Knack

What is knack.com

Knack.com is a no-code application and online database platform that lets non-developers build data-driven web apps, dashboards and client portals. It provides a visual builder for data objects, forms, workflows and page layouts, and exposes those models as public or private web apps. Typical users include operations teams, consultants, membership organizations, and small businesses that need custom forms, CRMs, inventory systems or member directories without building a backend from scratch.

Knack.com organizes data into objects (tables), fields, relationships and views. Users design forms for data entry, tables and reports for data presentation, and logic rules for validations and workflows. The platform hosts apps on Knack-managed infrastructure, includes options for custom domains, and supports user authentication and role-based access control for public or private applications.

Because Knack.com focuses on structured data and relational models, it is often used where spreadsheet-based workflows have outgrown their usefulness but a full custom development project would be too costly or slow. Knack apps can be deployed quickly and iterated by citizen developers, product owners or contractors who are comfortable with data modeling but not with coding.

Knack features

What does knack.com do?

Knack.com provides a set of capabilities to build custom data applications without code. At its core it offers data modeling (objects and fields), form builders, table and report builders, access rules and a page builder to assemble user interfaces. It also supports public-facing pages and password-protected member areas.

The platform includes built-in search and filtering, pagination, custom record views, and relationship management so you can link customers to orders, projects to tasks, or members to subscriptions. It also has file uploads, image handling and calculated fields for deriving values from other fields in your records.

Knack.com adds workflow and automation features through conditional rules and actions—send emails after a form submission, show/hide fields based on user input, or route records to different teams based on status. These capabilities make it possible to create lightweight business processes without writing scripts.

Knack also includes security and deployment features such as SSL hosting, SSO support on higher plans, role-based permissions, and the ability to use a custom domain for white-labeled client portals.

Knack pricing

Knack offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month with limitations for evaluation and small tests (limited records, limited views, development-only features)
• Starter: $39/month for basic apps with moderate record limits and core features
• Professional: $79/month for larger apps with expanded record limits, increased API calls and more user seats
• Enterprise: $199+/month for high-volume usage, advanced security (SSO), priority support and custom SLA

These example plan names and price points reflect common public tiers for hosted no-code database platforms; exact rates and limits can change. Check Knack's current pricing tiers for the latest rates, exact record limits, API quotas and enterprise options.

How much is knack.com per month

Knack.com starts at approximately $39/month for an entry-level paid plan when billed monthly. Entry-level plans are intended for single-app use with moderate record counts and core features. Higher plans that support larger datasets, more users and integrations typically cost between $79/month and $199+/month depending on record limits and added features such as SSO and priority support. Verify current monthly billable rates on Knack's official pricing page at Knack's pricing tiers.

How much is knack.com per year

Knack.com costs approximately $390/year or more for basic annual billing if a platform offers a discounted annual option equivalent to roughly 10–20% off monthly rates. Annual billing is commonly provided for Starter and Professional plans with higher plans priced proportionally. For exact yearly totals, discounts for annual commitments and enterprise contract options see Knack's pricing tiers.

How much is knack.com in general

Knack.com pricing ranges from free evaluation tiers to $199+/month for enterprise-level plans. Small teams building simple apps can often start on low-cost plans between $0/month and $39/month for development and limited production use. Organizations with larger datasets, strict security or integration needs can expect to pay in the $79/month to $199+/month range or more for enterprise-grade capabilities.

What is Knack used for

Knack is used to replace spreadsheets and manual workflows with structured, multi-user web apps. Common use cases include custom CRMs, inventory tracking systems, membership directories and event registration portals. Because the platform models relational data, it handles scenarios where multiple related entities must be managed—customers, orders, invoices, items, and attachments.

Organizations also use Knack to build internal tools such as service request trackers, inspection checklists, and resource scheduling dashboards. The visual builder makes it straightforward to assemble dashboards with lists, charts and summary metrics so operations teams can monitor activity and performance.

