Kintone

This Kintone review covers what Kintone is used for, its key features, Kintone pricing, how it works, where it shines and falls short, and how it compares with other platforms. Kintone is a cloud service from Cybozu, a Japanese software company. It lets business users create apps for sales information, customer information, inquiries and tasks, and it keeps the data, the workflow and the discussion about each record in one place. According to Cybozu's help center, you can "easily create systems tailored to your business even if you have no knowledge of system development."

What is Kintone used for?

Kintone is used to manage business processes: it replaces spreadsheets, email threads and paper forms with small business applications that a team can share. Typical uses are customer information and simple CRM, project tracking, inquiry and ticket logs for customer service, inventory, quality checks, approvals and expense requests. Operations, sales and marketing staff use it to track tasks and projects, set up custom workflows and keep one shared source of data instead of many copies.

It works best for teams that want to streamline business processes they already run, not for building software for customers. Kintone says more than 42,000 companies use it worldwide, many of them mid-sized organizations and departments inside larger companies.

Key features

• Apps and fields: create an app from scratch, from a spreadsheet or from one of more than 50 templates, then drag and drop fields such as text, numbers, dates, dropdowns, attachments, user pickers and lookups to other apps.
• Views and graphs: list, calendar and custom views with filters, plus graphs and summaries to see the whole picture of your data.
• Process management: define statuses, assignees and approval steps, with branch criteria, so each record moves through a workflow that fits the way you work.
• Access control: set who can view and edit each app, record and field. This protects data integrity when many users share one database. Kintone's trust center lists ISO/IEC 27001 certification and HIPAA compliance.
• Spaces and threads: team spaces keep discussions next to the related apps and records. Guest spaces let you collaborate with external members such as clients or suppliers.
• Messages and notifications: comment on records, mention people and get notified when data changes.
• Plugins, JavaScript and API: extend apps with Kintone plugins, JavaScript and CSS customization, and a REST API for integrations with other systems such as accounting or ERP software.
• Mobile apps: access and update records from a phone.

Kintone pricing

According to the Kintone pricing page (September 2026), Kintone sells one plan with all features included:

• $24 per user per month, with a minimum of 5 users ($120 a month).
• Up to 900 apps and 300 spaces, 50,000 API calls per day, and 5 GB of storage per user.
• Process management, JavaScript customization and Kintone plugins are included.
• A 30-day free trial with all features.
• Special pricing for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, education and government, on request.

There is no free plan. Note that the price is the same for every user who logs in, whether they build apps or only use them. The cost surprise to check is the 5-user minimum: a team of two still pays for five seats. Many companies also add third-party plugins, which are priced separately by their vendors.

How Kintone works: building business applications

You start by creating an app. Import a spreadsheet, pick a template or start from scratch, then click and drag fields onto the form and set the layout. Next you set access rights and, if needed, a process with statuses and approvals. Then you add views and graphs, and share the app in a space where your team can discuss records. Kintone describes this as three key steps: create apps, set up processes and collaborate in spaces. It is easy to learn: a simple first app can be ready the same day, and you can improve it over time as your needs change without waiting for a developer. That flexibility is the main reason teams choose a no-code platform over custom software.

Collaboration, communication and data integrity

Kintone combines a database with team collaboration. Each app and record has its own comment thread, so communication about a task stays next to the data instead of in email. People can mention colleagues, send messages and refer back to past discussions later. Spaces group the apps, threads and people of one team or project, and guest spaces bring in external members. Permissions per app, record and field protect data integrity: a sales rep can edit a deal but not the discount field, for example. For an organization that needs to manage many departments, this mix of structure and discussion is what sets Kintone apart from a plain online database.

Is Kintone a CRM?

Kintone is not a dedicated CRM, but many teams use it as one. You can create a customer information app, link it to deals and support inquiries, and add a sales process with statuses. The result is a flexible, custom CRM that fits your business. It lacks built-in email marketing, lead scoring and forecasting, which dedicated CRM software provides.

Where Kintone shines — and where it falls short

Strengths:

• Easy for non-technical users to create database apps and workflows, and a first app takes little time to set up.
• Data, workflow and discussion live in one place.
• Fine-grained permissions and guest spaces for external collaboration.
• One plan with all features, and a 30-day trial.

Trade-offs:

• The 5-user minimum makes it costly for very small teams.
• Layout and design options are basic compared with app builders.
• Advanced changes need JavaScript or paid plugins.
• Reporting is simpler than a BI tool.

How Kintone compares

• Airtable: a spreadsheet-style database with more views and templates.
• Quickbase: enterprise no-code apps for operations teams, at a higher price.
• Smartsheet: spreadsheet-based project and work management.
• Knack and Caspio: online database apps with public web portals.
• Microsoft Power Apps: the Microsoft 365 option with Dataverse.
• AppSheet: Google's no-code app builder for Workspace users.
• TrackVia and Ninox: other no-code database platforms for business applications.

Is Kintone worth it?

Kintone is worth it for teams of five or more that want to move business processes out of spreadsheets and email into shared apps with approvals, permissions and discussion in one place. The single plan is simple to budget for. It is less of a fit for one- or two-person teams, for customer-facing apps, or when you need rich design. If you want help to set up Kintone or connect it to other systems, the low-code agencies and developers on LowCodeDevs can take it on.

Sources

• Kintone pricing: plan, price, minimum users, limits and trial.
• What is kintone? (Kintone Help): apps, records, processes, spaces, plugins and API.
• Creating an app from scratch (Kintone Help): the app-building steps.
• Kintone rapid application development: the no-code platform overview.
• Kintone alternatives, Software Finder: a list of alternatives.