10 best Airtable alternatives [2024]

Airtable is one of the SaaS software known in the no-code world, combining database and online spreadsheet functions.

However, users are always looking for Airtable alternatives due to Airtable's complex workflows and high pricing. In addition, despite all its functions, Airtable may not always provide enough niche features for every use case.

If you are looking for an Airtable alternative that suits your specific business needs, you can check our best 10 Airtable alternatives list that can help to find a better option and easily compete with Airtable's functionality.

In this list, you can find the core features of each tool, their pros and cons, prices and how they can benefit you.

Let's discover the best 10 Airtable alternatives!

Table of contents

• Airtable overview
• Pros of Airtable
• Cons of Airtable
• Airtable pricing
• 10 best Airtable alternatives
  • Retable
  • Asana
  • Basecamp
  • Google Sheets
  • Jira
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Notion
  • nTask
  • Pipefy
  • Smartsheet
• Why should you consider an Airtable alternative?
• Which Airtable alternative comes out on top?

Airtable overview

Airtable is a collaborative, no-code data management system that combines the basic features of traditional spreadsheets with the more advanced functionality of databases.

Airtable allows you to manage projects collaboratively with your team, create simple reports, and visualize your data in different data views.

Pros of Airtable

• Extensive spreadsheet templates archive
• Real-time data accessibility
• Data visualization with various data views
• Real-time collaboration and communication
• Free plan available

Cons of Airtable

• Difficult to integrate advanced features into workflows
• Mobile app performance is quite low and the interface is quite difficult
• Formulas are quite limited, users need more formulas to perform more advanced functions
• Limited customization in the free plan
• May take time to learn advanced features
• Not a suitable solution for organizations with strict data governance and compliance needs as it is a cloud-based saas platform using US-based AWS servers
• Expensive per-user and per-workspace pricing
• Customization needs a significant time investment
• Business licenses are quite pricey
• Limited project management features
• You need to make in-app purchases for integrations

Airtable pricing

Team plan

• $24 per seat/month
• 50,000 records per base
• 25,000 automation runs
• 20 GB of attachments per base
• Standard sync integrations
• Extensions
• Gantt and timeline view
• Expanded color, formatting, and calendar options

Business plan

• $54 per seat/month

Everything in Team, plus:

• 125,000 records per base
• 100,000 automation runs
• 100 GB of attachments per base
• Premium sync integrations
• Verified data
• Two-way sync
• Admin panel
• SAML-based single sign-on
• App Sandbox

Enterprise plan

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Airtable sales

Everything in Business, plus:

• 500,000 records per base
• 500,000 automation runs
• 1,000 GB of attachments per base
• On-premises sync integrations
• App Library
• HyperDB
• Enterprise Hub
• Enhanced security and admin controls
• Enterprise API
• Extension and integration management
• Audit logs and DLP

10 best Airtable alternatives

1. Retable
2. Asana
3. Basecamp
4. Google Sheets
5. Jira
6. Microsoft Excel
7. Notion
8. nTask
9. Pipefy
10. Smartsheet

Retable

Retable is an all-in-one data management platform tailored for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Retable focuses on providing powerful database management capabilities, allowing teams to organize, collaborate, and manage complex data effortlessly.

Let’s dive into why Retable stands out as the best Airtable alternative for businesses seeking a more robust, flexible data management solution.

Key features

Retable grid view:

While there are many ways to manage data, sometimes you just need the simplicity of a spreadsheet. Meet Retable’s versatile built-in grid view.

In grid view, every row and column is fully customizable, allowing you to organize your data exactly how you want it. Plus, Retable offers dynamic linking between tables, ensuring that your data stays connected and easy to navigate.

Here are some of the other powerful views Retable offers:

• List view: Organize tasks or data in clear, structured lists.
• Kanban view: Manage workflows using a visual Kanban-style board.
• Calendar view: Track schedules and deadlines with a customizable calendar.
• Chart view: Create visual charts to analyze your data and gain insights.
• Card view: Showcase images or media with a clean, organized layout.
• Form view: Collect data easily through customizable forms.
• Map view: Plot your data on a map, perfect for location-based insights and tracking geographically dispersed information.

