Smartsheet vs Airtable
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo and Airtable at $20/user/mo on annual billing — but seat minimums, user caps, tiers and billing terms decide the real bill. See it costed below.
Costed for three setups
| Setup | Smartsheet | Airtable | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small team · 3 users | $27/mo Pro | $60/mo Team | Smartsheet |
| Small team · 3 users (monthly billing) | $36/mo Pro | $72/mo Team | Smartsheet |
| Growing team · 10 users | $90/mo Pro | $200/mo Team | Smartsheet |
| Growing team · 10 users (monthly billing) | $120/mo Pro | $240/mo Team | Smartsheet |
| Company · 50 users | $950/mo Business | $1,000/mo Team | Smartsheet |
| Company · 50 users (monthly billing) | $1,200/mo Business | $1,200/mo Team | Tie |
At a glance
| Feature | Smartsheet | Airtable |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per member (unlimited free contributors) | Per seat |
| Watch out for | Only editors (Members) are billed; viewers and Contributors are free — count carefully. | Free is capped at 5 editors and 1,000 records per base. |
| Cheapest paid (annual) | $9/user/mo | $20/user/mo |
| Cheapest paid (monthly) | $12/user/mo | $24/user/mo |
| Entry plan includes | Pro: per user · max 10 | Team: per user |
| Forever free | No | Yes |
| Trial | Not listed | Not listed |
| Add-ons | Premium add-ons (Control Center, Dynamic View, Data Shuttle, Connectors) come with Advanced Work Management — custom pricing. | Portals from $120/mo for 15 guests (Team) or $150 (Business); AI credit packs from $20/mo per 10k. |
All plans
Smartsheet
| Plan | Mo | Yr/mo | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $12 | $9 | per user · max 10 |
| Business | $24 | $19 | per user · min 3 |
| Enterprise | — | — | per user |
| Advanced Work Management | — | — | per user |
Airtable
| Plan | Mo | Yr/mo | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | per user · max 5 |
| Team | $24 | $20 | per user |
| Business | $54 | $45 | per user |
| Enterprise Scale | — | — | per user |
Gotchas
Smartsheet
- Only editors (Members) are billed; viewers and Contributors are free — count carefully.
- Pro caps at 10 Members; Business needs at least 3.
- Monthly billing is about 25% more ($12 vs $9 on Pro).
Airtable
- Free is capped at 5 editors and 1,000 records per base.
- Business is more than double Team ($45 vs $20 annual).
- External portals for clients are a paid add-on (from $120/mo).
FAQ
Is Smartsheet cheaper than Airtable?
For 10 users, annual billing on paid plans: Smartsheet $90/mo on Pro vs Airtable $200/mo on Team. The answer flips with team size, user caps and monthly vs annual billing — use the calculator on the project management hub for your exact team.
Do Smartsheet and Airtable have free plans?
Smartsheet: No free plan shown on the pricing page; “Try Smartsheet for free” (trial length Not listed on the pricing page). Airtable: Free plan: up to 5 editors, unlimited bases, 1,000 records per base, 100 automation runs.
How do Smartsheet and Airtable handle AI?
Smartsheet: Conversational AI features on Pro; connect to external AI tools on Business. No separate AI usage price on the page. Airtable: AI credits are included per paid user each month (15,000 Team, 20,000 Business); extra credit packs start at $20/month for 10k credits.