Top pick · highest health
NocoDB
No-code platform that turns any database into a smart spreadsheet (alternative to Airtable and Smartsheet).
DockerNodejs
Database Management
Open source alternatives to Airtable
We track 4 open-source Airtable alternatives, of which 4 currently score 70 or above on Repoly's GitHub health scale and 4 ship a Docker image. NocoDB leads on health at 99/100 with 2097 commits in the last 90 days; across all 4 projects you are choosing between Apache-2.0, BUSL-1.1, MIT and 1 other licences.
updated Oct 2026 4 alternatives best health 99 ★ 118k combined 2,834 commits / 90d 4 with Docker
Top picks to replace Airtable
Showing 4 of 4 tools
All 4 Airtable alternatives, ranked by health
-
-
Directus
An Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users.
DockerNodejs -
Grist
Next-generation spreadsheet with relational structure, formula-based access control, and a portable, self-contained format (alternative to Airtable).
DockerNodejsPython -
Baserow
Create your own database without technical experience (alternative to Airtable).
Docker
Airtable alternatives compared
NocoDB edges Directus 99 to 98. NocoDB also has the largest following, at 65k stars.
The most recent release is NocoDB 2026.10.1, published yesterday. None of the measured options scores under 40. By stack, Nodejs (3) and Python (1) are the most common. Grist and Baserow are permissively licensed. Directus is source-available rather than open source, which limits commercial reuse.
| Tool | Health | Stars | Licence | Last commit | Docker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NocoDB Steady at 99 since 11 Sep | 99 | 65k | SUL-1.0 | today | Yes |
| Directus Steady at 98 since 11 Sep | 98 | 39k | BUSL-1.1 | yesterday | Yes |
| Grist Steady at 96 since 11 Sep | 96 | 12k | Apache-2.0 | today | Yes |
| Baserow Up 33 points since 11 Sep, no release for 12 months | 84 | 2.3k | MIT | yesterday | Yes |
Airtable alternatives: common questions
What is the most maintained open source alternative to Airtable?
NocoDB scores highest at 99/100, with 2097 commits in the last 90 days, 65k stars on GitHub and its latest release (2026.10.1) published yesterday. It is also the most active by raw commit count.
Which Airtable alternatives use a permissive licence?
2 of 4 are permissively licensed (MIT, Apache, BSD or similar): Grist (Apache-2.0), Baserow (MIT). 0 use copyleft licences such as GPL or AGPL, which require you to publish changes if you distribute a modified version.
Which Airtable alternatives run in Docker?
4 of 4 publish a Docker image or Compose file: NocoDB, Directus, Grist, Baserow. Docker support contributes 10 of the 100 available health points, because it is the clearest signal that self-hosting is a supported path rather than an afterthought.
Is NocoDB or Directus the better Airtable alternative?
On measured health NocoDB leads, 99 to 98. NocoDB has 2,097 commits in 90 days, 65k stars and 2026.10.1 from yesterday; Directus has 141 commits in 90 days, 39k stars and v12.6.0 from 3 days ago. NocoDB is ahead or level on every term Repoly measures.
Are the Airtable alternatives still maintained?
4 of the 4 measured options score 70 or above. Every measured option had commits in the last 90 days. None scores under 40.
What languages are the Airtable alternatives written in?
Nodejs: NocoDB, Directus and Grist. Python: Grist. The stack matters if you plan to extend or patch the tool yourself.
