The Problem
Why teams leave Airtable
Record limits per base (50K-500K depending on tier)
Automation run quotas on all plans
Attachment storage limits
Per-seat pricing for a database tool
Performance degrades with large bases
Complex interfaces built on Airtable are fragile
What We Build Instead
Your custom project management tool
Custom database with unlimited records
Flexible views: grid, kanban, calendar, gallery, forms
Automation engine with no run limits
API-first architecture for building on top
Custom interfaces for different teams
Relational data modeling without platform constraints
The Math
Airtable vs. custom build
Based on 30 seats at $20/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Airtable
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 30 seats
-$19,740
-83% less than Airtable
Pricing Breakdown
Airtable tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Airtable's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | $20/mo | $20/mo | Unlimited bases, 25,000 records/base, 20 GB attachments, Extensions |
| Business | $45/mo | $45/mo | 125,000 records/base, Admin panel, SAML SSO, Sync integrations |
| Enterprise Scale | $75/mo | $75/mo | 500,000 records/base, 1 TB attachments, Enterprise API, Data loss prevention |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $20,000–$40,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Airtable to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Airtable in 5-9 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekMap Airtable bases, automations, views, and integration dependencies
Architecture & Design
1-2 weeksDesign flexible database platform with views, automations, and API
Core Development
2-5 weeksBuild database engine, view types, automation engine, and interfaces
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksMigrate bases, attachments, automations and validate formulas
Deployment & Training
1 weekLaunch platform and train teams on database and interface building
Total build time
5-9 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Airtable features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Airtable | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relational Database | |||
| Multiple Views (Grid/Kanban/Calendar) | |||
| Automations | |||
| Forms | |||
| Custom Interfaces | |||
| API Access | |||
| Attachments & File Storage | |||
| Formulas & Rollups | |||
| Airtable Extensions | Build custom features integrated into your platform | ||
| Unlimited Records | No record caps per base |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Airtable offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Airtable to ownership in 5-9 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Airtable usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom project management tool with only the features you need. 5-9 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Airtable, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.