Airtable review: Pros, cons, and the best alternative

Airtable is a popular cloud-based platform that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the features of a database. But is it the right fit for everyone? This Airtable review offers a comprehensive overview of the software, detailing its pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

We’ll also compare it with Baserow, an open-source Airtable alternative that can be self-hosted and customized to suit your needs, giving you total control over your data at a fraction of the cost of Airtable.

• Airtable review at a glance.
• Airtable overview.
• Airtable’s key features and capabilities.
• Airtable’s usability and performance.
• Airtable pros and cons.
• Pricing.
• Real-world applications.
• Airtable reviews from users.
• Comparisons with similar tools like Baserow.
• Conclusion.

Airtable review at a glance

Airtable overview

Airtable is a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed for no-code data management. It combines the user-friendly interface of spreadsheets like Excel with the capabilities of a relational database. The platform caters to a broad spectrum of needs, from project and content management, to contact databases, task lists, and more, which allow users to create applications to store, organize, and collaborate on data.

Airtable offers a suite of features such as linking related records and displaying data in a variety of views including Grid, Calendar, and Kanban. It supports real-time collaboration with notifications, comments, and adjustable permission levels for collaborators. Plus, it offers native integrations with popular work apps like Slack, Jira, and Salesforce.

However, no Airtable review would be complete without mentioning its limitations. Notably, it doesn’t offer an open-source version, preventing users from accessing the source code and customizing the software to unique requirements. Additionally, the inability to self-host restricts the level of data control for users, making it impossible for enterprises in highly regulated industries to use Airtable’s capabilities.

Another drawback with Airtable is its recent pricing increase coupled with more restrictive record and storage limits on some plans. This will have significant implications, especially for medium to large-sized teams, for whom the costs might prove to be prohibitive.

In light of these limitations, it’s worth exploring Baserow. Baserow offers an open-source version with unlimited rows and storage, infinite customization, and the option to self-host the software on your own infrastructure, all at a more cost-effective price point than Airtable.

Airtable’s key features and capabilities

• User interface: At first glance, Airtable’s colorful user interface stands out, with its drag-and-drop features and user-friendly layouts.
• Customizable views: Whether you’re a Kanban board lover, a calendar enthusiast, or a traditional grid spreadsheet user, Airtable has got you covered with a range of customizable views.
• Relational database: Unlike traditional spreadsheets, Airtable allows users to create links between records, fostering a relational database environment. This brings a new layer of depth and organization to your data.
• Collaboration tools: Collaborating in real-time, leaving comments, and setting user permissions are easy, making teamwork a breeze, even if your team is spread across the globe.
• Integrations and automation: With native integrations available for many tools and the power of external platforms like Zapier, Airtable can be at the heart of your workflow. Its built-in automation features further reduce manual tasks.
• Templates and forms: Kickstart your projects with a range of ready-made templates and create forms for easy data collection, making Airtable adaptable for a myriad of tasks.

Airtable’s usability and performance

One of the first things you notice upon using Airtable is its clean and intuitive user interface. The design feels both modern and familiar, allowing users, even those with limited technical experience, to navigate easily. The drag-and-drop functionality coupled with inline editing removes the intimidation that can come with managing data.

Those familiar with standard spreadsheet functions will find Airtable’s formula capabilities relatively easy to use. Even if you hit a bump, the software is right there offering helpful hints, and ensuring that even complex operations like string manipulations or data calculations are made accessible. Multiple team members can work on the same project, with instant updates, cell-specific comments, and revision history.

However, users have reported performance issues. One of the more prevalent issues is the noticeable lag experienced when handling larger databases. This can be worrying because a base that functions well can suddenly face performance problems due to various factors, leading to slow UI loads, pending automation, API lag, and delayed synchronization.

For larger businesses, Airtable’s strict record and storage limitations can also be restrictive.  Even on the premium plans, there are limits on records, automation runs, and storage, so you might feel the pinch, both in terms of operational constraints and costs.

Airtable pros and cons

Pros:

1. Intuitive design: Airtable’s no-code interface makes it easy to set up, edit, and manage databases without a steep learning curve.
2. Adaptability: With its blend of spreadsheet-like grids and database capabilities, it allows users to structure and handle their data effectively.
3. Team communication: Thanks to real-time collaborative features, teams can simultaneously update projects, discuss through comments, add files, and share their progress.
4. Personalized data views: Airtable offers versatile view choices such as Grid, Calendar, Timeline, List, and Kanban.
5. Seamless connections: You can connect with mainstream tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Trello, with many integrations powered through Zapier.
6. Industry-specific templates: Users can make the most of a big library of pre-built templates designed to cater to a broad range of sectors and functions.

