Kintone vs Airtable vs Knack (Comparison Guide)

Effective project management is critical for businesses of all sizes. With so many tools available, finding the right platform that meets your team’s specific needs can feel overwhelming.

Three popular options—Knack, Airtable, and Kintone—stand out for their flexibility, customization, and user-friendly interfaces. But which one is the best fit for you?

Airtable, founded in 2012, combines the functionality of a database with the simplicity of a spreadsheet. Known for its vibrant interface and versatile templates, Airtable is a favorite among creative teams and small businesses looking for a visually engaging project management tool.

Kintone, part of the Cybozu family, is a Japanese platform launched in 2011 that focuses on process management and collaboration. It offers powerful workflow automation and robust security features, making it ideal for teams that need to streamline their processes while maintaining strict data governance.

Knack, established in 2010, takes a different approach by offering a no-code platform specifically designed for creating custom databases and workflows. With its deep customization capabilities, Knack empowers users to build project management solutions tailored to their unique requirements, whether they’re managing tasks, tracking inventory, or streamlining customer interactions.

Key Takeaways

• Airtable, Kintone, and Knack are platforms commonly used for project and data management.
• Knack is the better choice because it combines no-code simplicity with enterprise-level customization. It allows users to create fully tailored workflows and applications while scaling seamlessly for complex business needs. 
• G2 users give Airtable and Kintone a 4.6/5 average review rating and Knack a 4.⅗ average review rating.

Comparison Overview: Airtable vs Kintone vs Knack

Check out our Airtable vs. Kintone vs. Knack table below for a quick comparison of each project management platform.

	Airtable	Kintone	Knack
Ideal For	Creative teams, startups, and small businesses looking for visually appealing tools.	Enterprises needing workflow automation and strict data security.	Businesses seeking highly customizable, no-code solutions for data and project management.
Key Features	Relational database structure.Pre-built, customizable templates for various industries.Color-coded tagging for easy categorization.Views for Kanban, calendar, grid, and gallery.API access for advanced integration.	Drag-and-drop app and workflow builder.Extensive data security features with role-based access.Integration with enterprise tools (e.g., Salesforce, Office 365).Real-time notifications for task updates.In-depth custom reporting.	Highly customizable database design with no-code tools.Workflow automation tailored to unique processes.Integration via APIs and tools like Zapier.Granular user permissions and role management.Robust search and filtering capabilities.
Pros	Simple learning curve, even for non-technical users.Intuitive drag-and-drop functionality.Highly adaptable to creative workflows.Active support and community forums.Mobile-friendly for on-the-go access.	Customizable for diverse industry needs.Excellent technical support and onboarding.Seamless multilingual support.Centralized dashboard simplifies navigation.Cloud-based storage.	Scales seamlessly with growing business demands.Adaptable across industries like nonprofits, e-commerce, and logistics.Transparent and flexible pricing plans.Great for centralizing complex data systems.Strong support and resources for troubleshooting.
Cons	Limited scalability for enterprise-level use.Performance lags with large data sets.Automation lacks advanced triggers.Data exporting options are restricted.Reporting tools are not as robust.	Steep learning curve for non-technical users.UI design feels outdated compared to competitors.Cost is higher for smaller businesses.Limited pre-built templates for quick setup.Some advanced customization requires IT expertise.	Limited collaboration tools compared to other platforms.Initial setup can be time-consuming.Limited offline functionality.Mobile app functionality is basic.Learning curve for full customization.
Pricing	Paid plans from $20/seat/month	From $24/user/month	From $59/month
Average Review Rating	4.6/5	4.6/5	4.3/5

Quick Kintone vs. Airtable Comparison

While both Kintone and Airtable offer powerful features for organizing workflows and managing data, they cater to different types of teams and business needs. Here’s how they compare in terms of features, use cases, pricing, and more.

Features

Kintone

Kintone is designed to create custom business applications with centralized data management. It caters to teams that need workflow automation, secure data access, and collaborative tools, all in one place. With built-in flexibility and robust integrations, Kintone enables organizations to streamline complex operations.

• Customizable databases and applications tailored to specific business needs.
• Built-in collaboration tools, including comment threads, notifications, and team messaging.
• Visual tools for task routing and status updates.
• Integrations and extensions with external systems like Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, and Zapier. 
• Robust permission controls for granular data access.

Airtable

Airtable is a visually dynamic and user-friendly project management tool that combines spreadsheet simplicity with database power. Its flexibility makes it a favorite for creative teams and small businesses seeking visually appealing and adaptable tools.

• Flexible spreadsheet-style interface with database functionality.
• Multiple project views: grid, Kanban, calendar, gallery, and timeline.
• Extensive pre-built templates for workflows like CRM, content planning, and project management.
• Automation tools for repetitive tasks like email notifications and record updates.
• Seamless integrations with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and Jira.

