Asana vs Airtable

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Our analysts compared Asana vs Airtable based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Project Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Asana Software Tool

Product Basics

Asana is a cloud-based project management platform designed to help teams of all sizes manage and organize projects with customization, automation, AI and collaboration. Users can build custom workflows, templates and tasks, and visualize projects in multiple ways, including list, timeline, calendar, Kanban and Gantt views.

You can also build and trigger automation rules when tasks are moved or status or priority is changed. Stay aligned with goals, locate risks and hit project deadlines with reports and collaboration tools. Connect with other solutions using its open API and native integration with dozens of apps.

Our Research Process for Asana

Taking software at face value for a product page review is so passe. Luckily, with a little help from my company’s email address, I got a free trial of Asana’s Advanced plan for 30 days.

I set up a dummy project for content creation, complete with the stages and automations we currently use, so I’d have a more apples-to-apples comparison of a real-world project.

Additionally, I tested some “standout” features our researchers suggested and investigated the pros and cons users mentioned on review sites.

To learn the ropes, I visited the help center, watched demo videos and scoured Reddit for shortcuts. This webpage is the result of a week of dedicating all my working hours to living and breathing Asana.

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Airtable is a versatile software platform designed to streamline project management and other organizational tasks. It's particularly well-suited for teams and businesses seeking a customizable solution to manage their workflows, projects, and data in a collaborative environment. One of the key benefits of Airtable is its flexibility; it allows users to create a tailored system that can adapt to various project types and sizes. Its popular features include a user-friendly interface, the ability to integrate with other apps, and a range of templates and views (such as Kanban, Grid, and Calendar) to visualize projects. When compared to similar products, users often highlight Airtable's ease of use and the depth of customization it offers, making it a strong choice for those who need more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Pricing for Airtable varies, with options ranging from a free basic plan to premium subscriptions, billed on a per-user, per-month basis, allowing businesses to scale their use according to their needs and budget.

