Part spreadsheet, part database - no code required
Airtable is a flexible no-code database that combines spreadsheet simplicity with relational database power. Build product roadmaps, CRMs, content calendars, inventory trackers, and internal tools. Free tier: unlimited bases, 1,000 records per base. Used by many African startups as a lightweight backend or operational database.
Use when
You need a relational database for operations - tracking leads, managing inventory, running a content calendar - without writing any code.
Skip when
You need a full product database with complex queries at scale. Use Postgres/Supabase for that instead.
Fully accessible from Africa. Glide and Softr both use Airtable as a backend to build mobile apps and web portals with no code.
Alternatives