Who Should Use Each Platform?

Kintone

Kintone’s advanced features make it ideal for large organizations and enterprises that require advanced data management and workflow customization. Its secure, centralized approach allows teams to efficiently manage complex workflows while maintaining strict control over sensitive information. With features like built-in collaboration tools and robust access controls, Kintone is ideal for organizations prioritizing secure and scalable solutions.

Airtable

Airtable’s flexibility and ease of use make it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized teams and creative professionals. Its visually appealing interface, paired with multiple project views, makes it perfect for managing content calendars, marketing campaigns, and event planning. Airtable is especially valuable for businesses seeking a user-friendly platform with strong integration capabilities that can adapt to various workflows.

Use Cases

Kintone

Kintone’s adaptability makes it a powerful tool for managing complex, organization-specific workflows. It’s built to handle diverse business processes, from real-time collaboration to custom applications.

• Centralized project management for teams needing task tracking, file sharing, and real-time collaboration.
• Custom application development for HR, inventory tracking, or customer support workflows.
• Complex approval processes and workflow routing for finance or procurement teams.

Airtable 

Airtable excels in creative and lightweight project management scenarios. Its flexibility and ease of use make it a favorite for teams focused on visual organization and straightforward workflows.

• Content planning and campaign management for marketing teams.
• Event planning with linked schedules, budgets, and vendors.
• Lightweight CRM for tracking sales pipelines and customer interactions.

Learning Curve

Kintone

While Kintone offers intuitive tools for creating custom workflows, its flexibility can mean a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with database-driven systems. However, it has built-in templates and robust support resources to help teams get started.

Airtable

Airtable’s spreadsheet-like design ensures that most users can start using it right away. However, some advanced database features may take time for non-technical users to master.

Pricing

Kintone

Kintone offers a straightforward pricing model that simplifies budgeting for organizations. Instead of tiered plans, the platform charges a flat rate per user, ensuring all features are accessible without additional fees. This approach is ideal for teams looking for advanced functionality without the complexity or cost fluctuations of scaling.

Pricing starts at $24 per user per month. With a minimum of 5 users required ($120/month).

Airtable

Airtable provides flexible pricing options, including a free tier for individuals or small teams. As your needs grow, its paid plans offer additional automations, expanded record limits, and access to advanced integrations. This makes Airtable accessible to a wide range of users, from freelancers to growing businesses.

Airtable starts at $20 per user per month.

Integrations

Kintone

Kintone integrates with many major platforms, making it a strong choice for organizations with diverse tech stacks. Its robust API and extensions enable teams to connect with tools like Google Workspace, Box, Github, Slack, and Zapier, allowing for seamless workflow automation and customization. For more information on extensions, go here.

Airtable

Airtable has extensive third-party integration options to ensure compatibility with popular tools like Slack, Jira, Box, Github, Gmail, Instagram, Miro, and Google Workspace. Its built-in apps marketplace adds even more functionality, making it a versatile choice for teams needing connected workflows. For more information on integrations, go here.

Strengths

Kintone

Kintone’s core strength is its ability to create highly customized applications tailored to business-specific workflows. Its built-in communication tools and comprehensive data security make it a powerful platform for teams that require robust collaboration and control.

Airtable

Airtable’s intuitive interface and visually engaging design make it accessible to users of all skill levels. Its flexible templates, automation, and project views are perfect for creative and small-to-medium-sized teams managing diverse workflows.

Weaknesses

Kintone

While Kintone offers impressive customization, its database-driven structure can be intimidating for users unfamiliar with such tools. Additionally, its interface is less visually engaging, which may be a drawback for teams managing creative projects.

Airtable

Airtable’s simplicity comes with some trade-offs, such as less advanced access controls than Kintone. As teams scale or manage data-heavy workflows, the platform’s costs can rise significantly, making it less ideal for larger organizations.

Why Choose Kintone?

Kintone can be a great option for large teams needing centralized data management and robust collaboration tools. Its advanced customization capabilities and secure access controls make it particularly well-suited for workflows requiring complex, business-specific solutions.

Why Choose Airtable?

Airtable can be a good fit for small teams seeking lightweight project management tools with strong visualization and user-friendly features. It’s ideal for managing creative workflows, smaller-scale projects, and scenarios requiring versatile templates and integrations.

Why Knack is Better Than Airtable and Kintone

When comparing project management platforms, Knack stands out as a versatile, no-code solution that bridges the gap between simplicity and enterprise-grade functionality. Unlike Airtable and Kintone, Knack empowers users to create fully customized workflows without the need for coding expertise. From ease of use to advanced collaboration and scalability, Knack delivers unmatched flexibility for businesses of all sizes.