Retable ChatGPT column:

Retable AI is an intelligent assistant designed to optimize your workflow and data management. With advanced data-driven insights, Retable helps you automate processes, predict trends, and make informed decisions. Whether you’re managing databases or building reports, the Retable GPT column's smart suggestions make it easier to achieve your goals effortlessly! With Retable's GPT column type, you can generate thousands of lines of output for the data in your tables with a single prompt.

Retable assigned comments

How can you be sure your team is taking action on them?

With Retable, you can turn comments into actionable tasks. Assign comments directly to team members, ensuring they don’t get lost in the shuffle. Each assignee receives an instant notification, making it impossible to overlook their responsibilities. With Retable, you’ll boost accountability and keep your team on track effortlessly.

Retable automations

Streamline your repetitive tasks with ease using Retable automations.

Retable provides a wide range of automation actions and triggers, and you can even create fully customized workflows to fit your specific needs. Whether you choose from built-in automation options or build your own integrations, Retable ensures that routine tasks are handled automatically, freeing up your team to focus on what truly matters. Maximize efficiency and stay ahead with Retable’s powerful automation capabilities.

Pros

• Dynamic and user-friendly interface for seamless navigation
• Feature-packed free trial to explore all essential tools
• Advanced team collaboration features like team and organization management, project chat, real-time editing, task assignment, and more
• Custom branding for a personalized platform experience
• Ready-made templates to kickstart your projects without starting from scratch
• Powerful Android and iOS mobile apps for managing projects on the go
• Extensive native integrations with platforms like SendGrid, Twilio, ChatGPT, Zapier, Albato, Pabbly, Make.com, and more
• Over 31 column types to customize your data organization
• 8 versatile data views, including Grid, Card, Map, Calendar, and more
• Role and access management for secure collaboration
• Public sharing and embedding options with extensive controls
• Password protection for publicly shared data to ensure security
• Table syncing for smooth data updates across teams
• Real-time data collection via customizable online forms
• Retable Academy to easily master the platform with step-by-step video tutorials

Cons

• No Grid view available in the mobile app (List view is offered as an alternative)
• No multi-organization support; users can only belong to one organization
• No custom domain for the SaaS version

Pricing

Team plan

• $12 per seat/month
• Unlimited workspaces & projects
• Basic, advanced and premium column types
• All views are available
• 50.000 records per project
• Automations & webhooks
• 2 public API keys
• Organization & team management
• Custom branding
• Addons to increase limits
• 10 GB attachment space per workspace
• 10 automation per project
• 1,000 automation runs per project/month

Enterprise plan

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Retable sales

Everything in Team plan, plus:

• Unlimited records per base
• 500,000 automation runs
• 100 GB of attachments per workspace
• Enhanced security and admin controls
• Unlimited automation runs
• Custom domain
• Unlimited change history and audit logs
• Unlimited trashbin storage
• Account manager and priority support

Asana

Asana is a project management platform designed to help teams collaborate efficiently, manage deadlines, and assign tasks. It provides numerous integrations and a user-friendly interface that offers the familiar organization of a spreadsheet, while also allowing teams to view, prioritize, and track progress—ideal for those looking for a more robust solution than Airtable.

Key features

• Various task visualization options such as list, Kanban board, timeline, and calendar views
• Reporting tools to track your progress
• Custom automation rules to streamline repetitive tasks and minimize mistakes
• Over 50 project templates to jumpstart your workflow

Pros

• Seamlessly integrate Asana with platforms like Basecamp and Microsoft Teams
• Prevent burnout using Asana's workload management tools
• Easy to learn, thanks to its user-friendly and straightforward interface
• Set and track personal goals with ease

Cons

• The timeline view is unavailable in the free version
• Limited options for exporting files
• Tasks can only be assigned to one person at a time
• Lacks a built-in time-tracking feature

