All industries · head to head
Google Workspace vs Airtable
Google Workspace
All industries
Everything you need to get work done, all in one place
- From
- €3.4/month
- Rated
- -
Airtable
All industries
Create apps that perfectly fit your team's needs
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Airtable has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage; Airtable hitting a plan limit blocks adding records or attachments entirely until you upgrade, rather than degrading gracefully
- They diverge on capability: Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Workspace and Airtable actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Workspace | Airtable |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €3.4/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, Desktop |
| Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (All industries).
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 Google Workspace
- Gmail business email
- Google Drive storage
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Google Calendar
- Google Meet video conferencing
- Google Chat
- Google Forms
- Google Sites
Only in Airtable
- Spreadsheet-database hybrid
- Custom views
- Automation
- Forms
- Integrations
- Mobile apps
- Real-time collaboration
- API access
Both cover
- Salesforce
- Slack
- Box
- Dropbox
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Workspace
- Business email and calendar managementnot Airtable
- Collaborative document editingnot Airtable
- Video conferencing and meetingsnot Airtable
- Secure document storage and sharingnot Airtable
Airtable
- Structured team databases with grid, calendar and kanban viewsnot Google Workspace
- Lightweight internal tools built on shared recordsnot Google Workspace
- Automations between Airtable and other systemsnot Google Workspace
- Sharing read-only views with collaborators, who are not chargednot Google Workspace
- Collecting submissions through forms without paying for a seatnot Google Workspace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Workspace
- Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
- Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
- Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
- Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
- eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Workspace
€3.4/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace review.
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$45/month per editor annual
- 125,000 records per base
- Advanced permissions
- Priority support
- Enterprise Scale$null/custom
- 500,000+ records per base
- Custom SLA
- Dedicated support
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Workspace if
- You need gmail business email.
- You also want google drive storage.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Workspace or Airtable better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Airtable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Airtable?
- Airtable has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at €3.4/month for Google Workspace and Free for Airtable.
- Does Google Workspace or Airtable run on more platforms?
- Google Workspace runs on Web. Airtable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Desktop.
- Can I use Airtable for free?
- Yes. Airtable has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month.
- What is Google Workspace best used for?
- Google Workspace is most often used for business email and calendar management, collaborative document editing, video conferencing and meetings, secure document storage and sharing. Of those, business email and calendar management and collaborative document editing are not what Airtable is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Workspace do that Airtable cannot?
- Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Calendar. Airtable covers Spreadsheet-database hybrid, Custom views, Automation, Forms. Both handle Salesforce, Slack, Box, Dropbox.
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.
SourceAirtable: 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.
SourceAirtable: 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.
SourceAirtable: 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