Open source alternatives · Productivity
Open Source Alternative to Airtable
Airtable charges US$20 per user monthly. NocoDB, Baserow, and Grist are open-source smart databases, free.
What the paid app costs: US$20/user/mo
Why switch?
Smart tables, forms, and views are a commodity now. These three cover Airtable's core, run on your own server with unlimited rows and users, and export cleanly if you ever leave.
Compare the alternatives
| Alternative | License | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NocoDB | AGPL-3.0 | Web, self-hostable | The open-source Airtable |
| Baserow | MIT | Web, self-hostable | For the friendliest Airtable clone |
| Grist | Apache-2.0 | Web, self-hostable | For spreadsheet power users |
NocoDB
Free forever AGPL-3.0 · Web, self-hostable
- Turns any database into smart tables
- Grid, kanban, calendar views
- Self-host in minutes
The open-source Airtable
Baserow
Free forever MIT · Web, self-hostable
- No-code database tables
- Real-time collaboration
- API for every table
For the friendliest Airtable clone
Grist
Free forever Apache-2.0 · Web, self-hostable
- Spreadsheet + database hybrid
- Python formulas
- Access rules per user
For spreadsheet power users
Which one should you pick?
- NocoDB: The open-source Airtable
- Baserow: For the friendliest Airtable clone
- Grist: For spreadsheet power users
Frequently asked questions
Which is closest to Airtable?
NocoDB mirrors Airtable's interface most directly; Baserow is the most polished; Grist is best for spreadsheet-style formulas.
Can I migrate my Airtable bases?
Yes, all three import CSV, and NocoDB and Baserow have Airtable-specific migration guides.
Are there row limits?
Self-hosted, your only limit is your server. No per-row pricing games.