Pricing

Starter plan

• $13.49 per user/month
• Collaborate with up to 500 teammates
• Timeline view
• Gantt view
• Asana AI
• Workflow builder
• Project dashboards
• Advanced search
• Global custom fields
• Forms
• 250 automations per month
• Start dates and times
• Custom project templates
• Admin console
• Private teams & projects
• Unlimited free guests

Advanced plan

• $30.49 per user/month

Everything in Starter plan, plus:

• Collaborate with up to 500 teammates
• Goals
• 100 portfolios
• Asana AI
• Workload
• 25,000 automations per month
• Forms branching & customization
• Approvals
• Proofing
• Lock custom fields
• Advanced reporting
• Time tracking
• Scaled security

Basecamp

Basecamp is an easy-to-use project management and team collaboration tool. Its standout feature is its minimalist design, making it ideal for small teams that only need a few essential functions. However, for teams with more complex needs, Basecamp might not be the best choice.

Key features

• Task lists allow you to assign responsibilities and set deadlines.
• Hill charts provide a distinctive visual representation of project progress over time.
• Group chats and direct messaging features function similarly to Slack for team communication.
• Straightforward reports display what your team is currently working on.

Pros

• A powerful calendar feature that helps you schedule events and meetings  
• Convenient search bar to quickly locate project information  
• Adjustable user interface with multiple views and color themes  
• Dedicated inbox for managing notifications

Cons

• Lacks task prioritization options  
• Does not include a built-in time tracking feature  
• The Basecamp app offers limited capabilities for managing task lists and notifications  
• Provides only one project tracking method: hill charts

Pricing

Basecamp

• $15 per user/month
• 500 GB storage for files & documents
• Unlimited projects
• Invite guests for free
• ‍

Basecamp PRO unlimited

• $349 per month

Everything in Basecamp plan, plus:

• Unlimited user
• 1:1 onboarding tour with Basecamp team
• 10x file & document storage (5 TB)
• Priority support
• Option to pay annually by check
• Timesheet add-on to track time spent on projects
• Admin Pro Pack add-on for greater control over access and permissions

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a free spreadsheet tool accessible to anyone with a personal Google account or for businesses using Google Workspace. It's widely known for its easy-to-use features like real-time editing, automatic saving, and seamless sharing—similar to other web-based Google Doc Editors products.

Key features

• Access your work from anywhere with real-time online collaboration  
• Automatically saves your progress—think of Google Sheets as a cloud-based alternative to Microsoft Excel  
• The explore feature in Google Sheets lets you unlock extra capabilities by simply asking questions, which it will solve for you  
• Easily integrate Google Sheets with other Google apps like Forms, Finance, Drawings, and more

Pros

• Google Sheets is easy to learn and get started with right away  
• Effortlessly share your spreadsheet by sending a URL and inviting collaborators  
• Supports offline access with an available extension  
• Free and accessible to anyone with a Google account

Cons

• Managing projects and tasks solely in Google Sheets can be challenging  
• Accessing reporting dashboards or views like Gantt charts requires multiple steps  
• Doesn’t offer advanced data views like Kanban, Calendar, Card, Map etc.
• Doesn’t offer advanced specialized column types  
• Missing features for tracking time, goals, or task dependencies

Pricing

Personal plan (free)

• Includes 15 GB of storage per user in Google Drive  

Business Starter

• $6 per user/month
• Offers 30 GB of cloud storage per user, custom business email, and standard support  

Business Standard

• $12 per user/month
• Provides 2 TB of storage per user, ad-free email, and access to a digital whiteboard  

Business Plus

$18 per user/month

Comes with 5 TB of storage per user, automatic meeting invitation acceptance, and a site website builder

Jira

Jira is a project management platform designed with Agile and Scrum software development teams in mind.  

Initially developed for bug tracking, Jira has grown into a flexible and customizable management tool over time.

