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Software · head to head

Airtable vs Freshdesk

Airtable logo

Airtable

Software

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Freshdesk logo

Freshdesk

Software

Delight your customers, effortlessly

From
$19/month
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; Freshdesk growth tier lacks multilingual helpdesk and custom reporting dashboards
  • They diverge on capability: Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Freshdesk covers Ticketing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and Freshdesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and Freshdesk differ
AttributeAirtableFreshdesk
Starting priceFree$19/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, DesktopWeb
Founded20122010

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
  • Forms
  • Integrations
  • Real-time collaboration
  • API access
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox

Only in Freshdesk

  • Ticketing
  • Self-service
  • Team collaboration
  • Multi-channel support
  • SLA management
  • Reporting
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Calendar

Both cover

  • Automation
  • Mobile apps
  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • Jira
  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • HIPAA
  • ISO27001

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

Freshdesk

  • Help desk and ticketing systemnot Airtable
  • Customer support portal and knowledge basenot Airtable
  • Multi-channel support coordinationnot Airtable
  • AI-assisted support agent interactionnot 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

Freshdesk

  • Growth tier lacks multilingual helpdesk and custom reporting dashboards
  • Skill-based routing available only on Enterprise tier
  • Freddy AI Copilot requires separate £29/agent/month add-on on Pro and Enterprise plans
  • AI agent sessions charged beyond initial 500 sessions: £49 per additional 100 sessions
  • Day passes for non-agents vary by tier: £2 (Growth), £7 (Pro), £12 (Enterprise)

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

Freshdesk

$19/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Freshdesk 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 Freshdesk if

  • You need ticketing.
  • You also want self-service.
Freshdesk review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or Freshdesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and Freshdesk at $19/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or Freshdesk?
Airtable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Airtable and $19/month for Freshdesk.
Does Airtable or Freshdesk run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. Freshdesk runs on Web.
Can I use Airtable for free?
Yes. Airtable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Freshdesk starts at $19/month.
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 Freshdesk is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that Freshdesk cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Forms, Integrations. Freshdesk covers Ticketing, Self-service, Team collaboration, Multi-channel support. Both handle Automation, Mobile apps, Slack, Salesforce.

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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