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$10.99/User, Monthly, Freemium
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$20/Seat, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Use Asana AI: Leverage AI in your project management strategy by using AI studio to draft workflows and create custom charts. Summarize your project and tasks using AI and use draft with AI to view next steps and actions. I drafted a project update by clicking on the Set Status tab and selecting “Draft update with AI.” After setting a status and date range, I also added an extra custom heading. The final product was comprehensive and easy to edit, which is great if you find staring at a blank page can be a stumbling block.
  • Create Tasks via Email: Make it easy to create tasks on the go by sending an email to your project email with all the details you need. I found the email associated with that project by clicking on the project dropdown and selecting import and then email. After that, I copied the email address and pasted it and added my email so I’d be the assignee, filled out the subject as the task name, added an additional description in the body and sent it. Like magic, the task showed up with all the details I wanted – 10/10, would recommend.
  • Set Up and Implement Custom Templates: Save time by creating your own custom cards and projects and converting them to templates or choosing from the built-in project templates. Click on the Customize button to add task templates and custom fields. I added a new article template with a relative start date, dependency and custom field for the editor and team.
  • Collaborate with External Users: Stay in sync with clients and suppliers by creating guest accounts and inviting them to access specific tasks and projects. I could invite users with a different email domain name and set access permissions like admin, editor, commentator or viewer in the invite.
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  • Link Content: Provides a unique functionality that allows you to link records between tables. Eliminates duplicate data entry and creates intelligent relationships among items.  
  • Use Airtable for Free: A basic package is available for free with no user limit. Its free plan includes essential capabilities, unlimited bases, a max of 1,200 records per base and other more. 
  • Build Tables With Rich Fields: Create different layouts within each table using unique field types, including single-line text, attachments, checkboxes, links to records, multiple selection dates and more to help configure a table that fits each project’s needs.  
  • Enhance Collaboration: Lets team members communicate seamlessly via tagged comments. Native apps for desktop and mobile (iOS and Android) facilitate on-the-go work. All changes sync across every team member’s device, keeping everyone updated in real time.  
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  • Task Management: Create tasks with custom fields, deadlines, tags, subtasks, dependencies and descriptions during setup, adding tasks to the section you want when you create your first project or forwarding an email to [email protected]. Save time by converting your custom tasks into a template you can apply to new tasks and using AI to summarize tasks and draft subtasks. Switch between list, board, timeline, calendar and Gantt views to optimize visualization and drag-and-drop tasks between sections.
  • Project Planning and Scheduling: Kick your projects off with a plethora of templates ranging from product rollouts to hiring pipelines, or import your project from a spreadsheet. Convert tasks into milestones on the card and add details about why it’s a milestone. Add tasks to multiple projects and organize strategic initiatives by creating a portfolio where you can track the updates of all your projects.
  • Resource Management: Keep track of what’s on everyone’s plate by switching to the workload view. Drag and drop tasks to manage timelines and assignees and assign custom values like hours or points to tasks to accurately factor in employee effort.
  • Sprint Management: Hit the ground running by applying the sprint template to a new project. Add custom fields, use the timeline tab to map out sprint tasks and deadlines and set start and finish dates in the project view.
  • Collaboration Features: Add updates, questions and notes into the description. Comment on cards with mentions, files, lists, code blocks and even AI assists. Send messages directly to individuals or teams using the inbox. Keep your clients in the loop by creating guest accounts and sharing specific tasks and projects with them.
  • Reports and Insights: Tap into a bird’s eye view of your project by clicking on the dashboard tab where you can monitor overdue, complete and incomplete tasks and burnup charts and create custom charts with their AI tool. Visit the reporting tab to view trends, progress, resourcing and work health.
  • Custom Automations and Workflows: Build a workflow that’s a perfect fit for your project in the workflow tab by adding sections for each step in the process with custom transitions and rules when tasks are moved. Add custom automations and rules from scratch, use the options provided as a starting point or get a helping hand from the AI studio. Check out the automations we built in depth below.
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  • Bases: Based on databases that are similar to spreadsheets, and each base supports multiple tables. Lets users view the information in each table in several ways. Can be used to create content calendars, product roadmaps and event plans, among others.  
  • Blocks: Blocks add functionality to bases, letting users build workflows that fit their team’s needs. The WYSIWYG editor lets users create a host of layouts and interactive interfaces, such as timelines, charts, time trackers, pivot tables, 3D model explorers, page designers and countdown clocks. Also gives users the ability to send group SMS messages or connect via video chat. 
  • Templates: Out-of-the-box templates cover the gamut of project types and are suitable for different departments. Lets users choose from categories like content production, creative, event planning, marketing, project management and more. 
  • Layout Configurations: Displays project details using four different views: Kanban, grid, calendar or gallery. The grid layout provides an overview of different tasks that include priority level, department, deadline and other elements. Kanban and gallery views have similar functionality but are more visual and less detailed. Calendars display tasks based on deadlines for a visual overview. 
  • Integrations and Extensions: Integrates with popular apps, including other project management tools like Asana and Trello. Connects with Zendesk, Box, Evernote, G-Suite tools, GitHub, Dropbox and others. Teams can use Zapier for extended capabilities to configure integrations with more than 1,000 apps and websites. 
  • View Data: Lets users create different views for different cases. Grouping, sorting and power filtering gives users the right view for their content. Save views for easy access.  
  • Airtable Apps: Airtable marketplace has over 50 pre-built apps. The Gantt app helps users tackle project dependencies and visualize progress. Its Page Designer app helps users pull data to create slides, catalogs and invoices. 
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Product Ranking

#2

among all
Project Management Software

#25

among all
Project Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

85
84
84
86
77
85
69
78
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Team Collaboration
Task Management
Integrations and Extensibility
Platform Features
Platform Security
Platform Security
Project Tracking
Integrations and Extensibility
Task Management
Project Planning and Scheduling

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Asana
Airtable
+ Add Product + Add Product
Customizations Dashboards And Reporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Features Project Planning And Scheduling Project Tracking Task Management Team Collaboration Time Tracking And Management 84 77 69 93 82 58 95 97 50 86 85 78 73 87 90 88 80 86 0 25 50 75 100
86%
0%
14%
86%
0%
14%
80%
0%
20%
80%
0%
20%
57%
0%
43%
71%
0%
29%
88%
0%
12%
67%
8%
25%
75%
8%
17%
83%
0%
17%
43%
14%
43%
71%
14%
15%
83%
17%
0%
83%
0%
17%
92%
0%
8%
67%
0%
33%
14%
0%
86%
86%
0%
14%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

89%
0%
11%
78%
0%
22%
88%
0%
12%
100%
0%
0%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 27379 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 4704 reviews
89%
of users recommend this product