Cons:

1. Cost considerations: Airtable’s revised pricing model introduces tighter constraints on its free tier and becomes notably pricier as you ascend tiers. A per-user pricing model also means costs can escalate rapidly with team growth.
2. Data entry limitations: The Free tier caps at 1,000 entries per database, and even the Enterprise level is restricted to 500,000 entries. This could be a bottleneck for larger enterprises.
3. Storage constraints: Lower-tier plans have decreased attachment space, which can be problematic for businesses handling extensive attachments or multimedia. Higher-tier plans have increased storage but come with a significantly higher price tag.
4. Closed source: Airtable being closed-source can limit customization which can feel restrictive for businesses with unique needs. The lack of plug-in support or direct source code access means less flexibility for added functionalities.
5. Limited APIs: The platform enforces rate limits on its API, potentially slowing down applications handling vast data or requiring intricate integrations.
6. No self-hosted option: The lack of a self-hosting option translates to reduced control over data security, privacy, and compliance. This is a significant concern for sectors with strict data protection regulations.
7. Vendor lock-in: Airtable’s proprietary platform means you are locked into its ecosystem. This poses risks, as any changes or company-related issues could necessitate a time-consuming and costly platform switch.
8. Scalability concerns: As your data requirements grow, Airtable’s inherent limitations could potentially impede your business’s adaptability, especially given the lack of stability and speed at higher volumes of data.

Pricing

In a nutshell, Airtable users should be aware that Airtable has significantly reduced record and storage limits for its free tier. On the flip side, the new Team and Business plans, while offering increased storage and record limits, are now double the price of the previous Plus and Pro plans.

For a more detailed pricing breakdown for both existing and prospective Airtable users, check out more in our in-depth guide to Airtable’s pricing changes.

Free plan

Aimed at individuals or small teams, this option is available at no cost.

Features include:

• Unlimited bases.
• 1,000 records per base.
• Maximum of 5 editors.
• 1 GB attachment storage per base.
• 100 automation runs.
• Interface designer.

Team plan

The Team plan costs $24/user/month on the monthly billing plan and $20/user/month on the annual billing plan. This plan targets teams keen on using Airtable for collaborative workflows.

Features include:

• Everything in the Free plan.
• 50,000 records per base.
• 10 GB of attachment storage per base.
• 25,000 automation runs.
• Gantt, timeline views, and enhanced formatting options.
• Standard sync integrations.
• No role-based access control (RBAC).

Business plan

For larger teams and departments requiring advanced features, this plan comes at $45 per user per month (annual plan) or $54 per user per month (monthly plan).

Features include:

• Everything in the Team plan.
• 125,000 records per base.
• 100 GB of attachment storage per base.
• 100,000 automation runs.
• Premium sync integrations and two-way sync.
• Admin panel and SAML-based single sign-on.

Enterprise Scale:

This tier caters to organizations aiming for scalability with advanced administrative controls. Pricing is available upon request. We estimate costs to be around $65 per seat/month.

Features expand upon the Business plan and include:

• 500,000 records per base.
• 1,000 GB of attachment storage per base.
• 500,000 automation runs.
• On-premises sync integrations and Enterprise API.
• Enhanced security, audit logs, and DLP.

Real-world applications

Airtable is ideal for individuals and businesses aiming to do things like manage projects, track inventory, handle lightweight CRM systems or plan content. With its visually appealing data views and real-time collaboration features it’s especially beneficial for small to medium-sized teams. For example, marketing departments might use it to schedule social media posts, while retailers could use it to track product stocks.

However, Airtable falls short if you’re managing large-scale databases or sensitive data. Industries such as healthcare and finance often operate under stringent data governance regulations, making them hesitant or even prohibited from using purely cloud-based SaaS platforms like Airtable due to concerns over data security and compliance.

