Airtable and no-code vs. a custom app
Airtable is a brilliant tool for getting started, and sometimes it is all you ever need. Here is when it is, and when a custom app is the better home.
Short answer. Airtable is the right choice when a handful of spreadsheet-comfortable people need a flexible database. As of September 2026 it costs $20 to $45 per seat a month billed annually, with 50% off Team for nonprofits. A custom app is worth it when many people edit data, record limits start to bite, or crews, volunteers or customers need a real app.
How do they compare at a glance?
| Option | How it is priced | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airtable | Per seat (everyone who edits) | Free for 5 editors; Team $20, Business $45 per seat/mo billed annually; nonprofit Team $12 | Small teams comfortable with spreadsheets |
| A custom app from Sarasoris | Fixed price per project; no per-user fees | Discovery $1,500; most projects $8,000–$80,000; hosting usually $50–$200/mo | Recurring work with its own roles, rules, integrations and reports |
Prices checked , billed annually unless noted.
What does Airtable do well?
Spreadsheet-like databases anyone can set up, an interface designer for simple internal apps, forms, automations, a mobile app and a large library of integrations. Pricing is per seat: Team is $20 a month per seat billed annually ($24 monthly), Business $45 ($54 monthly). Nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) letter get 50% off Team, so $12 a seat. There is a free plan for up to 5 editors and 1,000 records per base.
When does Airtable stop fitting?
- Every staff member who edits data is a paid seat: 20 editors on Team is about $4,800 a year, or $2,880 at the nonprofit rate
- Records per base are capped: 50,000 on Team and 125,000 on Business, and automations are capped too (25,000 runs a month on Team)
- Field crews, volunteers or customers need an app that feels like an app, not a database
- Permissions, workflows and screens are more particular than the interface designer allows
- Nobody on staff wants to be the person who maintains the base
When should you stay with Airtable?
- A handful of people use it and they are comfortable with spreadsheets.
- Your data fits comfortably inside the record limits.
- The built-in interfaces are good enough for the job.
Can a custom app sit on top of Airtable?
Airtable can stay as the database while a custom app gives your crews, volunteers or customers proper screens on top of it. It is often a sensible first step, and a cheap way to find out what you really need.
How much do Airtable and a custom app cost?
Airtable: free, or $20 to $45 a seat a month billed annually, with a 50% nonprofit discount on Team.
A custom app costs more up front: Discovery is $1,500, most projects cost $8,000 to $80,000, and hosting is paid directly to the provider, usually $50 to $200 a month. There is no per-user or per-volunteer fee from Sarasoris. It pays back when it replaces several subscriptions, saves staff hours every week, or does something no product on the market will do.
Fine print
Prices and features were checked on , on each company’s own website. They change, so check the current pricing page before you decide. Airtable is a trademark of its owner; Sarasoris is not affiliated with it.
Sources: Airtable pricing · Airtable nonprofit plans.
Questions
Can you build on top of our Airtable base?
Yes. Sometimes the right answer is to keep Airtable as the database and build the app your people use on top of it.
Can you move our data out of Airtable?
Yes. Airtable data exports to spreadsheets, and we bring it into the new app during Deploy.
We built it in Airtable ourselves. Is that a waste?
No. A working base is the best specification there is. It shows exactly what you need.
What does a custom app cost?
Discovery is $1,500, and most projects cost $8,000 to $80,000. You get a fixed price in writing before the build starts.