Key features

• Customizable agile views with flexible Scrum and Kanban boards
• Comprehensive reports like velocity, burn up, and burndown charts
• Personalized project dashboards
• Powerful search functionality to locate specific tasks

Pros

• The roadmap feature supports teams in managing large-scale projects
• Excellent for software development and issue tracking
• Advanced workflow automation with ready-made templates
• Integrates with over 3,000 apps, including Evernote, Slack, and Google Sheets

Cons

• Not ideal for non-technical teams
• Complex interface with a steep learning curve
• Lacks built-in collaboration tools
• No built-in idea management features such as a notepad or document editor

Pricing

Standard

• $7.16 per user/month
• User roles and permissions
• External collaboration
• Multi-region data residency
• 1,700 automations per site per month
• 250 GB of storage
• 9/5 regional support
• Up to 50,000 users on a single site

Premium

• 12.48 per user/month

Everything from Standard plus:

• Generate, summarize, and search content with Atlassian Intelligence
• Cross-team planning and dependency management
• Customizable approval processes
• Per user automation limits (1000 per month)
• Unlimited storage
• 24/7 support for critical issues
• 99.9% uptime SLA

Enterprise

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Jira sales

Everything from Premium plus:

• Cross-product insights with Atlassian Analytics and Data Lake
• Advanced admin controls and security
• Enterprise-grade identity and access management
• Unlimited automations
• Multiple sites (up to 150)
• 24/7 support for all issues
• 99.95% uptime SLA

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a robust spreadsheet application known for its advanced calculation, data analysis, and documentation capabilities. It also includes features like graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), making it a versatile tool for complex tasks.

Key features

• Great offline functionality  
• The Quick Access toolbar in Excel allows you to pin frequently used functions for faster access  
• Offers powerful add-ins such as Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power BI for advanced capabilities  
• Enables automation of repetitive tasks, report creation, and custom add-ins for enhanced efficiency

Pros

• Sophisticated tools for data analysis and visualization  
• Ideal for managing intricate calculations  
• Offers a range of keyboard shortcuts for efficiency  
• Allows you to track progress and generate reports through customizable dashboards

Cons

• Collaborating on an Excel spreadsheet can be challenging  
• While it offers extensive functionality, some important features like a forms command are missing  
• Not suited for managing tasks  
• Lacks tools for tracking time, goals, or dependencies

Pricing

Microsoft Excel is included in Microsoft 365, which offers six pricing plans:

For personal use:

• Microsoft 365 Personal
  • $6.99 per user/month
  • Includes 1TB cloud storage, ad-free email, and Microsoft Editor  
• Microsoft 365 Family
  • $9.99/month for up to 6 people
  • Features AI-powered creative tools and advanced security for OneDrive  

For business use:

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic
  • $5 per user/month
  • Access to web and mobile versions of Office apps, email protection, and Microsoft Forms for feedback  
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard
  • $12.50 per user/month
  • Over 1,000 privacy controls, 50GB email storage, and premium Office apps  
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium
  • $20 per user/month
  • Includes Microsoft Bookings, 1TB OneDrive storage, and other premium features  
• Microsoft 365 Apps
  • $8.25 per user/month
  • Offers only premium Office Suite apps, real-time co-authoring, and file synchronization across PC or Mac

Notion

Notion is a widely used project management and collaboration platform, recognized for its ability to organize tasks, take notes, and build wikis and well-formatted documents. Its clean Kanban board interface makes it easy to create, store, and collaborate on detailed project documents.

However, some users feel that its versatility can make it a bit complex to navigate and use effectively.

Key features

• Organize project details with notes, checklists, and documents
• Use comments and mentions to collaborate with team members, no matter where they are
• Admin controls for managing different permission levels
• Real-time collaboration on Notion pages and its database

Pros

• Powerful note-taking with rich text editing, allowing for highly detailed and data-rich pages
• Build team wikis so everyone has access to essential company or project information
• Start quickly with templates for notes, knowledge bases, blogs, and more
• Multiple viewing options, including a list view similar to Airtable's top-down format

Cons

• Lacks key project management tools like goal setting, time tracking, and Gantt charts
• Some customization options are complex and have a steep learning curve
• No integration with Google Calendar
• Admin and security features are only available in the paid plans

