Does your team swear by Airtable?
Airtable automation is a great way to create custom workflows by setting up automated triggers-to-actions processes within Airtable.
However, if your team utilizes other business apps and needs a tool to handle complex workflows that extend beyond Airtable, we recommend looking for an Airtable Automation alternative.
According to our research and customer reviews, the best ones are Relay.app, Zapier, Make, ActivePieces, PabblyConnect, Integrately, IFTTT, n8n, Pipedream, and Zohoflow.
But first, let's explore why people think you may want to consider an alternative in the first place.
Why look for Airtable automation alternatives?
Although Airtable's built-in automation may save costs and simplify your databases, it has some significant drawbacks.
To help you make an informed decision, let’s consider the three most common ones:
🤚 App integrations are limited
Airtable automation supports integration with Asana, Basecamp, Box, Dropbox, and Instagram.
Understandably, since Airtable is not an automation tool, the company isn’t adding new integrations quickly.
📈 Airtable has a steep learning curve
Setting up automated processes often involves people in teams like IT, Revenue Ops or Enablement.
Airtable, although an amazing product, can be intimidating at first for people who’ve been used to either Excel or Google Sheets for years.
🤨 Doesn't support core automation needs
Airtable lacks functionalities that you would expect from regular automation platforms, like the ability to filter for conditions before automations run or not. It also doesn't support triggers based on multiple conditions.
For instance, you might want reminders for tasks only if they’re overdue and assigned to a specific team member.
What are the best alternatives to Airtable automation?
The best alternatives to Airtable automation are:
- Relay.app — Human in the loop and collaborative workflow automation.
- Zapier — Business automation with tables
- Make — Visually appealing no code automation tool
- Integrately — Extensive template library
- ActivePieces — No code, open-source automation platform
- PabblyConnect — Extensive library of apps with lots of lifetime plan
- IFTTT — Home and business automation platform
- n8n — Low code, open source automation tool
- Zoho Flow — No code visual workflow software
- Pipedream — Low code AI-powered automation tool
1. Relay.app
Relay.app is an excellent Airtable alternative for users with broader automation needs who want to create personalized workflows.
The tool integrates with modern apps across different industries, allowing you to create simple and complex workflows.
You don't need to know how to code or automate workflows to use Relay.app. The user interface is intuitive even for non-tech-savvy users.
Some Airtable customers opt to automated workflows with Relay.app because of key features like:
- Human-in-the-Loop
- 1-Click AI assistance
- Collaborative workflow automation
Relay.app integrates with various modern apps across different industries, including marketing, sales, support, and engineering.
It includes apps like Hubspot, Calendly, Trello, Asana, Quickbook, Google Sheets, Google Drive and more.
Besides being easy to deploy and use, our team constantly adds new apps.
While Airtable automation is suitable for straightforward automation within Airtable, Relay.app offers a more comprehensive solution with extensive app integrations and advanced features.
Looking elsewhere is unnecessary if you want to automate repetitive tasks within Airtable.
Need to extend to other apps? Get Started in Relay.app.
Pros and cons
✅ More extensive integrations compared to Airtable.
✅ Full-fledged automation tool not tied to any other tool and with advanced features.
✅ AI assistance without the need for prompts.
❌ Unlike Airtable automation usage included in your Airtable plan, you have to pay separately for Relay.app.
❌ It’s not deeply integrated with Airtable.
Pricing
Unlike Airtable Automation, which charges per automation run, Relay.app charges per user seat. This lets you easily predict your scaling costs without worrying about exceeding limits.
To start using Relay.app, sign up for free, and enjoy 200 automation runs and unlimited access to all its features.
If you want more, choose from these three yearly plans:
- Professional: $9 per month (2 seats, 10k automations per month).
- Team: $59 per month (unlimited seats, 25k automations per month)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger teams.
2. Make
Make is a visually appealing alternative to Airtable automation. It's a no-code platform that allows customization and the creation of complex workflows.
It's ideal for anyone with some level of technical skill looking to build complex workflows.
Features
- Extensive integration library of 1200 apps spanning different industries.
- 3000 free pre-built templates for simple automation tasks.
- Visual workflow builder using drag and drop interface.
- HTTP connector allowing integration with publicly available API apps.
- “My app” for creating custom apps accessible to multiple team members without the need for individual API connections.
Pros and cons
✅ Easy to get started with templates.
✅ Offers extensive customization options.
✅ Free plan provides access to unlimited users.
❌ Hard to use for non-technical teams.
❌ Costs can escalate with increased operations.