Airtable reviews from users

Here are some Airtable user reviews:

• “It is easy to understand, configure, and use. Customer service is great.”
• “With the free version, you will hit the record limit pretty easily. I wish they had a lower-priced plan that was above the free version but below their much more expensive tiers.”
• “Airtable is a flexible system with many great features to keep your data organized and make changes. Airtable is not HIPPA compliant, which made it unusable for our needs. Also, the mobile app was not reliable.”
• “Airtable’s proprietary, closed-source nature prevents users from integrating certain services that are non-native to the platform.”
• “It can’t be self-hosted, so it’s not the best choice for businesses that want to avoid vendor lock-in.”
• “Airtable’s cloud-only offering poses risks to businesses who are unwilling—or unable, for legal and compliance reasons—to store data in Airtable’s servers.”
• “It has an upper limit of 500,000 records per base, even at the enterprise level. However, performance and stability can be impacted by a lower number of records, which makes it challenging to use at scale.”

Airtable review rating:

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

Comparisons with similar tools like Baserow

In light of Airtable’s limitations, Baserow stands out as a cost-effective, flexible alternative that provides a comparable experience to Airtable while offering more generous limits and customization options at a fraction of the cost.

Here’s a look at the many advantages of using Baserow over Airtable:

• Baserow is open-source: Baserow’s self-hosted, open-source version provides superior data control and customization. For example, users in industries like construction and accounting are increasingly using Baserow as the foundational data layer in their application portfolios to meet specific customer needs. Being closed-source and proprietary, Airtable works in the opposite way, so you can’t self-host it or customize it to suit your specific needs.
• Higher limits: Baserow offers higher limits on records and storage compared to Airtable. For example, at the same price point of $20/month, Baserow Advanced provides 250,000 rows and 20 GB storage, while Airtable Team offers only 50,000 rows and 10 GB storage. Baserow’s self-hosted enterprise version has unlimited rows and storage.
• More cost-effective: Baserow not only delivers more bang for your buck but also provides users with access to advanced features and resources at a cheaper price point than comparable Airtable plans.
• More deployment options: Unlike Airtable’s exclusive SaaS model, Baserow provides both hosted and self-hosted plans. Sign up for immediate access with Baserow Cloud handling all backend details, or choose Baserow Self-Hosted to ensure data remains in GDPR, HIPAA, SOC-2, and other compliance.
• Built for scale: Baserow can handle unlimited records without compromising speed or stability. As your data grows in complexity and size, the platform can adapt and handle the increased demands at lightning-fast speeds. In contrast, Airtable could face challenges with stability and speed at higher volumes of data.
• API-first & interoperable: Baserow is an API-first platform, meaning that every action can be automated through its open API, granting users far more flexibility compared to Airtable. What’s more, Integrations with Zapier, Make, n8n, and more allow you to integrate with virtually anything.
• No vendor lock-in: There is no vendor lock-in with Baserow, allowing you to move your data anywhere at any time.
• Permissive MIT license: Many users build businesses with Baserow because of the very permissive MIT license. Anyone can freely build apps on top of Baserow or offer Baserow as a service without having to report to us or pay any fee.
• Advanced features: Baserow lets you build impressive custom solutions with lots of functionality. Easily integrate your data for analysis and reporting, visualize it using a variety of views, and link it across multiple tables to handle complex workflows. Use Baserow’s plugin capabilities to expand your database functionalities far beyond what Airtable offers.
• Responsive customer support: As a startup, Baserow’s fast and accurate support responses and dedicated community stand out for users.

Conclusion

This Airtable review highlights the tool’s advantages and areas where it might not be suitable for specific businesses or use cases. Airtable offers a user-friendly interface and a robust set of features, including collaboration tools, customizable views, and native integrations.

However, it’s crucial to weigh its limitations against your organization’s future growth and data needs. For those searching for more flexibility, control, and scalability, Baserow’s open-source, no-code database is a cost-effective alternative. Both tools have their merits, but your choice will hinge on what you prioritize: the ease of a pre-built system or the flexibility of an open-source platform.

Get started with Baserow

If you’re fed up with Airtable’s costly pricing and performance limitations, try Baserow today for free! Baserow’s open-source alternative makes it easy to create your own bespoke database without technical experience. With use cases ideal for human resources, operations, marketing, finance, and other departments, it’s easy to get started with our library of pre-built templates.

Create Baserow account

Other useful resources

• How to migrate from Airtable to Baserow in one click.

• Airtable pricing changes: What it means for you.

• 7 reasons why you should use a database instead of Excel.