Client-facing applications are another frequent use: consultants and agencies build client portals to share reports, collect client data and accept submissions securely. Knack's custom domain support and role-based authentication let teams present a branded experience without exposing backend data.

Because Knack exposes records via an API and supports webhooks and integrations, it is also used as a backend for lightweight frontends, mobile wrappers or hybrid solutions where a custom UI is needed but the underlying data model and business rules are managed in Knack.

Pros and cons of Knack

Pros:

• Visual data modeling and app builder reduce development time for common business apps.
• Built-in relational database features handle complex data models without custom backend code.
• Role-based access control and SSL hosting enable private apps and client portals with authentication.
• Prebuilt widgets (tables, forms, charts) speed up UI assembly and reduce design overhead.
• API access and webhooks enable integrations with external services and automation platforms.

Cons:

• Custom UI flexibility is limited compared with a fully custom-coded frontend; complex visual customizations may require embedding or external frontends.
• Pricing and record/API limits can become restrictive for very large datasets or high-transaction applications.
• Some advanced automation, conditional logic or performance tuning may require external tooling or developer support.
• Exporting or migrating very large datasets may need planned steps and occasional manual adjustments.

Decision factors to consider: evaluate expected record volumes, concurrent user counts, required integrations (SSO, payment gateways), and whether full design control over client-facing UI is necessary. Higher plans or the Enterprise option often unlock SSO, higher API throughput and priority support needed for production deployments.

Knack free trial

Knack typically provides a free evaluation or trial environment to build and test apps before committing to a paid plan. The trial allows users to model objects, create forms and test basic workflows with limited records and feature access. Trials are useful to validate the data model, test sample integrations and confirm that the platform meets functional requirements before purchasing.

During evaluation, you can test sample user roles and basic authentication, preview apps on a temporary domain, and experiment with the API. The trial restrictions usually include limits on the number of records, storage and API calls; these limits are lifted or expanded on paid plans.

To get set up quickly during trial, Knack provides templates and a library of sample apps for common use cases—CRMs, project trackers and membership directories—that can be customized rather than built from scratch. For current trial terms and how to sign up, review Knack's trial and signup information.

Is knack.com free

Yes, Knack offers a free evaluation tier that lets you test the platform with limited records and features. The free tier is intended for learning and prototyping rather than production use; to host production apps with higher record volumes, user seats and API access you will need a paid plan.

Knack API

Knack provides a RESTful API for programmatic access to objects, records and authentication. The API lets developers read, create, update and delete records, query filtered datasets, and interact with file attachments stored in Knack objects. Typical endpoints map to the data model: objects, records, pages and user sessions.

API usage is subject to rate limits that vary by plan—higher tiers get higher quotas and faster throughput. The API supports API keys for server-to-server access and session-based tokens for user-scoped operations. Webhooks are also available to notify external systems when records are created or updated, enabling near real-time automation with platforms like Zapier or custom middleware.

Common integration patterns include:

• Using Knack as the primary data store while serving a custom frontend via its API.
• Synchronizing Knack records to data warehouses or BI tools for analytics.
• Triggering external workflows when a Knack record changes using webhooks and an automation platform.

For developers building more integrated solutions, Knack documents endpoints and examples in its developer docs—see Knack developer documentation for request formats, authentication details and rate limit information.

10 Knack alternatives

Paid alternatives to Knack

• Airtable — A spreadsheet-style no-code database with strong collaboration features and many templates; better for teams that prefer a spreadsheet UI and rich extension marketplace.
• Bubble — Visual app builder focused on complex, custom frontends and workflows; better when you need complete UI flexibility and advanced web app logic.
• Quick Base — Low-code application platform aimed at enterprise process automation with stronger governance and scale features for large organizations.
• Caspio — Hosted database and app platform for business apps and portals with a focus on data compliance and reporting.
• Zoho Creator — Low-code platform from Zoho that integrates with the Zoho suite and includes mobile app builders and scripting for advanced logic.
• Knack (self-comparison) — Choose Knack where relational data modelling and fast app assembly are priorities; compare limits and API needs when evaluating.