Pricing

Plus

• $10 per seat/month
• Collaborative workspace
• Integrate with Slack, GitHub & more
• Basic page analytics
• 7 day page history
• Invite 10 guests
• Unlimited blocks for teams
• Unlimited file uploads
• 30 day page history
• Invite 100 guests
• Synced databases with 3rd party apps
• Custom websites
• Custom automations
• Charts & dashboards

Business

• $15 per seat/month

Everything in Plus +;

• SAML SSO
• Private teamspaces
• Bulk PDF export
• Advanced page analytics
• 90 days page history
• Invite 250 guests

Enterprise

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Notion sales

Everything in Business +;

• User provisioning (SCIM)
• Advanced security & controls
• Audit log
• Customer success manager
• Workspace analytics
• Unlimited page history
• Security & Compliance integrations
• Invite 250 guests

nTask

nTask is a strong contender among Airtable alternatives.  

With nTask, managing and tracking your work becomes effortless, allowing you to concentrate on what matters most. Its drag-and-drop interface simplifies task prioritization, assignment to team members, and progress tracking. Additionally, nTask offers robust project management tools, including customizable views, automated task reminders and deadlines, along with comprehensive reporting features.

Key features

• Approval workflow management
• Collaboration features
• Role-based access permissions
• Automated notifications
• Commenting functionality
• Communication management
• Drag-and-drop interface

Pros

• Budget-friendly pricing options
• Easy-to-navigate Gantt charts
• Simple and user-friendly interface
• Real-time team collaboration
• Effortless Kanban board functionality
• Streamlined workload management system

Cons

• Minimal knowledgebase resources
• Limited third-party integration options
• Not ideal for larger teams
• Missing advanced automation capabilities

Pricing

Premium

• $4 per user/month
• Unlimited workspaces
• Unlimited projects
• Unlimited ttasks and to-do lists
• 5 GB file storage

Business

• $12 per user/month

Everything in Premium plan, plus;

• 10 GB file storage
• Save custom filters
• Custom roles and permissions
• Risk tracking
• Advanced reporting (Beta)
• Priority support
• HIPPA compliance
• Legal & contract review

Enterprise

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with nTask sales

Everything in Business plan, plus;

• 100 GB file storage
• Dedicated account manager
• Custom onboarding
• Training program
• SSO

Pipefy

Pipefy is a user-friendly project management tool designed to optimize your business processes. It requires minimal coding knowledge, enabling users to implement digital workflows, streamline request handling, and minimize errors through automation of manual or repetitive tasks.

Key features

• Custom integrations with various tools, from chat applications to ERP systems
• Service portals to centralize documents, policies, and request forms
• Automated emails with pre-built templates
• Advanced reporting features to filter and combine data from multiple processes

Pros

• Build forms with conditional logic for automatic task creation
• Comprehensive reporting to monitor project progress
• Ability to connect and link different processes within the platform

Cons

• Lacks the ability to assign comments to specific tasks
• Limited functionality on mobile devices
• Missing some key features for team tracking
• Pricing can be on the higher side

Pricing

Business

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Pipefy sales
• Pipefy AI
• Unlimited processes
• Unlimited users (per-user billing)
• Access to Pipefy’s API
• Role-based access
• Private processes
• Conditional logic
• Data recovery

Enterprise

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Pipefy sales

Everything in Business plan, plus;

• Multiple automations
• Integrations
• Two-factor authentication
• Single Sign-On
• Custom email domain
• Support from Pipefy’s team
• Higher database and storage limits
• White label

Unlimited

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Pipefy sales

Everything in Enterprise plan, plus;

• Unlimited automation possibilities
• No limits for database records
• No data storage limits
• Expert support for modeling and implementing customized processes

Smartsheet

Smartsheet, similar to Airtable, is a project management and collaboration platform that emphasizes spreadsheet-based functionality. Its interface, resembling Microsoft Excel, makes it an accessible option for project managers who are new to SaaS productivity tools.

