Introduction

Baserow is popular for a simple reason: it gives you an Airtable-like database UI with a real open-source option. For a lot of teams, that is the whole point. You can run it yourself, keep control of your data, and still give non-technical users a spreadsheet-style interface.

But “Baserow alternatives” searches usually come from one of these situations:

• You want a stronger app layer on top of your data (portals, dashboards, workflows), not just tables.

• You need deeper permissions and governance as usage grows.

• You want a different architecture: database-first on an existing SQL database, or API-first, or headless.

• You want fewer limits and less pricing friction in cloud plans.

• You want a more mature ecosystem for integrations, automations, and operational tooling.

This guide is written for that real intent: choosing the right platform based on how you will actually use it, not just “another list of tools.”

TL;DR

If you want the short list:

• Best overall for governed apps, portals, and workflows: Tadabase

• Best “turn my existing SQL DB into an Airtable UI” option: NocoDB

• Best spreadsheet database with strong relational workflows: Grist

• Best open-source platform when you want a full app framework, not only tables: NocoBase

• Best for teams that want Airtable’s polish and ecosystem: Airtable

• Best for building a custom app on a real backend (API + auth): Supabase (with a front end)

• Best for structured docs plus lightweight databases: Notion or Coda

• Best headless admin and API-first content style builds: Directus

What to compare when choosing a Baserow alternative

1) Are you choosing a database UI or an app platform?

Baserow is primarily a database UI (with additional layers evolving over time). Some alternatives are also database UIs, while others are full app builders.

Ask one question:
Do you need tables and views, or do you need a real application with roles, workflows, approvals, dashboards, and external users?

If the answer is “real application,” prioritize platforms built for that, not only “smart spreadsheets.”

2) Do you need self-hosting, and what does “self-hosting” mean for you?

Self-hosting can mean:

• Run the entire product on your own infra

• Keep data in your VPC but still use managed services

• Use cloud but require data residency and audit controls

Be honest about your team. If you do not want to own backups, upgrades, monitoring, and security patching, “self-hosted” can become a burden fast.

3) Permissions: page-level vs record-level vs field-level

Airtable-style tools often start with simple sharing and grow into real permission needs:

• Clients should only see their own records

• Certain roles can edit only certain fields

• Some changes must be approved

• You need audit history and controlled deployments

If you can, test one real permission rule during evaluation:
“External users can only see their company’s records, and only managers can edit status fields.”

4) Where is your data actually living?

This is the hidden fork in the road:

• Spreadsheet database: the tool stores the data (Baserow, Airtable, Grist in many setups)

• Database-first: the tool sits on your existing Postgres/MySQL (NocoDB, Directus)

• Backend platform: you build on a DB with auth and APIs (Supabase, Firebase-style approaches)

Your best alternative changes based on that choice.

5) How you will integrate and automate

Most tools can “connect to APIs.” The real difference is:

• How credentials are handled

• Environment separation (dev, staging, prod)

• Reusable queries and logic

• Reliability and observability for automations

If this will run operations, you want boring reliability.

Quick comparison table

The best Baserow alternatives in 2026

Tadabase

Best for: building real apps on top of data, with governance, portals, and workflows.

If your Baserow usage is moving beyond “tables and views” into “this runs the business,” you want an app platform, not only a database UI.

Where Tadabase wins in practice:

• External portals and internal apps in the same system

• Role-based access patterns designed for real operations

• Workflows, approvals, and long-term maintainability

• Better fit when you need a complete app layer, not just a grid

Watch-outs:

• If your only goal is an open-source Airtable-like database UI, NocoDB or Grist might be a tighter match.

Airtable

Best for: teams that want the most polished UX and the broadest ecosystem.

Airtable remains the benchmark for user experience and breadth: templates, automations, integrations, and community.

Watch-outs:

• Not open source, not self-hosted, and cost can rise with scale depending on your usage pattern.

NocoDB

Best for: turning an existing SQL database into an Airtable-style interface.

If you already have Postgres or MySQL and want a “smart spreadsheet UI” on top, NocoDB is usually the first shortlist item. This is a different model than Baserow if Baserow is your system of record.

