APITable: The ultimate open-source alternative to Airtable, surpassing all others
Published: 2023-02-09 17:30:32

> APITable is the best alternative to Airtable with open-source and cloud edition options.

> APITable cloud：[www.apitable.com](www.apitable.com)
> APITable open-source：[github.com/apitable/apitable](https://github.com/apitable/apitable)

APITable, the open-source alternative to Airtable, has received 6500+ GitHub stars and enthusiastic user support since its release on December 25th, 2022. In order to offer users a hassle-free option without local hardware and network limitations, we're excited to announce APITable Cloud, which you can try online for free or at a minimal cost.


![apitable project](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ku1kqqkiixgjkmshcfyi.jpeg)

# 🖥 About APITable

APITable is an API-oriented and embedded-friendly visual database based on no-code database technology that anyone can use to create data management and project management solutions that are tailored to their business needs.

APITable offers both open-source and commercial editions, allowing you to embed it into your business flow according to your system needs, acting as a project management, CRM, and online collaboration tool to help your team grow. Or, you can deploy APITable in public clouds, including AWS, Azure, and GCP, as well as on-premises in private clouds and virtual or physical servers, providing high-powered electricity to your business in the form of an "augmentation module".

![apitable.com](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/m2nf1fwa7qa1jx6tfbjb.png)

# 📚 How to Use APITable

1. APITable Cloud: Visit the APITable website at www.apitable.com to create a free account. You can begin inviting teamwork from the Free Plan onwards.

2. APITable open-source： Check it out at [Github](https://github.com/apitable/apitable) (https://github.com/apitable/apitable)and here are the installation notes.

> Make sure you have `docker` & `curl` installed locally.
> If your computer has installed Docker Machine, open your terminal and run this:
> ```curl https://apitable.github.io/install.sh | bash```
> Then open https://localhost:80 in your browser to visit it. (default username `admin@apitable.com` and password `Apitable2022`)
> If you want to set up your local development environment, read our[ 🧑💻 Developer Guide](https://github.com/apitable/apitable/blob/develop/docs/contribute/developer-guide.md)

# 💫 1000+ GitHub stars on Day 1

This achievement is very motivating for us, especially considering the limited marketing investment we made, focusing mainly on creating a well-written Readme.

We've spent years working on it, with the aim of bringing a new interpretation to the no-code database: not only to make it more accessible as spreadsheets but also to give developers new options that are more flexible and open than they had before.

Whenever you need a no-code database, we want APITable to help you build applications and workflow with maximum efficiency.

When you need a collaboration tool with customizable workflows, APITable helps you collaborate in real-time with your colleagues.

Compared to the development time of months or even years in the past, you should consider APITable instead. APITable can be embedded into your products and systems in any way you desire, giving your products the ability to have a no-code database instantly.

Star [APITable](https://github.com/apitable/apitable/) to have your own no-code database.

# 🔮 Features

## 1. Advanced technology stack and open-source
- Real-time collaboration allows multiple users to edit together in real-time, or simultaneously with the Operational Transformation (OT) Algorithm.
- Extremely smooth, user-friendly, super-fast database-spreadsheet interface in `canvas` Rendering Engine.
- Database native architecture: Changeset / Operation / Action / Snapshot and so on.
- **100k+** data rows with real-time collaboration.
- Full-stack API access, from data to metadata.
- One-direction / Bi-direction Table Link and Infinite Cross Links
- Community-friendly programming languages and frameworks, TypeScript (NextJS + NestJS) and Java (Spring Boot)

## 2. Beautiful and Rich Database-Spreadsheet UI
- CRUD: Create, Read, Update, Delete Tables, Columns, and Rows
- Field Operations: sort, filter, grouping, hide/unhide, height setting.
- Space-based: Use separated workspaces in place of App/Base-based structure, make unlimited tables link together possible.
- Dark mode and theme customization are available.
- 7 View Types: Grid View (Datasheet) / Gallery View / Mindmap View / Kanban View / Full-Featured Gantt View / Calendar View
- One-click API Panel

## 3. Batteries included
- Built-in 10+ official templates.
- Robot Automation and customization are available.
- BI dashboard
- One-click auto-generated form
- Shareable and embeddable page.
- Multi-language support.
- Integration with n8n.io / Zapier / Appsmith... and more.

