In the realm of low-code platforms, Airtable has been making waves, offering an intuitive and robust tool for teams to manage complex data sheets and customize their workflows. Despite its impressive features, one glaring limitation is that as a hosted service, you do not have control over your data. This sparked a debate on the importance of data sovereignty and led to the exploration of open-source alternatives that provide the same functionalities as Airtable but with the added benefit of self-hosting. In this article, we will delve into the world of such alternatives, with a special spotlight on APITable, the open-source version of AITable.ai, and four other noteworthy options.
1- APITable

APITable is a stellar open-source alternative to Airtable that stems from the advanced technology of AITable.ai. This API-oriented and embed-friendly visual database offers a host of impressive features designed for both personal and enterprise use. The platform employs a real-time collaboration mechanism that supports simultaneous editing with the Operational Transformation (OT) Algorithm, making it an ideal tool for team-based projects. Moreover, APITable prides itself in its versatile database-spreadsheet interface, which is super-fast and user-friendly.
With its full-stack API access, you can efficiently manage data to metadata. It also offers an impressive seven view types, including Grid View, Gallery View, Mindmap View, and more. Furthermore, it provides enterprise-grade permissions for a secure data management environment. APITable also offers extensive extensibility with over 20 official open-source widgets, customizable graph, chart, dashboard, data column types, formulas, and automation robot actions. This platform is a testament to the power of open-source technology, providing a highly flexible and intuitive tool for managing complex data.
2- NocoDB
NocoDB is another open-source, self-hosted Airtable alternative that offers an equally impressive low-code collaborative web-based platform. It supports a host of database engines including MySQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle, and MariaDB. With NocoDB, you can create, edit, and manage database tables, columns, and row content. Its features also extend to allowing the creation of galleries or list views instead of tables. To streamline data entry, NocoDB offers the option to create customized forms per table or use the provided REST API. The platform also offers an SDK, enterprise-grade REST-API, and multiple user support.
3- Baserow
Baserow is a low-code/no-code data platform that allows you to self-host on your server or local machine. It helps users connect to database servers, create complex spreadsheets, manage unlimited rows, and collaborate with team members. Baserow is built on top of Django and Nuxt.js frameworks and currently supports PostgreSQL. However, it can be tweaked to work with MariaDB, MySQL, and other SQL databases. To install Baserow, you can use its Docker image, offering a seamless install with minimal configuration.
4- Mathesar
Mathesar is another open-source Airtable alternative that supports PostgreSQL. Built on top of the Django framework, it provides a straightforward workflow to store, manage, organize, visualize and collaborate on data projects. You can install Mathesar either from the source or using a Docker image.
5- Metabase
Metabase offers a different approach to data management and manipulation, making it an attractive alternative for data engineers and data scientists. It allows users to ask simple questions, glean insights from data, or create and run queries. Metabase features a rich dynamic table tool with filters, summarizing options, full-text search option, column sorting, and many visualizations options. It supports both SQL and NoSQL database engines including PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, and SQLite.
In conclusion, while Airtable is a powerful platform, the lack of data sovereignty is a significant limitation. Open-source alternatives like APITable, NocoDB, Baserow, Mathesar, and Metabase offer similar functionalities with the added benefit of self-hosting. These platforms not only give you control over your data but also provide an array of features that aim to streamline your data management process. If you are considering making a switch, these five alternatives serve as excellent starting points.












