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Databases · head to head

Airtable vs Thunkable

Airtable logo

Airtable

Databases

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit AirtableFull review
Thunkable logo

Thunkable

No-Code

No-code, drag-and-drop mobile app builder priced by AI tokens and project counts

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit ThunkableFull review

The short version

  • Airtable is a cloud collaboration platform.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $20/user/mo and $19/mo.
  • Only Airtable lists spreadsheet-database hybrid; only Thunkable lists block-based logic editor.
  • 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 Thunkable actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and Thunkable differ
AttributeAirtableThunkable
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDatabasesNo-Code

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

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

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 Thunkable

  • Block-based logic editor
  • Native compilation
  • AI app assistant
  • Component marketplace
  • Live testing
  • Custom branding

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

Thunkable

  • A non-developer or founder prototyping an app idea before hiring an engineernot Airtable
  • An educator teaching app-building concepts without requiring students to write codenot Airtable
  • A small business needing a simple internal or customer-facing app with modest logicnot Airtable
  • A hobbyist building a single published app who does not need more than one live app slotnot 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

Thunkable

  • Every paid tier is metered by a monthly AI token allowance, so heavy use of the AI assistant, which is the tool's main productivity feature, can be exhausted well before a billing period ends
  • Only the Builder tier and above allow a live published app at all in useful numbers, so the entry-level paid plan cannot actually get an app onto the store in a meaningful way
  • Block-based logic becomes unwieldy for apps with genuinely complex business rules, and there is no clean escape hatch to written code within the platform
  • Native integrations and performance-sensitive features (heavy graphics, background processing) are limited compared to a coded framework, so the tool has a real complexity ceiling
  • App ownership and export options are more restrictive than an open source framework; leaving the platform typically means rebuilding rather than exporting a portable codebase

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

Thunkable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2,000 AI tokens
    • 3 public projects
    • 5 screens per project
  • Accelerator$19/mo
    • 20,000 AI tokens
    • 5 public and 1 private project
    • 10 screens per project
  • Builder$37/mo
    • 50,000 AI tokens
    • Unlimited public, 10 private projects
    • Unlimited screens, 1 live published app
  • Advanced$99/mo
    • 100,000 AI tokens
    • Unlimited private projects and live published apps
    • Priority support

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 Thunkable if

  • You need block-based logic editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want native compilation.
Thunkable review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or Thunkable better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and Thunkable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or Thunkable?
Airtable starts at Free and Thunkable at Free.
Does Airtable or Thunkable run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Thunkable runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Thunkable is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that Thunkable cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. Thunkable covers Block-based logic editor, Native compilation, AI app assistant, Component marketplace.

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
Thunkable: Can I publish an app on the free plan?

The free plan is aimed at building and testing; live publishing capacity in a meaningful way starts on the Builder plan.

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
Thunkable: What happens if I run out of AI tokens?

AI-assisted generation stops working until the next billing cycle or an upgrade; manual block-based editing still works.

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
Thunkable: Is this suitable for a complex business app?

No. It is built for simple to moderately complex apps; heavy custom logic and native integrations are better served by a coded framework.

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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