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Databases · head to head

Airtable vs RAD Studio

Airtable logo

Airtable

Databases

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit AirtableFull review
RAD Studio logo

RAD Studio

Developer Tools

Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder

From
$2000/perpetual
Free plan
No
Visit RAD StudioFull review

The short version

  • Airtable is a cloud collaboration platform; RAD Studio is a cross-platform IDE.
  • Airtable has a free plan, then $20/user/mo; RAD Studio starts at $2000/mo.
  • Where Airtable falls short: hitting a plan limit blocks adding records or attachments entirely until you upgrade, rather than degrading gracefully.
  • Where RAD Studio falls short: professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and RAD Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and RAD Studio differ
AttributeAirtableRAD Studio
Starting priceFree$2000/perpetual
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOSWeb
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Airtable, founded for RAD Studio.

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 RAD Studio

Nothing recorded that Airtable does not also cover.

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

RAD Studio

  • Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot Airtable
  • Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot Airtable
  • Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot Airtable
  • Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot 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

RAD Studio

  • Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
  • Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
  • The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription

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

RAD Studio

$2000/perpetual
  • Professional Edition$2,000 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $599
    • Total $2,599 + Tax
  • Enterprise Edition$3,400 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $1,199
    • Total $4,599 + Tax
  • Architect Edition$4,416 one-off
    • Perpetual License
    • First year maintenance $2,183
    • Total $6,599 + Tax

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 RAD Studio if

Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from Airtable on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

RAD Studio review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or RAD Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or RAD Studio?
Airtable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Airtable and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
Does Airtable or RAD Studio run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. RAD Studio runs on Web.
Can I use Airtable for free?
Yes. Airtable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
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 RAD Studio is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that RAD Studio cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms.

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
RAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?

RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).

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
RAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?

Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.

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
RAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?

Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.

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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