Airtable is a specialized database tool optimized for structured data management and automation with superior relational capabilities, while Notion is an all-in-one workspace combining databases, documents, wikis, and task management in one flexible platform. Airtable excels at complex workflows; Notion excels at simplicity and integration of multiple work types.
Airtable vs Notion — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Airtable if you need powerful database automation, complex workflows, relational data management, or plan to build custom apps for business processes. Choose Notion if you want an affordable all-in-one platform for team documentation, knowledge management, project tracking, and don't need advanced database automation or complex data relationships.
Cloud-based database and workflow automation platform for structured data management.
Flexible all-in-one workspace combining databases, documents, wikis, and task management in an intuitive block-based interface.
Structured comparison data for Airtable vs Notion with 541 attributes.
Starting Price Per User/Month (Annual Billing)
Free Tier Monthly Recording/Creation Limit
Monthly Subscription Cost (Personal Plan)
Maximum Database Rows (optimal performance)
Real-time Simultaneous Collaborators (unlimited tier)
Native Data Visualization (charts, pivots)
Max Database Items Before Performance Degradation
Starting Price per User/Month (Annual Billing)
Base Monthly Cost Per User (Annual Billing)
Monthly Cost Per User (Team Plan, Annual Billing)
Maximum Concurrent Users Per Board/Workspace
Total Cost of Ownership (50 Users, Annual)
Airtable vs Notion — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Airtable vs Notion.
Can I use Notion for complex CRM and sales pipeline automation?
Notion can handle basic CRM with kanban boards and database filtering, but it lacks the automation power and relational database sophistication Airtable provides. Notion's 50 automation actions and weak relationship features make it unsuitable for complex sales processes requiring conditional routing, multi-step workflows, or connected data lookups. For advanced CRM, Airtable is the better choice.
Is Notion good enough to replace separate tools for docs, wiki, and project management?
Yes, Notion excels as an all-in-one platform replacing Google Docs, Confluence, and basic project tools. Teams save 20-30% on tool costs and reduce context-switching by using one workspace. However, for specialized needs (advanced workflows, large databases, complex automation), you may still need supplementary tools. Airtable is database-only and cannot replace document tools.
Which platform integrates better with my existing tech stack?
Airtable has deeper integration depth with 1000+ Zapier connections, a robust REST API, JavaScript SDK, and strong webhook support. Notion offers 500+ Zapier integrations and REST API but with less advanced customization options. If you need custom API integrations or complex third-party workflows, Airtable is superior. For standard business app connections (Slack, Gmail, Salesforce), both work well.
What are the typical hidden costs when scaling each platform?
Airtable's per-user pricing ($20/month Pro) becomes expensive at 20+ users (quickly exceeding $400/month), though enterprise licensing offers discounts. Notion's annual Plus plan ($180/user/year = $15/month) scales better for large teams. However, Airtable's advanced features reduce need for additional tools, while Notion users often purchase complementary apps for automation, offsetting cost savings. For teams under 10 people, Notion is cheaper; for 15+, Airtable's flexibility may justify cost.
Can I embed databases and documents together seamlessly?
Notion offers superior embedded database-in-document experience—you can embed filtered databases directly in pages with full interactive views. Airtable has limited embedding and no rich document layer, requiring separate tools for documentation. If you need integrated databases and narrative documentation in one view, Notion wins. For standalone database power, Airtable excels.