The Database Dilemma
Both Airtable and Google Sheets can organize your business data, but they're built for different purposes. Here's how to choose.
Google Sheets: Best For...
- Financial calculations and modeling
- Quick, simple data collection
- Team members already familiar with Excel
- Budget-conscious businesses (it's free)
- Complex formulas and data analysis
Airtable: Best For...
- Project and task management
- CRM and contact management
- Content calendars and workflows
- Visual organization (Kanban, Calendar views)
- Connecting data across tables (relational data)
Key Differences
Data Structure: Sheets is flat rows and columns. Airtable is a relational database where tables can connect to each other.
Views: Sheets offers basic filtering. Airtable provides Grid, Calendar, Kanban, Gallery, and Form views of the same data.
Attachments: Airtable handles files, images, and attachments natively. Sheets requires workarounds.
Automations: Airtable has built-in automation. Sheets requires Google Apps Script or external tools.
Pricing Considerations
Google Sheets is free with a Google account. Airtable's free tier limits records per base. For serious usage, expect $10-20/user/month for Airtable.
Our Recommendation
Use Google Sheets for financial data and quick calculations. Use Airtable when you need to manage processes, projects, or information that connects together. Many businesses use both.
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