đź’ˇ Airtable is best for beginners and those who value ease of use, but costs can escalate quickly beyond the free tier.
đź’ˇ Baserow offers the best balance of features and cost for power users who can handle some technical setup and don’t mind self-hosting.
đź’ˇ NocoDB is free but requires significant technical expertise, making it suitable primarily for developers who need complete control.
Those monthly software bills add up fast. I learned this the hard way when my Airtable automation needs pushed me into paid territory.
I run dozens of automations daily. From processing my kid’s school emails to generating blog content, these tools power my digital life. But I needed a cheaper alternative to Airtable that worked just as well with make.com and n8n.
After testing NocoDB and Baserow for over 100 hours, I’ve found the sweet spots and pitfalls of each platform.
I use airtable to control my make.com workflows
The Rise of No-Code Automation
I started small – just a simple workflow to improve blog titles. Click a button in Airtable, get 5 better options. Pick one, and my automation creates a full article. Simple, right?
But these “simple” automations multiply. Soon you’re running hundreds of workflows through your database. That’s when the costs start to bite.
Here’s what I discovered about each platform:
Airtable: The Industry Standard
Airtable just works. Its make.com and n8n integrations are solid. The formulas are powerful. The interface is smooth.
But the free tier caps at 1,200 records per base. Need more? That’s $20/month per user.
For beginners, Airtable remains the best choice. The learning curve is gentle. The community support is excellent.
NocoDB: The Developer’s Choice
NocoDB caught my eye with its unlimited free tier for single users. No self-hosting required.
The Airtable import feature works, but with caveats:
- Formulas don’t transfer
- Table groups break
- Advanced features like lookups aren’t supported
The biggest hurdle? Integration with make.com and n8n is rough. Updating rows required complex workarounds. Even after hours in the forums, I couldn’t get my button triggers working.
Baserow: The Middle Ground
Baserow offers 3,000 free rows in the cloud. I chose to self-host instead.
The platform feels familiar to Airtable users. The UI is clean. The UX makes sense.
My experience:
- Airtable imports work better than NocoDB
- Formula support is decent
- N8n integration actually works
- Self-hosting needs decent hardware
But there’s a catch – my Synology NAS couldn’t handle it. I moved to Pikapod for better performance.
Making the Right Choice
For most users, stick with Airtable. The convenience is worth the cost if you’re not pushing limits.
Power users should consider Baserow. It’s the closest to Airtable in feel and function. But you need some technical skills to make it work.
Developers might prefer NocoDB. The interface isn’t great, but the control and power are there if you can code.
Next Steps
Start with Airtable’s free plan. When you hit limits, try Baserow. Test your workflows before committing.
Remember – the perfect tool is the one that fits your specific needs and skills. Don’t switch just to save money if it costs you time instead.
Want to chat about automations? Drop me a comment below. I’d love to hear about your experiences with these tools.
