9 best Airtable alternatives in 2026

The best Airtable alternative in 2026 depends on whether you prioritize app building, lower costs, self-hosting, project management, or simple data tracking. We tested nine options against these criteria and summarized the results in the table below.

The 9 best Airtable alternatives at a glance

How we evaluated Airtable alternatives

We tested each alternative against five criteria: how flexible and scalable the underlying database is, how granular the permission controls are (especially for external users), whether you can build custom interfaces or full apps on top of the data, how pricing scales as you add users or records, and how well it integrates with the tools your team already uses.

1. Softr — best for building full-stack business apps

Softr is the best Airtable alternative for teams that need more than a database. It combines a relational database with an AI app builder, authentication, granular permissions, custom interfaces, and workflow automation. You can replace Airtable entirely or continue using Airtable as a connected data source. With the AI Co-Builder, you describe the app you need and Softr generates the database, interface, and business logic in minutes, without per-seat pricing that penalizes you for adding internal or external users.

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Bottom line: Softr is best for teams that want to replace Airtable with a database and application platform, or keep Airtable while adding a more powerful interface.

Where Softr beats Airtable:

• Custom applications with native user authentication, so clients and external users can log in securely — Airtable's sharing options don't include full auth
• More granular internal and external permissions, down to individual records or fields, not just base-level access
• Built-in relational database without per-seat database pricing, so plans scale by usage instead of number of collaborators
• AI-generated database, pages, and business logic, using the AI Co-Builder to go from a prompt to a working app
• Connections to multiple data sources, including Airtable itself, so you can layer an app on top without migrating everything at once

Where Airtable is better:

• More database views available directly inside the data layer
• More familiar spreadsheet-style base editing
• Larger ecosystem of extensions

Best for: Operations teams building portals, CRMs, internal tools, dashboards, or inventory applications.

Who Softr is not for: Teams that only need a basic spreadsheet-style database with Airtable's native grid, kanban, and calendar views baked directly into the data layer.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: Native Airtable importer
• What transfers: Tables, fields, records, and linked-record relationships
• What may require rebuilding: Interfaces, automations, formulas, permissions, or integrations

Pricing: Free plan; paid plans start at $19/month.

Verdict: Choose Softr when Airtable's database or Interface Designer can no longer support the application, permissions, or external-user experience you need.

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2. Stackby — Airtable-like alternative

Bottom line: Stackby is the closest Airtable look-alike on this list, adding CRM-style features like two-way email sync and activity tracking directly into a spreadsheet-database hybrid.

Where Stackby beats Airtable:

• Two-way Gmail/Outlook sync and per-record activity tracking built into the database
• 25+ specialized column types and "Powerups" for CRM, marketing, and ops use cases
• Lower cost per seat than Airtable at every paid tier

Where Airtable is better:

• Larger integration marketplace and automation ecosystem
• More mature interface and app-builder tooling for non-technical teams
• Larger community of templates and extensions

Who Stackby is not for: Teams that need a full application layer with user authentication and permissions beyond a spreadsheet interface.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV or Google Sheets import; no dedicated one-click Airtable connector.\
• What transfers: Tables, fields, and records
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, automations, and views

Pricing: Free plan; paid plans start at $4.20/user/month ($149/year, billed annually for 3 users).

Verdict: Choose Stackby if you want an Airtable-like spreadsheet experience with CRM features layered in, at a lower price per seat.

3. SmartSuite — for operational workflows

Bottom line: SmartSuite mirrors Airtable's spreadsheet interface closely, then adds 200+ industry templates and project-management views on top.

Where SmartSuite beats Airtable:

• 200+ ready-made templates across marketing, HR, real estate, and other verticals
• Built-in project-management views (Gantt, kanban) without needing an add-on
• Simpler entry-level pricing for small teams

Where Airtable is better:

• Larger integration and automation ecosystem
• More mature API and developer tooling
• Cleaner, less busy interface for basic use cases

Who SmartSuite is not for: Teams that rely heavily on Airtable's automation or third-party integrations.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV import; no native one-click Airtable connector
• What transfers: Tables, fields, and records
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, automations, and views

Pricing: 14-day free trial; paid plans start at $15/user/month (3-user minimum).

Verdict: Choose SmartSuite if you want Airtable's core experience with built-in project-management templates and don't need Airtable's deeper integration library.

4. Baserow — open-source alternative

Bottom line: Baserow matches Airtable's core table-and-field experience while giving you full control over hosting, either self-hosted or on Baserow's cloud.

Where Baserow beats Airtable:

• Fully open-source with self-hosting for complete data ownership
• No per-seat pricing on the free, self-hosted tier
• REST API and plugin system for custom extensions

Where Airtable is better:

• Larger template and integration library
• More polished interfaces and app-building tools
• Easier setup for non-technical teams, since it requires no hosting decisions

Who Baserow is not for: Teams without technical resources to manage self-hosting, or that want Airtable-level polish out of the box.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV import; no native one-click Airtable connector
• What transfers: Tables, fields, and records
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, automations, and views

Pricing: Free plan (unlimited databases, 2GB storage); paid plans start at $10/user/month.

Verdict: Choose Baserow if data ownership and self-hosting matter more than Airtable's polish or integration library.

5. NocoDB — for SQL-backed databases

Bottom line: NocoDB turns an existing Postgres, MySQL, or SQLite database into an Airtable-style interface, with instant REST APIs generated for every table.

Where NocoDB beats Airtable:

• Works directly on top of your existing SQL database instead of a proprietary format
• Auto-generates REST APIs for every table with no extra setup
• Open-source, with a free self-hosted tier

Where Airtable is better:

• Far easier for non-technical users to set up and use
• Larger library of templates and prebuilt use cases
• More mature automation and integration tooling

Who NocoDB is not for: Non-technical teams that want a ready-to-use database without connecting their own SQL backend.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV import; no native one-click Airtable connector
• What transfers: Tables, fields, and records
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, automations, and views

Pricing: Free self-hosted plan; paid plans start at $12/user/month.

