# Apps vs Classic Apps > Part of the NocoDB documentation (Apps). Index of all pages: https://nocodb.com/llms.txt. Any docs page is available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL. URL: https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/apps-vs-classic-apps Last updated: 2026-10-21 Compare NocoDB AI apps and classic apps (formerly Interfaces, the equivalent of Airtable Interfaces): how you build, share and release each one. NocoDB has two ways to build apps on your project data: **AI apps** and **classic apps**. Classic apps were called **Interfaces** before. Both kinds live under **Apps** in the project sidebar, and a project can have both. The two kinds of app use the same project data. They differ in how you build them, who can use them and how they go live. | | AI app | Classic app | | ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | **In one sentence** | You describe the app, and [NocoAI](/docs/product/noco-ai) writes it. | You put pages together from layouts, without code. | | **Best for** | Portals, approvals, partner tools | Trackers, intake forms, dashboards | | **How many in a project** | One | Any number, up to the limit of your plan | | **Docs** | [Apps](/docs/apps) | [Classic apps](/docs/classic-apps) | ## How you build An AI app starts from a description in a chat. A classic app starts from a layout that you select for each page. | | AI app | Classic app | | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Builder** | The [AI app builder](/docs/apps/app-builder): a live preview and the NocoAI chat | The [classic app builder](/docs/classic-apps/builder): a canvas and a properties panel | | **How you make changes** | Ask NocoAI in plain language. NocoAI writes the pages, the actions and the access rules. | Select an element on the canvas and configure it. | | **Screens** | Custom screens, navigation and logic | Six [page layouts](/docs/classic-apps/layouts): Table, Record review, Dashboard, Form, Overview and Record detail | | **Starting point** | A description. NocoAI can also design new tables for the app. | Your existing tables. A page can [copy settings from a view](/docs/classic-apps/create-classic-app#copy-settings-from-a-view). | | **Learn more** | [Create an app](/docs/apps/create-app) | [Create a classic app](/docs/classic-apps/create-classic-app) | ## Who can use it Both kinds of app let you share project data with people who must not see the full project. | | AI app | Classic app | | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Builders** | Project **Owner** and **Creator** roles | Project creators and owners | | **Access model** | [Teams](/docs/apps/members-and-teams). Each team has a list of the actions that its members can run. | Roles (**Editor**, **Commenter**, **Read only**) on the full classic app or on each page | | **People from outside the project** | Add them to the app only | Invite them to the classic app only | | **Public use** | [Public pages](/docs/apps/public-access) that anyone can open without signing in | Not available yet. Public share-to-web for table and dashboard pages is planned. | | **Learn more** | [Secure vibe coding](/docs/apps/security) | [Share a classic app](/docs/classic-apps/share) | ## How it goes live An AI app deploys to its own web address. A classic app publishes a draft inside NocoDB. | | AI app | Classic app | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Release model** | [Deploy](/docs/apps/deploy-app) the current build as a numbered version | [Publish](/docs/classic-apps/publish) the draft. You can keep single pages as draft. | | **Test before release** | A live preview, and test [environments](/docs/apps/environments) | **Preview** and **Preview as** a role or a person | | **Version history** | Each deploy is a numbered version. You can restore an earlier version with one click. | One draft and one published version of each page | | **Address** | The [app URL](/docs/apps/app-url), its own web address | Inside NocoDB | ## Data and integrations | | AI app | Classic app | | ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Data** | Your databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server), any HTTP API and SaaS apps, live through connections, plus project data | Project data | | **How the app changes data** | Through [actions](/docs/apps#how-apps-are-structured) that NocoAI creates | Through the editing options of each page and [buttons](/docs/classic-apps/elements#buttons) | | **Automations** | Actions can call other services | Buttons can run a workflow through the [When a button is clicked](/docs/workflows/nodes/trigger-nodes/button-clicked) trigger | | **API and MCP server** | Yes, one for each app | No | | **Learn more** | [Data for apps](/docs/apps/data), [API and MCP](/docs/apps/api-and-mcp) | [Fields, buttons & filters](/docs/classic-apps/elements) | ## Which one to pick Use the questions below to select the kind of app. You do not have to select only one: a project can have one AI app and many classic apps. | If you need | Use | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | A tracker, an intake form or a dashboard on tables you already have | Classic app | | Several small tools, each for a different audience | Classic apps | | Custom screens, logic or roles that the six layouts cannot give | AI app | | Pages that people open without signing in | AI app | | Access for other programs or AI agents | AI app | | An app on self-hosted NocoDB today | Classic app. AI apps for self-hosted NocoDB are in private beta. | ## Availability | | AI app | Classic app | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **NocoDB Cloud** | All plans, including **Free**. Building and running the app use the [credits](/docs/product/workspaces/credits) of the workspace. | All plans | | **Self-hosted** | Private beta. To get early access, [talk to sales](https://cal.com/nocodb/sales). | Available. The Community Edition includes 2 classic apps with up to 2 pages each. | ## Related * [Apps](/docs/apps) * [Classic apps](/docs/classic-apps) * [Vibe coding with NocoDB Apps](/docs/apps/vibe-coding) --- ## Related pages - [Apps](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps.md): NocoDB Apps is an AI app builder for enterprise work apps: connect your databases, any API and SaaS apps, describe the app, and NocoAI builds it on live data. - [Vibe Coding with NocoDB Apps](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/vibe-coding.md): Vibe coding is making software by describing it to AI. NocoDB Apps bring vibe coding to enterprise-grade work apps, on your own data, with teams, permissions and safe deploys. - [Create an App](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/create-app.md): Create a NocoDB app with AI: describe the app, and NocoAI builds it on your data. Start from Apps in a project, when you create a project, from the workspace home screen, or in the NocoAI chat. - [AI App Builder](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/app-builder.md): Build and change enterprise-grade work apps in NocoDB's AI app builder: describe a change to NocoAI in the chat, and test it in the live preview. - [Data for Apps](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/data.md): Build a NocoDB app on your data where it lives: connect your databases, any API and SaaS apps live with no sync first, or use NocoDB tables. - [Secure Vibe Coding](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/security.md): How NocoDB Apps keep AI-built work apps safe: teams and action grants, record rules, reviewed public pages, secrets in connections, scoped API tokens, environments and version restore. - [Members and Teams](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/members-and-teams.md): Control who can use a NocoDB app and what they can do in it with app teams, members and action grants. - [Public Access](https://nocodb.com/docs/apps/public-access.md): Make pages of a NocoDB app public, and choose which actions visitors can run without signing in.