Airtable is an easy-to-use simple low-code platform that aids teams collaboratively managing complex data sheets, and create customized workflow. Think about it as a cloud spreadsheet on steroids.
Airtable also simplifies data entry process, connect and integrate third-party services and apps, and offers many data import/ export options.
With it, you can create custom interfaces, forms and views, to insert, manage, and view your data. It is also packed with charts, timelines, calendars, maps, assets, and image managers.
However, as a hosted service, you are not in-control of your data, and many may find that limiting. Therefore, we offer you here the best Airtable low-code alternative to do almost the same.
If you are looking for SQL low-code database management app, we got you covered in the following articles:
- 13 Free Open-source SQLite Database Clients and Managers
- Top 17 Free, open-source SQL Clients for Productive Database Management
For this article, we will list and go through a dozen of open-source self-hosted Airtable alternatives and cloud spreadsheet solutions.
1- NocoDB
NocoDB is a low-code collaborative web-based platform that can replace Airtable. It supports MySQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle, and MariaDB.
NocoDB allows you to create, edit database, database table, manage columns, and row content. You can also choose to create a gallery or a list view instead of tables.
To enter the data, you either create customized forms per table, or use NocoDB provided REST API.
NocoDB offers an SDK, enterprise-grade REST-API, and multiple user support.
You can install your version from source, or use Docker/ Docker-compose to have your NocoDB ready.
2- Baserow
Baserow is a low-code/ no-code data platform that you can self-host on your server or local machine.
It aids the user to connect to database servers, create complex spreadsheets, manage unlimited rows, and collaborate with team members.
Baserow is built on-top of Django and Nuxt.js frameworks, and it currently supports PostgreSQL only. However, with some hacking it can work with MariaDB, MySQL, and other SQL databases.
To install Baserow, you can easily use it is Docker image, which offers you seamless install and minimal configuration.
Among its rich features set, Baserow offers developer tools as headless REST-API and plugin API to create custom plugins.
3- Mathesar
Mathesar is yet another open-source Airtable alternative that supports PostgreSQL. It is built on top of Django framework. It provides straightforward workflow to store manage, organize, visualize and collaborate on data projects.
Mathesar can be installed either from the source or using a Docker image. It is released under the GPLv3 License.
4- Metabase
Metabase is a different kind of solution, it is a low-code data management and manipulation app for data engineers and data scientists.
Metabase offers a new approach to deal with data, as you can ask simple questions, get insights from your data, or create and run queries.
It features a rich dynamic table tools with filters, summarizing options, full-text search option, column sorting, and many visualization options.
With Metabase, you can connect SQL and NoSQL database engines as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, and SQLite.
5- Budibase
Budibase is an amazing platform to build internal data-oriented tools. It allows users to use many data sources and create views as tables, charts, custom forms, and more without breaking a sweat.
Budibase is a good tool for anyone who wants to create a custom workflow, or build internal data tools for team work.
6- Carbon
Unlike the previous projects here, Carbon is designed to generate visual and summary reports from data files.
It supports many data formats as PDF, DOCX, XLSX, ODT, PPTX, ODS, XML, CSV, and JSON files.
If you are thinking of the reporting side of Airtable, then Carbon is an ideal alternative.
7- Termdbs
If you want something quick to browse, edit, and modify your data on your machine, you may try Termdbs.
Termdbs is a simple lightweight terminal data manager app for CSV and SQLite databases. The developers are working now on adding MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL support.
8- Grist
Grist is an open-source web-based spreadsheet and database management in one package. It allows users to create their own custom Python formulas to manage, manipulate and edit data for SQL databases and CSV data files.
Grist can be installed on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It comes with a rich integration tool set that include webhooks, REST-API, and several third-party services like Google Drive/ Docs, and Zapier.
9- Rowy
Rowy is an open-source low-code platform. Airtable-like UI for managing your database with cloud functions workflows in JS/TS, all in your browser.
Rowy allows you to connect to your database, manage data in table-UI with role based access controls. Build cloud function workflows in JS/TS using any NPM or APIs.
10- Luckysheet (Univer)
Luckysheet is an online spreadsheet like excel that is powerful, simple to configure, and completely open source. It is meant for developers to build complex data oriented projects and datasheet apps.
Luckysheet is released under the MIT license.
Univer highlights
- Formatting: style, conditional formatting, text alignment and rotation, text truncation, overflow, automatic line wrapping, multiple data types, cell segmentation style
- Cells: drag and drop, fill handle, multiple selection, find and replace, location, merge cells, data verification
- Row & column: hide, insert, delete rows or columns, freeze, and split text
- Operation: undo, redo, copy, paste, cut, hot key, format painter, drag and drop selection
- Formulas & Functions: Built-in, remote and custom formulas
- Tables: filter, sort
- Enhanced functions: Pivot tables, charts, comments, cooperative editing, insert picture, matrix calculations, screenshots, copying to other formats, EXCEL import and export, etc.
If you know of any other open-source Airtable alternative that we did not mention here, let us know.
