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Open-Source Airtable Alternatives (2027): 6 Self-Hosted Spreadsheet Databases, Licences Checked (Baserow, Grist, Teable and More)

Open-Source Airtable Alternatives: Self-Hosted Spreadsheet Databases You Can Own

Airtable made the spreadsheet-database popular, but it charges per editor and keeps your data on its servers. An open-source alternative gives you the same grid, linked records, forms and API on your own server, with no per-seat bill and no record caps you did not choose. This list is about open-source and self-hostable tools; if you mainly want AI features, read our separate guide to open-source Airtable AI alternatives. We checked every tool below on its official website and GitHub in October 2026: the exact licence (open source, fair-code or proprietary), the latest release, what self-hosting costs and what the free cloud plan includes. Tools that are abandoned, not open source or not really Airtable replacements are listed separately.
Quick answer: for the closest open-source Airtable clone with free, unlimited self-hosting, use Baserow; for spreadsheet formulas in Python and fine-grained access rules, use Grist; for a fast Postgres-based Airtable look-alike with AI and app building, use Teable; and if your data already lives in PostgreSQL, put Mathesar on top of it. NocoDB is still free to self-host for internal use, but since January 2026 it is source-available, not open source.
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What Airtable Costs in 2027

To know what you are replacing: the Airtable pricing page (checked October 2026) lists a Free plan for individuals and very small teams, Team at $20 per user per month and Business at $45 per user per month, both billed annually, and custom Enterprise Scale pricing. Every user with edit rights on a base counts as a paid seat. Every open-source tool below can be self-hosted for free: you pay for the server and your own time instead.

Open-Source Airtable Alternatives Compared

ToolBest forLicenceSelf-hostingFree cloud plan (Oct 2026)
BaserowClosest Airtable clone for non-technical teamsMIT (core); premium and enterprise folders separateFree, no row, storage or API limits3,000 rows and 2 GB per workspace
GristSpreadsheet formulas (Python) and access rulesApache-2.0Free Community edition5,000 records per document, unlimited documents
TeableAirtable look-alike on PostgreSQL, with AIAGPL-3.0 (core apps), MIT packagesFree; AI needs the full-featured setup1,000 rows, 200 one-time AI credits
MathesarA spreadsheet UI on an existing Postgres databaseGPL-3.0Free (nonprofit project)Cloud trial
NocoDBSpreadsheet UI on top of your SQL databaseSustainable Use License (fair-code, not OSI)Free for internal use3 editors, 1,000 records, 1 GB
NocoBaseBuilding full internal apps (CRM, ERP) without codeApache-2.0 plus extra termsFree Community edition, logo staysNo public cloud plan listed
Sources: each project's official website, pricing page, licence file and GitHub releases, checked 30 October 2026. Self-hosting is free, but you pay for the server and your own time.

The Best Open-Source Airtable Alternatives in 2027

1. Baserow: the closest open-source Airtable clone

Baserow looks and works most like Airtable: tables with linked records, grid, form and gallery views, an API, automations and an application builder. Its licence file puts everything outside the premium and enterprise folders under the permissive MIT licence, and its FAQ promises that the self-hosted version will never limit rows, storage or API requests. You can install it with Docker, Helm, AWS or Cloudron. In the cloud, the free plan includes 3,000 rows and 2 GB of storage per workspace; Premium costs $10 per user per month billed yearly and adds all views and AI features. Version 2.4.1 came out in October 2026. Choose it if non-technical teammates have to feel at home on day one.

2. Grist: a relational spreadsheet with Python formulas

Grist is a spreadsheet-database where every column can hold a formula written in Python, so it suits people who think in spreadsheets but need real tables and linked records. Its cell-level access rules control who sees what, including the AI assistant. The open-source core, grist-core, is Apache-2.0, and the free Community edition runs on your own server. According to its pricing page, individuals and organisations with less than $1 million in total yearly income (revenue plus funding) can also request a free activation key for the full self-hosted version. The free cloud plan allows unlimited documents with up to 5,000 records each and a one-time 100 AI Assistant credits; Pro costs $8 per user per month billed annually. Version 1.7.22 was released in October 2026.

3. Teable: an Airtable look-alike on PostgreSQL, with AI

Teable stores your tables in a real PostgreSQL database and offers grid, form, kanban, gallery and calendar views, formulas, record history, real-time collaboration and SQL queries. Its homepage offers to move a whole Airtable base over in one click. The Teable repository licenses the core apps under AGPL-3.0 and its SDK packages under MIT; the brand assets are excluded. Check the setup you need: the standalone Docker install covers tables, collaboration, the API and automations, while AI chat and the App Builder need the full-featured self-hosted setup or the cloud. The free cloud plan has 1,000 rows and 200 one-time AI credits; Pro is $13 per seat per month billed yearly. New releases ship almost every day.

4. Mathesar: a spreadsheet UI for your Postgres database

Mathesar is a spreadsheet-like interface to view, edit and query PostgreSQL data, maintained by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promises the project will stay 100% open source (GPL-3.0). It works directly on your Postgres schemas and tables and uses Postgres permissions, which makes it a good fit if a developer already set up your database. It is self-hosted, with a free trial of Mathesar Cloud. Version 0.12.0 came out in July 2026.

