Airtable
Cloud collaboration platform combining the flexibility of a spreadsheet with database power
AITable.ai
API-first visual database with real-time collaboration and spreadsheet UI
APITable combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with the power of a visual database, offering real-time collaboration, full REST API access, and unlimited cross-table linking.
Overview
What is APITable?
APITable is a visual database platform that bridges the gap between spreadsheets and databases, delivering an API-first architecture with real-time collaboration capabilities. Built on modern technology stacks including TypeScript (NextJS + NestJS) and Java (Spring Boot), it supports 100k+ rows with simultaneous multi-user editing powered by Operational Transformation algorithms.
Core Capabilities
The platform offers seven view types—Grid, Gallery, Kanban, Gantt, Calendar, Mindmap, and more—alongside granular row and column permissions, automated workflows, and an extensible widget system with 20+ official widgets. Teams can create unlimited workspaces, link tables bidirectionally, generate forms automatically, and embed datasheets into external applications. Enterprise deployments benefit from SAML SSO, audit logging, automated backups, and team management features.
Who Should Use It
APITable serves teams seeking flexible project management, CRM systems, marketing automation, or custom business intelligence dashboards. Developers appreciate the full-stack API access and SQL-like Datasheet Query Language (DQL), while non-technical users leverage the no-code interface and 10+ built-in templates. Self-hosted deployment via Docker ensures data sovereignty, and integrations with n8n, Zapier, and Appsmith extend automation possibilities.
Highlights
Real-time collaboration with Operational Transformation for 100k+ row datasets
Full REST API access with auto-generated API panel and SQL-like query language
Seven view types including Gantt, Kanban, Calendar, and Mindmap
Granular row/column permissions with enterprise SSO, audit logs, and automated backups
Pros
- API-first architecture with comprehensive REST endpoints and metadata access
- Smooth canvas-based rendering engine for high-performance spreadsheet interactions
- Extensible widget system and customizable automations for tailored workflows
- Self-hosted Docker deployment maintains full data control and sovereignty
Considerations
- Native ARM64 (Apple Silicon) container images not yet optimized, may impact performance
- All-in-one Docker image not recommended for production or enterprise workloads
- Requires 4 CPUs and 8GB RAM minimum, higher resource demands than lightweight tools
- Enterprise features like SAML SSO and watermarking may require additional configuration
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Fit guide
Great for
- Development teams needing programmable database access via REST APIs and DQL
- Organizations requiring self-hosted collaboration tools with granular permission controls
- Product teams building custom dashboards or embedding databases into applications
- Businesses consolidating project management, CRM, and BI into one flexible platform
Not ideal when
- Users seeking lightweight tools on ARM64 architecture or resource-constrained environments
- Teams requiring zero-configuration SaaS with no self-hosting or Docker expertise
- Projects needing mature mobile-native apps as primary interaction layer
- Organizations with strict requirements for vendor-certified enterprise support contracts
How teams use it
API-Driven CRM Integration
Sales teams manage leads in a visual interface while external applications sync data via REST APIs, eliminating manual data entry and enabling real-time pipeline visibility across tools.
Cross-Functional Project Tracking
Marketing, engineering, and operations collaborate in shared workspaces with Gantt and Kanban views, using row-level permissions to control sensitive budget or timeline data.
Embedded Customer Portal
SaaS platforms embed APITable datasheets into user dashboards, allowing clients to view and update records without leaving the application, powered by shareable HTML scripts.
No-Code Business Intelligence
Analysts build custom BI dashboards using 20+ widgets and automated data refreshes, connecting unlimited tables to visualize KPIs without writing SQL queries.
Tech snapshot
TypeScript72%
Java22%
Less4%
JavaScript1%
MDX1%
HTML1%
Frequently asked questions
What deployment options does APITable support?
APITable offers Docker Compose installation for self-hosted environments, one-click deployment via Dome, Gitpod online demos, and a cloud-hosted version at aitable.ai. Minimum requirements are 4 CPUs and 8GB RAM.
How does APITable handle real-time collaboration?
Multiple users can edit simultaneously using Operational Transformation (OT) algorithms, supporting 100k+ rows with conflict-free synchronization across Grid, Kanban, Gantt, and other view types.
Can I query APITable data programmatically?
Yes. APITable provides full REST API access with an auto-generated API panel, plus a SQL-like Datasheet Query Language (DQL) for querying database-spreadsheet contents and metadata.
What permission controls are available?
APITable supports row and column-level permissions, folder/file access controls, team management structures, and enterprise features like SAML SSO, audit logs, and watermarking for sensitive data.
Is APITable suitable for production enterprise use?
The Docker Compose deployment supports enterprise workloads with features like automated backups, SSO, and audit trails. However, the all-in-one pm2 image is intended only for demos and testing, not production.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 15,234
- Watchers
- 15,234
- Forks
- 1,381
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age3 years old
Last commit3 months ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced yesterday