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Databases · head to head

Airtable vs Quickbase

Airtable logo

Airtable

Databases

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit AirtableFull review
Quickbase logo

Quickbase

No-Code

No-code application platform with published per-user pricing and enforced minimum seat counts

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit QuickbaseFull review

The short version

  • Airtable is a cloud collaboration platform.
  • Airtable has a free plan, then $20/user/mo; Quickbase starts at $35/mo.
  • Only Airtable lists spreadsheet-database hybrid; only Quickbase lists relational app builder.
  • Where Airtable falls short: hitting a plan limit blocks adding records or attachments entirely until you upgrade, rather than degrading gracefully.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and Quickbase actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and Quickbase differ
AttributeAirtableQuickbase
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDatabasesNo-Code

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Airtable, founded for Quickbase.

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
  • Real-time collaboration
  • API access
  • Slack

Only in Quickbase

  • Relational app builder
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting and dashboards
  • Pipelines integration engine
  • App governance

Both cover

  • Mobile apps

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

Quickbase

  • An operations team of at least 20 people replacing spreadsheet-based process tracking with a structured, auditable appnot Airtable
  • A mid-sized company wanting published, comparable per-user pricing rather than an opaque quote-only processnot Airtable
  • A project management office standardising workflow automation and reporting across several departmentsnot Airtable
  • A business that already knows it needs 40 or more seats, where the Business tier's minimum is not a real constraintnot 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

Quickbase

  • Both paid tiers carry an enforced minimum seat count, 20 for Team and 40 for Business, so a small team pays for seats it does not have people to fill
  • Integration Reads packages, support tier upgrades and professional services are not publicly priced, so the visible per-user rate is only part of the real annual cost
  • It sits in an awkward middle ground: more structure than a spreadsheet or simple form tool, but less process automation depth than Appian or OutSystems for genuinely complex workflows
  • Reporting and dashboarding are capable but not as visually sophisticated as a dedicated business intelligence tool, so heavy analytics users often still export data elsewhere
  • App complexity that grows significantly over time can hit performance and design limitations common to no-code relational tools, requiring a rebuild on a more code-first platform

Pricing, plan by plan

Airtable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited bases
    • 1,000 records per base
    • Up to 5 editors
  • Team$20/user/mo
    • 50,000 records per base
    • Unlimited automations
    • API access
  • Business$45/user/mo
    • 125,000 records per base
    • Advanced permissions
    • Priority support
  • Enterprise ScaleOn request
    • 500,000+ records per base
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support

Quickbase

On request
  • Team$35/mo
    • Minimum 20 users required (roughly $8,400/year floor)
    • Core app building, workflow automation and reporting
    • Standard support
  • Business$55/mo
    • Minimum 40 users required (roughly $26,400/year floor)
    • Advanced automation, governance and integration features
    • Priority support
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • Custom quote
    • Advanced governance, security and integration read package volumes
    • Dedicated account management

Which should you pick?

Choose Airtable if

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

Choose Quickbase if

  • You need relational app builder.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Quickbase review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or Quickbase better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and Quickbase at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or Quickbase?
Airtable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Airtable and On request for Quickbase.
Does Airtable or Quickbase run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Quickbase runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Airtable for free?
Yes. Airtable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quickbase 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 Quickbase is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that Quickbase cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. Quickbase covers Relational app builder, Workflow automation, Reporting and dashboards, Pipelines integration engine. Both handle Mobile apps.

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
Quickbase: Can I buy fewer than 20 seats?

No. The Team plan enforces a 20-user minimum and Business enforces 40, so smaller teams pay for the floor regardless of actual headcount.

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
Quickbase: Is per-user pricing genuinely published?

Yes, unlike most enterprise low-code vendors, Quickbase publishes real per-user monthly rates for Team and Business; Enterprise remains quote-only.

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
Quickbase: What is not included in the per-user price?

Integration Reads packages, support tier upgrades and professional services are priced separately and are not publicly listed.

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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