Why teams pick it:

• Your database remains the source of truth

• You get a familiar table UI without migrating data into a new storage model

Watch-outs:

• Because it sits on your DB, your schema decisions matter more. You want someone comfortable with relational design.

Grist

Best for: relational spreadsheets where teams need structure and computation.

Grist shines when your use case is “spreadsheet workflows that outgrew spreadsheets.” You get relational features and a spreadsheet feel, which is often what teams actually want.

Watch-outs:

• If you need a full portal and workflows, treat Grist as the data layer plus UI, not a complete app platform.

NocoBase

Best for: an open-source platform that feels closer to an application framework.

NocoBase is often chosen when teams want open-source control but also want something that is more “platform” than “table UI.” If you expect to build internal apps and structured workflows, it can be a strong direction.

Watch-outs:

• Evaluate how your team will handle long-term maintenance, extensions, and governance.

Directus

Best for: API-first teams that want a headless admin UI on top of SQL.

Directus is a great fit when you want:

• SQL as the source of truth

• A strong admin panel

• Clean APIs for a custom front end

Watch-outs:

• It is not trying to be Airtable. It is trying to be a strong admin and API layer.

Supabase

Best for: building a real product with auth, APIs, and Postgres.

Supabase is not a spreadsheet database. It is a backend platform. It belongs on this list because many teams ultimately realize they need:

• a real DB

• authentication

• storage

• APIs

• a custom front end for their workflows

If your “Baserow database” is turning into “we are building software,” Supabase can be the correct architectural pivot.

Notion

Best for: lightweight databases that live inside documentation.

Notion is often the right alternative when the real need is “structured pages with a table,” not a true database app.

Watch-outs:

• Notion databases can get messy when you try to force serious operations into them.

Coda

Best for: docs plus automation plus tables, with a more app-like feel than Notion.

Coda is often the better choice when you want a document that behaves like an internal tool, including buttons, automations, and structured workflows.

Rowy

Best for: teams that live in Google Cloud and want a UI over their backend.

Rowy tends to show up when the backend is already on Google Cloud (often Firestore patterns, sometimes SQL-driven workflows depending on stack). If your team is already deep in GCP, it can be a natural fit.

SeaTable

Best for: teams that want a spreadsheet database with collaboration and optional self-hosting.

SeaTable is commonly compared in Airtable-alternative circles because it blends spreadsheet-style UI with collaboration and deployment options.

APITable or AITable.ai

Best for: Airtable-style UI options when you want a different product direction than Baserow.

These tools show up in “open-source Airtable alternatives” roundups. Whether they are right depends on your priorities: UI polish, hosting model, and how serious your permission and ops needs are.

Why teams switch off Baserow

These are the most common reasons:

1. They need an application layer, not just tables.
   Portals, roles, workflows, dashboards, approvals.

2. Permissions become the product.
   Once you have multiple teams, external users, or regulated data, governance drives the tool choice.

3. They want database-first on SQL.
   A lot of teams decide they want Postgres as the source of truth and a UI on top.

4. They want a stronger ecosystem and “less DIY.”
   Self-hosting is great until you own upgrades, incidents, and security.

How to pick the right alternative in 30 minutes

Take one real workflow and test it in your top 2 or 3 options:

• Create a table with linked records

• Build one permission rule (record-level access)

• Add one automation or workflow step

• Have a non-technical teammate try it for 5 minutes

The tool that feels stable and predictable under change usually wins.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest alternative to Baserow?

If you want a similar open-source, Airtable-like database UI, shortlist NocoDB, Grist, and SeaTable.

What is the best open-source alternative to Baserow?

It depends on your architecture:

• NocoDB if you want an Airtable UI on top of an existing SQL DB

• Grist if you want spreadsheet workflows with relational structure

• NocoBase if you want a broader open-source application framework

What if I need portals and real workflows, not only tables?

If your “database” is becoming operational software, choose an app platform built for governance, portals, and workflows. That is where Tadabase is typically the stronger long-term fit.

Conclusion

Baserow is a strong choice when you want an open-source, Airtable-like database experience.

But if your requirements are shifting toward portals, governance, approvals, internal tooling, and long-term maintainability, the best “alternative” is often not another grid. It is a platform designed to run real workflows.