Verdict: Choose NocoDB if you already run a SQL database and want a no-code layer with instant APIs on top of it.

6. Google Sheets — free and simple alternative

Bottom line: Google Sheets is the simplest and cheapest Airtable alternative, trading database structure for near-universal familiarity and zero cost for individual use.

Where Google Sheets beats Airtable:

• Free indefinitely for individual use, with no record or base limits tied to a paid plan
• Familiar spreadsheet interface that almost every team member already knows
• Real-time multi-user editing and commenting built in

Where Airtable is better:

• True relational database structure with linked records and lookups
• Field types built for structured data, like attachments and formulas across linked tables
• Views (kanban, calendar, gallery) designed for non-spreadsheet workflows

Who Google Sheets is not for: Teams managing linked records across multiple tables, or that need row-level permissions and structured views.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: Export each Airtable table as CSV, then import into a new sheet
• What transfers: Field values as plain text or numbers
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, attachments, formulas, and views; Sheets has no native equivalent for Airtable's linked records

Pricing: Free for individual use; Google Workspace (for business email and admin controls) starts at $7/user/month, billed annually.

Verdict: Choose Google Sheets if you need a free, simple way to track data and don't require Airtable's relational structure or permissions.

7. Monday.com — for project management

Bottom line: Monday.com is a work-management platform built around boards and timelines, not a database. Choose it when you're managing work and projects rather than storing relational data.

Where Monday.com beats Airtable:

• Purpose-built project views: Gantt, timeline, and workload out of the box
• Deeper automation and integration library for workflow-heavy teams
• Dedicated CRM and dev-team products built on the same platform

Where Airtable is better:

• True relational database with linked records across tables
• More flexible field types for structured data, like attachments, formulas, and lookups
• Lower cost for teams that just need a database, not full project management

Who Monday.com is not for: Teams that need a relational database with linked records across multiple tables.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV import; no native one-click Airtable connector
• What transfers: Tables (as boards) and field values
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, formulas, and views

Pricing: Free plan (2 seats); paid plans start at $9/seat/month (3-seat minimum, billed annually).

Verdict: Choose Monday.com if your team needs project management more than a database, and consider pairing it with a tool like Softr if you also need a relational data layer.

8. Notion — for docs and lightweight databases

Bottom line: Notion blends docs, wikis, and lightweight databases into one workspace, trading Airtable's relational depth for flexible, content-first organization.

Where Notion beats Airtable:

• Combines docs, wikis, and databases in a single workspace
• Each database entry can expand into its own page with nested content
• Simpler setup for content planning, lightweight CRMs, and knowledge hubs

Where Airtable is better:

• True relational logic and linked records across multiple tables
• More advanced field types and automation
• Better performance with large datasets

Who Notion is not for: Teams that need advanced relational logic or automation across large datasets.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV import; no native one-click Airtable connector
• What transfers: Tables (as databases) and field values
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, formulas, and views

Pricing: Free plan (up to 10 users); paid plans start at $10/user/month.

Verdict: Choose Notion if you want a flexible, doc-first workspace and don't need Airtable's relational database depth.

9. Coda — for interactive docs and workflows

Bottom line: Coda merges docs, spreadsheets, and databases into a single canvas, letting you build interactive "doc-apps" with buttons and formulas rather than a standalone database.

Where Coda beats Airtable:

• Docs, tables, and interactive elements (buttons, formulas) live on one canvas
• Packs extend functionality with integrations like Slack and GitHub
• Better suited to interactive reports and knowledge management than Airtable

Where Airtable is better:

• True relational database built for large, structured datasets
• More consistent performance as tables grow
• Larger ecosystem of templates for pure database use cases

Who Coda is not for: Teams with heavy relational data needs or large tables, where performance can lag.

Migrating from Airtable:

• Migration method: CSV import; no native one-click Airtable connector
• What transfers: Tables and field values
• What may require rebuilding: Linked-record relationships, formulas, and views

Pricing: Free plan (unlimited pages for unshared docs); paid plans start at $10/user/month.

Verdict: Choose Coda if you want interactive docs and workflows more than a dedicated relational database.

Side-by-side feature comparison

How to choose an Airtable alternative

• Want something similar but cheaper? Try Stackby or SmartSuite.
• Need a free alternative? Softr, Baserow, NocoDB, and Google Sheets all have usable free tiers.
• Need open source? Baserow or NocoDB.
• Need project management? Monday.com.
• Need a more scalable database? Softr Databases or NocoDB, which is built on SQL.
• Need to build client-facing interfaces or full-stack apps? Softr.

How to migrate from Airtable

Whichever tool you choose, migrating off Airtable follows a similar pattern:

• Start with an export: Airtable's own CSV export (per table) or its API is the starting point for every tool on this list; Softr is the only one here with a dedicated one-click Airtable importer.
• Expect to rebuild linked records: Most imports bring over field values but not the relationships between tables, so budget time to manually recreate links unless you're using a tool with a native importer.
• Automations, Interfaces, and formulas rarely transfer: Anything built directly in Airtable's automations or Interface Designer typically needs to be rebuilt from scratch in the new tool.
• Keep a backup: Duplicate your Airtable base or export every table before you start, so you have a fallback if something breaks mid-migration.

Already using Airtable but need more flexibility or better pricing? Import your bases to Softr Databases in just a few clicks. There's no need to rebuild your schema from scratch. Or try Softr's AI Co-Builder and generate fully functional business software with a native relational database, built-in workflow automation, and infrastructure that's secure by default.