6 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to Airtable
The best open-source alternatives to Airtable are NocoDB, Grist and Teable.
About Airtable: A spreadsheet-database hybrid for building lightweight business apps.
Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Airtable without giving up the features you rely on.
Top picks
- Rank 1:
NocoDB
nocodb/nocodb
No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).
Database ManagementTypeScriptDocker - Rank 2:
Grist
gristlabs/grist-core
Next-generation spreadsheet with relational structure, formula-based access control, and a portable, self-contained format (alternative to Airtable).
Office SuitesTypeScriptDocker - Rank 3:
Teable
teableio/teable
Next-gen Airtable alternative with a Postgres-backed spreadsheet UI.
Database ManagementTypeScriptDocker
Why switch
Why teams move off Airtable
Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.
Own your data
Your data lives on a server you control, not on Airtable's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.
No per-seat pricing
Open-source alternatives to Airtable are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.
Customize and extend
Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.
Full ranking
All 6 Airtable alternatives
Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
NocoDB
No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).
Database ManagementDocker - 2
Grist
Next-generation spreadsheet with relational structure, formula-based access control, and a portable, self-contained format (alternative to Airtable).
Office SuitesDocker - 3
Teable
Next-gen Airtable alternative with a Postgres-backed spreadsheet UI.
Database ManagementDocker - 4
Mathesar
Intuitive UI to manage data collaboratively, for users of all technical skill levels. Built on Postgres – connect an existing DB or set up a new one.
Database ManagementDocker - 5
Directus
An Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users.
Database ManagementDocker - 6
Budibase
Build and automate internal tools, admin panels, dashboards, CRUD apps, and more, in minutes (alternative to Outsystems, Retool, Mendix, Appian).
Low-code & BackendDocker
What is the best open-source alternative to Airtable?
NocoDB is the most popular open-source alternative to Airtable, with 65,197 GitHub stars. Grist and Teable are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.
Is there a free alternative to Airtable?
Yes. All 6 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Airtable replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.
Can I self-host an alternative to Airtable?
Yes. NocoDB, Grist and Teable ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.
How do I migrate from Airtable?
Start by exporting your data from Airtable, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.