Airtable vs Trello | Project Management Software Comparison

Choosing a project management solution that meets the needs of your business requires legwork. This feature comparison will help you evaluate two popular options: Airtable and Trello.

If you’re evaluating project management tools, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Airtable and Trello. Both project management tools have convenient and user-friendly features that help teams collaborate smoothly and get more done. But which project management tool is best for your organization? Here’s an overview of Airtable and Trello to help you decide which one is best for your business. No matter what your company does or how large it is, one of these project management tools may be able to improve work processes and collaboration.

What is Airtable?

Airtable is a cloud-based app for teams that combines the functionality of spreadsheets and databases. It also has a no-code aspect that allows teams to build apps for their companies without requiring coding backgrounds.

SEE: Airtable review (TechRepublic)

What is Trello?

Trello is a project management software option that lets people see information organized in a board format with associated cards. Users can also separate projects into lists that show the specific tasks that must occur at particular stages.

SEE: Feature comparison: Time tracking software and systems (TechRepublic Premium)

Airtable vs. Trello: Project management features

When looking for the best project management software, you’ll want details about the features each product has to facilitate team workflows. Airtable offers several interface view options that make it easier to see what’s been done and what’s left to do. For example, the calendar view may be the most appropriate option if the project has numerous associated deadlines. In addition, there is a template library that can save time when using Airtable for various common purposes.

Airtable also lets people collaborate while accessing shared views of table data. The software offers compatibility with Google Calendar, Jira and other leading products if company representatives need to pull information from other platforms. They can also use the Sync feature to take data from one source and move it to several locations. That option ensures that each team has the details needed to get work done.

Trello and Airtable are similar in that the former also has a feature that lets people see data with different view options, including a calendar format. Users can get the details of assigned tasks as well, by clicking on a Trello card to see the related information. Cards can include checklists, reminders, file attachments and more.

Trello link cards are a relatively new feature. They allow users to embed content on a card that turns into an external link for easy reference. That way, other team members won’t lose track of the necessary details after initially receiving them.

If you want to get data about your team’s productivity, you’re not alone. One 2021 study found that 31% of managers had added more tracking and performance capabilities to their organizations during the past year. Trello has a full assortment of analytics and reporting tools you can add to the product for free. Top-Ups are Trello’s name for integrations, and hundreds of them are available.

SEE: How to build a successful project manager career (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Airtable vs. Trello: Automation

Many of the best project management tools have automation features to make workflows even more streamlined and efficient. Airtable and Trello are no different. Airtable’s automated features primarily work by letting people set up triggers to handle repetitive tasks. This event makes an automation start, such as when records are updated or created. There are also options to make triggers link to events in Google Calendar, Forms and Sheets.

Trello offers automation, too, but there are associated limitations on free plans. There is a maximum of 250 Workplace automations. People using the platform set rules that behave similarly to Trello’s triggers, which happen via the Butler part of the Trello interface. It can handle tasks like automatically assigning projects to the correct team or person.

Another handy capability of Trello’s automation is scheduling  automations to occur at specific times, such as on a project’s due date. Alternatively, people can automate certain tasks associated with Trello boards, such as archiving all of the Done list’s cards each week or sorting project cards by the due date. Cutting down on manual management helps overall productivity rise.

If your team uses Jira or Slack along with Trello, you can set up email-related automations. For example, you might set things up so external stakeholders get emails that alert them they need to give feedback on certain items. That approach could reduce or eliminate the delays that often cause project bottlenecks.

Airtable vs. Trello: Which one is best for your team?

This breakdown will help you become acquainted with two of the top project management tools and some of their features. Each one has a free tier as well, making it easy to try them before committing to long-term use.

Consider your team’s priorities and needs before trying these project management software options. It’s also useful to look at the help documentation associated with each solution. Both companies provide clear assistance for working with different features and going through various setup processes. Those details should help you get more familiar with how the products work and what they can do.

Doing the necessary research beforehand and understanding what your company’s leaders expect the product to accomplish will help you make the best-informed decisions. Such details should make the implementation go smoothly.

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