Best Airtable Alternatives & Competitors in 2026
11 alternatives to Airtable • Updated January 2026
Airtable revolutionized spreadsheet-databases but pricing has become a pain point. The free tier is restrictive, paid tiers scale per-seat, and automations cost extra. For teams hitting these walls, alternatives offer better value—though none quite match Airtable's polish. Here's how to think about the tradeoffs.
11
Alternatives
9
Free Options
94
Top Score
2026
Updated
Why Teams Look Beyond Airtable
Pricing at Scale
Per-seat pricing with automation limits makes Airtable expensive for growing teams.
Free Tier Limits
1,000 records per base and limited attachment storage constrain free tier usefulness.
Performance Issues
Large bases can become slow. Complex views and formulas add latency.
Feature Gaps
Some users need better forms, reporting, or workflow features than Airtable provides.
What Airtable Does Well
- +Best-in-class interface and user experience
- +Powerful relational database features
- +Strong automation capabilities
- +Great interface builder
Common Pain Points
- -Expensive per-seat pricing
- -Free tier is very limited
- -Can slow down with large databases
- -Automations capped on lower tiers
What to Look For in a Airtable Alternative
Primary Use Case
Are you using Airtable as a database, PM tool, or app platform? Different alternatives excel at different things.
Team Size and Growth
Per-seat pricing matters more as you scale. Consider total cost over time.
Data Volume
If you're hitting record limits, check alternatives' capacity and performance.
Interface Requirements
Airtable's Interfaces are excellent. Verify alternatives meet your portal/app needs.
Migration Considerations
Airtable exports to CSV but loses formatting, linked records, and automations. Plan to rebuild rather than migrate complex bases. Consider running both platforms during transition for comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Airtable alternative?
Based on our analysis, Notion is currently the top-rated Airtable alternative with a score of 94/100. That said, the "best" alternative depends on your specific needs, budget, and use case. We recommend trying free trials before making a decision.
Is there a free alternative to Airtable?
Yes! Notion, Softr, Parabola offer free or freemium pricing. Free alternatives often have limitations on features or usage, but they can be perfect for individuals or small teams.
How difficult is it to switch from Airtable?
Switching difficulty varies depending on how much data you have and how deeply integratedAirtable is in your workflow. Most modern tools support data export/import in standard formats. Plan for a transition period where you might run both tools in parallel to ensure a smooth switch.