Best Airtable Alternatives & Competitors Worth Considering in 2023
Airtable is a renowned cloud collaboration service that offers its unlimited users a unique blend of spreadsheet and database functionalities. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Airtable has become a popular tool for managing and organizing data.
Airtable Overview
Airtable's core functionality lies in its spreadsheet-database hybrid design. Users can create databases, set up column types, add records, link tables to one another, collaborate, sort records, and even publish views to external websites. The fields in an Airtable table are similar to cells in a spreadsheet but have specific types such as 'checkbox', 'phone number', 'drop-down list', and can reference file attachments like images.
Airtable's History and Growth
- 2015: Airtable raised funds, launched its API, introduced Airtable Forms, and integrated with Slack.
- 2018: Raised significant funding and launched Airtable Blocks.
- 2020-2021: Raised hundreds of millions in funding, boosting its valuation to $11 billion.
- 2022: Airtable's CEO announced layoffs, emphasizing growth by investing in high-yield areas.
News highlights about Airtable in 2023:
August 2023 Updates:
Airtable introduced new ways to get work done, including mobile interfaces available with an iOS update.
July 2023 Features:
Airtable added the ability to star favorite apps on the home screen and update project status with a new progress bar.
March 2023 Enhancements:
Airtable made it easier to build customized apps with updated Interface Designer capabilities and introduced a brand-new view.
June 2023 Product Updates:
Airtable enabled users to track records across timelines and customize interface forms, among other new features.
CNBC Disruptor 50:
Airtable was featured in the 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50 list, highlighting private companies that are pursuing significant market opportunities and experiencing growth. Read more.
Competitors
Now, let's explore 10 competitors of Airtable and see how they compare:
Asana
Asana is a prominent competitor to Airtable, offering a platform that focuses on work management, project planning, and team collaboration.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
- Cross-Functional Work Platform: Asana is designed to drive efficiency across an organization, making it flexible and easy for all teams to use.
- Task Management: Users can organize and assign tasks, create timelines, and use boards to focus on tasks at hand.
- Automation and Integration: Asana offers automation for workflows, including assigning work, setting due dates, and more. It also integrates with over 200+ tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Sheets, Zoom, and others.
- Reporting: Real-time insights and visual charts are available to track progress and spot potential problems.
How It Differs from Airtable
- While Airtable offers a spreadsheet-database hybrid, Asana leans more towards project management and task coordination.
- Asana's emphasis on automation and extensive integration with other tools sets it apart from Airtable's more data-centric approach.
- Asana provides a more structured way to manage complex work across teams, whereas Airtable's strength lies in its flexibility in handling data and linking tables.
Key Takeaways
- For Whom: Asana is suitable for organizations looking to streamline work processes, prioritize revenue-driving work, and manage complex tasks.
- Integration Capabilities: The extensive integration with other tools makes Asana a versatile platform for collaboration.
- Comparison with Airtable: While Airtable excels in data management and customization, Asana focuses on task management, automation, and integration.
Basecamp
Basecamp is another significant competitor to Airtable, providing a comprehensive project management software platform that emphasizes simplicity, efficiency, and collaboration.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Unified Project Management: Basecamp organizes each project on a single page, tracking and organizing all information, making it easy for everyone to find what they need.
Integrated Tools: It consolidates billing, chat, file sharing, tasks, and basic scheduling, reducing the need for multiple apps.
Customer-Centric Approach: With 24 profitable years in business, zero debt, and a 99.99% historical uptime, Basecamp offers gold standard customer service.
Broad Usage: Used by various industries across 166 countries, including marketers, ad agencies, designers, schools, non-profits, and more.
How It Differs from Airtable
Basecamp focuses on project management with a streamlined approach, whereas Airtable offers a blend of spreadsheet and database functionalities.
Basecamp's single-page project organization contrasts with Airtable's flexibility in linking tables and handling diverse data types.
