Airtable

Overview

Airtable brings relational data, app building and workflow management together in a cloud platform. Teams can use it as a shared source of information, then shape that information into interfaces, automations and reports. Views, governance and security features support different ways of working with the data and managing access.

The platform also supports building custom business apps with AI without code, including deploying AI agents inside apps. Airtable lists integrations with Slack, Google Drive, Salesforce, Jira and Zendesk. Native integrations are available on Free, Team, Business and Enterprise Scale plans, with options including Slack, email, Dropbox, Box, Gmail, Google Drive and Typeform.

Airtable was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company reports that 500,000 companies build in Airtable, with 50M+ apps and agents, 90% of the Fortune 100 and 10M active users.

Key features

Relational records and custom apps

Relational data is at the center of Airtable: teams can organize information in databases and build interfaces around it for particular workflows. Reporting and views make it possible to present and work with the data in different ways. The app builder lets teams create custom business apps without code, with AI and the option to deploy AI agents inside those apps.

Automations and integrations

Automations help turn recurring processes into workflows. Airtable's listed integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Salesforce, Jira and Zendesk. Native integrations, offered on Free, Team, Business and Enterprise Scale plans, include email, Dropbox, Box, Gmail and Typeform as well as Slack and Google Drive.

Access, security and compliance

Security controls include customizable collaborator permissions, password-protected or email-domain-restricted share links, record-level revision history and two-factor authentication. Airtable states that it has SOC 2 Type 2, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27701:2019, HIPAA and TX-RAMP Level 2 coverage or certification information. It says its privacy program is designed for compliance with GDPR, UK GDPR and CCPA/CPRA.

Pricing

Airtable uses a freemium pricing model. Its Free plan costs nothing and includes 1,000 records per base, 1,000 API calls per workspace per month, 1 GB of attachments per base, two weeks of revision history and 75 automations per base. Free workspaces allow unlimited read-only collaborators, up to five Editor or Creator collaborators and up to 50 Commenter collaborators.

The Team plan costs $20 a month (billed annually). It includes 50,000 records per base, 100,000 API calls per workspace per month, 20 GB of attachment storage per base, and one year of revision and snapshot history. Airtable positions this plan for teams building apps for shared workflows.

The Business plan costs $45 a month (billed annually) and includes 125,000 records per base, unlimited API calls per workspace per month, 100 GB of attachment storage per base, and one year of revision and snapshot history. Enterprise Scale pricing is not listed; it offers scalable app building, governance and administration with custom sales-led pricing. A 14-day trial is available.

Platforms

Airtable is available on the web and as desktop apps for macOS and Windows, plus mobile apps for iOS and Android. The macOS app requires macOS 12 or later; Windows requires Windows 10 64-bit or later. The iOS app requires iOS 16 or later, and Android requires Android 7 or later. Airtable also lists API and extension availability.

Who it's for

Airtable can suit individuals and very small teams starting with the Free plan, as well as teams that need shared workflows built around structured, relational information. The Team plan is specifically intended for teams building apps for shared workflows. Its app building, automation and permission controls are relevant when different people need to work with a common set of records through managed processes.

The Free plan's collaborator limits matter for teams that need editing access: it supports up to five Editor or Creator collaborators, alongside unlimited read-only collaborators and up to 50 Commenters. Its record, API-call and attachment limits also define the scale of a free workspace.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Combines relational databases with interfaces, reporting, views and workflow automation.
• Supports custom no-code business apps and deploying AI agents within apps.
• Offers collaborator permissions, restricted share links, revision history and two-factor authentication.
• Has a Free plan and a 14-day trial, with API access available.

Cons

• The Free plan is limited to 1,000 records per base, 1,000 API calls per workspace each month and 1 GB of attachments per base.
• Free workspaces allow only five Editor or Creator collaborators.
• Enterprise Scale pricing is not listed and uses a sales-led custom pricing approach.

Alternatives

For project and work management needs, consider Asana, Basecamp, ClickUp, Linear, Wrike, YouTrack, Teamwork.com or monday.com. Readers comparing software for more specific needs can also browse Game Project Management Software, Marketing Planning Software and No-Code Database Software.

Verdict

Airtable is a flexible option for teams that want relational data to underpin custom apps and shared workflows. Its combination of interfaces, automations, reporting, integrations and access controls gives it scope beyond record storage, while AI-assisted app building and agents extend that model. The Free plan provides a way to start, but its record, API, attachment and collaborator limits are important to weigh; larger or more demanding use cases may require a paid plan. Team is listed at $20 a month billed annually, Business at $45 a month billed annually, and Enterprise Scale pricing is custom.