Spreadsheets · head to head
APITable vs SeaTable
APITable
Spreadsheets
Open source spreadsheet database with an API first design and an embeddable widget system
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
SeaTable
Spreadsheets
German-hosted database-spreadsheet hybrid from the team behind Seafile, with a self-hosted server edition
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: APITable records are held in the product own schema rather than as native database tables, so the practical row ceiling is a product limit and large tables should be load tested before commitment.; SeaTable the free self-hosted Developer Edition is capped at three users, so the pattern that makes Baserow and NocoDB attractive, running it yourself for free at real headcount, is not available and any serious on-premises deployment needs a paid per-user licence.
- They diverge on capability: APITable covers API first design, SeaTable covers Typed column database.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which APITable and SeaTable actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Spreadsheets).
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 APITable
- API first design
- Widget SDK
- Embeddable views
- Multiple view types
- Linked records and formulas
- Self hosting
- Real time collaboration
Only in SeaTable
- Typed column database
- Multiple views
- Universal app builder
- Python and JavaScript scripting
- Self-hosted server
- German data centres
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
APITable
- Embedding an editable table view inside a product you are building, rather than sending users to another toolnot SeaTable
- An internal platform where tables are read and written mostly by code through the API and only occasionally by peoplenot SeaTable
- A self hosted replacement for a per seat spreadsheet database where seat count is the cost drivernot SeaTable
- Building a custom dashboard widget that sits beside the data instead of in a separate reporting toolnot SeaTable
SeaTable
- A German or Austrian company that needs a shared operational database but cannot put customer records on a US-hosted servicenot APITable
- Replacing a sprawl of Excel files used by several departments with one permissioned base and per-view sharingnot APITable
- Running a small internal tool, such as an equipment register or an application tracker, without commissioning a bespoke buildnot APITable
- Teams already using Seafile that want structured data alongside their file sync platformnot APITable
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
APITable
- Records are held in the product own schema rather than as native database tables, so the practical row ceiling is a product limit and large tables should be load tested before commitment.
- The hosted free tier caps records per space, so evaluating on the cloud version gives a misleading picture of what the software can do when self hosted.
- Automation is thin compared with the commercial alternatives, and most real workflows end up in an external automation tool.
- The self hosted deployment is heavier than a single container, so running it properly means managing several services rather than one.
- Documentation and community activity are uneven in English, and finding an answer to an operational problem can take longer than the problem itself deserves.
SeaTable
- The free self-hosted Developer Edition is capped at three users, so the pattern that makes Baserow and NocoDB attractive, running it yourself for free at real headcount, is not available and any serious on-premises deployment needs a paid per-user licence.
- Row limits are counted across the whole account rather than per base, so the free plan ceiling of 10,000 rows and the Plus ceiling of 50,000 rows arrive sooner than people expect once a few tables hold historical records.
- The integration catalogue is short compared with Airtable, and many connections have to be routed through Zapier, Make or n8n, which adds a second subscription and a second failure point.
- English documentation and community content lag the German material, so non-German teams hit thinner tutorials and fewer worked examples when they get to scripting and the app builder.
- The vendor is a small German company rather than a venture-funded platform, which is a stability advantage but means a slower feature pace and fewer third-party consultants available to hire if a project needs outside help.
Pricing, plan by plan
APITable
Free- Self hosted open sourceFree
- No licence fee
- No product record cap on self hosted deployments
- Docker and Kubernetes deployment
SeaTable
Free- FreeFree
- Up to 25 users
- 10,000 rows in total
- 2 GB storage
- Plus$7/month
- Billed annually, 9 EUR if billed monthly
- 50,000 rows
- 50 GB storage
- Enterprise$14/month
- Billed annually, 18 EUR if billed monthly
- Unlimited rows
- 100 GB storage
- Dedicated Cloud$undefined/year
- Quoted, minimum 100 users
- Dedicated instance
- Unlimited rows
Which should you pick?
Choose APITable if
- You need api first design.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Linux.
- You also want widget sdk.
Choose SeaTable if
- You need typed column database.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
- You also want multiple views.
Questions people ask
- Is APITable or SeaTable better?
- Neither clearly leads. APITable starts at Free and SeaTable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, APITable or SeaTable?
- APITable starts at Free and SeaTable at Free.
- Does APITable or SeaTable run on more platforms?
- APITable runs on Web, Linux. SeaTable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
- Can I use APITable for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is APITable best used for?
- APITable is most often used for embedding an editable table view inside a product you are building, rather than sending users to another tool, an internal platform where tables are read and written mostly by code through the api and only occasionally by people, a self hosted replacement for a per seat spreadsheet database where seat count is the cost driver, building a custom dashboard widget that sits beside the data instead of in a separate reporting tool. Of those, embedding an editable table view inside a product you are building, rather than sending users to another tool and an internal platform where tables are read and written mostly by code through the api and only occasionally by people are not what SeaTable is typically brought in for.
- What can APITable do that SeaTable cannot?
- APITable covers API first design, Widget SDK, Embeddable views, Multiple view types. SeaTable covers Typed column database, Multiple views, Universal app builder, Python and JavaScript scripting.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
APITable: What is the record limit?
The self hosted edition has no product cap, but performance is bounded by the internal schema rather than by your database. Test at your expected size.
SeaTable: Where is SeaTable cloud data actually stored?
In data centres in Germany, under German and EU law, with a standard GDPR processing agreement available.
APITable: Can I embed it in my own product?
Yes, and that is the main reason to choose it. Views embed and the widget SDK extends them.
SeaTable: Is SeaTable open source?
No. Seafile, from the same team, is open source. SeaTable is a commercial product with a free self-hosted edition limited to three users.
APITable: Is the hosted version representative?
No. Its free tier caps records per space, which is a commercial limit rather than a technical one.
SeaTable: How does it compare with Airtable on price?
Plus is 7 EUR per user per month billed annually against Airtable Team at 20 USD, but SeaTable applies hard row ceilings on every plan below Enterprise.
APITable: How hard is self hosting?
Harder than a single container. Plan for several services and someone to keep them running.
SeaTable: Can I move an existing Airtable base across?
Yes, SeaTable imports Airtable bases and Excel files, though formula fields and automations usually need rebuilding by hand.
APITable: Does it do automations?
Lightly. Expect to pair it with an external automation tool for anything multi step.
Related pages
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