Airtable vs Google Sheets Comparison 2023: Which Is Better?

In our data-driven world, choosing the right tool to manage information and improve workflows is crucial. The ongoing debate between Airtable and Google Sheets can leave many professionals unsure about which platform to pick.

Join us as we dive into the detailed Airtable vs Google Sheets comparison to give you the insights and clarity to make the best choice for managing your data.

We've thoroughly compared the two cloud-based competitors to give you a complete understanding of what each platform brings to the table.

Let's get started!

What is the difference between Airtable and Google Sheets?

The main difference between Google Sheets and Airtable is that Google Sheets focuses on spreadsheet functionality, like Excel, while Airtable combines spreadsheet capabilities with database features. Google Sheets, or "Google Tables,” offers a more traditional spreadsheet experience while Airtable introduces a more visual and versatile approach to data management. 

Airtable's unique structure allows users to create and manage complex relationships between data points with ease, by incorporating features like customizable views, advanced filtering, and team collaboration tools. Its flexibility makes it ideal for project management, inventory tracking, and other tasks that require a more dynamic approach to data organization. 

In contrast, Google Sheets excels at performing calculations, data analysis, and presenting data in a familiar grid format. It also seamlessly integrates with other Google Workspace applications, providing a unified experience for users who are already invested in the Google ecosystem.

If you want to know all about Airtable, check out this detailed Airtable review. And if you're curious about Google Sheets, we have a separate Google Sheets review that talks about its advantages and shortcomings.

Airtable vs Google Sheets comparison chart

We've prepared a comprehensive comparison chart to help you easily visualize the differences between Airtable and Google Sheets. 

This chart offers a side-by-side comparison of their features and functionality, so that you can quickly identify the strengths and weaknesses of each tool. 

Airtable vs Google Sheets pricing

Airtable has four different plans - a free plan and three paid plans. The least expensive paid plan charges $10 each month for every user (with annual billing) and offers additional integrations and extensions.

Google Sheets is a free tool in the Google Docs Editors suite. It also has paid plans in the Google Workspace suite for businesses, starting at $6 to $18 or more per user monthly. Paid plans have extra features like increased storage, better support, and custom business emails.

Which is better?

Google Sheets wins this round as it offers almost all of its features for free. 
 

Google Sheets vs Airtable free versions

Airtable's free plan is well-suited for individual users or small teams that are just starting out. This plan supports a maximum of 5 creators or editors, unlimited bases, commenters and read-only users, and up to 1,200 records per base. You can add one extension and one sync integration to each base. The plan includes up to 100 automations per month, five views, and 2GB of attachment space per base.

Google Sheets offers a free option that provides access to most of its features at no cost. This includes templates, integration with other Google Workspace apps, data analysis and visualization tools, collaboration options, and more.

Winner: 

It’s a tie as both tools come with a generous free option. 
 

Customer support

All Airtable users have access to email support, while Enterprise users also get Priority support. The company typically responds within one to two business days. Phone support is currently unavailable.

Although Google Sheets' free plan lacks live agent support, there are many tutorials and resources available to help you find solutions to your queries. The paid plans provide round-the-clock online support, and you can also purchase Enhanced Support as an additional feature.

Which is better?

We give this round to Airtable as email support is available to users of all plans. 
 

Knowledgebase & learning

Airtable offers a comprehensive knowledge base that includes a wide range of resources such as help articles, demos, webinars, ebooks, and reports. Additionally, there’s an active community forum where users can share announcements, ask questions, share tips and knowledge, and engage in open discussions.

Google Sheets provides access to a variety of help articles and tutorials, as well as a Community forum where you can seek assistance with any issues you come across. If you’re having trouble locating a particular functionality within the menus, you can simply click the Help option in the toolbar and type in your question. 

Which is better?

This round is a tie. 

Google Sheets vs Airtable features & functionality

Now that we compared Google Sheets vs Airtable based on factors such as pricing, free plans, customer service, and knowledge base, it’s now time to evaluate their relative performance in terms of features and functionalities.
 

Airtable or Google Sheets for ease of use?

Airtable is very user-friendly with an easy learning curve, a visually appealing interface, and many tutorials in its extensive knowledge base.

Google Sheets is also easy to use, especially for those familiar with Google Workspace apps or Microsoft Excel. New users might need time to learn its features, but the app is designed to be intuitive and accessible.

Which is better?

Google Sheets wins this round. Many users find Google Sheets easier because they’re familiar with other Google products or Excel.
 

Google Sheets vs Airtable online versions

Google Sheets and Airtable are both web-based applications that can be accessed from anywhere using supported browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Additionally, you can download the mobile apps for iOS and Android to use them while on the go.

Which is better?

This round is another tie. 
 

Airtable vs Google Sheets desktop versions

Airtable has a desktop app that has the same look and functionality as the web version. The only difference between the two versions is that the desktop app offers additional keyboard shortcuts. Additionally, users who opt for the desktop version will receive Airtable notifications on their desktop by default, although you can deactivate this feature if you want.

Google Sheets has only one desktop application for Google's ChromeOS.

Which is better?

Airtable takes this round as it has desktop apps for Mac and Windows, while Google Sheets is only available for Google's ChromeOS.
 

