Looking for an Airtable alternative? We’re here to help!
Airtable combines the simplicity of spreadsheets with the functionality of a database, making it one of the most popular business application platforms. However, like any software, it may not be the best fit for every team.
A focus on spreadsheets, limited features on the Airtable free plan, and a steep learning curve are just a few reasons why many businesses are looking for better options.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the top Airtable alternatives for 2025 to help you find the perfect tool for your team.
What is Airtable?
Image source: Airtable
Airtable is often recognized for its unique blend of a spreadsheet interface with database functionalities, making it a user-friendly platform for managing and organizing data.
What is airtable used for?
Airtable functions as a relational database, allowing records from one table to be linked to another, thus creating relationships between different components and objects. It also serves as a cloud-based project management software that enables teams to store, organize, and collaborate on structured data.
The platform excels at consolidating and storing data in different formats like spreadsheets, Kanban boards, or boards, which aids business teams in organizing and structuring their data workload. Moreover, Airtable templates are extensively utilized by both individual users and the business community.
Image source: Airtable
As a versatile platform, Airtable is designed for a variety of business domains, including but not limited to project management, content pipelines, product launches, marketing calendars, event planning, and more. While Airtable offers a range of functionalities, it may have limitations in certain aspects that are crucial for business operations:
Mobile Usability: Airtable offers a mobile app that allows users to navigate spreadsheet-like databases on a smaller screen. Although it provides Airtable forms, the formats may not always adapt well to mobile devices.
Plan Value: Businesses can have unlimited databases with up to 1,000 records per database and up to 5 editors on the free plan. For larger scale needs, subscription is required starting from $20 per seat per month.
Implementation Efforts: Airtable becomes more powerful when it is interconnected and integrated with your other systems. This can be both advantageous and challenging, as it takes time and effort to establish connections with your chat, documents, and other tools.
In the following sections, we will dive into alternative solutions that address some of these limitations and might prove to be more aligned with your business requirements. Stay tuned as we explore these options and help you make an informed decision on choosing the right tool for managing your business data effectively.
What to look for in Airtable alternatives
When considering alternatives to Airtable, it is important to evaluate the following criteria in order to find a suitable option that not only provides equivalent functions, but is also easy to learn, onboard, and leverage according to your business's unique needs.
Customization: Choose a platform that allows you to customize workflows and views according to your specific needs, similar to the customization options available in Lark Base.
Efficient collaboration: Opt for tools that support real-time collaboration to ensure everyone is working together effectively.
Automation: Platforms that offer automation features to streamline manual and repetitive tasks can greatly enhance productivity.
Access management: Segmented access to the same data or table for different teams can help businesses maintain a single source of truth while facilitating collaboration.
Integration capabilities: Look for tools that seamlessly integrate with your existing tech stack, similar to Lark's integration features, especially with AI.
14 best Airtable alternatives for 2025
Lark - Best for unified business management and decision-making
Lark is an all-in-one collaboration platform that seamlessly integrates project management, communication, and database functionality, making it the best alternative to Airtable. Unlike Airtable, which primarily focuses on database-style project tracking, Lark goes further by combining powerful spreadsheet-like databases with built-in messaging, video calls, and document collaboration—all within a single platform.
Lark is ideal for teams that need an intuitive, no-code platform for organizing data, automating workflows, and collaborating in real time. With its highly customizable Lark Base feature, businesses can manage everything from client databases to project pipelines without switching between multiple apps.
Features:
With Lark Messenger, you can chat one-on-one or in group conversations, @mention teammates, share files, integrate custom bots, and more. Need to coordinate across time zones? Schedule messages to be sent at the perfect moment—no matter where your colleagues are.
Collaborate effortlessly with Lark Docs, where multiple team members can work on the same document in real time. Leave comments, tag colleagues using @mentions, and stay updated as changes happen instantly.
Host audio and video meetings anytime with Lark Meetings. Share your screen, present documents, or brainstorm on an interactive whiteboard during calls. Plus, with built-in translation features, you can communicate smoothly with clients or team members around the globe.