While Airtable provides more customization in data handling, Basecamp offers an all-in-one solution for chat, file sharing, tasks, and scheduling.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Basecamp is ideal for small teams and underdogs competing against larger companies, looking for a unified platform to manage projects.
Integration Capabilities: Basecamp's integration of various tools into one platform offers a more organized and efficient workflow.
Comparison with Airtable: Basecamp's focus on project management and all-in-one functionality contrasts with Airtable's data-centric approach and customization.
Next, let's explore the third competitor, Evernote.
Evernote
Evernote is a versatile note-taking app that serves as a competitor to Airtable by offering a platform to capture, prioritize, and organize ideas, projects, and to-do lists.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Note Synchronization: Evernote syncs notes automatically across devices, ensuring that important information is always at hand.
Rich Content Notes: Users can enhance notes with text, images, audio, scans, PDFs, and documents.
Task Management: Evernote allows users to create and assign tasks with due dates, flags, and reminders.
Web Clipping: Users can save web pages (without ads) and annotate them with arrows, highlights, and text.
Integration with Google Calendar: Evernote connects with Google Calendar to provide context to meetings and notes.
Plans and Pricing: Evernote offers various plans, including free, personal, professional, and team options, each with different features and capabilities.
How It Differs from Airtable
Evernote's primary focus is on note-taking and organizing ideas, whereas Airtable's strength lies in its spreadsheet-database hybrid functionality.
While Airtable provides a platform for managing and linking diverse data types, Evernote emphasizes capturing and prioritizing ideas and tasks.
Evernote offers features like web clipping and document scanning, which are not central to Airtable's data management approach.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Evernote is suitable for executives, entrepreneurs, and creative individuals looking to capture and organize ideas and projects.
Integration Capabilities: Evernote's integration with Google Calendar and its web clipping feature add unique dimensions to its functionality.
Comparison with Airtable: Evernote's focus on note-taking, idea organization, and task management contrasts with Airtable's data-centric and customizable approach.
Next, let's explore the fourth competitor, Habitica.
Habitica
Habitica is a unique competitor to Airtable, offering a habit-building and productivity app that gamifies real-life tasks, making it fun to achieve goals.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Gamification of Life: Habitica turns daily tasks and habits into a game, with rewards and punishments to motivate users.
Task Tracking: Users can track and manage habits, daily goals, and to-do lists through Habitica's mobile apps and web interface.
In-Game Rewards: Completing tasks allows users to level up their avatars, unlock features like battle armor, pets, magic skills, and even quests.
Social Interaction: Users can fight monsters with other Habiticans and use earned gold to buy in-game or custom rewards.
Customization: Habitica's fully customizable task list allows users to shape the platform to fit personal goals, including creative projects, self-care, health, fitness, school, and work.
How It Differs from Airtable
Habitica's focus on gamifying life and habit-building is a stark contrast to Airtable's spreadsheet-database functionality.
While Airtable is designed for data management and collaboration, Habitica emphasizes personal development, motivation, and fun.
Habitica offers a social gaming experience that encourages users to achieve real-life goals, whereas Airtable's strength lies in organizing and linking data.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Habitica is suitable for individuals looking to make achieving goals fun through gamification, whether it's health, fitness, school, work, or personal development.
Integration Capabilities: Habitica's integration of gaming elements with real-life tasks offers a unique approach to productivity and motivation.
Comparison with Airtable: Habitica's focus on gamification and personal development contrasts sharply with Airtable's data-centric and organizational approach.
Next, let's explore the fifth competitor.
Monday.com
Monday.com is a well-known competitor to Airtable, offering a Work OS (Operating System) that allows users to create customized productivity tools to manage every aspect of their work.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Customizable Workflows: Monday.com offers building blocks like boards, views, dashboards, integrations, automations, apps, and docs to tailor workflows to specific needs.
Centralized Work Management: It centralizes all work, processes, tools, and files into one Work OS, connecting teams and maintaining a single source of truth across the organization.
Collaboration and Real-time Notifications: The platform enables organization-wide collaboration and provides real-time notifications to keep everyone in the loop.
