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Airtable vs DynamoDB

Airtable logo

Airtable

All industries

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DynamoDB logo

DynamoDB

All industries

Fast, flexible NoSQL database service for any scale

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; DynamoDB noSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • They diverge on capability: Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and DynamoDB actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and DynamoDB differ
AttributeAirtableDynamoDB
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, DesktopAWS
CategoryAll industriesUnknown
Founded20122006

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

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
  • API access

Only in DynamoDB

  • Single-digit Millisecond Latency
  • Serverless
  • Auto-scaling
  • Global Tables
  • Point-in-time Recovery
  • Encryption
  • Streams
  • Lambda

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 DynamoDB
  • Lightweight internal tools built on shared recordsnot DynamoDB
  • Automations between Airtable and other systemsnot DynamoDB
  • Sharing read-only views with collaborators, who are not chargednot DynamoDB
  • Collecting submissions through forms without paying for a seatnot DynamoDB

DynamoDB

  • High-scale, variable-workload applicationsnot Airtable
  • Mobile and IoT device backendsnot Airtable
  • Real-time analytics and dashboardsnot Airtable
  • Multi-region, globally distributed applicationsnot 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

DynamoDB

  • NoSQL-only; does not support complex relational queries or SQL joins
  • Limited query flexibility; requires thinking in terms of keys and indexes rather than ad-hoc queries

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

DynamoDB

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DynamoDB review.

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 DynamoDB if

  • You need single-digit millisecond latency.
  • You work on AWS.
  • You also want serverless.
DynamoDB review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or DynamoDB better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and DynamoDB at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or DynamoDB?
Airtable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Airtable and On request for DynamoDB.
Does Airtable or DynamoDB run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. DynamoDB runs on AWS.
Can I use Airtable for free?
Yes. Airtable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DynamoDB 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 DynamoDB is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that DynamoDB cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. DynamoDB covers Single-digit Millisecond Latency, Serverless, Auto-scaling, Global Tables.

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
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Related pages

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