Airtable pricing: Features and plans explained

Airtable offers a platform that blends the familiarity of spreadsheets with the functionality of databases. In this guide, we'll explain Airtable's pricing structure. We’ll also explore its features and discuss how different plans cater to various users.

You'll learn about:

• Airtable's core components and how they work together
• The diverse range of features that make Airtable unique
• A detailed breakdown of the Airtable pricing structure and add-ons, including Airtable AI
• Which types of companies and individuals benefit most from Airtable's pricing model
• How to build your own pricing model inspired by Airtable

Let's start by examining what Airtable is and why it’s unique in its field.

What is Airtable used for?

Airtable is a unique blend of a spreadsheet and a database. It allows you to organize information, collaborate with others, and build custom applications without any coding.

Think of it this way: Airtable provides the structure and organization of a database with the intuitive interface of a spreadsheet. 

You can store all kinds of data in Airtable, from simple lists to complex projects. And because it's cloud-based, you can access your data from anywhere.

Why is Airtable unique in its field?

One of Airtable's biggest strengths is its versatility. It's used by people and teams of all sizes across a wide range of industries. Marketing teams use it to manage campaigns, product managers to track progress, and HR departments to onboard new employees. 

Airtable also stands out for its ease of use. You don't need to be a tech expert to get started. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to create tables, link records, and build custom views of your data. Plus, Airtable offers a wealth of templates to help you get up and running quickly.

Airtable is a powerful tool that makes it easy to organize information and collaborate with others. It's a platform that can adapt to your needs, whether you're a small business owner or a large enterprise. Next, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of Airtable’s unique set of features. 

How does Airtable work?

Let's dive deeper into the key components that make Airtable tick:

Bases: Your workspace for data

Think of a base as your digital workspace. Each base is like a container holding all the information related to a specific project or task. Within each base, you can create multiple tables to organize different types of data.

For example, if you're managing a marketing campaign, you might have one table for tracking your social media posts, another for your email list, and another for your budget. And the best part? You can connect these tables to see how everything relates to each other.

Tables: Structuring your information

Tables are where you actually store your data. They are made up of rows and columns, just like a spreadsheet. Each row represents a single item (a record), and each column represents a specific piece of information about that item (a field).

Airtable offers a wide variety of field types to choose from, including text, numbers, dates, checkboxes, and even attachments. Need to store images or files? Airtable has you covered.

Views: Different perspectives on your data

Views allow you to look at the same data in different ways. You can filter, sort, and group records to get the insights you need. For example, you might create a calendar view to see your project deadlines or a Kanban view to track your team's progress.

Airtable offers a variety of view types, including grid, calendar, Kanban, gallery, and form views. Each view type provides a unique perspective on your data, helping you visualize it in a way that makes sense to you.

Fields: The building blocks of your data

Fields are the individual pieces of information that make up your records. Each field has a specific type, such as text, number, date, or attachment. Airtable also offers some unique field types, like formulas and linked records, that allow you to connect your data in powerful ways.

For example, you can use a formula field to calculate the total cost of a project or a linked record field to connect tasks to the team members responsible for them.

Collaboration: Working together seamlessly

Airtable is built for collaboration. You can easily share your bases with others and control their level of access. Need someone to just view the data? No problem. Want them to be able to edit or add records? You got it.

Airtable also offers features like comments and mentions, making it easy to communicate with your team within the platform.

Automations: Putting your work on autopilot

Automations allow you to automate repetitive tasks, saving you time and effort. You can set up automations to do things like send email notifications, update records, or create new tasks.

For example, you could create an automation that automatically assigns new tasks to team members based on their availability.

Interfaces: Building custom apps without code

Interfaces allow you to create custom applications on top of your Airtable data. You can use interfaces to build things like dashboards, forms, and reports.

For example, you could create a custom interface for your sales team that displays their key performance indicators (KPIs) and allows them to track their progress.

Now that we've explored the functionalities of Airtable, you might be wondering about the pricing models associated with these strong features. We'll dive into the specifics of Airtable pricing in the next section.

What are the Airtable pricing plans? 

Airtable offers a range of pricing plans designed to accommodate various needs and budgets, from individuals just starting out to large organizations with complex requirements. 