Manage your schedule with Lark Calendar. View team availability, set up meetings with ease, and rest assured that any changes you make will automatically sync with all attendees' calendars.
Take control of your projects with Lark Base—your all-in-one project management solution. Organize tasks, collect data, and track progress in real time. Project managers can assign responsibilities, automate workflows, and switch between Gantt, Kanban, Gallery views, and more to suit their needs.
Lark offers translation for over 100 languages, converting them into 24 target languages for both messages and documents.
The generous free plan includes 11 products including those designed for CRM, performance management, and more.
Mobile-friendly experience for managing projects on the go.
Pricing: Lark offers a free plan with robust features, making it an attractive option for startups and growing businesses. Paid plans start at $12 per user per month.
Trello - Best for simple project management through cards
Image source: bureauworks.com
Trello is a visual project management tool that simplifies complex projects and processes through its intuitive board, list, and card system. It's a good choice for project teams of all kinds, ranging from product, marketing, operations, to engineering.
Similar to Airtable's broad appeal, Trello is also fitting for teams and companies of all sizes. Its card approach to organizing projects makes it an great Airtable alternative for managing various tasks, whether in software development, marketing, or any sector that requires structured task management.
Features:
Create and customize boards to manage projects and tasks.
Transition from the traditional board view to new views like timeline, table, or dashboard to visualize data better.
Similar to Airtable templates, Trello also offers a variety of templates for individuals or teams to manage different types of projects.
Offers a comprehensive range of connectors that enable teams to seamlessly integrate Trello with other business tools, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $5 per user per month.
Wrike - Best for versatile workflows
Image source: financesonline.com
Wrike presents itself as a versatile platform aiming to streamline workflows across all departments of an organization. It is positioned as a single solution for managing projects, organizing work, and enhancing collaboration and efficiency, adaptable to various working styles through its customizable dashboards and tailored team-specific workflows.
Instead of using a relational database, Wrike offers a compelling alternative to Airtable with its project management and workflow building capabilities. Companies in need of a robust project management software that can cater to different departments may find Wrike to be a beneficial choice.
Features:
Tailor workflows to fit each team’s unique business process needs.
Visualize project timelines and dependencies.
Streamline processes with automation, reducing manual input.
Provides insights through dashboards to help in better decision-making.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $9.80 per user per month.
ClickUp - Best for team work management
Image source: taskup.com.br
ClickUp is a work management platform that offers a suite of tools to manage people, projects, and everything in-between. With its customizable views, ClickUp serves as an alternative to Airtable, as it can manage any type of project without the need for code or add-ons. This makes it a convenient one-stop-shop for project management.
ClickUp's flexibility in managing various project types makes it a suitable choice for a wide range of teams. Additionally, ClickUp provides a wide range of ready-made templates for teams to use, similar to Airtable.
Features:
Like Lark Base, ClickUp offers a variety of powerful views, including grid, Kanban, Gantt, Form, and more. These views allow you to consolidate all work information in one place.
Enhance collaboration, work management, and data governance with 35+ ClickApps. These apps add different functionalities to make the ClickUp workspaces more powerful. They range from screen recording, custom fields, automation, to time tracking.
ClickUp recently released its AI assistant to help users improve their writing and summarize content in its documents. This is particularly useful for teams that need to communicate asynchronously through better documentation.
Pricing: Free plan available for personal use. Paid plans start at $7 per user per month.
Smartsheet - Best for enterprise work management
Image source: smartsheet.com
Smartsheet is a sheet-based platform known for its project and work management capabilities. It's a suitable Airtable alternative, especially for those looking to manage projects at large scale and with layered granularity. The platform provides various views and workflows to tailor to your needs, making it a strong contender for managing company-wide initiatives.
Teams and companies in need of a robust project management tool would find Smartsheet beneficial. Its variety of functions such as activity logs, automation, and Critical Path, allowing for a versatile management of tasks and projects.
Features:
Switch between Grid, Card, Gantt, or Calendar views to visualize work in different ways for easier progress and task tracking.