Use Cases: Monday.com caters to various use cases like project management, sales & CRM, task management, HR, operations, and more.
Integration with Other Tools: It offers integrations with other tools to drive impact across product, design, and R&D teams.
How It Differs from Airtable
Monday.com's focus on customizable workflows and a unified Work OS contrasts with Airtable's spreadsheet-database hybrid approach.
While Airtable excels in data management and linking tables, Monday.com emphasizes centralizing work and offering tailored products for different aspects of a team's needs.
Monday.com provides a more comprehensive solution for managing tasks, projects, sales cycles, and more, whereas Airtable's strength lies in flexibility and customization.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Monday.com is suitable for businesses looking to centralize work, streamline processes, and customize workflows to fit specific needs.
Integration Capabilities: Monday.com's integration with various tools and its building blocks offer a versatile platform for managing work.
Comparison with Airtable: Monday.com's focus on a unified Work OS and customizable workflows sets it apart from Airtable's data-centric approach.
Next, let's explore the sixth competitor, Notion.
Notion
Notion is a connected workspace that blends various everyday work apps into one, serving as a competitor to Airtable by offering a unified platform for wikis, docs, and projects.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Unified Workspace: Notion centralizes wikis, documents, and projects, allowing for better and faster work collaboration.
Visual Building Blocks: Users can visualize, filter, and sort tasks and projects using boards, tables, timelines, calendars, galleries, and lists.
Customization: Notion allows users to create custom labels, tags, owners, and more, ensuring everything stays organized.
Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Everything in Notion is drag-and-drop, including images, toggles, to-do's, and even embedded databases.
Community Engagement: Notion has a vibrant community that produces content, teaches courses, and leads events globally.
Language Support: Notion supports multiple languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
How It Differs from Airtable
Notion's focus on blending wikis, docs, and projects into one workspace contrasts with Airtable's spreadsheet-database hybrid functionality.
While Airtable emphasizes data management and linking tables, Notion emphasizes centralizing knowledge and offering a more visual and customizable approach.
Notion's drag-and-drop functionality and visual building blocks offer a different user experience compared to Airtable's data-centric design.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Notion is suitable for teams looking to centralize knowledge, communicate efficiently, and manage projects in a unified workspace.
Integration Capabilities: Notion's visual building blocks and customization options offer a versatile platform for collaboration and organization.
Comparison with Airtable: Notion's focus on a connected workspace for wikis, docs, and projects sets it apart from Airtable's approach to data management.
Quip
Quip is a real-time collaborative platform that offers documents, spreadsheets, and chat embedded inside Salesforce, making it a competitor to Airtable by focusing on sales and team member collaboration.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Real-Time Collaboration: Quip enables real-time collaboration through embedded documents, live Salesforce data, and built-in chat.
Streamlined Workflow: It offers team chat built into every document and spreadsheet, along with team chat rooms and 1:1 messaging.
Documents and Spreadsheets: Quip's documents and spreadsheets are designed to unite the team's work and communication, facilitating decision-making and action.
Security: Quip emphasizes data protection, privacy, and control, offering features like Virtual Private Cloud and Quip Shield for enhanced security.
How It Differs from Airtable
Quip's integration with Salesforce and focus on sales processes distinguishes it from Airtable's broader application in various fields.
While Airtable offers a spreadsheet-database hybrid for flexible data management, Quip emphasizes real-time collaboration and embedding documents inside Salesforce records.
Quip's security features and options for deploying to a single-tenant virtual private cluster provide a different approach to data protection compared to Airtable.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Quip is suitable for Salesforce customers looking to standardize, automate, and embed real-time collaborative documents inside Salesforce records.
Integration Capabilities: Quip's integration with Salesforce and its focus on real-time collaboration make it a specialized tool for sales teams.
Comparison with Airtable: Quip's Salesforce-centric approach and emphasis on real-time collaboration set it apart from Airtable's flexible data management system.