Please note: The prices shown here are current as of the time of publishing in December 2024, and this pricing can change. For the latest info on fees, go to Airtable’s pricing page.

Let's take a closer look at each plan and what it includes:

Free plan

Let’s get the first big question out of the way: Is Airtable free? Yes, indeed. Airtable offers a generous free plan. It’s ideal for single-users or very small teams dipping their toes into the platform. It provides a solid foundation for exploring Airtable's core features without any financial commitment.

Here's what you get with the Free plan:

• Unlimited bases: Create as many bases as you need to organize your projects.
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• 1,000 records per base: Store up to 1,000 records in each base.
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• 1 GB attachment storage per base: Attach files and images to your records.
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• 2 weeks of revision and snapshot history: Track changes and revert to previous versions of your base.

While the Free plan has some limitations, it's a great way to get started with Airtable and see if it's the right fit for you.

Team plan

The Team plan is Airtable's most popular offering. It’s designed for teams collaborating on shared workflows. It provides a significant upgrade from the Free plan, with increased limits and access to more advanced features.

Airtable pricing for the Team plan is as follows:

• $24 per collaborator/month billed monthly
• $20 per collaborator/month billed annually

Here's what's included in the Team plan:

• 50,000 records per base: A significant increase in storage capacity, allowing you to manage larger datasets.
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• 20 GB attachment storage per base: More space for your files and images.
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• 1 year of revision and snapshot history: Longer history retention for better version control.
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• Automations: Automate repetitive tasks to save time and boost efficiency.
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• Extensions: Extend Airtable's functionality with integrations to other apps.
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• Forms: Create custom forms to collect data from others.
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• Interface designer: Build custom applications on top of your Airtable data.
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• Timeline and Gantt views: Visualize project timelines and dependencies.
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• Locked and personal views: Control who can see and edit specific views.
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• Record coloring: Visually categorize and organize your records.
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• Calendar view: View your data in a calendar format.

Business plan

The Business plan caters to teams that need advanced features and administrative controls and higher limits, and access to more refined features.

Airtable pricing for the Business plan is as follows:

• $54 per collaborator/month billed monthly
• $45 per collaborator/month billed annually

Here's what the Business plan offers:

• All Team plan features: Includes all the features of the Team plan.

• 125,000 records per base: Ample storage for growing datasets.
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• 100 GB attachment storage per base: Generous storage for all your files.
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• 1 year of revision and snapshot history: Comprehensive history tracking.
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• Two-way sync: Synchronize data between Airtable and other apps.
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• Admin panel: Manage users and permissions across your workspace.

Enterprise Scale plan

The Enterprise Scale plan is tailored to large organizations seeking to build scalable applications. It includes robust governance and administration. It also offers the highest level of customization and support.

Airtable pricing for the Enterprise Scale plan is customized based on your specific needs and requirements. Contact Airtable's sales team for a personalized quote.

Here's what the Enterprise Scale plan includes:

• All Business plan features: Includes all the features of the Business plan.
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• 500,000 records per base: Massive storage capacity for enterprise-level data.
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• 500,000 automation runs: High-volume automation capabilities.
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• Advanced security and governance: Better security features and compliance certifications.
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• Dedicated support: Priority support from Airtable experts.

Special pricing for nonprofits and students

Airtable is committed to supporting education and social impact. They offer special pricing plans for nonprofits and students:

• Nonprofits: Qualifying nonprofits receive 50% off the monthly cost of the Team plan.
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• Students: Qualifying students can get free Team accounts for a single workspace for 6-24 months.

To learn more about these special pricing plans and how to apply, visit Airtable's website on the topic.

Airtable AI

Airtable AI is an add-on that brings the power of artificial intelligence to your workflows. It allows you to automate tasks, generate content, and gain insights from your data more efficiently.

Here's how Airtable AI works:

• AI in text fields: Use AI to generate text, translate languages, and summarize information within text fields.
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• AI in automations: Incorporate AI into your automations to perform tasks like sentiment analysis and data extraction.
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• Generate formulas: Let AI create formulas for you, simplifying complex calculations.
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• Summarize comments: Quickly get the gist of lengthy comment threads with AI-powered summaries.
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• Suggested matches: Find relevant records faster with AI-powered suggestions.

Airtable pricing for AI is credit-based. You get a certain number of credits per user per month, and each AI operation consumes a certain number of credits.

