Airtable Alternatives: 10 Best Alternatives to Try in 2024

Airtable is a popular tool for managing data and workflows, but it's not the only option available. In fact, a recent survey by Statista found that 58% of businesses are exploring alternative software solutions to improve their productivity and efficiency. 

If you're looking for other options, this article covers the 10 best Airtable alternatives to try in 2024. Each alternative offers unique features that might better suit your needs.

What is Airtable

Airtable is a cloud-based software tool that helps you organize and manage your data in a flexible and visual way. It combines the features of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, allowing you to create customizable tables to store information. With Airtable, you can easily collaborate with team members, track projects, and visualize your data using grid, calendar, and Kanban board views. It's popular among businesses, teams, and individuals for its ease of use and versatility in organizing various types of information.

Why Consider Alternatives to Airtable?

Airtable, despite its extensive capabilities, may not be the best fit for everyone. Some may find its user interface overwhelming, while others might feel restricted by its feature set. Perhaps you're seeking more advanced features or specific functionalities that Airtable doesn't provide. Or maybe you're looking for a more cost-effective solution. Evaluating Airtable alternatives will enable you to find a tool that better meets your unique business requirements and preferences.

The Shortcomings of Airtable

While Airtable brings a lot to the table, it does have some limitations that could make it less than ideal for certain users. These include:

1. Limited Project Management Features: Airtable is excellent as a database solution, but its features may fall short as a project management tool compared to other robust tools in the market. Users may need more advanced task tracking and project planning features.
2. Collaboration Hurdles: While Airtable does offer collaboration features, some users find that they can be lacking in certain areas, such as real-time updating and communication.
3. Paid Extensions: Some beneficial features and functionalities in Airtable are only available as paid extensions, adding to the total cost.
4. Limited Reviewing Features: Airtable might lack the in-depth reviewing features other tools offer, such as detailed activity logs or version history.
5. Costly for Larger Teams: Airtable's pricing can become quite steep when catering to larger teams. More economical solutions are available that provide the same, or even better, range of features.

Top 10 Airtable Alternatives and Competitors

If you’re looking for an Airtable alternative, here are 10 great options to consider

1. Kohezion

Kohezion is a dynamic Airtable alternative that covers a wide array of features and offers user-friendly online database software. It allows users to create as many applications, projects, and tasks as they need without limitations, and its intuitive interface is easy to navigate. It also provides a customizable dashboard, giving users greater control over their data.

Top 5 features:

1. Customizable Web Forms
2. Task Management
3. Time Tracking
4. Customizable Reports
5. Advanced Permissions

Benefits:

1. Advanced Search Function
2. Data Export/Import
3. High Data Security
4. Private Cloud Hosting
5. User-friendly UI

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve for new users.
2. Limited integration options with other software.

Best for: Small to large businesses looking for a versatile and comprehensive solution.

Pricing: Affordable options start at $50/month for 5 users. A free trial is available.

2. Notion

Notion is a highly flexible tool that combines note-taking, knowledge base storage, project management, and data management into one software package. It allows extensive customization and collaboration, making it ideal for a wide range of tasks and team sizes. 

Top 5 features:

1. Integrated Note-taking
2. Comprehensive Project Management
3. Collaborative Workspaces
4. Sophisticated Table Formats
5. Markdown Support

Benefits:

1. Versatile and Customizable
2. Supports a wide array of data types
3. Real-time messaging features
4. User-generated templates for numerous use cases
5. Web clipper for easy image and web page saving

Cons

1. Limited offline functionality.
2. Can be overwhelming for new users due to its many features.

Best for: Both individuals and teams seeking a multipurpose SaaS tool for different tasks.

Pricing: Notion provides a limited free version, with paid team plans starting from $8 per user per month.

3. ClickUp

ClickUp is a comprehensive project management tool and an excellent Airtable alternative, particularly for those seeking a more all-inclusive solution to manage tasks, projects, and workflows. It takes task management a step further and offers a broader spectrum of features than Airtable. Its robust team collaboration features allow you to avoid miscommunication and stay ahead of deadlines.

Top 5 features:

1. Task checklists and Custom Task Statuses
2. Smart Notification
3. Team Chat
4. Workload View
5. Dynamic Recurring Tasks

Benefits:

1. Handy Kanban boards and Gantt chart views for project management.
2. Comprehensive dashboard view.
3. Offers features like goals and embedded emails in its free plan.
4. Provides several templates and free integrations.
5. 24/7 support availability.

Cons:

1. Complex interface for beginners.
2. Limited advanced reporting features.

Best for: Teams looking to streamline document management, chat function, and goal planning, and those who want a holistic view of their work.

Pricing: ClickUp has a free plan, with paid options starting at $5 per member per month.

