SmartSuite vs Airtable 🤔 Which is best for you?

[@GarethPronovost]

*Ready to try SmartSuite?* Use our link and get your exclusive SWAG when you upgrade to a paid plan! 👉 partners.smartsuite.com/8ust3byf6ihl 👈 Grab my *FREE TRAINING* that teaches the building blocks of automation: 👉 www.garethpronovost.com/webinar-registration 👈

[@WingmanResources]

I don't think the partner link is working!

[@ADHDMoneyandBusiness]

Do you mind sharing SS's proposed partner revenue cut? I'm curious how much of that $5pm premium to airtable's pricing tiers is going towards commission payments.

[@I_Mackenzie]

Thanks for the vid Gareth. Well explained. Do you have a video on how to migrate from Airtable to SmartSuite?

[@GarethPronovost]

Not yet, but that's a great topic to add to our queue!

[@betzyf4ever]

@@GarethPronovost I'd also love this to become reality:-))

[@cottagekeeper]

Interesting review. I’be been using Airtable for years and have found their competition lacking. This video really makes me think AT has some competition that will help them get better at serving their customer base. I received a survey last week from AT and was shocked at the questions, it seemed they genuinely wanted to hear my perspective. Going to check out SmartSuite. Thanks for the review!!!

[@GarethPronovost]

For sure! I think competition will lead to better options for all of us! 🙌

[@kenjiekirimi5028]

Great showdown video. Smart suite has great potential for mass market now that Airtable wants to focus on enterprise customers. I love the use of humans in the UI

[@GarethPronovost]

Competition in the market is a great thing, isn't it?

[@cheryltreharne972]

One of our biggest issues with Airtable is the option to take payments without a long winded and multi software approach will smartsuite be able to do anything that can deal with this

[@kylevandeusen]

Super helpful, Gareth!

[@GarethPronovost]

Thanks for watching!

[@mhbcgn]

I like that smart suite is so approachable and I saw the CEO even commenting your videos

[@GarethPronovost]

They are true "grass roots" and very engaged with their customer base!

[@ChristineBenton]

I rebuilt two of my AT bases in SmartSuite last week as I felt I should give some real time to it to explore. I really like some things about Smartsuite. The interface is amazing and I'm excited about some capes like invoicing. But I find a few things annoying. While I can clear the view of the automatic fields they create in each app, the fields still show up when I'm linking to that app and deleting them takes longer than with AT. Also, when I create a new field, I have to go back up to the top of the box to name the field; I think it's way easier and more intuitive in AT. Finally, data entry is taking me much longer in SS. And the linking sometimes takes a few refreshes to show up. I'm keeping an eye on SS as it may be the thing for me in 2024 but for now I need the speed in set-up and data entry of AT. I'm just too impatient at this point. I did, however, see the webinar that Gareth hosted for SmartSuite on their website and will check that out.

[@GarethPronovost]

Thanks Christine! Agreed that there are some QoL improvements that will make it a better user experience. That said, I think the future is bright for SS! 💪 Thanks for checking it out!

[@yifeifan2102]

Great video! Just out of curiosity, is this video sponsored by either of the companies?

[@informify1]

We started working with SmartSuite due to the impressiv task, timetracking and resource allocation possibilities (that actually wasn't covered in this video). However, I've found the UI to be impractical (takes way to much space and isn't as graspable as in airtable) and a another big downside is that the product it self has been bugging. Pasting/importing data just won't work in bulk the way it should. As impressive as SmartSuite looks on the project side I'm still not convinced.

[@betzyf4ever]

Hi there, just checking with you here since it was a year ago...has this improved or are you still using SmartSuite?? Thanks

[@Nick-bt3ef]

Gareth, I am really liking a lot of things you can do in SmartSuite! Can you do possibility do a comparison video on the performance of each with large data sets? Say 40,000+ records with 200-300 fields in each table/app to see how each preform in desktop & iOS mobile. Airtable has improved within the last year or so, but would be interested to see how SmartSuite compares before possibly making the switch. Love your videos. Thanks!

[@GarethPronovost]

We are testing out our first complex project with SmartSuite now. I'm sure we'll have something to say on this front soon, but it's a tough thing to do with fake data. 🤷‍♂️

[@thinkingtooloudm.stewart5290]

Thank you for the review. Now that AIRTABLE has killed their 10/mo/seat plan there is only the FREE plan at 1,000 records/base (

[@GarethPronovost]

You bet - SmartSuite still has some catching up to do, but I think you'll find it is a great replacement!

[@jimkimzey6453]

Hugely helpful video. Thank you!

[@GarethPronovost]

Honored to help 🤝

[@ramiboy_y2049]

Really good video, thanks.

[@GarethPronovost]

Thanks for watching!

