Alexis Kestler
As a fellow data analyst and technology enthusiast, I know how crucial it is to have the right tools to collect, organize and analyze data in this information age. The amount of data created daily is mind-boggling – around 2.5 quintillion bytes! Without the proper systems, it can be overwhelming.
This is where tools like Airtable come in. Airtable combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, making it easy to capture and connect data across teams. However, Airtable has some limitations that may make you look for alternatives.
In this guide, I‘ll share my top 9 Airtable alternatives for managing data and building apps, as an expert in both technology and data analysis. I‘ve evaluated these options based on features, flexibility, ease of use and pricing to help you find the right fit.
Let‘s dive in!
Why Consider an Airtable Alternative?
Airtable is great for basic data organization and collaboration, but has some shortcomings when it comes to large or complex data sets. Here are a few reasons why you may want to look at alternatives:
Price – Airtable‘s pricing starts at $10/user/month for Plus and $20/user/month for Pro plans. For larger teams and projects, costs can add up quickly. Many alternatives are more affordable.
Data limitations – Airtable slows down significantly with large datasets. Its row limits also make it tough to manage massive amounts of data. Alternatives built specifically for large data may perform better.
Customization – While Airtable offers templates and custom fields, it provides limited branding and customization options for apps and interfaces. Other low-code platforms are more flexible.
Advanced functionality – Some alternatives simply offer more advanced features – like visual data exploration, complex automations and integrations, user management and access controls.
Control – Airtable is proprietary software, while some alternatives are open source. With open source options, you maintain more control over customization.
Let‘s look at the top alternatives that can avoid these pitfalls.
1. Knack
Knack is a highly flexible no-code platform that makes it easy to create custom applications and databases without coding. It‘s an excellent Airtable alternative.
With Knack, you can build a wide range of apps – from simple data tables, to full-fledged CRMs and enterprise systems. It has great features for managing and collaborating on data:
- Intuitive drag and drop interface to customize apps and views
- Ability to handle complex structured data relationships
- Robust access controls and permissions
- Automations for managing workflows
- Fast filtered searches on data
You get a free 14-day trial to test it out. Pricing starts at $39/month for up to 50,000 records – very affordable for small teams. It also scales up for larger projects.
If you want to customize and control the full app experience – rather than just create tables – Knack is a great choice.
2. Coda
Coda combines spreadsheets, documents, databases and automation in one flexible workspace. It provides Airtable-like tables and views, but with more freeform content creation capabilities.
Some killer features include:
- Interactive tables connected to other sheets or data sources
- Canvas view to visualize data relationships
- @mentions, chat and comments for real-time collaboration
- Custom packages to bundle and share data/tools with others
- 750+ app integrations via Zapier
- Comprehensive access controls and permissions
Its "doc" format is perfect for bringing data, content and conversations together in one place. And the automation tools allow you to build some powerful workflows.
Coda offers a forever-free plan, with premium plans starting at $10/month. It‘s an awesome flexible alternative to explore.
3. NocoDB
If you want an open-source Airtable alternative, NocoDB is a great option to consider. It allows you to turn any existing database (MySQL, Postgres, etc) into a smart spreadsheet with no-code tools.
NocoDB enables anyone on your team to manage data without coding skills. Benefits include:
- Connect and sync data from existing databases
- Intuitive spreadsheet interface with relationships and views
- User management with granular access controls
- Charts, calendars, galleries and other data visualizations
- Automate tasks and workflows with simple triggers
- REST APIs to connect other apps and tools
NocoDB is free for personal use. Business pricing starts at just $7/month. It‘s a very flexible open-source pick.
4. Rowy
Rowy provides a spreadsheet-like interface to create and manage cloud data, functions, and access controls. It integrates smoothly with your existing databases.
I like Rowy for its flexibility across frameworks and environments. It supports:
- Direct connections to databases like Postgres, MySQL, Firestore
- Custom logic and functions using JavaScript
- Access controls and permissions built-in
- Relationships between data tracked visually
- Live previews of data changes
- Deploys to Vercel, Netlify, AWS and more
As an open source tool designed by developers, it offers a very customizable spreadsheet-to-database experience. And you can use it completely free.
5. Budibase
Budibase is another talented open-source newcomer for creating apps and managing data without code.
It allows you to either connect external databases (like Postgres) or start from scratch with its built-in database. Budibase makes it simple to build custom interfaces and tools leveraging pre-built components and automation tools.
Standout features:
- Multi-environment deployments – self-hosted, AWS, Heroku etc.
- Custom portal for users with management and access control
- Wide range of interface templates and components
- Integration with external tools like Auth0, AWS S3 and more
- Automations for complex workflows
- Modern interface with roles and permissions
For open source self-hosted software, Budibase packs an impressive punch. It offers an affordable Airtable alternative.
6. AppSheet
AppSheet is a flexible no-code platform for creating internal business apps. It connects to your data sources and generates feature-rich apps automatically.
Benefits of AppSheet include:
- Apps auto-build from data source (no coding)
- Desktop and mobile app deployment
- Complex applications with roles, views and workflow
- Usage analytics and monitoring built-in
- Hundreds of 3rd party integrations
- Enterprise-level security and permissions
AppSheet offers a very generous free tier. Paid plans start at $5/user/month for business applications. It‘s a robust way to build apps from your data.
7. Mathesar
As a PostgreSQL fan, I love Mathesar. It provides a simple web interface for managing PostgreSQL databases visually without coding.
Mathesar makes PostgreSQL easy with:
- Live dashboard of database schema and performance
- Intuitive UI to edit tables, rows, indexes & more
- Query builder for custom filters, sorting and aggregation
- Charts and dashboards for data visualization
- Row level permissions control
- Full PostgreSQL feature support
For surfacing PostgreSQL data in a user-friendly way, Mathesar is a great open source tool. And it‘s 100% free!
8. Datalore
Datalore provides a powerful online platform for collaborating on data analysis and machine learning in Python and R.
It combines:
- Jupyter notebooks for sharing analysis and models
- Version control, sharing/permissions for code
- Virtual environments to standardize dependencies
- Tables, charts and visualizations
- Task scheduling and integrations
- Discussion threads and commenting
If your team collaborates heavily on data science and ML, Datalore offers excellent tools – especially with its git-like version control for notebooks. Pricing starts at $8/user/month for teams.
9. Caspio
Caspio is a robust cloud platform optimized for building custom database apps and BI dashboards without coding.
It ships with powerful features including:
- Visually design database schema and relationships
- Customize role-based interfaces, views and access
- Charts, dashboards and visualizations
- Cloud sync and API connectivity
- User management and access controls
- Load balancing and redundancy
Caspio offers a very generous free plan. Paid plans start at $59/month for their starter plan which can support enterprise deployments.
Which Airtable Alternative is Right for You?
There are a lot of great options out there that can provide more power, flexibility and affordability than Airtable for your specific use case.
Here are a few key considerations as you evaluate alternatives:
- Skill level – Low-code vs developer-focused options
- Customization – Do you need tailored apps and views?
- Data needs – Data volume, structures and sources
- Team needs – Size, collaboration requirements, roles
- Budget – Watch pricing tiers for your team size
- Deployment – Cloud vs self-hosted vs hybrid
Airtable is a solid starting point for simple collaboration. But platforms like Knack, NocoDB, Rowy or Budibase let you take customization and scalability to the next level without coding expertise.
The world of no-code data tools expands every day. I hope this overview helps you find the perfect fit! Let me know if you have any other questions.
