Softwr

Software · head to head

Airtable vs Clay

Airtable logo

Airtable

Software

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Clay logo

Clay

Software

Data platform for sales teams

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Airtable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Airtable hitting a plan limit blocks adding records or attachments entirely until you upgrade, rather than degrading gracefully; Clay two separate meters run at once, actions and data credits, and a plan can exhaust either independently
  • They diverge on capability: Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Clay covers Data enrichment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and Clay actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and Clay differ
AttributeAirtableClay
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, DesktopWeb
Founded20122021

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Airtable

  • Spreadsheet-database hybrid
  • Custom views
  • Automation
  • Forms
  • Integrations
  • Mobile apps
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Google Drive

Only in Clay

  • Data enrichment
  • Contact management
  • Workflow automation
  • Integration
  • HubSpot
  • Zapier
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

Both cover

  • API access
  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Airtable

  • Structured team databases with grid, calendar and kanban viewsnot Clay
  • Lightweight internal tools built on shared recordsnot Clay
  • Automations between Airtable and other systemsnot Clay
  • Sharing read-only views with collaborators, who are not chargednot Clay
  • Collecting submissions through forms without paying for a seatnot Clay

Clay

  • Enriching prospect lists from multiple data providers in one tablenot Airtable
  • Building automated outbound research and outreach workflowsnot Airtable

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Airtable

  • Hitting a plan limit blocks adding records or attachments entirely until you upgrade, rather than degrading gracefully
  • Team is $20 per user per month and Business $45, both at the annual rate
  • Automation and API usage are capped by plan
  • Enterprise Scale pricing is not published

Clay

  • Two separate meters run at once, actions and data credits, and a plan can exhaust either independently
  • Data credit overage is sold at a 30% premium over the plan rate, so exceeding the allowance costs more per unit than planning for it
  • The free plan allows 500 actions, 100 data credits and 200 rows per table
  • The entry paid plan starts at $167 a month, and both paid prices are starting figures rather than fixed
  • The free plan cannot buy overage at all, so hitting the limit stops work rather than billing for it

Pricing, plan by plan

Airtable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited bases
    • 1,000 records per base
    • Up to 5 editors
  • Team$20/month per editor annual
    • 50,000 records per base
    • Unlimited automations
    • API access
  • Business$45/month per editor annual
    • 125,000 records per base
    • Advanced permissions
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise Scale$null/custom
    • 500,000+ records per base
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support

Clay

On request
  • Pricing upon request$undefined/month
    • Data enrichment
    • Integration
    • Support

Which should you pick?

Choose Airtable if

  • You need spreadsheet-database hybrid.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
  • You also want custom views.
Airtable review

Choose Clay if

  • You need data enrichment.
  • You also want contact management.
Clay review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or Clay better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and Clay at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or Clay?
Airtable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Airtable and On request for Clay.
Does Airtable or Clay run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. Clay runs on Web.
Can I use Airtable for free?
Yes. Airtable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Clay starts at On request.
What is Airtable best used for?
Airtable is most often used for structured team databases with grid, calendar and kanban views, lightweight internal tools built on shared records, automations between airtable and other systems, sharing read-only views with collaborators, who are not charged. Of those, structured team databases with grid, calendar and kanban views and lightweight internal tools built on shared records are not what Clay is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that Clay cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. Clay covers Data enrichment, Contact management, Workflow automation, Integration. Both handle API access, Slack, Salesforce, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Airtable: Is there a free Airtable plan and what does it include?

Yes, Airtable's Free plan is indefinite with unlimited bases, 1,000 records per base, up to 5 editors, 1 GB storage per base, 100 automation runs per month, and core features like Interface Designer and mobile apps.

Source
Airtable: How does Airtable handle permissions and viewers?

Airtable charges per editor only. Read-only viewers, form submitters, and people accessing share links are free on every plan, making it cost-effective for large viewing audiences.

Source
Airtable: What are Airtable's record limits?

Free plan has 1,000 records per base, Team plan has 50,000, Business plan has 125,000, and Enterprise Scale has 500,000+ records. Performance degrades past 100,000 records in a single base.

Source
Airtable: Can Airtable integrate with other tools like Slack?

Yes, Airtable integrates with Slack via Zapier or Make.com, allowing automation like sending Slack messages when records are created or updated. Airtable also has a native API for direct integrations.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Airtable

More on Clay

Keep looking

Other head to heads