(Podio vs. Tape vs. InfoLobby — the DIY workbench for your data.)
You’ve got a team, a mountain of data, and a budget that squeaks when you sit on it. You don’t want another “walled garden.” You want to build the exact workspace you need, quickly, without mortgaging your soul. Let’s compare three solid picks: Podio, Tape, and InfoLobby.
Quick take: Podio is the veteran Swiss-army tool; Tape is the shiny no-/low-code upstart; InfoLobby is the “mini starter” that plugs straight into the MySQL you already have, so experimenting costs peanuts.
TL;DR fit (plain talk)
- Podio — broad ecosystem, mature automations, per-user pricing. Great if you want “apps for everything” and don’t mind the meter running. (Podio)
- Tape — modern, friendly builder with dashboards and generous automation tiers; also per-user. Fresh UX, quick to shape. (Tape)
- InfoLobby — connects to your MySQL. Unlimited users, no lock-in, currently free during beta; later pricing based on automation usage (not per-user). Perfect for SMBs that already have a database on their web host and want to spin up a shared GUI fast. (InfoLobby)
Why “bring your own database” matters for SMBs
SMBs juggle a silly number of SaaS tools (the average company ran ~106 apps in 2024). Every extra platform adds cost and breach surface area. Breaches are pricey: the global average sits around $4.4M; SMBs are targeted heavily, with Verizon’s DBIR noting they’re hit nearly 4× as often as large orgs. Centralizing sensitive data in your own DB and layering a lightweight UI can reduce sprawl and exit risk.
Also, per-user pricing snowballs faster than a tabby on a Roomba. A flat, database-centric model keeps experiments cheap and exits painless. (Export? You already have the data.)
Platform snapshots
Podio (Progress Podio)
- What it is: A long-standing app-builder/work management platform with workspaces, apps, tasks, and robust workflow automation (especially on Premium).
- Pricing (annual billing): Free (5 employees), Plus $11.20/user/mo, Premium $19.20/user/mo; monthly billing is higher.
- Automation: Native “when/then” workflows; advanced automation on Premium.
- Ecosystem: Many extensions/integrations; deep community.
- Best for: Teams wanting a mature marketplace and don’t mind per-user math.
Tape
- What it is: A modern no-/low-code work platform with apps, forms, rules, dashboards, and baked-in automations.
- Pricing (annual): Plus $7.50/user/mo, Premium $19.00/user/mo; monthly billing is $9 and $24 respectively.
- Automation: Generous quotas; Premium promos have listed multi-million runs.
- Best for: Teams that want a fast, modern builder and rich dashboards, and are fine with per-seat.
InfoLobby
- What it is: A clean web interface on top of your existing MySQL. Add/organize tables, invite unlimited users with roles, relate records, and run code-based triggers. No lock-in.
- Pricing: Free during beta; future pricing will be automation-based (not per-user, not per-row) with a flat “per-database” philosophy.
- Automation: Code-based triggers near your data (create/update/delete/schedule) so logic runs where the rows live.
- Best for: SMBs with a cPanel/hosted MySQL who want to prototype or run production without migrations, row caps, or seat-based penalties.
Feature comparison (at a glance)
| Capability | Podio | Tape | InfoLobby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workspaces & custom “apps” | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Roles / permissions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automations | Yes (workflows; advanced on Premium) | Yes (rules + high action quotas) | Yes (code-based triggers near DB) |
| Data location | Vendor cloud | Vendor cloud | Your MySQL (no duplication / no lock-in) |
| Row limits | 500k items per "app" | 500k items per "app" | Limited by your DB host (billions if your server can handle it) |
| Users | Per-employee billing | Per-member billing | Unlimited users (flat per-DB model; beta free) |
Pricing comparison (simple scenarios)
Assumptions: Annual billing; taxes/fees extra; entry features comparable. InfoLobby is $0 during beta; future pricing is usage-based, not per-user.
| Team size | Podio Plus | Podio Premium | Tape Plus | Tape Premium | InfoLobby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 users | $56/mo | $96/mo | $37.50/mo | $95.00/mo | $0 (beta) |
| 15 users | $168/mo | $288/mo | $112.50/mo | $285.00/mo | $0 (beta) |
Real-world considerations (the unglamorous bits)
- Exit strategy: With Podio/Tape, you’ll export if you leave, with a 20k Excel limit or write code and use their API. With InfoLobby, your data never left your DB in the first place.
- Security surface area: More SaaS = more doors. Verizon notes SMBs are targeted aggressively; IBM puts the average breach in the multi-million range. Keeping core data closer can simplify risk. (Not magic, just fewer moving parts.)
- Automation blast radius: Running automations near the database avoids the “ship every row through five webhooks” pattern — faster, cheaper, fewer failure points.
Who should pick what?
- Pick Podio if you want mature breadth, partner extensions, and you’re okay with per-user spend as you scale.
- Pick Tape if you value a clean builder, native dashboards, and predictable per-user pricing with strong automation quotas.
- Pick InfoLobby if you want the lowest cost to explore (already have MySQL on your website host), unlimited users, and no lock-in. It’s a smooth “starter” that can stay in production — especially for SMB workflows where control beats flash.
The bottom line
If your team already has a MySQL database sitting next to your website, InfoLobby is the cheapest way to test ideas: connect, add roles, build tables, and go — free during beta and no per-seat tax. If you need a big marketplace and seasoned automation UI, Podio delivers. If you want a modern builder with real-time dashboards, Tape is delightful. Use the tool that makes your next week cheaper and your next change painless — like choosing sweatpants over a tux when you’re coding at 11 pm.