DronaHQ has carved a niche in the low-code space by offering a visually intuitive platform to build internal tools, portals, and dashboards, all with powerful backend connectivity. From AI-driven features to enterprise-grade controls, DronaHQ aims to serve teams of all sizes.

But how does DronaHQ’s pricing stack up in 2025? What do you get at each tier, and how does it compare with other platforms like Appsmith, ToolJet, or Retool?

In this guide, we’ll unpack the DronaHQ pricing model, what each plan includes, who it’s best for, and where the value lies. Let’s dive in.

What is DronaHQ?

DronaHQ is a low-code platform for building internal tools, web apps, and mobile apps using drag-and-drop components, prebuilt templates, and powerful data integrations. It supports API connections, database integrations, AI automation, and secure user management, all wrapped into a user-friendly interface.

Whether you’re an early-stage startup or a large enterprise, DronaHQ offers modular plans to match different team sizes, security needs, and development goals.

DronaHQ pricing overview: Plans, features, and costs

DronaHQ pricing plan offers four main pricing tiers:

  • Starter – $10/user/month
  • Business Lite – $15/user/month
  • Business – $25/user/month
  • Enterprise – Custom pricing

Let’s break down what you get in each.

DronaHQ pricing tier 1: Starter plan (Cloud)

Ideal for: Solo developers and small teams exploring app development

  • $10 per user/month
  • 300 AI credits for trial
  • Unlimited web and mobile apps
  • Google sign-in
  • Case-based support
  • Version release & change history
  • Connect to any database or API
  • Reusable queries & APIs
  • Rules and validation logic

Best for: Teams just getting started, needing essential features to build apps and connect to data sources.

DronaHQ pricing tier 2: Business Lite plan (cloud & self-host)

Ideal for: Growing teams looking to brand and scale apps

  • $15 per user/month
  • Includes everything in Starter, plus:
    • App catalogs
    • App themes
    • Data environments
    • Custom controls
    • Custom domain support

Best for: Teams who want better design control, cleaner deployment workflows, and environment separation.

DronaHQ pricing tier 3: Business plan (cloud & self-host)

Ideal for: Mid-sized companies prioritizing security and customization

  • $25 per user/month
  • Includes everything in Business Lite, plus:
    • White-labeling capabilities
    • SAML/OpenID SSO integration
    • Minimum of 10 engineering calls*

Best for: Teams that require authentication options and brand ownership, with some engineering support.

DronaHQ pricing tier 4: Enterprise plan (cloud & self-host)

Ideal for: Large organizations with complex infrastructure and security needs

  • Custom pricing based on scale and requirements
  • Includes everything in Business, plus:
    • Custom connectors
    • Granular permissions
    • Audit logs
    • Offline access for mobile apps
    • Enterprise-grade support
    • Multiple SSO support
    • Custom engineering calls
    • Slack-based support

Best for: Enterprises looking for total flexibility, control, and concierge-level support.

Add-ons

Add-On Description Price
AI credits Built with an AI-powered co-developer. Includes support for up to 2 developers. $30/month for 2,000 AI credits
PDF creator Generate PDF reports, invoices, and templates directly from your apps. $50/month for 2,500 tasks
Automation Automate repetitive workflows using schedulers or webhook triggers. $50/month for 2,500 tasks
Public & embeddable apps Make apps public or embed them securely into other platforms or sites. $50/month for 2,500 views
DronaHQ database Built-in PostgreSQL-based database with a spreadsheet-like interface. Contact Sales for pricing
File storage Managed file storage with an in-app file explorer for easy file management. Contact Sales for pricing
BPM workflows (Deprecated) Multistep human-in-the-loop business process workflows (legacy support). $100/month for 2,500 tasks

Note: All add-ons are optional and can be activated individually. AI credits, PDF generation, and automation come with a monthly task or usage cap, with top-ups available as needed.

Also read “Top Budibase pricing, plans, and reviews you need to know in 2025.”

When should you consider add-ons?

  • You’re building AI-powered apps: The AI Credits add-on lets you incorporate generative features without external integrations.
  • You need branded documents: The PDF Creator is ideal for apps that require custom invoices, forms, or report downloads. 
  • You want to automate operations: The Automations module supports backend jobs triggered on schedule or an event.
  • You plan to share or embed apps externally: The Public & Embeddable Apps add-on allows broader access without strict authentication barriers.
  • You don’t want to manage external databases or file storage: DronaHQ’s native database and file manager simplify backend operations, especially for non-technical users.