[@greginfla_1]

when connecting two tables in smartsuites....Parent/child link..... and you sort the child table to have the newest records listed first? I have created a meeting app.... one table is contract in and the other table is the topic of meetings I had with person..... Airtable doesn't have a option to link newest records first.... so for me to see what the last meeting I had with a person I have to scroll down all the entries I have for that person...... big miss on airtable to allow an option to show most recent record first

Happy to the the smartsuite time around

[@neb2612]

If there were extensions in SmartSuite like page design I might move over. But I cant get over the fact that you cant highlight cells to copy in SmartSuite which is a basic thing you can do in google sheets or airtable

[@GarethPronovost]

The ability to create a document will be available very soon AND it will include automation potential (you'll be able to add a create and upload a doc using the feature). New features being released constantly!

[@artemkunytsia]

Ben, Artem from SmartSuite here. All valid points for sure. - Page Designer is on its way. We’re in the final testing phase right now - Today we rolled out an ability to paste table-like data from Excel, Sheets, Airtable etc right into our Grid. Early next week we will add an ability to create new records through paste as well - Ability to pick highlight cells is definitely on the radar. So please, follow Gareth’s updates and join SmartSuite community!

[@neb2612]

@@GarethPronovost thanks for your reply, I use page design to create box labels for my company MRP style database in Airtable. As an Airtable user I just want to thank you for your excellent content over the years.

[@neb2612]

@@artemkunytsia I have worked with many MRP's, CRM's, Coda and Airtable as a food manufacturer. Ive landed with Airtable for the last couple of years and seeing SmartSuite fix a lot of the issues ive had with Airtable is promising. A few highlights after about an hour of testing: - Ability to sort linked tables in table view - Linking across bases without effecting data - More data - Auto row size - Multiple entries - Full address lookup - Date works without formulas and easy to set in settings (im in Australia) - Conditional formatting for cells - More advanced sharing - Multiple columns in windows however I still like Codas custom windows the best - Map view Things I wish worked better or I could have: - Performance issues ie large data in a table speed. This is one of the reason I moved from Coda to Airtable. - Command Z for undo does not work - No filter groups - Page design - Starred item folders - Folders for Apps - Unique array for rollups - Multiple row entry in forms - View sections or folders and the ability to see all views in the side of the window like Airtable. - Remember my google account when I export to google. Xero does this. - Custom export to google sheets ie when im creating shipping manifests for different logistics suppliers - In Coda and Notion you can see and edit linked tables inside the window. It looks like Sub-items but its a linked field. I miss this a lot as an Airtable user Hope this helps and excited to see what Smartsuite has coming for 2023

[@paulbird2772]

In Smartsuite you mentioned the linking to other apps (tables) in other solutions (bases) and then the permissions can be set the apps, how do the permissions work if part of the app is data pulled from a different app with different permissions set.

[@GarethPronovost]

If someone doesn't have permission to view an app, those permissions continue through the entire workspace. So if it is linked to another app, the same permissions will apply! VERY useful for keeping information private!

[@paulbird2772]

@@GarethPronovost thanks for the reply, so does it mean the column that the user doesn't have permission, just not show. Or does the whole app not work if any dependencies are blocked by permissions.

[@artemkunytsia]

Hello @@paulbird2772 , It's Artem from SmartSuite. I'm sorry I've missed your comment. It's a great question! Let's use an example: - App1 is linked to App2 - App1 has Lookups, Rollups and even Formulas that are displaying/using values from App2 - I, as a user, have access to App1, but have absolutely no permissions to view the App2 As a result, App1 will remain completely operational for me. I will be able to see values in Lookup, Rollup and Formula fields (even though they expose data from the App2, which I have no access to). We leave up to Solution manager, who decided to set it up this way. However, I will NOT be able to open any record from the App2 using the linked field. Fields that are typically displayed on the Linked Record's tile will get hidden as well. On the Title remains shown. That's where permissions kick in. I hope this answers your question. Have a great weekend!

[@greginfla_1]

does smartsuite have a geo-locate ability ... the ability to see on map where you created a record...... that would be a big hit

[@GarethPronovost]

I don't think this is currently available but this is a great idea!

[@RocknRollCEO]

Brilliant comparison video. Two excellent solutions and great teams. But I love what SmartSuite are doing and the way they're doing it. The solution UI and UX is as close to perfection as you can get for a newly launched platform. And from the CEO "downwards", just a wonderful bunch of people. Looking forward to the increase in direct integrations, specifically with Make, and F'insweet Wized for Webflow. Avi's solution presentations remind me of myself 15 years ago : ). Top man. Cheers, Gareth.

[@GarethPronovost]

Agreed on all fronts, the potential here is huge!