Related: Knack vs Airtable: Bigger and Better Apps for Half the Cost

Ease of Use with Enterprise-Level Power

Knack redefines ease of use by combining a user-friendly interface with enterprise-grade functionality. While Airtable offers a straightforward experience, it often lacks the depth needed to manage complex workflows. Kintone provides powerful tools but requires more effort to set up, especially for non-technical users. Knack strikes the perfect balance, making enterprise-level tools accessible to everyone.

No-Code Simplicity with Complex Functionality

Knack’s drag-and-drop interface makes it simple for users of any skill level to build and manage enterprise-grade applications. Unlike Airtable, which excels at basic tasks but struggles with intricate workflows, Knack provides the depth needed for more complex use cases. Kintone, while powerful, demands significant setup time, making Knack the more efficient choice.

Faster Deployment of Custom Solutions

Knack’s pre-built templates and streamlined customization tools enable teams to deploy tailored solutions faster than Kintone. With Knack, you can quickly implement solutions that work seamlessly for your business.

For more information on comparing Knack to Airtable and other solutions, visit our compare page.

The Flexibility to Build Exactly What You Need

While Airtable and Kintone offer predefined templates and workflows, Knack empowers users to build fully customized solutions. Its no-code platform allows businesses to design unique workflows, applications, and data structures that align precisely with their needs. This flexibility ensures Knack adapts to your operations, not the other way around.

Related: 10 Reasons Customers Are Switching to Knack from Airtable

Extendable Capabilities with No-Code Simplicity

Knack’s extendable functionality sets it apart by enabling users to create advanced features without coding expertise. Whether it’s custom automations, in-depth reporting, or relational data models, Knack offers the tools to build powerful solutions with ease. 

Advanced Project and Resource Management Capabilities

Knack goes beyond basic project tracking by offering robust tools for resource allocation, timeline management, and portfolio oversight. These features allow businesses to prioritize projects effectively, allocate resources, and monitor financial performance across their operations.

Multi-faceted Collaboration and Automation

Knack centralizes collaboration and automates repetitive tasks, enabling teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. Its integrations with popular tools like Google Drive and Slack enhance productivity across platforms. These capabilities streamline workflows and make Knack a comprehensive hub for team collaboration.

For more information on automations, visit our workflow automations page.

Scalable and Future-Proof Platform

Knack is built to scale with your business, whether you’re a freelancer managing small projects or part of a corporation overseeing complex operations. Its no-code development capabilities ensure teams can continuously adapt their workflows without relying on developers, making it a future-proof solution that grows alongside your needs.

Get Started with Knack Today

Transform the way your team works with Knack’s powerful, no-code project management platform. Whether you’re streamlining workflows, building custom applications, or managing complex projects, Knack gives you the flexibility and tools to get the job done—your way. Start building for free today!

Common Questions

What are the main differences between Kintone and Airtable?

Kintone focuses on creating highly customized business applications with robust workflow automation and granular access controls, making it ideal for enterprises. Airtable, on the other hand, offers a user-friendly, spreadsheet-like interface with visually appealing project views that cater to smaller teams and creative workflows. 

Which platform is easier to use for beginners?

Airtable is the easiest platform for beginners due to its spreadsheet-like interface and pre-built templates. Kintone has a steeper learning curve because of its advanced customization capabilities but offers helpful onboarding tools.

Which tool offers better customization?

Knack offers better customization than Kintone and Airtable. It allows users to create entirely personalized databases, workflows, and applications without requiring any coding skills. Kintone also delivers strong customization capabilities, particularly for workflow automation, but its setup process can be more complex and time-intensive. 

How do Kintone and Airtable handle collaboration?

Kintone excels in collaboration with built-in tools like team messaging, comment threads, and real-time notifications. Airtable supports collaboration through shared workspaces, task tracking, and integrations with popular tools like Slack. While both platforms offer strong features, Kintone’s centralized communication hub provides a more robust solution for team collaboration.

Which platform is better for managing large-scale projects?

Knack is the best choice for large-scale projects due to its scalability and advanced project-tracking features, including resource allocation and portfolio management. Kintone offers workflow automation and access controls that can also manage large-scale projects.

How do pricing models compare between Kintone and Airtable?

Kintone offers flat per-user pricing, making it cost-effective for teams needing advanced features without worrying about tiered limitations. Airtable provides a free tier for small teams, with paid plans scaling based on added features like automations and expanded record limits. Kintone is more predictable for larger teams, while Airtable’s costs can increase significantly as project complexity grows.

Which tool provides better automation capabilities?

Knack offers the most robust automation capabilities. It allows users to create complex workflows and triggers without coding. Kintone also supports advanced automation but requires more technical setup to unlock its full potential. Airtable’s automation tools are simpler and best suited for basic, repetitive tasks, making it less competitive for complex automation needs.