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Spreadsheets · head to head

Numbers vs SeaTable

Numbers logo

Numbers

Spreadsheets

Apple spreadsheet, free on Apple hardware, now with an optional Apple Creator Studio subscription for AI features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SeaTable logo

SeaTable

Spreadsheets

German-hosted database-spreadsheet hybrid from the team behind Seafile, with a self-hosted server edition

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Numbers numbers is not available on Windows or Android as a full application, so any collaborator outside the Apple ecosystem is limited to the basic iCloud.com web version.; 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: Numbers covers Canvas-style layout, SeaTable covers Typed column database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Numbers and SeaTable actually diverge.

Attributes where Numbers and SeaTable differ
AttributeNumbersSeaTable
Pricing modelFree with Apple hardware, optional Apple Creator Studio subscription for AI featuresPer user per month
PlatformsmacOS, iOS, WebWeb, iOS, Android, Linux

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 Numbers

  • Canvas-style layout
  • Formulas and categories
  • iCloud collaboration
  • Excel import and export
  • Apple Pencil and touch support
  • Apple Creator Studio AI features

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.

Numbers

  • A Mac or iPad user who wants a spreadsheet with no additional software cost beyond the devicenot SeaTable
  • Someone building a visually laid-out document, an invoice or a planner, rather than a dense data tablenot SeaTable
  • A small team already on Apple hardware collaborating through iCloud without adopting Google Workspace or Microsoft 365not SeaTable
  • A user who wants light AI-assisted content generation and is willing to pay for Apple Creator Studio to get itnot SeaTable

SeaTable

  • A German or Austrian company that needs a shared operational database but cannot put customer records on a US-hosted servicenot Numbers
  • Replacing a sprawl of Excel files used by several departments with one permissioned base and per-view sharingnot Numbers
  • Running a small internal tool, such as an equipment register or an application tracker, without commissioning a bespoke buildnot Numbers
  • Teams already using Seafile that want structured data alongside their file sync platformnot Numbers

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Numbers

  • Numbers is not available on Windows or Android as a full application, so any collaborator outside the Apple ecosystem is limited to the basic iCloud.com web version.
  • Complex Excel formulas, pivot tables and VBA macros do not convert reliably, so heavy Excel users moving files into Numbers risk losing functionality.
  • Its canvas-style layout that is a strength for visual documents becomes a weakness for large, dense datasets, where a fixed grid like Excel or Sheets is easier to navigate.
  • The newest AI features are now gated behind the separate Apple Creator Studio subscription, meaning the previously all-free app now has a paid tier for its most talked-about new capability.
  • Performance and formula depth trail both Excel and Google Sheets for serious financial modelling or statistical analysis.

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

Numbers

Free
  • NumbersFree
    • Free with a Mac, iPad or iPhone
    • Core spreadsheet and canvas features
    • iCloud collaboration included
  • Apple Creator Studio$12.99/month
    • AI-assisted features across Numbers, Pages and Keynote
    • Premium templates
    • 129 USD annual option

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 Numbers if

  • You need canvas-style layout.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, Web.
  • You also want formulas and categories.
Numbers review

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.
SeaTable review

Questions people ask

Is Numbers or SeaTable better?
Neither clearly leads. Numbers 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, Numbers or SeaTable?
Numbers starts at Free and SeaTable at Free.
Does Numbers or SeaTable run on more platforms?
Numbers runs on macOS, iOS, Web. SeaTable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
Can I use Numbers for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Numbers best used for?
Numbers is most often used for a mac or ipad user who wants a spreadsheet with no additional software cost beyond the device, someone building a visually laid-out document, an invoice or a planner, rather than a dense data table, a small team already on apple hardware collaborating through icloud without adopting google workspace or microsoft 365, a user who wants light ai-assisted content generation and is willing to pay for apple creator studio to get it. Of those, a mac or ipad user who wants a spreadsheet with no additional software cost beyond the device and someone building a visually laid-out document, an invoice or a planner, rather than a dense data table are not what SeaTable is typically brought in for.
What can Numbers do that SeaTable cannot?
Numbers covers Canvas-style layout, Formulas and categories, iCloud collaboration, Excel import and export. SeaTable covers Typed column database, Multiple views, Universal app builder, Python and JavaScript scripting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Numbers: Do I have to pay for Numbers?

No, it is free for anyone with a Mac, iPad or iPhone; it does not require a separate purchase.

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.

Numbers: What does Apple Creator Studio add?

AI-assisted content generation and premium templates across Numbers, Pages and Keynote, for around 12.99 USD a month.

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.

Numbers: Can I use Numbers on Windows?

Only through a limited web version at iCloud.com; there is no native Windows application.

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.

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.

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