Enhance team collaboration with shared views, real-time updates, review process visualization, and comment threads.
Gantt chart with dependencies and predecessor columns to visualize crucial elements and milestones for projects.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $20 per user per month.
Google Sheets - Best for Google Workspace users
Image source: zapier.com
Google Sheets provides a straightforward yet powerful alternative to Airtable, especially for users experienced in spreadsheet management who want to improve collaboration. As a part of Google's workspace suite, it seamlessly integrates with other Google services.
Companies and teams looking for a user-friendly tool for data maintenance and analysis, especially those already skilled in using spreadsheets, will find value in Google Sheets as an alternative to Airtable. Its combination of simplicity and real-time collaboration capabilities makes it suitable for teams of any size and various projects. However, it does not offer the relational database functionality that Airtable provides.
Features:
Share spreadsheets and collaborate with others in real-time, ensuring a single source of truth for data usage and analysis.
Access and edit your spreadsheets even without an internet connection by enabling offline access.
Utilize various formulas and charts to analyze and visualize data, similar to how you would use Microsoft Excel.
If your company and team already use Google Workspace as your primary stack, using Google Sheets can save you the hassle of integrating everything together.
Pricing: You can use Google Sheets for free as an individual. If you want to use it as part of Google Workspace, paid plans start at $7 per user per month.
Asana - Best for agile project management
Image source: asana.com
Asana, a well-regarded platform for work management and team collaboration, serves as another viable alternative to Airtable when teams are using Airtable for project and task management purposes. It's especially beneficial for cross-team collaboration and reducing duplicate work.
Companies aiming for a structured yet flexible work management solution would find Asana fitting. It provides a range of features catering to growing teams requiring advanced project management tools.
Features:
To keep the project on track, it is important to have built-in functions for time tracking, workload estimation, and workload visualization. These functions provide visibility into work progress and allow for timely adjustments.
Manage projects with great visibility and precision using diverse views, task lists, and time tracking in one place. Integration with over 270 work apps is available.
Goals, progress, and dashboards are available to link teamwork back to company goals and focus efforts on high-priority items.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $10.99 per user per month.
ProofHub - Best for project planning and implementation
Image source: ProofHub
ProofHub is a centralized platform that helps teams effectively organize, collaborate, and complete projects on time. It offers project management tools, notes, reports, and chat. Similar to Lark, ProofHub also provides a centralized workspace that combines all these features.
ProofHub is particularly useful for teams working on multiple projects, as it provides a centralized platform for better organization. It is a viable alternative to Airtable when teams want to get better project planning and implementation.
Features:
Assign, schedule, and track tasks all in one place.
Centralized discussions to keep everyone on the same page.
Visual timeline for project planning and tracking.
Analyze project performance with tailored reports.
Track time spent on tasks for better productivity analysis.
Pricing: No free plan. Paid plans start at $89 per month.
Jira - Best for software development projects
Image source: venturebeat.com
From Atlassian Jira is a powerful project management tool tailored for software development teams. It offers advanced issue and bug tracking, agile project management, and customizable workflows. Jira is ideal for agile teams who need a robust platform to manage backlogs, plan sprints, and track development progress.
Features:
Agile boards for scrum and kanban teams.
Advanced reporting and real-time insights.
Customizable workflows to suit any development process.
Integration with CI/CD tools like Bitbucket and GitHub.
Roadmaps to align team goals and track progress.
Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $7.53 per user per month.
Zoho Sheet - Best for creating spreadsheets in real time
Image source: www.zoho.com
Zoho Sheet is a cloud-based spreadsheet application designed for real-time collaboration and data analysis. It allows teams to create, edit, and share spreadsheets seamlessly, making it an excellent alternative to Google Sheets. Zoho Sheet is perfect for teams that need an intuitive platform for managing data, running calculations, and visualizing insights collaboratively.
Features:
Real-time collaboration with team members.
Built-in data cleaning tools to maintain accuracy.
Visual charts and pivot tables for data analysis.
Integration with Zoho apps and third-party tools.
Version history to track changes and restore data.
