Airtable
Using Airtable as a data source for your Softr app.
Airtable is a powerful tool that combines the flexibility of spreadsheets with the power of a database. It allows you to store and organize different types of data, making it a great choice for managing data in your Softr app.
With Airtable, you can:
- Store text, images, checkboxes, and more
- Create custom views to filter and sort your data
- Control who can view or edit information
- Use ready-made templates to speed up setup
- Integrate with third-party tools
In this article, we’ll walk you through connecting your Airtable account to Softr and displaying your Airtable data in your app. For a quick overview, check out our video walkthrough. 👇
1. Connect your Airtable account
You connect an Airtable account once per workspace. Then you can use it in all your apps.
Open Integrations
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In the Softr Studio dashboard, click Integrations in the left menu.
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Click Connect new.
- In the Select an integration window, click Airtable.
Grant access to your Airtable bases
Softr opens Airtable in a new window. Sign in to Airtable, select the bases you want to use in Softr, and click Grant access.
2. Connect your Airtable Base to the Softr app
Once your Airtable account is connected, you can use the authorized bases across one or multiple Softr applications.
Connect your data to a dynamic block
To display your data in the app, connect a dynamic block (e.g. List, Grid, Table) to your Airtable base:
- Open the Source tab of the block settings.
- In Account, select your Airtable account.
- In Base, pick the base you want to use.
- In Table, choose the table with the records you want to show.
- Optional: in View, choose an Airtable view.
Map Airtable columns to item fields
When you connect your table to a block, you can choose which Airtable columns to display. Open the Content tab, then click Add under Item fields. Each column maps to a field of the block. This lets you control how your Airtable data appears in Softr.
Example: If your Airtable base has a Profile Picture (Attachment field), map it to an Image field in Softr so it displays correctly.
3. Supported field types
Softr handles Airtable field types in three ways:
- Fully supported – You can read and update these fields.
- Read-only – You can see the data, but you can’t edit it.
- Not supported – These fields won’t sync with Softr.
Fully supported Airtable field types
- Text – Single line, long text, and rich text
- Number – Standard numbers, currency, and percentages
- Date & Time – Date, date-time, and duration fields
- Attachments – Images, multiple attachments, and files
- Checkbox – Yes/No options
- Linked Records – Connects one table to another
- Single & Multi-Select – Dropdown lists
- Email & Phone – Email addresses and phone numbers
- Rating – Star or point-based ratings
- URL – Website links
- User Fields – Created by, last modified by, and collaborator fields
Fields that can be shown but not edited
Some fields are read-only in Softr because Airtable automatically generates them:
- Formula Fields – Calculated values
- Rollup, Count, and Lookup Fields – Pull data from other tables
- Created By & Created Date – Who and when a record was created
- Last Modified By & Last Modified Date – Who and when a record was updated
- Autonumber Fields – Automatically assigned numbers
Not supported fields
These fields are not supported due to Airtable API limitations:
- Button Fields – Trigger actions but don’t store data
- Barcode Fields – Store scanned barcode data
- Sync Source – Data synced from external sources
FAQs
What if I can’t see my Airtable bases in Softr?
Check that you’ve granted Softr access to all current and future bases in Airtable. If not, go back to Integrations and re-authenticate.
Why aren’t my mapped fields showing?
If some fields aren’t displaying data even though they are mapped correctly, check if their titles in Airtable contain any special characters. Removing special characters can help resolve the issue.
Why is my data not updating in Softr?
Try refreshing Softr or reloading your data source. If the issue persists, check if your Airtable permissions are correctly set.
Can I use multiple Airtable bases in one Softr app?
Yes! You can connect multiple Airtable bases to the same app, but you have to use a separate Dynamic Block for each table.
How can I improve my app's performance?
OAuth vs. personal access token rate limits
Airtable limits each base to 5 requests per second, whatever the authentication method. A personal access token gives Softr more room across several bases. Requests to one base stay capped at 5 per second.
Free plan rate limits
Airtable Free plan users are limited to 1,000 API calls per month. When you reach this limit, Airtable blocks all API requests until the monthly reset.
Using a personal access token
A personal access token lets you control which bases and scopes Softr can reach in your Airtable account.
To switch an existing connection, click Switch to personal access token below the integration name in Integrations. Then paste your token in Personal access token and click Connect.
Give the token the Record data, Base schema, Webhook, and User email scopes, with access to all current and future bases. Create it in the Airtable developer hub.
Follow this Airtable guide to generate a token.
Need more help?
- ▶️ Watch a tutorial on how to structure your Airtable database for Client Portal
- 📖 Learn more in our Airtable Learning Hub
- 🛠️ Troubleshooting? Check out Troubleshooting Airtable errors