5. NocoDB: still free to self-host, but now fair-code

NocoDB builds databases with the ease of a spreadsheet, on your own SQL database or on NocoDB's, and was long the best-known open-source Airtable alternative. That changed: according to its licence page, from 9 January 2026 NocoDB moved from AGPL-3.0 to a Sustainable Use License, which is not OSI-approved. Internal self-hosting stays free for organisations of any size, and you may modify the code for internal use, but offering NocoDB as a hosted service or reselling access needs a commercial licence. The self-hosted Community edition has unlimited records, storage and seats. In the cloud, the free plan covers 3 editors, 1,000 records and 1 GB; Plus is $12 per seat per month billed annually. Version 2026.10.1 came out in October 2026.
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6. NocoBase: when you need a full internal app, not a table

NocoBase is a no-code platform for building business systems such as a CRM, an ERP or a ticketing tool on top of your data, with AI agents that help build and run them. It goes beyond Airtable's grid, but it is also harder to set up. Its licence agreement is based on Apache-2.0 with supplementary terms: you may use it commercially, but you may not offer it to the public as a no-code, low-code or AI platform SaaS, and the NocoBase branding must stay. The Community edition is free with unlimited applications, users and data; paid licences are one-time payments, from $800 for Standard. In October 2026 its GitHub releases page showed NocoBase v3 beta builds.

Airtable Alternatives That Are Discontinued, Not Open Source or Not a Fit

The 2025 version of this article listed some tools that no longer belong on an open-source Airtable shortlist:
  • Rowy: Apache-2.0 and Airtable-like, but it only works with Firebase and Google Cloud, its last release (v3.0.0) dates from October 2023 and its last code change from November 2024. Its team now builds BuildShip.
  • Undb: its GitHub repository was archived in September 2026 with a note that the project has moved to Teable.
  • APITable / AITable.ai: the APITable code is AGPL-3.0, but releases are rare (v1.13.0-beta in December 2024, a fix in May 2025, v1.14.0-beta in September 2026), and the AITable.ai pricing page showed no plan limits when we checked. Test it carefully before you rely on it.
  • SeaTable: a good spreadsheet-database you can self-host, but not open source: its Enterprise Edition runs under a proprietary EULA (free for up to 3 users) and the free Developer Edition includes a proprietary component and may not be used for SaaS. Its cloud plan is free for up to 25 users and 10,000 rows.
  • OpenProject: open source (GPL-3.0) but a project management tool, not a spreadsheet-database.
  • Odoo: the Community edition is open source (LGPLv3), but it is a full ERP suite; too big if you only need tables and forms.

Which Open-Source Airtable Alternative Should You Choose?

  • You want Airtable without the per-seat bill: Baserow, self-hosted with no row limits, or its free cloud plan to start.
  • You love spreadsheet formulas and need permissions per row: Grist.
  • You want AI, apps and automations on a Postgres base: Teable.
  • Your data is already in PostgreSQL: Mathesar, or Teable if you want Airtable-style views.
  • You only need an internal tool and the licence label does not matter: NocoDB is still free for internal self-hosting.
  • You are building a CRM, ERP or other internal app: NocoBase, or one of the open-source Retool alternatives.
Not set on open source? Compare our lists of free Airtable alternatives and Airtable alternatives, and our head-to-heads Airtable vs Notion and monday.com vs Airtable. For a shorter overview from our startup tools section, see this list of open-source Airtable alternatives.

How Founders Use an Open-Source Airtable Alternative

For an early-stage startup, a spreadsheet-database is often the first back office: a lead list, a content calendar, a waitlist, an investor pipeline or the data behind a no-code MVP. Start with one base and a web form that feeds it, and connect it to the rest of your stack with one of the open-source Zapier alternatives; Baserow, Grist, Teable and NocoDB all offer an API and webhooks or automations. Keep documents and wikis in a separate tool, such as one of the open-source Notion alternatives or open-source Notion AI alternatives, and if you need mobile data-entry apps, look at the open-source AppSheet alternatives. Our guide to launching a no-code MVP and our list of no-code development tools for startups show where a database fits in.
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FAQ About Open-Source Airtable Alternatives

What is the best open-source alternative to Airtable?

Baserow is the closest match: Airtable-style tables, linked records, views, forms, an API and automations, with an MIT-licensed core and free self-hosting without row, storage or API limits.

Is NocoDB still open source?

Not in the strict sense. From 9 January 2026 NocoDB moved from AGPL-3.0 to the Sustainable Use License, which is not OSI-approved. Self-hosting for internal use is still free, but hosting it as a service or reselling access needs a commercial licence.

Which open-source Airtable alternative is free without limits?

Self-hosted Baserow has no row, storage or API limits, and the Grist Community edition, Teable's standalone install and Mathesar are free as well. You pay only for your server.

Is there an open-source Airtable alternative with a free cloud plan?

Yes. Baserow's free cloud plan includes 3,000 rows and 2 GB per workspace, Grist's allows 5,000 records per document and Teable's has 1,000 rows, checked in October 2026.

How much does Airtable cost in 2027?

When we checked in October 2026, Airtable had a Free plan, Team at $20 per user per month and Business at $45 per user per month, both billed annually, plus custom Enterprise Scale pricing.

Can I import my Airtable bases?

Yes, in several tools. Teable offers to move a whole Airtable base over in one click, NocoDB has an Airtable import, and Baserow offers free migration support from Airtable on its homepage. Test with a copy of your base first.

Is SeaTable open source?

No. SeaTable can be self-hosted, but its Enterprise Edition runs under a proprietary licence (free for up to 3 users), and its Developer Edition contains a proprietary component and may not be used for SaaS.

Is Rowy still maintained?

It looks inactive: its last release is from October 2023 and the last code change from November 2024, and it only works with Firebase. Its team now promotes BuildShip.

Which tool works on my existing PostgreSQL database?

Mathesar works directly on your existing Postgres tables and respects Postgres permissions. NocoDB can also connect to existing SQL databases, under its fair-code licence.

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About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
2026-10-30 19:50 Top Alternatives