Key features

• Offers a variety of views, including Grid, Gantt Chart, and Kanban board
• Project dashboards for monitoring progress
• Workflow automation to streamline repetitive tasks
• Ability to attach spreadsheets for better organization

Pros

• Intuitive and straightforward user interface
• Strong team collaboration tools such as file sharing and group management
• Easy-to-use mobile app
• Enhanced security features like Google SSO and two-factor authentication

Cons

• Project reporting system can be complex
• No built-in real-time communication or chat functionality
• Free version is not available
• Lacks native time tracking features

Pricing

PRO

• $12 per user/month
• Unlimited free viewers
• Gantt, grid, board, and calendar view
• Rich formulas
• Unlimited sheets, forms, and reports
• 250 automations per month

Business

• $24 per user/month

Everything in PRO plan, plus;

• Unlimited free guests
• Timeline view
• Team workload tracking
• Admin capabilities
• Unlimited automations
• 1 TB attachment storage

Enterprise

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Smartsheet sales

Everything in Business plan, plus;

• AI formulas, texts, and charts
• SAML-based SSO
• WorkApps
• Work Insights
• Enterprise plan manager
• Unlimited attachment storage
• Directory integrations

Advanced Work Management

• Custom pricing, you need to contact with Smartsheet sales

Everything in Enterprise plan, plus;

• Control Center
• Dynamic view
• Data shuttle
• Salesforce and Jira connectors
• DataMesh
• Calendar app
• Pivot app
• Premium support

Why should you consider an Airtable alternative?

• Limited task management features: While Airtable does let you create a spreadsheet grid to assign tasks, it’s not a built-in feature. Assigning tasks requires manually adjusting the Airtable grid, which can become tedious if you frequently manage team assignments. For something as simple as creating a subtask, you'd have to link another table or spreadsheet, adding unnecessary complexity.
• Lack of communication tools: As remote work becomes more common, strong communication tools are essential. Unfortunately, Airtable's only collaboration option is through comments. While useful for basic feedback, comments aren't ideal for detailed discussions, forcing you to rely on external tools or email, which can make communication scattered and hard to track.
• Minimal workflow automation: Workflow automation is a crucial feature in any project management software, yet Airtable lacks robust automation tools. Without this functionality, you’ll spend more time manually completing tasks, which can hinder productivity.
• No built-in reporting: Airtable’s free version doesn't offer reporting features. While Airtable Blocks can provide reports and basic graphs, these are only available with a paid subscription. Essentially, you have to pay extra just to track your project's progress.
• High-cost: Airtable’s pricing starts at $20 per user per month for the Team plan, which can quickly become expensive. For a team of 10, that’s $200 a month, and the Business plan costs even more at $45 per user, making it a costly option.

In comparison to tools like Retable, Airtable falls short in several areas. Despite its flexibility and user-friendly interface, Airtable lacks key features like advanced data management, automation, and communication tools, while also being relatively expensive. These limitations make it less ideal for users seeking a comprehensive data management solution.

Which Airtable alternative comes out on top? 🥇

In short: While Airtable might seem appealing, it's far from the ultimate project management solution.

Although it excels as a spreadsheet tool, Airtable falls short in several areas—it lacks built-in task management, only allows communication through comments, and offers limited workflow automation, which makes it less effective for managing projects efficiently.

The good news? There are plenty of alternatives out there, and you can explore them to find the perfect fit. Why not start with one of the best options?

Retable is an all-in-one productivity tool designed to help teams across various industries manage projects, collaborate effectively, and centralize their work in one platform.

With its extensive customization options, Retable can adapt to teams of any size and offers a feature-packed experience, allowing you to manage workloads, track project progress, and communicate seamlessly—regardless of the project management style you use.

Retable’s grid view is a strong competitor to Airtable and goes beyond with features like automations, webhook support, and a mobile and desktop app available on multiple platforms.

The best part? Retable not only surpasses Airtable in terms of features, but it’s also the more affordable choice!

Easily import your data from Airtable in minutes and supercharge your productivity by signing up for Retable today!