By adding these modules to your base plan, you can scale DronaHQ into a truly customized internal tool platform tailored to your use case, whether it’s for operations, customer portals, or analytics dashboards.

Comparing DronaHQ’s plans: What do you get at each tier?

Feature Starter(cloud)  Business Lite (cloud and self-host)  Business (cloud and self-host) Enterprise (cloud and self-host)
Price per user/month $10 $15 $25 Custom
AI credits (Trial) 300 300 300 300
Web & mobile App support Yes Yes Yes Yes
Custom domains No Yes Yes Yes
App themes No Yes Yes Yes
White-labeling No No Yes Yes
SSO (SAML/OpenID) No No Yes Yes
Granular permissions No No No Yes
Offline mobile access No No No Yes
Support Case-based Case-based Standard Priority + Slack

Choosing the right DronaHQ plan: What should you consider?

1. Team size & budget

The Starter plan delivers solid value for small teams with access to unlimited apps, data connectors, and API capabilities. Business Lite and Business plans offer brand control, better environments, and SSO as your organization scales.

2. Branding & customization

If white-labeling, app themes, or custom controls are priorities for your team or client-facing apps, consider Business or Enterprise tiers.

3. Security & Compliance

Enterprise-grade SSO, audit logs, and granular role-based permissions are only available at the highest tier. This level of security is often non-negotiable for organizations in finance, healthcare, or similar verticals.

4. Support requirements

Starter and Business Lite plans offer limited (case-based) support. The Enterprise plan is a better fit if you need dedicated engineering assistance or Slack support.

Also, read our latest blog on “Top 10 UI Bakery alternatives to try in 2025”. 

DronaHQ vs its competitors 

Feature DronaHQ Appsmith ToolJet Retool
Free plan available No free tier Yes, for 5 users Yes Yes (limited) 
Starting price $10/user/month $0 (free) or $15/user/month Free, then $79/builder/month $0 (free) or $10/user/month
Cloud hosting Yes Only free & enterprise Yes Yes
Self-hosting Yes Yes  Yes (open-source) Yes
AI capabilities Yes (credits included) No (no native AI) Yes (built-in AI native) No (custom only)
White-labeling Yes (Business+) Only in Enterprise Yes (Team+) Yes (Enterprise)

Why do teams prefer ToolJet over DronaHQ?

While DronaHQ is a powerful low-code platform with strong mobile support, AI credits, and add-on flexibility, many growing teams are choosing ToolJet as a more developer-friendly, scalable, and cost-effective alternative. Here’s why:

1. Fully open-source with no feature gating

ToolJet is one of the few platforms in this space that’s truly open-source; no core features are locked behind paywalls. DronaHQ, on the other hand, is proprietary, and many advanced capabilities (like white-labeling, SSO, or embedding) are tied to higher-tier plans or add-ons.

2. Simpler, transparent pricing

ToolJet offers clear, predictable pricing across both cloud and self-hosted deployments without needing to piece together add-ons or pay extra for basic enterprise features. In contrast, DronaHQ’s pricing can become layered and expensive when you start adding automation, PDF generation, or public app access.

3. Smoother developer experience

ToolJet supports 60+ drag-and-drop components, custom code blocks in JavaScript, and deep Git integration, all out of the box. Developers often report a gentler learning curve and faster build times compared to DronaHQ, especially when working with APIs, databases, or custom logic.

4. Powerful AI, natively integrated

While DronaHQ offers AI credits as an add-on, ToolJet includes built-in AI blocks by default in its Studio. You can easily drop in AI features like text generation, summarization, or predictions with no external setup, no usage caps.

5. Self-hosting without limitations

ToolJet supports full self-hosting with all features available, giving teams complete control over deployment, security, and infrastructure. With DronaHQ, self-hosting isn’t a standard offering and may require custom enterprise discussions.

6. Granular permissions from lower tiers

ToolJet offers role-based access control starting at the Team Plan, enabling smaller teams to manage security and collaboration without jumping to enterprise-level pricing. DronaHQ only unlocks granular permissions and audit logs in its top-tier Enterprise plan.

7. More active, open community

ToolJet’s open-source roots have cultivated a strong, responsive community. Teams benefit from faster issue resolutions, community-driven updates, and a transparent roadmap, something that’s harder to access in closed platforms like DronaHQ.

In short:

ToolJet is built with enterprises in mind, offering robust features to support compliance, advanced access control, and governance requirements, ensuring organizations can scale securely and confidently.

ToolJet is a modern, enterprise-grade, AI-native, and developer-first alternative to DronaHQ.

Try ToolJet for free today and build without limits.