4. ProofHub

ProofHub is an all-in-one organizational tool. It's a perfect Airtable alternative for teams wanting to streamline project management and team collaboration. It is excellent for managing numerous tasks and brainstorming with colleagues. It combines project management and resource planning capabilities to facilitate efficiency. One notable distinction is the flat pricing structure, making it a cost-effective choice for large and growing teams.

Top 5 features:

1. Task and Project Management
2. In-Built Team Communication Tools
3. Gantt Charts for Project Timelines
4. Custom Workflows and Kanban Boards
5. Detailed Project Reports and Dashboards

Benefits:

1. Offers a centralized platform for managing work.
2. Aids in efficient data tracking and management.
3. Provides a project calendar for scheduling work and milestone tracking.
4. Intuitive interface with powerful customization options.
5. Aids in prioritizing work and monitoring team progress.

Cons:

1. Limited third-party integrations.
2. Basic time-tracking features.

Best for: Project teams of any size to manage work aspects from a centralized platform, where ease of use and efficient team collaboration is a primary concern.

Pricing: ProofHub offers a flat subscription rate of $89/month without user limitations. A free trial is also available.

5. Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a versatile Airtable alternative, providing a scalable, spreadsheet-based platform that increases productivity. Smartsheet takes project management and collaboration to a new level. Its interface is similar to Microsoft Excel, making it easy to adopt. It excels in task management and resource allocation, offering superior customization options.

Top 5 features:

1. Automated Alerts and Reminders
2. Gantt Chart View for Project Timeline
3. Exportable and Automated Reports
4. Resource Management
5. Seamless Integration with Google Apps

Five benefits:

1. Facilitates multiple project connections with collaboration and communication features.
2. Offers a simple and clean user interface that's customizable.
3. Provides great tracking functions, enhancing productivity.
4. Works well with Google Drive, and you can sync it with Google Calendar.
5. Allows sign-in with Google account info.

Cons:

1. High cost for premium plans.
2. Steeper learning curve for advanced features.

Best for: Businesses of all sizes that require excellent project management tools and are used to a spreadsheet-based workflow.

Pricing: Smartsheet's pricing plans start at $14 per month for individual users, with enterprise-level pricing available on request.

6. Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet tool that can serve as an effective alternative to Airtable for users who desire exceptional data analysis and complex calculations. With more than 450 formulas and a vast array of built-in features and add-ins, Excel improves data organization and calculation tasks. Its robust graphing tools, pivot tables, and macro programming language (VBA) make it a versatile option.

Top 5 Features:

1. Advanced Formulas and Functions
2. Impressive Charting and Graphing Tools
3. Powerful Pivot Tables for Data Manipulation
4. Conditional Formatting
5. Data Validation Tools

Five benefits:

1. Excel enjoys wide acceptance, with a familiar interface and extensive online resources.
2. Highly customizable, Excel allows you to format cells and data to suit your needs.
3. Presents a good set of data visualization tools for generating reports and dashboards.
4. Allows automation of repetitive tasks with VBA scripting.
5. Strong offline performance.

Cons:

1. Limited collaboration features.
2. Prone to errors with complex formulas.

Best for: Individuals and businesses in fields such as finance and accounting, researchers, or anyone needing advanced data manipulation and analysis.

Pricing: As part of MS 365, Microsoft Excel offers six pricing plans, starting at $6.99/month for personal use and $5/user per month for business use.

7. Trello

Trello is an easy-to-use kanban-style project management tool. It serves as a great Airtable alternative, especially for users who prefer a visually driven task management system. While Trello excels in simplicity, it also offers powerful features for task management and collaboration. If you're a fan of sticky notes and whiteboards, Trello's card-based design will appeal to you.

Top 5 features:

1. Visual Boards, Lists, and Cards
2. Workflow Automation with Trello's Butler
3. Collaboration tools (Comments, Attachments, Task Assignment)
4. Multiple Task View (Board, Timeline, Calendar)
5. Integrations (Power-Ups)

Five benefits:

1. Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
2. Easy to set up and start using.
3. Notifications and due date reminders.
4. Customizable to suit your team's workflow.
5. Provides a transparent view of project progress.

Cons:

1. Lacks advanced reporting tools.
2. Limited customization options.

Best for: Teams looking for a flexible, simple-to-understand project management tool that makes day-to-day tasks fun and productive.

Pricing: Trello offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans starting at $5 per user/month.

8. Nifty

Nifty is a robust project management software and an alternative to Airtable. It's equipped with file storage and offers a collaborative workspace, making large-scale project management a breeze. Nifty stands apart for its ability to close the gap between project management and team communication. It facilitates progressive project planning using milestones, allowing for smoother tasks and team activities management.