## 4. Excellent extensibility
- Extensible Widget System shared with massive open-source widgets.
- Customizable Graph & Chart & Dashboard
- Customizable Data Column Types
- Customizable formulas
- Customizable Automation Robot Actions.

## 5. Enterprise-grade permissions
- Mirror, turn a View into a mirror to implement Row Permission.
- Activate Column Permission through a very simple operation.
- Folders / Sub-Folders / Files Permission.
- Tree structure of folders and customizable nodes (file);
- Team Management & Organization Structure.

## 6. Enterprise features:
- SAML
- Single-Sign-On (SSO)
- Audit
- Database Auto Backup
- Data exporter
- Watermark

## 7. Compliant with Security and Privacy Policies
- APITable open-source edition follows the AGPL license [https://github.com/apitable/apitable/blob/develop/LICENSING.md].
- APITable Cloud will adhere to SOC2, ISO27001, GDP, and other protocols (pending certification). Check out the current [privacy policy] (https://apitable.com/privacy-policy/).


![realtime collaboration](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/vsk0jbblhqvf9whimtbo.png)

![automatic form](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/15i9smnxaepwpva5qdul.png)


![api-first panel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2x268jge97pu1lgkzeld.png)


![permission](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ukeeakzbhympcfjruigp.png)


![extremely extensible](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/malnk22v7jiywujtcnso.png)


![workflow automation](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/p347ucrn5ft8oul6ubp7.png)

# 🦄 APITable vs Airtable

APITable may seem similar to Airtable, but there are a few key differences to consider.

1. Data-flow-friendly directory tree structure eliminates the concept of "base" and replaces it with a user-friendly tree structure for easier data management.

2. More powerful embedding capabilities: APITable has stronger capabilities for embedding into other systems and applications.

3. More language options: APITable offers a wide range of language options.

4. Easy-to-use API panel: APITable's API panel is designed to be more user-friendly.

5. More fine-grained permission settings: APITable offers more precise control over permissions, including column-level permissions and mirroring capabilities, etc.

6. Open-source edition available: APITable has an open-source edition available for users.

7. More favorable pricing: APITable offers more attractive subscription pricing options compared to Airtable.

# 📈 How APITable Benefits you?

Generally, APITable can be used to:

### As super management software
- Flexible Project Management & Tasks / Issues Management.
- Marketing Lead Management.
- The most flexible and connected CRM.
- Flexible Business Intelligence (BI).
- People-friendly forms and surveys
- Flexible ERP.
- Low-code and no-code platforms.
- ...and more. APITable puts 1000 software in your pocket.

### As a visual database infrastructure
- **Embed** APITable into your own software UIs.
- Visual Database with REST API.
- Admin dashboard.
- Central configuration management.
- All-in-one enterprise database that **connects all** your software.
- ...and more, APITable connects everything.

Also, it is open-source and extensible


![marketing](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/onv3jpt8any0ql6hwb6j.png)


![HR](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8gjkl0sd9gfinuhalddh.png)


![IT](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7hrxpxviaimczpgqmq9w.png)

![sales](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3ik3gfq0jiwgcs9zb0vf.png)



# 🚇 APITable Roadmap — Future Features

- Heavy-code Interface Builder
- Embed 3rd party documentation with advanced components
- SQL-like Domain-Specific Languages
- As an IDP
- Advanced automation robot
- Web 3 features
- SAML
- Single-Sign-On
- Audit
- Integrate with ChatGPT, Zapier, Slack, Google Workspace……

# 🏡 Please join our community

You can connect with us on [Github](https://github.com/apitable/apitable) / [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/q6RzxjyvYV) / [Twitter](https://twitter.com/apitable_com), or go to [www.apitable.com](https://apitable.com/) for more information.

# 📪 Feedback

As part of our commitment to the developer community, we welcome any feedback or suggestions to improve the product further. Your feedback is valuable to us and will help us serve the community better. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or suggestions.

You can join our [APITable discord community](https://discord.com/invite/q6RzxjyvYV) to further communicate with the product developers.

We can't wait to see what you build with APITable. Thank you for reading!

Team APITable