What is Rowy?

Rowy is an Apache-licensed low-code backend platform that puts a spreadsheet-style CMS on top of a Cloud Firestore database and lets developers write and deploy backend cloud functions in JavaScript straight from the browser. Tables support CRUD, bulk CSV/JSON/TSV import and export, sorting, filtering and multiple views per collection, with 30+ field types including uploads, rich editors, action fields, aggregate fields, connector fields and service-connect fields. Automation runs through field-level function triggers (derivative and action fields), pre-built extensions for services such as SendGrid, Algolia, Twilio and Slack, and inbound webhooks; any npm package or API can be imported inside functions. Teams get built-in user management with table- and field-level role permissions. Self-hosting means cloning the repo, setting Firebase project environment variables, and running it with Yarn against your own Firebase project, while the Rowy Run backend services are deployed to Cloud Run in the same project; the vendor also offers a guided install and a free hosted app, with paid Pro tiers for extra projects, full-text search and sandboxing. The public repository has not been pushed since November 2024, and the site now points API and workflow builders towards BuildShip, while manual installs get no automatic updates or support.

Should you self-host Rowy?

Rowy scores 60/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #8 of 17 in Low Code. It has 6 843 GitHub stars.

There was no stable release in the past 12 months, so check the repository's recent activity before you rely on it.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is Other-licensed and written mostly in Typescript.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is nocodb (81/100, 65 369 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See Rowy vs nocodb side by side.

Features

30+ field types
Action fields
Built-in user management
Bulk import and export
Cloud function editor in browser
Derivative fields
Extensions (pre-built code blocks)
Field validation, defaults and required fields
Full-Text SearchDocs list advanced filtering, sorting and full-text search among paid Rowy Pro features.
Multiple table views
Role-based Access Control
Sort and filter rows
Spreadsheet-style database UI (CMS)
Use any npm package or API
Webhooks

FAQ

Why can't I upload files in Rowy?

File uploads go to Firebase Storage, so its rules must allow the table and user; resetting to the default rules in the Firebase console fixes accidental changes.

What does using Rowy cost?

Rowy Base is free (hosted, open source) with no charge from Rowy, while Rowy Pro is a paid tier; you only pay your own GCP usage, and cloud functions need billing enabled on your project.

What does granting Rowy access to my cloud platform during setup mean?

Rowy is a Google-approved app used only to automate Firebase project setup (creating/selecting projects, enabling Firestore, Storage and Auth and applying rules); your data and code stay in your own GCP/Firebase project.

Does Rowy support databases other than Firestore?

No, at the time of the docs only Firestore is supported, with other databases left as a request to the community.

How many rows can Rowy render, and is there throttling?

Rows are fetched as you scroll and only visible data is rendered, so the limits are Firestore's own throttling (10MB IOPS) rather than Rowy's.

Can I see my existing Firestore collections in Rowy?

Yes, existing collections appear in the Create table picker once Rowy Run is deployed; otherwise you can add a collection by name in the popup.

Where is my data stored?

All data you create and manage in Rowy lives in your own Firebase/Firestore database on Google Cloud, with Rowy's own configuration kept in a "rowy" collection there.