Pricing
Make offers a free forever plan with 1000 operations per month for individual users.
For additional features, choose from any of the four yearly paid plans:
- Core: $10.59 per month
- Pro: $16 per month
- Teams: $34.12 per month
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
3. Zapier
Zapier is a versatile platform allowing users to build automated processes, called "zaps," by linking various apps. It supports a wide range of app integrations and customization options.
Zapier is ideal for users seeking an Airtable automation alternative with native table tools.
Features
- Custom logic, filter, and multiple conditions for more workflow flexibility and control.
- Over 7000 app integrations increase the possibility of easy and fast integration across your tech stack without API or Webhook workarounds.
- AI workflow builder that creates workflows from text descriptions.
- Ready-made workflow templates for a quick and easy start.
Zapier pros and cons
✅ Offers native tables.
✅ Has the largest library of integration apps.
✅ Various ways of building workflows.
❌ Zapier's workflows only offer basic access to tables; full access requires a separate payment.
❌ Poor customer support.
Pricing
Zapier charges are based on tasks, which increase significantly as usage rises. It has a free forever plan with 100 monthly tasks, unlimited workflows, and only 2-step zaps.
Zapier offers three paid plans which include:
- Professional: $19.9/month
- Team: $69/month
- Enterprise: On-demand, contact sales.
4. ActivePieces
ActivePieces is an open-source business automation tool designed for effortless customization and heightened security through self-hosting.
It’s for you if you want to enhance your security and customization through self-hosting.
Features
- Over 142 prebuilt templates to kickstart your automation journey.
- Conditional logic, loop, wait step, and branching for highly tailored workflow.
- Custom font and color to match your brand identity.
- Auto-retry step to automatically retry failed runs.
- Multilingual feature supporting nine languages.
Pros and cons
✅ Gain more control and flexibility with self-hosting.
✅ Enjoy increased customizable features with its open-source nature.
✅ Monetize automation as part of your product.
❌ Still relatively new with occasional bugs.
❌ Limited features and integrations, similar to Airtable automation.
❌ Pricing isn't transparent and budget-friendly.
Pricing
ActivePieces provides a free forever plan with one user, one project, and 1000 monthly tasks.
Its paid plans include:
- Enterprise: $99 per user per month, including 1000 tasks.
- Embed: $1,200 per month, including 25 users and 1000 tasks.
Additional users can be added for $10 each, and extra tasks cost $1 each.
5. Pabbly Connect
Pabbly Connect stands out for its affordability and straightforward pricing plan. Its lookup table feature, which allows users to match and retrieve data from different databases, makes it a great alternative to Airtable.
Who is Pabbly Connect for?
It's an ideal choice if you need an automation tool with a lifetime plan and similar features to Zapier.
Features
- Logic, filter, delay, and scheduler enable you to create sophisticated workflows tailored to your specific needs.
- Over 1500 apps, ensuring extensive integration options across your tech stack.
- Webhook and API to connect with external tools.
Pros and cons
✅ Over 6000 video tutorials.
✅ More affordable than Airtable automation and Zapier.
✅ Active community.
❌ Lacks unique offerings besides being more affordable than Zapier.
❌ Slow customer support.
Pricing
Pabbly Connect offers a free forever plan with unlimited workflows, team members, and 100 monthly runs. However, like most tools on the list, it charges based on tasks, so costs can increase as your tasks do.
Here are its four annual plans billed annually:
Standard: $14/month
Pro: $29/month
Ultimate: Starting from $59/month, based on task execution
Enterprise: Contact enterprise team.
6. n8n
n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool similar to ActivePieces. Though it gives you the option to use code for advanced customization or the UI for simpler tasks, its design favors users with technical skills.
n8n is designed for technical teams who want to build complex workflow.
Features
- Self-hosting option for enhanced customization and security.
- Branching, looping, and merging data for more flexible workflows from a centralized platform.
- Over 800 community-created workflow templates across various industries.
- Drag-and-drop visual workflow editor.
- Integration with over 500 popular and lesser-known apps and services.
Pricing
n8n offers only a free basic self-hosted version on GitHub and a free trial of its cloud version.
Choose from any of these n8n three paid plans:
- Starter: $24 per month
- Pro: $60 per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
7. Integrately
Integrately is another no-code workflow automation tool with a simple user interface and many templates. It is also more affordable than Zapier.
Integrately is perfect for anyone seeking an affordable alternative to Zapier, with plenty of templates for streamlined workflow usage.
Features
- Over 20 million automation templates to kickstart your automation.
- Integrates with over 1100 apps in one click.