Top 5 features:

1. Milestone-Based Project Planning
2. Portfolio-level Overview
3. Time Tracking and Reporting
4. User Roles and Permissions
5. Task Comments and Document Sharing

Five benefits:

1. Simplifies goal tracking and task assignment.
2. Allows you to view data in varied ways to suit your preferences.
3. Packed with integrations to improve its functionality.
4. Loop in your clients on projects with moderated permissions.
5. Excellent for remote collaboration.

Cons:

1. Limited integration options.
2. Basic time-tracking functionality.

Best for: Nifty is a favorite among product, marketing, development, client-facing teams, and anyone with complex projects requiring advanced tasks and time management.

Pricing: Nifty offers a free plan, with paid plans starting at $39/month for 10 team members.

9. Wrike

Wrike is robust task management software that makes project organization easier and more customizable—a fantastic Airtable alternative. It excels at managing shared calendars and tasks with a visual markup tool that expedites feedback. Wrike is highly suitable for small agencies looking for customizable workspaces.

Top 5 features:

1. Conditional Logic Forms
2. Task-sharing and Report-sharing
3. Unique three-pane dashboard
4. Interactive Gantt Charts for project tracking
5. Over 400 different SaaS apps integration possibilities

Five benefits:

1. Easily track time spent on tasks/projects.
2. Scalable according to your team's size.
3. Multiple views, including an Airtable-like table view.
4. Create projects using pre-made templates for formidable teamwork requirements.
5. A wide user base of 20,000+ users stands as a testament to its efficacy.

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve for new users.
2. High cost for advanced features.

Best for: Teams aiming for better task management, custom workspaces, shared calendars, and expedited collaboration.

Pricing: Wrike has a free plan, the Professional Plan starts at $9.80/user per month, and the Business Plan at $24.80/user per month

10. Teamwork

Teamwork is a complete project management tool that focuses on helping teams improve collaboration, visibility, accountability, and, ultimately, results. It provides a multi-tiered solution for task management, making it a valuable Airtable alternative. Teamwork excels at time tracking, billable hours, and resource management, making it ideal for client-facing teams.

Top 5 features:

1. Granular User Permissions
2. Integrated Team Chat
3. Document Management and Editing
4. Task Management with Time Logging
5. Project and Task Templates

Five benefits:

1. An intuitive interface ensures quick adoption by team members.
2. Hassle-free scheduling and resource management.
3. Provides detailed reports for an in-depth view of project performance.
4. Offers native integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, and other popular apps.
5. Excellent privacy features, such as private tasks and locking comments.

Cons:

1. Limited customization options.
2. Can be expensive for small teams.

Best for: Agencies, customer service teams, or any team especially focused on time-tracking, resource management, and seamless collaboration.

Pricing: Teamwork’s pricing starts at $10/user/month with a free plan available.

What Features to Look for Among Airtable Competition?

When considering alternatives to Airtable, ensure that these contenders provide the most valuable features to your unique objectives and needs. Key features to look for:

1. Task and Project Management: Look for solid task and project management features such as assignments, tagging, progress tracking, and due dates.
2. Ease of Use: Even with many features, the tool should be intuitive and easy to use with a minimal learning curve.
3. Flexibility and Customization: The platform should provide custom fields, views, and workflows to suit your needs.
4. Integration Capabilities: Consider whether the tool integrates seamlessly with the software you already use, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft tools, or CRM software.
5. Team Collaboration Features: Effective collaboration tools like shared views, comments, document sharing, and real-time updates are crucial.
6. Scalability: For businesses aiming to grow, consider whether the software can be scalable per changing needs.
7. Budget-Friendly: Consider the cost and if it matches the value you're getting from the tool.

Kohezion is a Great Alternative for Airtable

Kohezion is a great alternative to Airtable due to its customizable database applications and real-time collaboration tools. It offers robust reporting and analytics features that help you gain valuable insights into your data. The automated workflows save time and increase efficiency. With secure cloud storage, your data is always protected. Kohezion adapts to your specific business needs, making it a versatile tool for managing your data and workflows effectively.

Conclusion

As you've seen, different Airtable alternatives are available, each offering unique features and strengths that suit differing needs. Whether you require a robust project management system, a flexible task manager, or something that simplifies your work processes, there's an alternative for you.

Explore the software's features fully, weigh the costs, assess the user-friendliness, and consider customer reviews. Even better, most of these platforms offer free trials, making it easier to test and decide which works best for you.

So, have you chosen the best Airtable alternative for your business needs yet? The right choice can indeed make a significant difference in improving your productivity and achieving your business goals.

For more information about Kohezion and how it can help your business, contact us today.