Asana has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 27379 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Airtable has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 4704 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (15)
4.2 (11)
4.4 (10490)
4.6 (2149)
4.5 (13154)
4.7 (1840)
4.3 (1084)
4.6 (41)
4.2 (2636)
4.3 (663)

Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Airtable and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Platform Security. Airtable stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Platform Security Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User Friendly: Reviewers appreciated that the system is easy to use and intuitive with a clean UI, even if you’re new to projects.
Overall Functionality: Workflows and automation, task management and collaboration are everything you’d look for in a project management system, according to users.
Customization: Users liked the customization options for unique team needs, projects and workflows.
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User Friendly: The system is easy to use and intuitive, as noted by approximately 90% of users who mention the system’s usability.
Functionality: Airtable offers a robust suite of successful business management tools, as reported by 88% of the users who mention the product’s functionality.
Customizations: About 90% of users who referred to customization noted that this system is easy to customize as per their business’s needs.
Collaborative: About 100% of users who mentioned the platform’s collaborative capabilities noted that it facilitates and encourages team interactions.
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>Cost: Users mentioned Asana’s paid plans were too expensive for smaller businesses making it difficult to upgrade from the limited free version.
Set-Up: Getting started can be overwhelming with so many customizations and task options. Users said you may need extra time to implement it effectively.
Advanced Features: Reviewers noted some features like AI, advanced project views, resource management and multiple task assignees require expensive plan upgrades.
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Limited Project Management Features: Airtable lacks native Gantt charts and other robust project visualization tools, making it less suitable for complex projects.
Learning Curve: The interface, while flexible, can be overwhelming for new users due to its unique spreadsheet-database hybrid approach.
Customization Challenges: Extensive customization often requires familiarity with formulas and scripting, potentially hindering users with limited technical expertise.
Mobile App Limitations: The mobile app offers reduced functionality compared to the desktop version, which can impact on-the-go project management.
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Asana is a work management platform designed to help users organize and streamline operations with a user-friendly, customizable interface, automation and AI. Key features include the ability to create custom fields, deadlines, and subtasks, utilize various project views like Kanban boards and timelines, and leverage AI for summarizing tasks and drafting workflows. During my test of the software, I liked how easy it was to create a task by email and create project and task summaries using their AI tool.Customization was also a win. I built a task template for my Content Creation project with custom fields, relative due dates, assignees and a bulleted checklist. However, head’s up, adding task templates to existing tasks requires creating a new task with the template and merging it. Hands down, workflow management was one of my favorite parts of testing Asana. Adding in new sections (without having to go to the list view) and creating custom rules for transitions with a little help from their version of prompts was a breeze.Collaboration is another plus, with in-card comments and mentions, an inbox, group and individual messaging in platform and guest accounts with custom permissions for external users.On the downside, if you don’t have access to a free trial of the paid version (like I did), the free version may not be as effective. You won’t be able to access AI features, certain project views and resource management. The setup also isn’t exactly intuitive, and you may need training plus multiple visits to the help center to conceptualize your project and pick the right template.Overall, Asana is a fantastic all-in-one project management solution for users looking for a flexible tool with AI assistance and don’t mind springing for one of the paid plans.

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Airtable has revolutionized the way businesses handle data, offering a unique blend of spreadsheet simplicity and database power. Reviewers consistently highlight its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to individuals with varying technical backgrounds. Unlike traditional spreadsheets, Airtable allows users to establish relationships between data sets, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of complex information. This feature proves invaluable for project management, as it facilitates the tracking of dependencies and the visualization of workflows. Airtable's flexibility is another standout feature. Users can customize their databases with various field types, including attachments, checkboxes, and formulas, to tailor the platform to their specific needs. Additionally, Airtable's extensive template library provides a starting point for various use cases, such as content calendars, product roadmaps, and CRM systems. Reviewers appreciate the ability to seamlessly integrate Airtable with other popular applications like Slack, Google Drive, and Zapier, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. While some users note that Airtable's pricing can be higher than some competitors, the consensus is that the platform's robust features and scalability justify the cost, particularly for growing businesses with evolving data management requirements. Airtable is an excellent choice for teams and businesses seeking a versatile and user-friendly solution for managing and organizing their data. Its intuitive interface, coupled with its powerful features and integrations, makes it suitable for a wide range of use cases, from simple task management to complex project workflows. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, Airtable can empower your team to collaborate effectively and make data-driven decisions with ease. Please note that software features and pricing structures can change over time, so it's always a good idea to check the official Airtable website for the most up-to-date information.

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