Pricing: Zoho Sheet is free to use as an individual. To use Zoho Sheet as part of Zoho Workplace, paid plans start at $14 per user per month.
Feedcamp - Best for open-source alternative
Image source: blog.freedcamp.com
Feedcamp is an open-source project management platform offering transparency, flexibility, and community-driven development. It provides essential tools like task management, collaboration boards, and reporting. Feedcamp suits teams looking for an open-source solution to manage tasks, track progress, and build custom project workflows.
Features:
Customizable project boards and task lists.
Open-source flexibility for tailored solutions.
Time tracking and performance analytics.
Community support and frequent updates.
Integration with self-hosted tools and APIs.
Pricing: Feedcamp is free as an open-source platform, but costs may arise from self-hosting, customization, or additional support services.
Notion - Best for note-taking and collaboration
Image source: www.tech2geek.net
Notion is a versatile workspace that combines note-taking, task management, databases, and collaboration tools. Teams use Notion to create shared knowledge bases, manage projects, and brainstorm ideas. Notion is ideal for teams who want a flexible, highly customizable platform for organizing notes, tasks, and projects.
Features:
Drag-and-drop interface for creating custom workflows.
Linked databases to track projects and tasks.
Real-time collaboration and team workspaces.
Embedding for multimedia content and external links.
Customizable templates for quick project setup.
Pricing: Notion offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $10 per user per month.
Basecamp - Best for remote project management
Image source: help.zapier.com
Basecamp is a popular project management tool designed to streamline remote team collaboration. It centralizes task management, team communication, and file sharing into a simple interface. Basecamp is great for remote teams seeking an intuitive, no-frills platform to manage projects and communicate effectively.
Features:
To-do lists for task management.
Message boards for team discussions.
Real-time group chat with Campfire.
File storage and document sharing.
Automatic check-ins to track team progress.
Pricing: Basecamp offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $15 per user per month.
Excel - Best for Microsoft 365 users
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Microsoft Excel remains the go-to spreadsheet tool for data analysis, financial modeling, and project tracking, especially for Microsoft 365 users. With robust formulas, pivot tables, and chart options, Excel seamlessly integrates into Microsoft’s ecosystem. Excel is ideal for businesses and individuals already using Microsoft 365, offering advanced tools for complex data management.
Features:
Advanced formulas and functions for data manipulation.
Pivot tables and charts for data visualization.
Real-time co-authoring with OneDrive integration.
Macros and scripting for task automation.
Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps.
Pricing: Excel is included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Paid plans start at $6 per user per month.
How to choose an Airtable alternative for your team?
Finding the best Airtable replacement for your team can feel challenging with so many options available. However, by focusing on these key factors, you can narrow down your choices and select a tool that truly meets your team’s needs.
1. Assess your team’s size, budget, and workflow
Consider the unique characteristics of your team. How many members will use the tool? What is your budget? Do you need a basic spreadsheet tool, or are you looking for a more comprehensive solution that includes project management?
Knowing the answers to these types of questions will help you eliminate tools that don’t align with your requirements.
2. Focus on tools that integrate with your existing software stack
To avoid disruptions, look for tools that work well with the software your team already uses.
For example:
If your team already uses Google products as part of their work, your best option is most likely Google Sheets.
If your team relies on Zapier to connect tools, then software such as Lark or Trello may be an ideal choice.
Alternatively, you can choose an all-in-one collaboration tool if you're looking to save money on multiple third-party tools. This way, you cut costs while creating a smoother workflow without having to switch between apps.
3. Test free trials and free plans to find the best fit
Many tools offer free trials or freemium plans. Take advantage of this testing the tool’s features, user experience, and compatibility with your team’s workflow. Invite your team to try out the software during the trial period to gather feedback and identify pain points early.
Choosing the right alternative to Airtable is all about finding the best fit for your team’s unique needs. Tools like Lark offer a complete suite of features, including messaging, document coediting, and video conferencing, all in one platform. Don’t hesitate to explore Lark and other tools mentioned in this article to discover the best solution for your team.
