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Databases · head to head

Airtable vs Zoho Sheet

Airtable logo

Airtable

Databases

Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Sheet logo

Zoho Sheet

Spreadsheets

Free standalone cloud spreadsheet from Zoho, also bundled into the low-cost Zoho Workplace suite

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; Zoho Sheet its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • They diverge on capability: Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Zoho Sheet covers Deluge scripting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Airtable and Zoho Sheet actually diverge.

Attributes where Airtable and Zoho Sheet differ
AttributeAirtableZoho Sheet
Pricing modelUnknownFree standalone, bundled into paid Zoho Workplace for organisations
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, DesktopWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
CategoryDatabasesSpreadsheets
Founded2012Unknown

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
  • API access
  • Slack

Only in Zoho Sheet

  • Deluge scripting
  • Pivot tables and formulas
  • Excel compatibility
  • Zoho ecosystem integration
  • Offline access

Both cover

  • Real-time collaboration

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

Zoho Sheet

  • An individual wanting a genuinely free spreadsheet without a Google or Microsoft account requirementnot Airtable
  • A small business already using Zoho CRM that wants spreadsheet data flowing directly from itnot Airtable
  • A price-sensitive team choosing Zoho Workplace over Google Workspace for the same headcountnot Airtable
  • A nonprofit or startup on the Zoho Workplace Forever Free plan for up to 5 usersnot 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

Zoho Sheet

  • Its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • Collaborators outside a company who are used to Google Sheets or Excel face a small adjustment to the Zoho interface and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Zoho Workplace Forever Free is capped at 5 users and 5GB, so it stops being viable the moment a team grows past that.
  • Deluge, its scripting language, is Zoho-specific, so automation logic written for Zoho Sheet does not transfer to Google Apps Script or Excel VBA if a company later switches suites.
  • Brand recognition and market share are far smaller than Google or Microsoft, so IT departments evaluating vendors may have less familiarity or fewer case studies to draw on.

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

Zoho Sheet

Free
  • Zoho Sheet (standalone)Free
    • Full core spreadsheet functionality
    • No forced account upgrade
    • Individual use
  • Zoho Workplace Forever FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 5GB storage
    • Sheet, Docs, Slides, Mail and Meeting bundled
  • Zoho Workplace Professional$6/month
    • Full Workplace suite for teams
    • Annual billing rate
    • Larger storage per user

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 Zoho Sheet if

  • You need deluge scripting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want pivot tables and formulas.
Zoho Sheet review

Questions people ask

Is Airtable or Zoho Sheet better?
Neither clearly leads. Airtable starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or Zoho Sheet?
Airtable starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free.
Does Airtable or Zoho Sheet run on more platforms?
Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop. Zoho Sheet runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
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 Zoho Sheet is typically brought in for.
What can Airtable do that Zoho Sheet cannot?
Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. Zoho Sheet covers Deluge scripting, Pivot tables and formulas, Excel compatibility, Zoho ecosystem integration. Both handle Real-time collaboration.

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
Zoho Sheet: Is Zoho Sheet free on its own, without buying the suite?

Yes, it can be used as a standalone spreadsheet with a free Zoho account with no forced upgrade.

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
Zoho Sheet: How does Zoho Workplace pricing compare with Google Workspace?

Independent pricing comparisons put Zoho Workplace at roughly 50 to 70 percent cheaper than equivalent Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plans.

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
Zoho Sheet: Does Zoho Sheet open Excel files?

Yes, it imports, edits and exports Microsoft Excel format files.

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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