# Baserow + Appsmith

Airtable replacement: a real database with a spreadsheet UI, plus internal tools on top.

**Replaces:** Airtable

**Tier:** Medium

## Problem

Airtable starts as a grid and ends as the company's undocumented source of truth — with a seat bill and an API budget. Internal tools then get rebuilt in yet another SaaS.

## Stack

- [Baserow](https://baserow.io/) — Open-source Airtable
- [Appsmith](https://appsmith.com/) — Internal tools on that data

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

| You stop paying | Typical / year | Self-host instead |
|---|---:|---|
| Airtable Team | $2,400 | Baserow + Postgres |
| Retool / similar | $3,600 | Appsmith |

**About $2,400 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

Placeholder: Baserow + Appsmith + Postgres. Medium complexity; second-wave template.

## AGENT_PROMPT

```
Replace Airtable with Baserow and put Appsmith on top for internal tools.

- Postgres behind Baserow.
- Model the first base after the team's noisiest Airtable (CRM-lite, inventory, or content calendar).
- Build one Appsmith screen: list, filter, edit.
- Document CSV import from Airtable and who owns the schema.
```

## FAQ

### Can we stay on just Baserow?

Yes. Appsmith is for the moment someone says "I need a custom form and a role." Don't add it on day one if the grid is enough.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/baserow-appsmith