Here are the AI pricing options:

• Free preview: 500 monthly AI credits per paid seat.
• Paid add-on: 3,500 monthly AI credits per paid seat. $6 per seat/month billed annually and $7 per seat/month billed monthly

Note: You can also purchase additional credits if needed.

Airtable AI is available as an add-on for Team, Business, and Enterprise Scale plans.

Airtable's pricing structure is best for these types of companies

Let’s take a look at companies that benefit the most from Airtable’s pricing structure: 

Startups and small businesses 

These companies often find Airtable pricing attractive because it lets them start small with the Free plan and upgrade as they grow. The per-user model ensures that they only pay for the people using it, avoiding excessive costs. 

As their team expands and their data needs increase, they can transition to the Team or Business plans.

Companies with distributed teams 

Because Airtable is cloud-based and accessible from anywhere, it's ideal for teams working across multiple locations. The per-user pricing model confirms that everyone has access to the tools they need, regardless of their location.

Organizations with varying data needs 

The tiered plans offer different levels of storage and features, allowing companies to choose the plan that best aligns with their needs. Departments with large datasets can opt for the Business plan, while smaller teams can choose the Team plan.

Nonprofits and educational institutions 

These groups also benefit from Airtable pricing, thanks to the discounted rates offered. Airtable's commitment to social impact makes it an affordable option for those working in these sectors.

How to build your own pricing model like Airtable

Here's a breakdown of how to create your own tiered pricing model, drawing inspiration from Airtable's approach:

• Identify your ideal customer profile: Who are you trying to reach? Airtable caters to everyone from solopreneurs to enterprises; define your target audience segments to build your pricing strategy.
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• Analyze your costs and value metrics: Understand your product's development, delivery, and support costs. What are the key value metrics your customers gain (like Airtable's records per base or storage)?
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• Create differentiated tiers: Structure your plans with increasing value and price. Offer a free tier or trial like Airtable to encourage initial adoption. Gradually increase features and limits in higher tiers.
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• Consider a per-user pricing model: Airtable pricing uses a transparent per-user model that scales well with team size. Evaluate if this aligns with your product and customer needs.
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• Offer annual discounts: Encourage long-term commitment by offering discounted pricing. An example of this in practice is Airtable's annual billing discounts.
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• Provide flexible payment options: Cater to different preferences by offering both monthly and annual payment options.
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• Communicate value clearly: Clearly articulate the value proposition of each tier. Highlight the specific features and benefits included.
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• Review and adjust regularly: Continuously monitor your pricing model's performance and gather customer feedback. Be prepared to adjust your pricing as your product and market evolve.

Create pricing models like Airtable’s with the help of Orb

Airtable has crafted a pricing strategy that caters to a diverse user base. What if you could implement a similarly effective pricing model for your own company?

With Orb, that’s easier to accomplish.

Orb is a done-for-you billing platform. It helps you design and manage complex pricing models, just like those used by Perplexity and Vercel. We support various approaches to pricing, giving you the tools to build a model that scales with your business.

In this article, we explained how Airtable pricing works, with its tiered plans and focus on per-user pricing. Now, let's explore how Orb can help you replicate this success:

• Effortless usage-based pricing: Track and measure any billable metric. Think API calls, monthly active users, storage, or custom events. Orb ensures accurate billing based on actual consumption, just like Airtable's record-based pricing.
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• Tiered plans with granular control: Create a free tier to attract new users. You can then offer tiered plans with increasing features and limits, mirroring Airtable's plan structure.
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• Flexible pricing for every customer: Implement per-user pricing, volume discounts, or flat subscriptions. Orb provides the flexibility to design a pricing strategy that aligns with your specific goals.
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• Data-driven pricing decisions: Analyze usage patterns and revenue trends. That’s possible thanks to Orb's robust reporting and analytics. Gain insights to optimize your pricing strategy and maximize revenue, just as Airtable does.
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• Streamlined billing operations: Automate invoices, manage subscriptions, and handle payments. Orb integrates with your existing tech stack, including payment gateways, accounting software, and data warehouses.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your pricing? Discover how Orb can help build a pricing engine as effective as Airtable's. Make sure to check out our flexible pricing options and find a plan that fits your budget and needs.