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Runwork vs Airtable

Spreadsheet with views vs. AI-generated business applications

Quick Verdict

Airtable is a powerful spreadsheet-database hybrid. Runwork generates complete applications with custom UI, automations, and enterprise infrastructure. Both handle structured data well, but Runwork builds real applications you own, not just data views.

Overview

Airtable revolutionized how teams organize data by combining spreadsheet simplicity with database power. But at its core, it's still a data tool with views, not an application platform. Runwork takes a different approach: describe what you need in plain English, and AI builds complete applications. Real UI, real automations, real code. Your apps share data automatically and deploy globally.

Airtable is a Spreadsheet-Database Platform.

Runwork Strengths

  • Describe applications in natural language. AI builds complete apps.
  • Custom application UI, not just data views.
  • 3,200+ integrations connect to your existing tools.
  • Full automation layer: workflows, schedules, AI agents.
  • Real code output you own. No proprietary lock-in.
  • Enterprise features: SSO, audit logs, multi-tenant support.
  • Global edge deployment with auto-scaling.
  • Flat pricing. No per-seat costs that scale with team size.

Airtable Strengths

  • Familiar spreadsheet interface for non-technical users.
  • Powerful views: Kanban, calendar, gallery, Gantt.
  • Large template and marketplace ecosystem.
  • Strong mobile apps for field work.
  • Established brand with large community.

Feature Comparison

Building Experience

Feature Runwork Airtable
Natural language generation -
Custom application UI Interfaces (limited)
Real code output (no lock-in) -
Spreadsheet-style editing -
Git-based versioning -
Pre-built templates -

Data & Integrations

Feature Runwork Airtable
Built-in database
Shared entity graph across apps -
Pre-built integrations 3,200+ 100+
Custom API connections
File storage
Data views (Kanban, Calendar, etc.)

Automation & Logic

Feature Runwork Airtable
Event-driven automations
Scheduled jobs
Multi-step workflows Limited
AI agents -
Public APIs / webhooks
Long-running workflows -

Enterprise & Security

Feature Runwork Airtable
SSO / SAML Enterprise
Audit logs Enterprise
Role-based permissions
Multi-tenant support -
Custom domains -
Team workspaces

Infrastructure

Feature Runwork Airtable
Hosting included
Global edge deployment -
Auto-scaling
Automatic backups

Which Tool is Right for You?

Choose Runwork if you need...

  • * Complete business applications, not just data tables
  • * Teams who want AI to build instead of manual setup
  • * Customer-facing apps with multi-tenant requirements
  • * Organizations needing full automation and AI agents
  • * Anyone who wants real code they own, not proprietary formats

Choose Airtable if you need...

  • * Teams who prefer spreadsheet-style data management
  • * Simple data collection and tracking use cases
  • * Organizations with existing Airtable workflows
  • * Use cases where views (Kanban, Gantt) are the primary interface

Pricing Comparison

Airtable charges per seat with feature limits per tier. Runwork offers flat workspace pricing and starts with a 14-day free trial (no credit card).

View Runwork pricing

How to Migrate from Airtable

Moving from Airtable to Runwork transforms your data tables into complete applications. Instead of views on a database, you get real apps with custom UI, automation, and the ability to build exactly what your workflow needs.

Typical migration: 2-4 hours for simple bases, 1-2 days for complex ones

1

Export your Airtable data

Export each Airtable base as CSV. Note your field types and relationships between tables—these become entities and relationships in Runwork.

2

Create your entity structure

Describe your data model to Runwork. "I have customers, orders, and products. Orders belong to customers and contain products." Runwork creates the entity schema with proper relationships.

3

Import your data

Upload your CSV exports. Runwork maps columns to entity fields. Relationships are preserved. Your data is now in a proper database with full query capabilities.

4

Build your applications

Instead of Airtable views, describe the applications you need. "I need a CRM dashboard showing customers, their orders, and total spend." Runwork generates complete apps, not just data views.

5

Set up automations

Migrate your Airtable automations by describing them. Runwork's automation layer is more powerful: AI agents, long-running workflows, and complex conditional logic that Airtable can't handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What about my Airtable views (Kanban, Calendar, etc.)?
Runwork can generate these views as part of your applications, but you're not limited to them. Describe the interface you actually need: "Show orders on a calendar by due date, with a side panel for order details." You get exactly the view you want, not just pre-built options.
Can I keep using Airtable's mobile app features?
Runwork applications are responsive by default and work on mobile browsers. For dedicated mobile experiences, you can describe mobile-specific interfaces and Runwork generates them. Many teams find the mobile web experience is sufficient.
How do linked records work in Runwork?
Runwork's entity relationships are more powerful than Airtable links. Entities can have multiple relationship types, cascade behaviors, and automatic lookups. When you describe your data model, Runwork sets up proper relational structure.
What happens to my Airtable apps and interfaces?
Airtable Interfaces are limited views on your data. In Runwork, you describe complete applications. The result is more flexible: custom layouts, real forms, approval workflows, and features Airtable Interfaces can't provide.

Explore Runwork Features

Data & Entities Apps Automations

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