Plugnotes X Airtable

Plugnotes vs. Airtable: What are the differences, similarities, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses of each tool?

If your company is looking for digital solutions, you are in the right article. With the company's demand growing in parallel with the digital world, we feel the need to help our potential customers find the right solution. In this article, we bring a comparison between Airtable and Plugnotes!

With the right software, you can find solutions for digitalizing operations,  managing inventory, routing, transportation planning, order processing, shipment tracking, and others. You will be able to save more time in your day, as these platforms also integrate with ERP Systems... They are great tools for analyzing business data and making them even more efficient.

Plugnotes and Airtable are both no-code tools but with different focuses... In this analysis, you will be able to decide which is best for your workflow!


1. FEATURES
Both companies offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for organizing and managing information across teams and projects. Some of the features you will find with Airtable and Plugnotes are:

• Versatile data organization: allows users to organize information in various visual formats, such as tables, grids, calendars, and Kanban boards, catering to different organizational preferences;
• Customizable templates: offers a wide array of customizable templates tailored for diverse use cases like project management, task tracking, and event planning;
• App builder: enables the creation of custom applications specifically designed to meet unique business or personal needs;
• Extendable integrations: features the ability to create extensions that link with multiple automation applications, enhancing workflow automation;
• Scripting capabilities: includes "Cread Scripts," which are pre-built automation scripts that simplify complex tasks and enhance functionality;
• Visual data interaction: supports viewing images directly within table formats, improving data visualization and accessibility;
• Mobile application: provides a mobile app that offers core functionalities but with limited capabilities compared to the desktop version.

Plugnotes

• Versatile form building: create powerful forms using a drag-and-drop interface with over 30 field types including geolocation, tables, lookup fields, external database links, automatic indexing, pre-filled fields, and upcoming barcode support;
• Dynamic forms with database logic: enhance form functionality with database logic and cascade options, allowing forms to interlink and pull data dynamically from external or internal databases;
• Data auto-fill: utilize database logic to automatically populate forms with relevant data, such as product details or customer information, from an external or internal database;
• Data approval workflow: implement approval processes to review and validate data before it enters a workflow, ensuring accuracy and compliance;
• Rich media attachments: attach a variety of media types to forms, including annotated photos, scanned documents, and audio notes, enriching the data collection process;
• Flexible data sharing: share data instructions and collect data through various methods including direct links, QR codes, or directly through the app, catering to diverse operational needs;
• Mobile offline functionality: use the app effectively in both online and offline modes, ensuring continuous operation regardless of internet connectivity;
• Data consultation and editing: access and modify entries through detailed tables or individual reports, providing flexibility in data management;
• Automated document generation: define templates for automated document creation and export options to PDF, Word, email, and Excel, streamlining documentation processes.

In a nutshell, Airtable hailed for its versatility and customizable database capabilities, has gained traction as a go-to solution for organizing and managing information across teams and projects. Plugnotes on the other hand,  is a comprehensive platform designed to create personalized forms that optimize operational management, facilitate offline data capture, promote field collaboration, and automate workflow. 

2. INTEGRATIONS
To integrate and automate the process, we need to connect forms to external datasets such as ERP systems, accounting tools, Excel, and other… 

• Automation platforms: integrate seamlessly with major automation tools like Zapier, Automate.io, and Integromat, enabling streamlined workflow automation;
• Cloud storage: connects directly with Dropbox and Google Drive, facilitating easy data storage and access across platforms;
• Communication and collaboration tools: offers integrations with Slack and Trello, enhancing team collaboration and communication;

• CRM integration: links with Salesforce, allowing for efficient customer relationship management and data synchronization;
• Calendar sync: automates data transfer to Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar, ensuring that scheduling and task management are always up-to-date.
  
  

• Single sign-on (SSO) support: facilitates secure and convenient user access management through SSO connections;
  
• FTP connections: utilizes middleware like Filezilla for FTP connections, enabling integration with Excel (CSV) databases for seamless data exchange;

• Custom API integrations: offers the ability to build custom API integrations with various systems including Odoo, Business Central, SAP, Bouwsoft, Azure, or any other system upon request, enhancing connectivity and interoperability. To learn more about Plugnotes and other ERP Systems please check this page: https://help.plugnotes.com/en/plugnotes-erp;
• Automation and alerts: enables the activation of automation, triggers, and alerts related to forms, such as automating tasks in other apps, sending emails, or updating fields and databases;
• Zapier integration: connects with Zapier to access over 4,000 online integrations, including major platforms like Microsoft 365, Google, Billit, Odoo, and Salesforce, significantly expanding its functional reach.

In a nutshell, Airtable offers a selection of built-in integrations, allowing you to seamlessly connect with other platforms. On the other hand, Plugnotes provides a few built-in integrations but also gives you the flexibility to create custom integrations with any other tools you use.

3. PRICE
It is essential for potential users to carefully evaluate the features, support, and pricing structure to determine the best fit for their needs and budget.

Airtable

• Free Version: 0 USD
  • Unlimited bases;
  • Up to 5 editors;
  • 1 GB of attachments per base.

• Team Version: 20 USD
  • 50,000 records per base;
  • Standard sync integrations;
  • 20 GB of attachments per base.

• Business Version: 45 USD
  • 125,000 records per base;
  • Premium sync integrations;
  • 100 GB of attachments per base.

• Enterprise Scale: Contact Sales for pricing
  • 500,000 records per base;
  • On-premises sync integrations;
  • 1000 GB of attachments per base.
    
    

Plugnotes

• Paid Version: as from 5.000 euros, annual payment.
  • 20 forms (70 euros/month / additional form above 100 forms);
  • 10 users (70 euros/month / additional user above 50 forms);
  • Unlimited records;
  • Unlimited free contributors; 
  • Access to all features, formats, and automation modules;
  • Monthly on-site training available with Plugnotes experts;
  • Online help center with videos;
  • E-mail and phone support with max 48h answer time;
  • Belgian team and support are available in Dutch and French.

In a nutshell, Airtable provides various pricing plans designed for different requirements. It includes a free version that has unlimited bases, but it restricts the number of editors and attachment storage (by paying more, you can access additional options). On the other hand, Plugnotes offers a comprehensive solution with their annual payment plan. It includes a variety of features, formats, and automation modules, along with unlimited free contributors, which eliminates the possibility of unexpected additional expenses.

4. CONCLUSION

Airtable's main focus is to provide an easy way for teams to collaborate and communicate with each other. It allows teams to share bases, assign tasks, set deadlines, and track changes in real time, making it ideal for office teams. Airtable also enables users to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. With its automation feature, users can set up tasks such as sending email notifications, updating records, and creating records in other tables, which saves time and effort. By using Airtable, you can have a personal assistant to help you remember tasks and stay connected with your team, which is a great option for companies that mainly deal with HR, marketing, events, and sales.

Plugnotes, on the other hand, focuses on creating efficient forms for businesses, particularly for field workers. It allows users to capture data and attachments, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, work online and offline, analyze data, and integrate with other tools like databases and ERP systems. Plugnotes is suitable for businesses that want to streamline their operational workflows while maintaining a connection with their existing management systems. The best part is that no IT development is needed for any of these processes. Plugnotes is ideal for companies that mainly deal with inventory management, production monitoring, asset management, equipment maintenance, time tracking, delivery management, operational checklists, and record-keeping.