[@tomm1677]

Great comparison, just what I was looking for. For Smartsuite, is a licensee/seat needed for a user with only assignee permission?

[@GarethPronovost]

Thanks for watching! Yes, every seat above "read only" requires a license.

[@mhbcgn]

Also Gareth, not sure if you can confirm but smart suite is GDPR compliant whereas Airtable is not afaik. Huge factor for us right now as a company based in EU

[@GarethPronovost]

I can't speak to this, but I'll ask the SmartSuite team to weigh in!

[@epj-m8s]

@@GarethPronovost Please update me as well

[@suzjo8372]

Airtable is GDPR compliant !

[@ChristopherBerndt]

@@suzjo8372 how?

[@cletusrobinson]

Can Smart Suite have a view that gets rid of the table mechanics? That is, if I wanting to see who is past due, can I get with in a very simple screen? Are there triggers available for specific conditions?

[@GarethPronovost]

You can create views with specific filters. So in your case, create a view that just shows records where the dates are past due. Triggers are also available for conditions in building automations. 👌

[@qrona4388]

Hello Gareth! Thanks for this informative video. Keep up the good work. Although something is still really unclear to me. I do really need your help. Short: Should I use smartsuite instead of clickup + Airtable and especially why should i do so? What are the pro‘s and cons? Long: I was setting up notion but realized it‘s not really a project management but more a knowledge storage app.

So i am at ground zero again.

I really want to track everything. 2 most important for me is Data and Project management, followed my knowledge management like notes, links, SOP‘s.

So i was thinking about a combination of clickup and airtable. Today i stumbled on Smartsuite and was wondering if this maybe is the best way to go because it seems its like both tools in 1, which would be easier to handle, easier to teach employees and the possibility of errors due the connection of 2 apps would be gone.

[@GarethPronovost]

This is a nuanced question and a difficult one to answer without knowing all the context. That said, what you outlined here is accurate and you may wish to check out our comparison video, if you haven't already done so.

[@qrona4388]

do you also offer smartsuite courses? cause i could only find an airtable coaching. And if not. You think it makes sense for me to get the airtable course? because i never worked with databases before. Will I get a proper understanding about them?@@GarethPronovost

[@desuki78]

What no code mobile app builder that can work well with Smartsuite? For airtable there is softr and glide. I'm keen to explore smartsuite due to link capability to other bases / solutions. I'm building crm and wanna use this as database

[@GarethPronovost]

They will have a Softr integration soon, but it's not live yet. SmartSuite also has an excellent mobile experience, so you may be able to build your mobile UI directly in SmartSuite.

phil book on the back.... nice :)

[@GarethPronovost]

IYKYK! 😂

@@GarethPronovost where is your affiliate link ?

[@GarethPronovost]

@ lol!

[@onepotdishrecipe7806]

Is there a way in smart suite to give a person external to my company - say a contractor who I do not want on a team - access to a record and have them alter one or two fields to say a task is done - or leave a note -but not have them as a team member - Airtable lets you do this

[@artemkunytsia]

Hello, It's Artem from SmartSuite. There is a special Guest role in SmartSuite meant just for this. Guest users are free and they are able to only view and comment on records that they have been assigned to. You are free to choose with Solution and which App a particular guest should have access to, so the setup is very flexible. I hope this helps. Have a great weekend!

[@techcavetoday]

Does smart suite have calendars like air table?

[@GarethPronovost]

It sure does, the calendar in SmartSuite is quite robust

[@MiguelTorrellas]

can you review Coda too?

[@GarethPronovost]

We were really excited when coda first came out, but after doing some projects with it we found it collapsed under pressure. We stopped using it and it cost us several thousands of dollars 😕

[@MiguelTorrellas]

@@GarethPronovost that sucks, but still pls

[@GarethPronovost]

@@MiguelTorrellas I think that is my review, lol

[@patrickdesroches3296]

Grab those 35$ enterprise licence right now before VC start asking for more and this become the legacy plan. I have seen way too many cool solutions that became 5X more expensive couple of years after. Clearly Airtable is going that way too. All new cool features will be on the enterprise plan only.

[@GarethPronovost]

They tell me the pricing is set for the long-term, but not a bad ideea to sign up now to get that grandfathered pricing in the future, just in case!

@@GarethPronovost happy to hear that.

[@XAE_A_Xii]

Are you allowed to say in what this programme is worse than AT?

[@XAE_A_Xii]

Because last time I tried to implement it and I had issues creating very simple formulas.

[@GarethPronovost]

I personally haven't had any trouble with the formulas. 🤷‍♂️

[@jondarbyshire5205]

OS, Sorry that you were not happy with SmarSuite during your trial. Is there something specific we could do better for your use case? Please let us know as we constantly want to improve SmartSuite and working with people such as yourself is very valuable to us.