# Airtable vs database

**URL:** <https://community.thunkable.com/t/airtable-vs-database/246451>\
**Category:** Questions about Thunkable X\
**Created:** [September 27, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/airtable-vs-database/246451 "2019-09-27T02:42:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![terryneedsleep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@terryneedsleep](https://community.thunkable.com/u/terryneedsleep)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/airtable-vs-database/246451/1 "2019-09-27T02:42:30Z")

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Hi,

Both sounds similar, store files and retrieve, at what situation do you use airtable and when at database?

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**Author:** ![kartik14](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/kartik14/32/44782_2.png) [@kartik14](https://community.thunkable.com/u/kartik14)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/airtable-vs-database/246451/2 "2019-09-27T02:59:13Z")

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Hi, @terryneedsleep! 👋

* * *

> [@terryneedsleep](#):
>
> Both sounds similar

They are similar 😄

> [@terryneedsleep](#):
>
> store files and retrieve

Some Database(s) store files/media , while some only text.

> [@terryneedsleep](#):
>
> at what situation do you use airtable

When I have a registration/signup screen, I need a spreadsheet i.e **Airtable**

I always use **Airtable** as my database in every single app because -

- it is handy (easy to maintain)
- Firebase is secure; but cannot use more than one DB 😕
- Less price - 10$ a month for 5000 records 😉 (For free, only 1200 records)

That’s why, Airtable is reliable 😉

* * *

> [@terryneedsleep](#):
>
> at what situation do you use airtable and when at database?

Airtable is a **Database.** Just in a spreadsheet form 😄

➡ A database is only a thing that allows us to store and retrieve data.

Databases include -

- Cloudinary (Media)
- Firebase Storage (Media)
- Firebase Realtime (Data [Text])
- Airtable (Everything - files, images, text)  
You cannot post direct files from Thunkable X to Airtable; nor images.  
Post them to any media database, get it’s URL & post in Airtable.

* * *

Hope you get it 😄

**Thanks! 😊**

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**Author:** ![terryneedsleep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@terryneedsleep](https://community.thunkable.com/u/terryneedsleep)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 5:06am UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/airtable-vs-database/246451/3 "2019-09-27T05:06:56Z")

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thank you for the detailed reply, makes sense

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**Author:** ![ioannis](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/community.thunkable.com/ioannis/32/146956_2.png) [@ioannis](https://community.thunkable.com/u/ioannis)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 12:08pm UTC](https://community.thunkable.com/t/airtable-vs-database/246451/4 "2024-11-08T12:08:51Z")

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