Next, let's explore the eighth competitor, Smartsheet.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is an enterprise work management platform that enables teams to manage projects, automate processes, and scale programs, making it a competitor to Airtable.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Flexible Solutions: Smartsheet offers solutions for modern project and portfolio management (PPM), marketing and creative work, and strategic transformation.
Rich Set of Views: It provides various views, workflows, reports, and dashboards to adapt to different needs, from individual projects to company-wide initiatives.
Integration: Smartsheet integrates with software that teams are already using, ensuring a seamless workflow.
Security: With a focus on safety and security, Smartsheet offers enterprise-grade protection, giving users control and visibility over access, data, and security.
Community and Support: Smartsheet offers professional services, support, training, and a community of experts to assist users.
How It Differs from Airtable
Smartsheet's emphasis on enterprise work management and scalability sets it apart from Airtable's flexible spreadsheet-database approach.
While Airtable is known for its customization and linking tables, Smartsheet focuses on managing projects, automating processes, and scaling programs across various domains.
Smartsheet's integration with other software and its focus on security and control provide a different perspective compared to Airtable's data-centric design.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Smartsheet is suitable for enterprises looking to manage projects, automate processes, and scale programs with flexibility and security.
Integration Capabilities: Smartsheet's integration with various software tools and its rich set of views offer a versatile platform for work management.
Comparison with Airtable: Smartsheet's focus on enterprise work management and scalability distinguishes it from Airtable's flexible and customizable approach.
Next, let's explore the ninth competitor, ClickUp.
ClickUp
ClickUp is a comprehensive platform that aims to replace multiple work tools by bringing tasks, your project files, docs, chat, goals, and more into one place, positioning itself as a competitor to Airtable.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
All-in-One Platform: ClickUp offers features like tasks, docs, goals, whiteboards, dashboards, chat, and even AI-powered tools to transform the way teams work.
Customizable Views: ClickUp provides highly customizable views for visualizing and planning projects, making project management flexible and efficient.
Real-Time Collaboration: It offers real-time collaboration with chat, assign comments, notifications, and widgets for team members, tasks, sprints, time tracking, and more.
Integration and Automation: ClickUp integrates with other tools and offers automations to streamline work processes.
Support: ClickUp prides itself on having the highest-rated client support in software, with 24/7 real-time support.
How It Differs from Airtable
ClickUp's focus on being an all-in-one platform that replaces multiple tools sets it apart from Airtable's spreadsheet-database hybrid functionality.
While Airtable emphasizes data management and customization, ClickUp emphasizes collaboration, project management, and offers a broader range of features, including AI-powered tools.
ClickUp's real-time collaboration and support provide a different user experience compared to Airtable's data-centric approach.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: ClickUp is suitable for teams of all sizes looking to centralize work, collaborate in real-time, and manage projects with flexibility.
Integration Capabilities: ClickUp's integration with various tools and its all-in-one platform offer a versatile solution for work management.
Comparison with Airtable: ClickUp's focus on replacing multiple tools and offering a comprehensive platform distinguishes it from Airtable's flexible and data-centric approach.
Next, let's explore the tenth competitor, Zoho Creator.
Zoho Creator
Zoho Creator is a low-code application development platform that empowers businesses to build custom web and mobile apps quickly, positioning itself as a competitor to Airtable.
Features and Comparison with Airtable
Low-Code Development: Zoho Creator allows users to create custom applications with minimal coding experience, using a drag-and-drop interface.
Visual Building: Users can visually build apps that run on all devices, with native iOS and Android apps automatically created.
Integration: It offers 550+ prebuilt integrations, connecting all the tools businesses use and running them from one platform.
Automation: Zoho Creator can automate processes, update CRM, assign tasks, send emails, and more.
AI Integration: Users can add AI to their business apps without coding algorithms.
Free Ready-to-Use Business Apps: Zoho Creator provides ready-to-use business apps that can be installed and customized to meet unique requirements.
How It Differs from Airtable
Zoho Creator's focus on low-code application development and visual building sets it apart from Airtable's spreadsheet-database hybrid functionality.