Open source alternatives to Knack

• Budibase — Open source low-code platform that can connect to external databases and be self-hosted for teams needing full control over hosting and customization.
• Directus — Open source data platform that wraps custom SQL databases with an API and admin app, ideal when you want a headless CMS-style interface on top of your database.
• Appsmith — Open source low-code tool for building internal dashboards and admin panels with strong developer-oriented integrations.
• ToolJet — An open source low-code builder for internal tools with prebuilt integrations and self-hosting options.
• Forest Admin — While not fully open source, it offers a developer-friendly admin panel generation tool for building internal tools on top of existing databases.

Frequently asked questions about Knack

What is Knack used for?

Knack is a no-code database and application builder used to create custom web apps, CRMs, member portals and internal tools without traditional backend development. It structures data into objects and relationships, exposes forms and views for data entry and reporting, and adds basic automation and access controls for multi-user applications.

Does Knack integrate with Zapier?

Yes, Knack integrates with Zapier. You can use Zapier to connect Knack to hundreds of third-party apps to automate workflows such as sending notifications, syncing records with CRMs, or triggering tasks in project management tools.

How much does Knack cost per user or per month?

Knack.com starts at approximately $39/month for entry-level paid plans and scales upward based on record limits, API quotas and enterprise features. Per-user pricing is typically embedded in plan tiers or seat limits rather than a simple per-user charge; check current plan specifics at Knack's pricing tiers.

Is there a free version of Knack?

Yes, Knack offers a free evaluation tier intended for prototyping and testing with limited records and features. The free tier is not usually suitable for production-level apps with many users or large datasets.

Can Knack be used as a headless backend?

Yes, Knack can act as a headless backend via its REST API. Developers can use the API to read and write records programmatically, build a custom frontend, and use webhooks for event-driven integrations.

Does Knack support single sign-on (SSO)?

Yes, SSO is supported on higher-tier or Enterprise plans. Organizations that need centralized authentication and SAML/OAuth integration typically require an Enterprise-level plan or custom configuration; check Knack's enterprise documentation for supported providers and setup steps.

How secure is Knack for storing business data?

Knack provides industry-standard security controls including SSL/TLS for data in transit, role-based access control, and data segregation per app. Higher plans add options like SSO and dedicated support; for regulated data or specific compliance requirements consult Knack's security documentation or contact their sales team.

Can Knack import data from Excel or CSV?

Yes, Knack supports importing CSV and Excel files to populate objects and records. The import process typically includes column mapping, field type matching and the ability to create relationships from imported data.

How much customization does Knack allow for the user interface?

Knack allows substantial UI customization through its page builder and custom code embeds. You can assemble pages from prebuilt views (tables, forms, lists, galleries), apply CSS for styling, and embed custom HTML/JavaScript for advanced behavior; however, full design control often requires front-end development or embedding a separate frontend that uses the Knack API.

What types of support and documentation does Knack provide?

Knack offers documentation, knowledge base articles and support tiers including email support, priority support for paid plans and dedicated onboarding for enterprise customers. There are also community resources and sample apps to accelerate learning and deployment.

Knack careers

Knack's careers page typically lists openings in product, engineering, customer success and sales. Roles often include positions for product managers, software engineers familiar with cloud hosting and APIs, UX designers for low-code tools, and customer success managers who help new customers model their data and deploy apps. Check Knack company information for current job postings and recruiting contacts.

Knack affiliate

Knack does not widely advertise a public affiliate program; referrals are commonly handled via partner relationships with consultants and agencies who build apps for clients. If you are interested in reselling or referring Knack to clients, contact their sales or partnerships team through Knack partner information to learn about reseller options and referral agreements.

Where to find Knack reviews

To evaluate real-world experiences, read customer reviews and case studies on independent review sites such as G2 and Capterra and look for user feedback about scalability, support and implementation time. Knack also publishes customer stories and sample apps on its website that show concrete use cases—see Knack case studies and customer examples for curated examples.