Airtable vs Make: Which No-Code & Automation Tool Is Better in 2026?
Airtable
From $20Make
From $9Quick verdict
Overall pick: Tie
Pick Airtable if your core need is a custom operational database or content and project workflows built on structured tables, and you accept per-seat pricing starting at $20. Pick Make if you mainly need complex branching automations at high volume, since its flat pricing starts at $9 and it is positioned for cost-effective high-volume automation. Both offer a free plan, a visual builder, pre-built connectors, multi-step logic, custom webhooks, and an AI workflow copilot, so neither wins on feature coverage alone.
- Make's entry plan ($9) is 55% cheaper than Airtable's ($20).
- Airtable charges per user while Make uses a flat price, so Make gets relatively cheaper as your team grows.
- Both offer a free plan, so you can test them side by side at no cost.
- They cover the same 6 of 8 core features we track, so price and UX decide.
Cost calculator
| Tool | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Airtable · per user | $100.00 | $1200 |
| Make · flat | $9.00 | $108 |
Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.
Which one should you choose?
| If you need… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Building a custom operational database | Airtable | Airtable includes a built-in database and is positioned for custom operational databases, while Make's database is secondary to its workflow focus. |
| High-volume automation on a budget | Make | Make uses flat pricing starting at $9, versus Airtable's per-seat pricing starting at $20, and is positioned for cost-effective high-volume automations. |
| Complex branching workflow logic | Make | Make is explicitly positioned for complex branching logic, though both tools support multi-step branches and conditional routers. |
| Content and project workflows on structured tables | Airtable | Airtable combines a relational database with spreadsheet flexibility and is positioned for content and project workflows. |
| Teams that scale headcount rather than automation volume | Make | Airtable bills per seat, so costs rise with each added user, while Make's flat billing does not scale with seats. |
Feature comparison: Airtable vs Make
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ | ✅ |
| Starting price | $20 /user/mo | $9 /mo |
| Visual flow & drag-and-drop builder | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self-hosted / open-source option | — | — |
| Pre-built app connectors & integrations | ✅ | ✅ |
| Built-in database / table storage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multi-step branches & conditional routers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom webhooks & API HTTP requests | ✅ | ✅ |
| Native mobile app generation | — | — |
| AI workflow & assistant builder | ✅ | ✅ |
Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.
Pros and cons
Airtable
- Built-in relational database combined with spreadsheet flexibility
- Per-seat pricing starting at $20 with a free plan available
- Supports visual building, pre-built connectors, multi-step logic, custom webhooks, and an AI workflow copilot
- Positioned for custom operational databases and content and project workflows
- Per-seat billing means costs grow as more users are added
- No self-hosted or open-source option
- No native mobile app generation
Make
- Flat pricing starting at $9 with a free plan available
- Positioned for complex branching logic and cost-effective high-volume automations
- Supports visual building, pre-built connectors, multi-step logic, custom webhooks, and an AI workflow copilot
- Includes built-in database storage
- No self-hosted or open-source option
- No native mobile app generation
- Not positioned around database-centric operational apps the way Airtable is
Which tool would you pick for your stack?
Cast your vote to see real-time peer recommendations from other software buyers.
At a glance
Relational database platform combined with spreadsheet flexibility and automations.
Founded 2012 · From $20 · 6/8 tracked features
Best for: custom operational databases, content & project workflows
See Airtable alternatives →Visual platform for designing, building, and automating complex workflows.
Founded 2012 · From $9 · 6/8 tracked features
Best for: complex branching logic, cost-effective high-volume automations
See Make alternatives →FAQ
Is Airtable cheaper than Make?
No. Airtable starts at $20 per seat, while Make starts at $9 with flat billing. Both offer a free plan.
Do Airtable and Make have the same features?
They match on all eight compared features: visual builder, pre-built connectors, built-in database, multi-step logic, custom webhooks, and AI workflow copilot are all present, while self-hosted and native mobile app export are absent in both.
Which tool is better for complex branching workflows?
Make is positioned for complex branching logic, though both tools support multi-step branches and conditional routers.
Can either tool be self-hosted?
No. Neither Airtable nor Make offers a self-hosted or open-source option based on the provided data.
Which tool is better for building a custom database?
Airtable, which combines a relational database with spreadsheet flexibility and is positioned for custom operational databases.
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Data last reviewed: pending verification. All No-Code & Automation tools →