- Webhook for connecting external apps and services.
- Drag and drop visual workflow builder.
Pricing
Integrately is more expensive than apps like Relay.app. For instance, its free forever plan offers only 5 automations and restricts access to premium apps and conditions. The starter plan limits you to only 2000 tasks, 20 automation, three premium apps, and no path access.
Here are Integrately's three pricing plans billed yearly:
- Starter: $29.99 per month
- Professional: $49 per month
- Growth: $124 per month
- Business: $299 per month
Pros and cons
✅ Excellent customer support.
✅ The number of templates available makes it easy to get started.
❌ Expensive compared to other app on the list.
❌ Integration setup seems to be a common complaint as it's a frequent reason for dissatisfaction among users on review sites.
❌ Lacks a strong value proposition besides templates and being a more affordable version of Zapier.
8. IFTTT
IFTTT, or If This Then That, as the name suggests, allows you to automate tasks based on trigger and action by creating workflows called “applets”. It’s easy to use and suitable for creating simple workflows.
With its wide integration with home and mobile apps, IFTTT is perfect for personal users looking to streamline their tasks and routines.
Features
- Over 900 integrations across various home and business apps.
- Extensive template library for basic automation.
- Mobile app on both IOS and Android to create and manage your workflow from your smartphone or tablet.
- GPT assistant plugin that allows you access over 800 tools within the ChatGPT interface.
Pros and cons
✅ One of few workflow automation tools with a mobile app.
✅ Strong community of 27 million users.
✅ Easy to use with an intuitive interface.
❌ Not suitable for multistep workflows.
❌ Unreliable pricing as users complain of frequent changes.
Pricing
While the free option allows unlimited runs, users can create only two applets.
Subscribe to one of its two annual paid plans to unlock more features.
IFTTT Pro: $2.92/month
IFTTT Pro+: $12.50/month
9. Pipedream
Pipedream is a code-first automation tool that allows users to write code directly within their workflows using Node.js.
Pipedream distinct itself for software development teams who want to deploy custom workflows and business processes.
Features
- AI-Powered workflow builder
- Extensive library of over 5000 prebuilt workflow templates
- Supports integration with over 2000 apps with apps like Firebase and admin SDK for developers
- Access to npm & PyPI packages enabling developers to leverage a wide range of pre-existing libraries and modules in their workflows.
Pipedream pros and cons
✅ Extensive number of built-in integration.
✅ Real-time trigger whether from HTTP request or webhook.
✅ Well commended by developers
❌ Complex and unpredictable pricing.
❌ Not suitable for non-technical users.
Pricing
Pipedream employs a credit system where the cost per credit decreases with larger purchases. Though its free plan offers access to most of its additional functionalities, the limitation to three workflows makes them barely useful.
Pipedream’s yearly paid plan includes:
- Basic: $45 per month
- Advanced: $149 per month
- Business: $299 per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
10. Zoho Flow
Zoho flow is part of the Zoho ecosystem, which comprises Zoho books, Zoho sheets, Zoho desk, Zoho CRM, Zoho Cliq, Zoho Creator, and many more. It's a no-code automation tool with advanced features for creating custom workflows.
Zoho is ideal for users who are invested in the Zoho ecosystem.
Features
- Over 850 apps and 150 templates common workflows make it easy to start with automation.
- Fun and flexible drag-and-drop workflow builder.
- Delugo, Zoho's Scripting Language, allows you to enhance your workflows by adding advanced decision trees, performing mathematical calculations, or reformatting data to ensure seamless integration between your apps.
- Monitor and troubleshoot your workflow easily with timely email alerts and an option to manually resume or restart workflow.
- On-prem agent for building different combinations of integrations between your cloud and on-premise apps.
Zoho Flow pros and cons
✅ Seamless integration with Zoho products.
✅ Suitable for building simple and complex workflows.
❌ Inconsistent UI across multiple platforms.
❌ Customer support receives numerous complaints on review sites.
Pricing
Zoho Flow only offers a 15-day free trial without a free plan. It has two paid plans and they include:
- Standard: $29 per month
- Professional: $49 per month
Integrate your apps without limit
As mentioned before, Airtable automation is effective for basic workflows and custom applications within its ecosystem. However, if you are looking to leverage a more comprehensive automation tool, consider alternatives like Relay.app, where you gain:
- Expanded access to integration apps
- Human-in-the-loop steps for insightful human input into your workflows
- AI autofill for extracting and summarizing data
- Multiplayer capability for seamless team real-time collaboration.
Sign up here for a free trial, no credit card required.
