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Databases · head to head

Airtable vs KNIME

Airtable logo

Airtable

Databases

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
KNIME logo

KNIME

Machine Learning

Open source data analytics and integration platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Airtable hitting a plan limit blocks adding records or attachments entirely until you upgrade, rather than degrading gracefully; KNIME the free Analytics Platform runs locally only, so anything shared or scheduled requires a paid Hub
  • They diverge on capability: Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, KNIME covers Visual workflows.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and KNIME actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and KNIME differ
AttributeAirtableKNIME
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, DesktopLinux, Mac, Windows
CategoryDatabasesMachine Learning
Founded20122004

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 KNIME

  • Visual workflows
  • Data preprocessing
  • Machine learning
  • Visualization
  • Reporting
  • Python
  • R
  • Spark

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

KNIME

  • Data science and machine learning workflowsnot Airtable
  • ETL and data pipeline automationnot Airtable
  • Predictive analytics and modelingnot 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

KNIME

  • The free Analytics Platform runs locally only, so anything shared or scheduled requires a paid Hub
  • The free AI assistant is limited to 20 interactions a month
  • Paid workflow runtime is metered in credits, with 120 included on Pro and overage at $0.025 per vCore minute
  • The Team plan at $99 a month includes 3 members, with additional seats at $49 a month each
  • Business Hub pricing is on request, and its tiers are capped at 4, 8 and 16 vCores with 5, 5 and 20 users

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$45/month per editor annual
    • 125,000 records per base
    • Advanced permissions
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise Scale$undefined/custom
    • 500,000+ records per base
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support

KNIME

Free
  • Analytics PlatformFree
    • 300+ data sources
    • Unlimited local processing
    • K-AI assistant (20 interactions/month)
  • Pro$19/month
    • 120 workflow runtime credits
    • Data app deployment
    • K-AI (500 interactions/month)
  • Team$99/month
    • All Pro features
    • Collaboration spaces for up to 3 team members
    • Additional members: $49/month each
  • Business Hub$null/month
    • Enterprise automation and governance
    • LDAP/OAuth authentication
    • Staged deployment

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 KNIME if

  • You need visual workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows.
  • You also want data preprocessing.
KNIME review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or KNIME better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and KNIME at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or KNIME?
Airtable starts at Free and KNIME at Free.
Does Airtable or KNIME run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. KNIME runs on Linux, Mac, Windows.
Can I use Airtable for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 KNIME is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that KNIME cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. KNIME covers Visual workflows, Data preprocessing, Machine learning, Visualization.

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
KNIME: Is KNIME free?

Yes, KNIME Analytics Platform is free with 300+ data sources, unlimited local processing, and 20 K-AI assistant interactions per month.

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
KNIME: What do KNIME paid plans cost?

Pro plan starts at $19/month with 120 runtime credits. Team plan starts at $99/month for up to 3 members, with additional members at $49/month each.

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
KNIME: What is KNIME's runtime credit system?

Pro and Team plans include runtime credits for workflow execution. Additional runtime beyond included credits costs $0.025 per vCore minute.

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
KNIME: Does KNIME offer enterprise pricing?

Yes, Business Hub is available for enterprises needing automation, governance, LDAP/OAuth auth, and dedicated resources. Pricing available on request.

Source
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