Get To Know Knack: A Powerful Airtable Alternative

As no code continues to evolve, we see more and more different options out there in the marketplace that are different, but similar to Airtable in a number of ways. In this video, I want to do a comparison with one of those tools that has recently caught our attention. I’m talking about Knack. Knack is another no-code database-type tool—very similar to Airtable in a number of respects—but it has some distinct differences that I think you’re gonna love, especially if you’re an Airtable user who has struggled with their pricing and business model.

So if learning more about Knack is of interest—and doing a little bit of a comparison between Knack and Airtable—stick around and let’s get into it.

Meet the Host

Welcome back to the channel. If you’re new here, my name is Gareth. I’m the owner here at GAP Consulting, and it’s our mission to help you get organized and automated with no-code tools. Today, we’re going to be talking about a new no-code tool that has recently popped on our radar—I’m talking about Knack—doing a little bit of a comparison between that and Airtable. I’m going to be building a little bit in Knack so that you can see how quickly it comes together. We’re also going to deep dive into its pricing model, which I think you’re going to love, especially if you’ve been frustrated with Airtable’s pricing model in the past.

Getting Started with Knack

Before we get into that, I want to invite you to follow along with me in Knack. I’ll be including our link below, which you can use to get started on a free trial. It also shows a little bit of love back to the channel—so thank you for that. And without further ado, let’s hop into my screen and get started.

Here I am inside of Knack. You can see I’m on a 14-day free trial. I took it out for a quick spin, but nothing major. We’re going to start by building a brand new app. It’s going to be super simple—I’m talking projects linked to tasks. I’m not going to build the Airtable version side-by-side because if you’re on this channel, you’ve probably seen me do that dozens of times.

Creating a Database (App) in Knack

Let’s go ahead and hop in here. I’m going to start from scratch, but I want to point out that you can import a CSV file or start from a sample app. Very similar to other no-code tools. But in our case, we’re rolling the dice and starting from scratch.

So it’s taking a moment to build out our app. “App” is the term that Knack uses for a database because Knack is more than just a database—as you’re going to see—it also has a front-end component and automations baked in. First, I need to add my first table.

Creating the Projects Table

Maybe I’d find this a little confusing if it were my first attempt at building a no-code database, but I’ve built a lot in Airtable, so I’m familiar with tables and linking. Let’s start with our first table: Projects.

Again, I’m asked if I want to upload a CSV, start from a template, or start from scratch. I’m going from scratch and calling this table “Projects.”

Now, the layout looks very different from Airtable. On the left-hand side, I see a list of my tables. We’ve just added Projects. I also see options to enable users and enable customer payments. We’ll come back to those later.

Let’s build the data schema first. Right now, I only have a “Project Name” field. Let’s add more fields. Maybe a project also needs a start date.

Customizing Fields and Date Settings

On the left-hand side, you can see different field types—number, currency, auto-increment, and calculated fields like equations or formulas.

I’ll go with a Date/Time field and call this “Start Date of Project.” I can make it required, add a description, and customize format options—date format, default value, time settings, calendar options, etc.

For this demo, I’m ignoring time and just adding the field. Just like that, I’ve created a new field.

Note that in Airtable, fields are arranged as columns. In Knack, they’re listed more like rows. Still, the concept is the same.

Adding Sample Data

I can now start adding records: Project One, Project Two, Project Three, each with different start dates.

This view shows me the backend. I can sort by clicking column headers, but this is not how end users will interact with my app.

Creating a Tasks Table and Linking Records

Let’s create our second table: Tasks. Again, starting from scratch. We’ll add a “Task Name” and a “Task Due Date.” Settings are similar to before.

Now it’s time to link Tasks to Projects. I’ll add a new connection from the Tasks table to Projects.

Knack asks: Is this a one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many relationship? I choose one-to-many. A task relates to one project. A project can have many tasks. Love that Knack prompts us to think through this!

Now I’ve built a linked relationship between Tasks and Projects.

Creating a Page to Display Data

Let’s talk about how people can access the data. This is similar to Airtable Interfaces. I can add a page—either public or protected. Protected means only logged-in users can access it. For now, we’ll keep it public.

I’ll name the page and add a list view of Projects. I can enable record editing with a form and even add a details page. For this demo, I’ll allow editing but skip the details view.

After confirming settings, the page is added. I can add other elements like pivot tables or reports.

Viewing the Live App

Once I’m happy with the layout, I can click to view the live app. It’s live now.

I click into a project, edit the name to “Project Five,” hit Submit, and go back. It’s updated and visible instantly.

User Management in Knack

Let’s talk about users. Unlike Airtable, Knack does not charge per user.

When you enable users, Knack creates a new table. You can assign roles and permissions to each user, determining what they can access or edit. That means you don’t need an Airtable + Softr combo—Knack includes that frontend experience built-in.

Enabling Payments

You can also enable payments! This allows you to charge users, store payment methods, and monetize your app. This feature makes Knack ideal for client-facing applications.

Pricing Comparison: Knack vs. Airtable

Now let’s talk pricing.

Knack’s Starter Plan:

• $39/month
• 20,000 records
• 2GB storage
• 3 apps
• Unlimited users

Knack’s Corporate Plan:

• $179/month
• 125,000 records
• 50GB storage
• 25 apps
• Unlimited users

Knack charges based on data, not per user.

Compare that to Airtable’s Pro Plan:

• $24/user/month
• 50,000 records per base
• 20GB storage
• 10 users = $250/month
• 20 users = $500/month

So with Knack, you’re saving hundreds of dollars and not penalized for growing your team.

Why Knack Is a Game-Changer

Add in built-in payments, user roles, front-end views, and you’ve got a true Airtable alternative—without the complexity or cost.

I hope you got a ton of value from this video and consider giving Knack a shot. Please use the link below to start your trial and support the channel. In the meantime—keep on building.