Monday.com and Airtable seem comparable at first glance: both help you organize projects and data. But the differences are significant. Monday.com is built as a project management tool with a visual interface. Airtable is a database that looks like a spreadsheet. Which one fits you?
Monday.com in brief
Monday.com is a Work OS platform that helps teams plan projects and automate tasks. Its strength lies in the visual interface: colorful boards, clear timelines, and dashboards that you can build without technical knowledge. Ideal for teams that want to get started with project management right away. The tool has split into specific products: Work Management, Sales CRM, and Dev. For non-technical teams, the learning curve is low.
Airtable in brief
Airtable combines the familiarity of a spreadsheet with the power of a relational database. You can link records together, build complex data relationships, and use the Interface Designer to create custom apps on top of your data. The tool is built for people who want flexibility: from simple lists to complete CRM systems. Airtable AI helps you automatically categorize and enrich data. However, expect a steep learning curve if you have no experience with databases.
Monday.com vs Airtable: the differences
The biggest difference lies in the philosophy. Monday.com offers ready-made solutions for project management: you choose a template, fill in your tasks, and you’re done. Gantt charts, kanban boards, and time tracking are built in. Airtable, on the other hand, gives you building blocks: you determine the structure of your database and build the interface you need yourself. This makes Airtable more powerful for complex use cases, but also more time-consuming to set up.
The way both tools handle data differs fundamentally. Monday.com works with ‘boards’ where you add items. Items can be linked together via ‘connect boards,’ but this functionality is limited. Airtable, on the other hand, is built as a relational database: you can link records across multiple tables, create lookup fields, and set up complex data relationships. For a marketing team that wants to link campaigns to content, customers, and results, that’s a big advantage.
Automations also work differently. Monday.com has a visual automation builder that is accessible: if this happens, then do that. The possibilities are broad but relatively simple. Airtable offers more flexibility with scripting and a powerful API, allowing power users to build more complex workflows. Airtable’s new AI features go further than Monday: you can have data categorized in bulk, summarized, or even generate images directly in your fields.
Collaboration also differs. Monday.com has strong communication features built in: you can post updates per task, tag team members, and have discussions within items. This makes it easier for teams that work closely together. Airtable focuses more on the data itself: multiple people can work simultaneously in the same base, but the communication tools are more limited. Airtable’s Interface Designer compensates for this by creating custom views for different team members, so everyone only sees what is relevant.
A recent difference is Monday.com’s product split. Where you previously got all features in one package, you now have to choose between Work Management, CRM, or Dev. For teams that need multiple functions, this means extra costs. Airtable has also adjusted its pricing structure with a new Business plan that offers two-way sync and admin panels, but the jump from € 20 to € 45 per user is significant.
Prices compared
Monday.com starts at € 9 per user per month (annual subscription). The Basic plan offers unlimited boards but lacks integrations and automations. For those features you need Standard (€ 12/month) or Pro (€ 19/month) for time tracking and Gantt charts. Note: you must purchase a minimum of 3 seats, even if there are only two of you. The free plan supports a maximum of 2 users with 3 boards.
Airtable starts at € 20 per user per month for the Team plan. That’s more expensive than Monday.com, but you don’t have a seat minimum. The Business plan costs € 45/month and offers advanced sync capabilities and admin tools. The free plan is generous: unlimited bases but limited to 1,000 records per base and 5 editors. For solo users or small teams that don’t run into limits, that’s attractive.
Total costs depend on your team size. A team of 3 people pays a minimum of € 27/month with Monday.com (Basic) versus € 60/month with Airtable (Team). But if you need more advanced features, Monday.com quickly reaches € 57/month (Pro) while Airtable stays at € 60. For larger teams, Airtable becomes relatively more expensive, especially if you need the Business plan.
Conclusion
Monday.com wins for teams that want a clear project management system quickly without technical complexity. The visual interface, strong communication features, and ready-made templates make it accessible to everyone. The lower entry price (€ 9/month) is attractive, but the required minimum of 3 seats and the product split are disadvantages.
Airtable is the winner for teams that need to manage complex data relationships or want to build custom workflows. The database structure, Interface Designer, and powerful automation capabilities offer more flexibility. The generous free plan and the absence of seat minimums are advantages, but the higher price per user and steep learning curve require consideration.
For most teams looking for traditional project management, Monday.com is the better choice. For data-driven teams or power users who want customization, Airtable is superior. Budget-conscious solo users can do just fine with both free plans.