Why Lark is the Best Airtable Alternative
Lark is more than just a project management solution. It's a comprehensive platform that combines multiple tools in one place, streamlining your team's workflow and replacing third-party tools. Let’s take a look at why Lark is the best Airtable alternative for 2025.
More comprehensive collection of features
Lark includes all the key features a business needs all in one app. This includes:
For the full list of Lark tools that come with your plan, visit Lark.
Airtable on the other hand is good for basic project management, but lacks almost all the features mentioned above. With Lark, you get a complete solution. Whereas with Airtable, you get only part of the solution your business needs.
Better collaboration tools
Lark offers robust collaboration features. This includes:
Messaging and video calls: Easy communication and video meetings. Video meeting support up to 500 users.
Global collaboration: Real-time translation and seamless communication across time zones.
Call recording: Record meetings or training sessions for later review.
AI summaries: Lark AI summarizes your project discussions and gives you action items based on what you need to do next.
Airtable lacks integrated collaboration features such as instant messaging or video calls. Therefore, you’ll need to rely on external apps for communication. This not only means more time spent switching apps but also more costs for your business having to pay for third-party tools.
Advanced project management capabilities
When it comes to project management, Lark offers a powerful solution that goes beyond what Airtable provides. While Airtable has its strengths, Lark’s project management tool—Lark Base—elevates how teams plan, track, and execute their work. It delivers unmatched flexibility and control, enabling you to streamline tasks, automate workflows, and collaborate effortlessly—all from a single, unified platform.
Lark Base allows you to build custom project tracking systems tailored to your unique processes. You can automate repetitive tasks like data entry and follow-ups, giving your team more time to focus on high-impact work. With intuitive tables, customizable views, and real-time dashboards, it’s easy to monitor progress, assess team performance, and adjust timelines on the fly.
What sets Lark apart is how seamlessly Lark Base integrates with the rest of the Lark ecosystem. Project management, team communication, document sharing, and task tracking all happen within one app—eliminating the need to jump between multiple tools. Unlike Airtable, which often relies on third-party integrations for full functionality, Lark keeps everything connected and streamlined. The result? A smooth, all-in-one experience that keeps your team organized, productive, and focused—without ever leaving the platform.
Value for money
Lark
Lark offers a powerful free plan that supports up to 20 users. In addition, the free plan comes with 11 products designed for project management, communication, and collaboration. Paid plans start at just $12 per user per month for up to 500 users. Higher-tier plans offer unlimited users.
Airtable doesn’t offer a free plan built for businesses. Their free plan only allows 5 users to edit the database, which makes it better suited to individuals. In addition, its pricing can become expensive as your business scales. For example, their paid plan starts at $20 per user per month, which is much higher than Lark’s but with less functionality.
Image source: airtable.com
FAQ about Airtable alternatives
What is the best free Airtable alternative?
Many tools offer a free version for you to try, but unfortunately, these often come with such limited features that they’re only suitable for personal use. For the best free Airtable alternatives you can consider Trello or Lark. With Trello, you get a range of features to make task management a breeze. On the other hand, Lark gives you 11 tools for free including instant messaging, project management software, email, task management, and performance management software all for free.
What’s the difference between Airtable and an open-source alternative?
Airtable is a closed platform. This means its code can’t be changed or accessed by customers. Open-source alternatives to Airtable, like Feedcamp, let anyone view and customize the code. Open-source tools are more flexible but may require more technical know-how to set up and manage.
Final thoughts on Airtable alternatives
Airtable is a powerful project management tool, but it’s not the best choice for businesses in 2025. If you need a solution that goes beyond the basics, Lark stands out. Unlike other alternatives such as Trello or Google Sheets, Lark combines instant messaging, video conferencing, shared calendars, cloud storage, and document collaboration into one seamless platform.
Besides giving you more features than Airtable, Lark also offers a free plan including 11 products designed to help businesses improve their workflows and get work done. Whether you’re a part of a small business or an established organization, Lark’s design and focus on efficiency can maximize your team’s productivity and communication.
Don’t settle for second best - choose a tool that empowers you and your team.
