Airtable vs Teable: Which Spreadsheet-Database Tool Should You Use?

A practical comparison of Airtable and Teable — pricing, features, and migration steps for teams considering the open-source alternative.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Airtable

The original spreadsheet-database hybrid for building apps and workflows

Free / $20+seat/month (billed annually)

Strengths

+Mature ecosystem with thousands of templates and pre-built apps
+Extensive third-party integrations (Zapier, Make, native extensions)
+Polished UI with strong mobile apps

Weaknesses

-Gets expensive fast once you add seats or need Business/Enterprise features
-Record limits on lower tiers (Free: 1,000 records/base)
-No self-hosting option — fully locked into their cloud

Best for

Teams that want a polished, fully-managed no-code platform and don't mind paying per seat as they scale

Teable

Open-source, self-hostable spreadsheet-database with an Airtable-like interface

Freeself-hosted (unlimited); paid cloud plans available per seat

Strengths

+Fully open-source — self-host for free with no seat or record caps
+Airtable-like UI, so migration and onboarding is easy
+Built on Postgres, so data is portable and queryable outside the app

Weaknesses

-Smaller ecosystem — fewer templates, integrations, and community resources
-Self-hosting requires basic DevOps knowledge (Docker, updates, backups)
-Automations and app-building features are less mature than Airtable's

Best for

Technical teams or budget-conscious startups who want Airtable's UX without per-seat costs or data lock-in

Feature Comparison

Feature	Airtable	Teable
Self-hosting option	No	Yes (open-source, Docker)
Free tier record/row limits	1,000 records per base	Unlimited (self-hosted)
Underlying database	Proprietary	PostgreSQL
Spreadsheet-style grid UI	Yes	Yes
Automations/workflows	Advanced, native	Basic, growing
API access	REST API, rate-limited by plan	REST API, unrestricted on self-host
Templates library	Large, official + community	Small, growing
Third-party integrations (Zapier/Make)	Extensive	Limited
Data export	CSV per table	CSV, and full Postgres access if self-hosted
Vendor lock-in	High	None (own your data/instance)
Mobile apps	iOS/Android, mature	Web-based, mobile-responsive
Pricing model	Per seat, tiered	Free self-hosted or per-seat cloud

The Verdict

Airtable is still the more polished, feature-complete tool if budget isn't a concern and you rely on its automation and template ecosystem. Teable is the obvious pick if you want Airtable's core experience without paying per seat forever — especially if you're comfortable self-hosting or running a small team on Postgres-backed infrastructure. For teams under budget pressure with basic-to-moderate needs, Teable is worth the migration.

How to switch from Airtable to Teable

1Export every table in your Airtable base as CSV using the 'Download CSV' option in each grid view's menu, and separately download any file attachments since CSV exports only link to them.
2Set up Teable — either self-host via the official Docker Compose setup or sign up for Teable Cloud — and create a new space to hold your migrated bases.
3Import each CSV into a new Teable table using its CSV import tool, then manually re-map field types (linked records, single/multi-select, attachments) since these don't always translate automatically from CSV.
4Rebuild any Airtable automations or Interface Designer apps using Teable's built-in automation features or an external tool like n8n, since these aren't part of CSV exports.
5Reconnect third-party integrations (Zapier, Make, Slack notifications) to point at Teable's API/webhooks instead of Airtable's.
6Run both platforms in parallel for a week with your team, verify data integrity and permissions in Teable, then fully cut over and archive the Airtable base.

Airtable vs Teable: common questions

How do I export my data from Airtable to migrate to Teable?+

Open each Airtable base, go to each table, and use the grid view menu to select 'Download CSV.' You'll need to do this per table since Airtable doesn't offer a one-click whole-base export. Attachments must be downloaded separately since CSV exports only include file links, not the files themselves.

What do I lose by switching from Airtable to Teable?+

You lose Airtable's larger template library, its mature Scripting/Interface Designer features, and native integrations with tools like Slack or Salesforce that Teable doesn't yet support out of the box. Automations in Teable are also less advanced, so complex multi-step Airtable automations may need to be rebuilt using external tools like n8n or Make.

Is Teable's free plan enough for a small team?+

If you self-host Teable, the free open-source version has no record, base, or seat limits, which is more generous than Airtable's free tier (1,000 records per base). The tradeoff is you need someone comfortable running Docker and maintaining the server, or you can use Teable's hosted cloud plans instead.

Does Teable support the same integrations as Airtable, like Zapier?+

Teable has a REST API and webhook support, so it can connect to automation tools, but its native integration marketplace is much smaller than Airtable's. If your workflows depend heavily on pre-built Zapier/Make templates for Airtable, expect to build custom API connections instead.

Is Teable actually cheaper than Airtable long-term?+

If you self-host, Teable is free indefinitely aside from server costs (often $5-20/month for a small VPS), versus Airtable's per-seat pricing that grows with your team. Even Teable's paid cloud plans tend to undercut Airtable's Team and Business tiers, so the cost gap widens as you add users.