While Airtable emphasizes data management and linking tables, Zoho Creator emphasizes visual app building, automation, and AI integration.
Zoho Creator's extensive prebuilt integrations and ready-to-use business apps provide a different approach to customization and scalability compared to Airtable.
Key Takeaways
For Whom: Zoho Creator is suitable for businesses looking to build custom web and mobile apps quickly, with minimal coding experience.
Integration Capabilities: Zoho Creator's extensive integrations and automation options offer a versatile platform for app development.
Comparison with Airtable: Zoho Creator's focus on low-code development, visual building, and AI integration distinguishes it from Airtable's flexible and data-centric approach.
FAQ
What Alternatives to Airtable Are Available?
Airtable alternatives include platforms like Notion, ClickUp, Monday.com, Jira, and others.
These alternatives offer various project management tools, task management features, collaboration tools, and data organization capabilities, making them suitable for different business needs.
Who Are Some Competitors of Airtable?
Competitors of Airtable include platforms like ClickUp, Monday.com, Smartsheet, and Zoho Creator. These platforms offer extensive template libraries, project management trackers, and collaboration features, making them viable alternatives to Airtable.
Is There a Google App Similar to Airtable?
Google Sheets is often considered a simpler alternative to Airtable. While it lacks some of the advanced features and intuitive interface of Airtable, Google Sheets offers spreadsheet tools, data analysis, and basic project management capabilities.
What Open Source Options Are Comparable to Airtable?
Open-source alternatives to Airtable include platforms like Baserow and TablePlus. These tools provide data management, project progress tracking, and a user-friendly interface similar to Airtable but with all the features and flexibility of open-source development.
Why Might Someone Choose Not to Use Airtable?
Some users might find Airtable's pricing plans, limited features in the free plan, or learning curve to be deterrents. Alternatives may offer more extensive features, unlimited projects, or a free forever plan that better suits their learning curve and their needs.
How Does Airtable Compare to Google Sheets?
Airtable offers more advanced features like kanban boards, gantt charts, and extensive template libraries, while Google Sheets is more focused on spreadsheet tools and data analysis.
The choice between them depends on the specific business plan project management and collaboration needs.
What On-Premise Alternatives to Airtable Exist?
On-premise alternatives to Airtable include tools like Microsoft Access and FileMaker.
These tools offer data management, project collaboration, and reporting capabilities per user too, allowing for more control over data and customization per user too.
Is There an SQL Alternative to Airtable?
SQL-based alternatives to Airtable include MySQL and PostgreSQL. These tools offer robust data management, data encryption, and extensive data analysis capabilities, suitable for more complex database needs.
What Are Some Other Airtable Equivalents?
Other Airtable equivalents include platforms like Trello, Asana, and Wrike.
These tools offer project management software, time tracking, document management, file sharing, and collaboration and communication tools, catering to various business requirements.
How Does Airtable Differ from Notion?
Airtable's spreadsheet-like interface and data organization features differ from Notion's note-taking, knowledge base organization, and task lists capabilities.
Both offer unique collaboration, communication features, and project management tools.
Is Jira Similar to Airtable?
Jira is more focused on project management for software development, with features like kanban boards, project timeline, and resource management.
While Airtable offers similar project management and reporting features, it emphasizes data management and a visual interface.
Is Airtable a Worthwhile Investment?
Airtable's key features, intuitive interface, and collaboration features make it a valuable tool for many businesses.
However, the best choice depends on specific needs, budget (per user per month, per user per month billed annually), and the size of the team.
Can Jira Serve as a Project Management Tool?
Yes, Jira is widely used as a project management tool, especially in software development.
It offers features like task management, project progress and time tracking, project tasks, and team collaboration, making it a strong alternative to Airtable.
What Are Airtable's Main Features?
Airtable's main features include data management, project management, collaboration tools, reporting features, and an extensive template library.
It offers both a free version and paid plans, with advanced features available in the paid plans and the business plan.