Airtable vs Google Tables spreadsheets and databases

Airtable combines spreadsheet and database features, which makes it a great alternative to Google Sheets. It's useful for project management, inventory, event planning, and more. Airtable's databases handle large amounts of data quickly and offer various views like grid, form, calendar, gallery, kanban, timeline, and Gantt charts. You can even create relational databases.

Google Sheets is mainly a spreadsheet software for creating, editing, and sharing spreadsheets online. It has numerous features for managing and organizing data, including basic operations like data entry, formulas, and cell formatting. It also provides data visualization tools like charts and graphs for easier analysis.

Which is better?

This round is a tie. Airtable excels as a spreadsheet-database hybrid, while Google Sheets shines in traditional spreadsheet management. 
 

Google Tables vs Airtable tasks and projects 

Airtable comes with robust task and project management capabilities. There’s a gallery of templates for tasks such as project planning, progress tracking, and team communication. You can view your data in different formats, including Gantt charts and Kanban boards.

Google Sheets is mainly designed to handle significant amounts of data, but you can personalize it to serve as a project management tool. You can create a project and add columns for tasks, task owners, due dates, status, and comments. 

You can even add descriptive notes for column headings or tasks. You can monitor your progress by using a Status column with options like Not started, In progress, or Complete. With the help of conditional formatting rules, you can easily visualize the progress of your project tasks.

Which is better?

Airtable wins this round as it has more advanced task and project management features than Google Sheets. 
 

Integrations

Airtable has native integration with many third-party apps, including Miro, Jira, Google Workspace, Loom, and Typeform, among others. It also integrates with over 1,000 apps through platforms like Zapier, Workato, Integromat, and Tray.io. 

Airtable also offers various extensions that can extend the functionality of an Airtable base, such as charts, tables, maps, visualizations, and more.

Google Sheets integrates smoothly with other Google apps like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Forms, Docs, Meet, and Translate. There are also many add-ons available that allow for further customization of sheets.

Which is better?

If you care about integrations, then Airtable might be a better fit as it comes with more integration options. 

A note on Airtable Google Sheets integration

Although there’s no built-in Google Sheets Airtable integration, you can still integrate the two using third-party connector apps such as Zapier, Unito, and Automate.io. 

With the Airtable to Google Sheets sync, you’ll be able to transfer data from Airtable to Google Sheets automatically, while the Google Sheets to Airtable sync lets you transfer data from Google Sheets to Airtable. These integrations can save you time and ensure that data is always up to date across both platforms.
 

Collaboration features

Airtable lets multiple users work on the same project simultaneously. You can leave comments, attach files, and mention others in comments to communicate and collaborate effectively. The revision history feature lets you track all changes made to a record, and you can set permissions to control access to data.

With Google Sheets, you can add comments, reply, edit, resolve, and chat with your collaborators while working together on the same sheet without any interruptions. The built-in revision history lets you see all the changes and go back to previous versions. Plus, there's a chat window on the sidebar where you can communicate with others. You can share or present your Sheets in Google Meet too.

Which is better?

Both tools have similar collaborative features such as real-time editing, commenting, and revision history. However, Airtable's collaboration features may be considered more powerful, with additional features like mentions and file attachments. 
 

Google Sheets or Airtable for automation 

Airtable offers basic automation capabilities. You’ll be able to automate recurring tasks, send emails, create Slack messages or Twitter posts, create issues in Jira Cloud, update records, and perform other similar functions.

Google Sheets lets you save time by automating repetitive tasks with macros. With this feature, you can record and replay your user interface actions to automate tasks. Additionally, there are extensions available that can help automate tasks in Sheets without any need to write code.

Which is better?

This round is a tie. The best app for you in terms of automation features depends on your specific needs and the types of tasks you are looking to automate.
 

Product limitations

Airtable has limitations like data storage limits, less extensive spreadsheet functionality compared to Google Sheets, and limited charting and graphing capabilities. It may not have integrations with less popular apps and does not offer direct phone support. However, many users still find it flexible for managing data and workflows.

Google Sheets has limitations like limited formatting options and charting/graphing capabilities, no advanced database features, a steep learning curve for advanced features, and limited offline access. Despite these limitations, it remains a popular tool for data management and collaboration.

Which is better?

Tie round is a tie as both tools come with their own set of limitations.

Is Airtable better than Google Sheets? Key takeaways

We covered a great deal of information in our head-to-head comparison post. Let’s quickly summarize when it's best to choose Airtable or Google Sheets for your data management needs.

Opt for Google Sheets if you:

• Work with a smaller data volume and need free storage.

• Need to perform calculations and basic visualizations.

• Prefer an easy-to-use platform with a minimal learning curve.

Choose Airtable if you:

• Handle large, complex datasets.

• Need diverse field types for files, button objects, barcodes, and more.

• Need to create connections between records in separate tables for your project.

• Prefer a non-traditional spreadsheet view for data visualization.

If you're still unsure which software is the better fit for your need, consider using the free version of the two apps. This will give you a hands-on experience with what each app offers so that you can make a more informed decision.

Additionally, take a look at this best project management tools list if you want to know how Airtable and Google Sheets compare against tools like Asana and Trello.