and backups in your own environment. Grist documents are based on SQLite, which makes the data readable with standard tools, and Baserow and Docmost run on PostgreSQL. Docmost stores files locally by default and can use S3-compatible or Azure Blob storage. Confirm backup and restore procedures, encryption at rest and access logging for your environment, and confirm which features in each tool, such as the Grist Assistant or AI chat, send data to external services before you enable them.

Running Grist or Baserow alongside the rest of the suite

Grist or Baserow rarely runs alone. It has to sign users in through the same identity provider, keep data on servers you control, get backed up with the rest of your stack, and talk to the tools that read from it. Each card below names one risk in that coexistence and the check to run before you cut over.

Identity through your existing provider

Grist accepts forwarded-header authentication on every edition, so a reverse proxy in front of it can pass identity from your existing single sign-on. Connecting Grist directly to an identity provider over OIDC or SAML needs an activation key, and Baserow's SAML and OIDC single sign-on sits on its Advanced and Enterprise plans with an activated license. Confirm which path your provider supports, who issues the key or license, and how deprovisioning removes access when someone leaves.

Data residency on your servers

Both tools keep records, attachments and access rules on hosts you run, but only if the deployment stays that way. Check where the Grist /persist volume or the Baserow data volumes sit, whether backups replicate to another region, and whether any browser extension, add-on or integration sends rows to an external service. Ask your data protection lead to sign off on the exact storage locations before importing Notion data.

Database backup and restore

Grist stores documents in SQLite files, so a backup must capture the /persist volume consistently rather than copying files while Grist is writing. Baserow stores its data in PostgreSQL, and its Docker image bundles an internal PostgreSQL by default, which Baserow highly recommends replacing with an external PostgreSQL for production. Restore a sample table into a separate instance to prove the backup works before you retire the Notion copy.

API integration with other tools

Grist offers a REST API with an interactive API console, and Baserow is API first. Any script, automation or reporting job that pointed at Notion's API must be rewritten against the new endpoints, and Notion's own integrations do not carry over. List each consumer, give it a service account with the narrowest table access it needs, and test read and write calls against a staging document first.

Notion kept read-only during transition

Running two live trackers invites edits in the wrong place and split history. Decide whether Notion is retired on a fixed date or kept read-only for a defined period, and set its databases to view-only for members. Notion's exports are slow for whole workspaces, so keep a dated export as a fallback before the switch. Confirm with the owners of each table which system is the record of truth on the cutover day.

Admin ownership and upgrades

A second database platform adds patching, version upgrades and certificate renewals to someone's calendar. Grist publishes its Docker image on port 8484 and Baserow publishes its own release cadence, so assign a named owner for each, a check for new releases, and a tested upgrade path in a non-production copy. Ask your provider or partner to state in writing who handles upgrades, backups and restores, and which of these are included in a retainer.

What the cost of self-hosted database tools is made of

The software line item is often the smallest part of the bill, and it is where the options differ most. Grist Community costs nothing to run, because the grist-core repository is Apache 2.0 licensed and the self-hosting page describes the full edition as free only for individuals and small organizations with less than US $1 million in total annual funding. Organizations above that threshold need a paid Grist plan, and SSO through OIDC or SAML needs an activation key. Baserow keeps non-premium features under MIT, but its Premium, Advanced and Enterprise license types are paid, and single sign-on sits on the Advanced and Enterprise plans. Docmost's Bases feature is in the paid editions, so the Business or Enterprise price applies if you need Bases. Confirm current pricing with each vendor, because license terms change.

Infrastructure and operations recur every month and usually cost more than the license. Plan for a host or cluster, a PostgreSQL database (Baserow recommends an external PostgreSQL for production), Redis where the product requires it, and storage for attachments, which may be local, S3-compatible or Azure Blob depending on the tool. Backups of the database and the file store must be tested, not just scheduled. Upgrades recur as well, and each one needs a staging run and a rollback plan. Ask any implementation partner to price these as line items: hosting, database and storage operations, backup and restore testing, upgrade cycles and on-call support.

Migration is mostly one-time labor. Exporting Notion databases as CSV is quick, but rebuilding relations, rollups and linked views is design work that a team must review record by record. Admin time for SSO group mapping and permission models is also one-time at the start and recurs whenever teams change. In a written quote, ask for the export and rebuild scope by database, the number of users and groups to provision, the SSO and permission model, the acceptance tests that prove record counts and relations match, and the support window after cutover. Fixed-scope quotes that name these items make the total comparable across options.

How DeployOpen delivers database replacement

DeployOpen plans, implements, integrates, hardens, backs up, documents and supports self-hosted open-source platforms inside your own infrastructure. For Notion databases, we start with a written scope that maps each tracker, table and view to a target platform before any data moves.

How we scope

Inventory every Notion database, its properties, relations, rollups and the views teams actually use
Decide per database whether Docmost Bases, Grist or Baserow fits, and document the gaps
Agree deliverables, timelines and acceptance tests in writing before any work starts

How we build

Deploy the chosen platform in your cloud account, data center or air-gapped network
Rebuild relations, rollups and linked views manually where CSV export does not carry them
Test imported records, permissions and single sign-on against the agreed acceptance list

How we hand over

Document the data model, field mapping, access rules and the steps used for each database
Provide runbooks for backup, restore, upgrades and adding new users or tables
Walk your administrators through the running system and the written evidence before close

How we support

Offer ongoing support, upgrades and continuous testing as a retainer after handover
Review platform releases and plan upgrades on your change calendar
Ask for a quote based on the written scope, since we do not publish a price list

Open-source alternative to Notion databases