Baserow

Open-source Airtable alternative with a full REST API and an official row-level MCP server; MIT core, env-configured.

AdaptableOperable Internal toolWeb app Hybrid PythonJavaScript MCP server License: MIT core with premium/ and enterprise/ under separate license

Spreadsheet-style databases with automations, an application builder, dashboards and the Kuma AI assistant; CRM comes as an in-product template. Self-host under MIT (premium and enterprise directories are separate) with 150+ documented env vars. The REST API is complete and OpenAPI-described; the Builder's MCP server exposes rows and tables only.

Use it when

I want a CRM that is just tables I control, with our agent writing rows from other tools
I want to replace Airtable without a per-seat bill and keep the data on our server

Gotchas

The MCP endpoint URL is the credential: treat it as a password
MCP covers rows and tables only; fields, views, automations and apps need the REST API
premium/ and enterprise/ directories are not MIT
Repository moved from GitLab in 2026; old merge requests were not imported

Last activity Sep 2, 2026. Fit: adaptable 3, operable 2.

Editions

Self-hosted (MIT core) · Free open source

Clonegit clone https://github.com/baserow/baserow
ImageContainer
DeployDeploy

Cloud Free · Free closed source

HostedOpen the hosted app

Premium and Enterprise · Free closed source

HostedOpen the hosted app

For agents: JSON · Markdown

Adaptable: what is yours to change

Make it yours

Config only22 things to edit

The all-in-one image needs BASEROW_PUBLIC_URL and DATABASE_URL (or DATABASE_*), plus EMAIL_SMTP_* for invites. Storage, SSO, webhooks limits, automation limits and OTEL are all env vars listed in .env.example. Plugins load from BASEROW_PLUGIN_GIT_REPOS or BASEROW_PLUGIN_URLS. The CRM itself is a template you customize in the UI; an agent can restructure it through the REST API.

Env vars: BASEROW_PUBLIC_URL SECRET_KEY DATABASE_URL DATABASE_HOST DATABASE_PASSWORD REDIS_URL EMAIL_SMTP EMAIL_SMTP_HOST EMAIL_SMTP_USER EMAIL_SMTP_PASSWORD FROM_EMAIL AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME AWS_S3_ENDPOINT_URL BASEROW_PLUGIN_GIT_REPOS BASEROW_PLUGIN_URLS BASEROW_WEBHOOKS_MAX_PER_TABLE BASEROW_FILE_UPLOAD_SIZE_LIMIT_MB BASEROW_EXTRA_ALLOWED_HOSTS FEATURE_FLAGS BASEROW_ENTERPRISE_ASSISTANT_LLM_MODEL
Config files: .env.example docker-compose.yml
Prompt files: none
Accounts you need: SMTP providerS3-compatible storage (optional)model provider (AI field, optional)

Source

github.com/baserow/baserow
MIT core with premium/ and enterprise/ under separate license license
Last commit Sep 2, 2026
5,771 stars

Operable: what an agent can drive

Interface

OfficialMCP serverpublished by the builderremote or local

How an agent can drive an Operable Listing, in five levels: native (built for the agent as the primary interface), official (the Builder ships an agent interface), wrapped (a third party wraps the software's API), config (an agent can only drive it by editing files), gui (screen control only). An interface is official only when it is published by the same organization that ships the software. GUI-level Listings are allowed and sorted last.

Docs: baserow.io/user-docs/mcp-server
Tools: create rows read/list rows update rows delete rows get table schema list tables list databases

Reach

Partial coverage. 2 of 9 jobs reachable through the stated interface.

Job	Through the interface	Evidence
Create, read, update and delete rows	Reachable	MCP tools create/read/update/delete rows (baserow.io/user-docs/mcp-server)
Discover databases, tables and schema	Reachable	MCP tools list databases, list tables, get table schema
Add or change fields	Not reachable	Not in the 7 MCP tools; REST API fields endpoints cover it
Create and filter views	Not reachable	Not in MCP; REST API views endpoints cover it
Build automations	Not reachable	Not in MCP; automations are in-product with API endpoints
Build and publish applications and portals	Not reachable	Not in MCP; application builder is in-product
Dashboards	Not reachable	Not in MCP
Import from Airtable or files	Not reachable	Not in MCP; REST API has import jobs
Set up webhooks	Not reachable	Not in MCP; REST API webhooks endpoints

Code stack

Languages: PythonJavaScript
Frameworks: DjangoVue.jsNuxtCelery
Package manager: pip + yarn
Database: PostgreSQLRedis
Hosting target: DockerDocker ComposeHelmHerokuRenderRailway
Built: Human-written (recorded, never ranked)

Model stack

Providers: OpenAI and others through AI field and assistant (optional)
Models: none
Keys you need: BASEROW_ENTERPRISE_ASSISTANT_LLM_MODEL BASEROW_EMBEDDINGS_API_URL
Prompts live in: none

Skills

Repo carries contributor-facing development skills for extending Baserow's backend, builder elements, and formulas. [contributor tooling, not adopter-facing]

Kind: contributor
Paths: .agents/skills/*/SKILL.md

Evidence and confidence

Field	Where it was seen	Confidence
formFactor	README: Django plus Vue web app in one Docker image	95%
executionModel	README: Kuma AI assistant and AI field on a deterministic database core; BASEROW_ENTERPRISE_ASSISTANT_LLM_MODEL	80%
operability	baserow.io/user-docs/mcp-server on the Builder's domain: 7 tools; REST API at api.baserow.io/api/redoc	90%
effort	.env.example with 150+ named BASEROW_* vars; docs/installation	90%
editions	README: MIT core, premium/enterprise separate; free cloud sign-up	70%
active	GitHub pushedAt 2026-09-02	–
reach		90%

Open questions

Premium and Enterprise prices
Is the MCP server available on the free cloud plan and on self-host?
Which provider does the AI field call by default?

Sources

github.com/baserow/baserow sourcing:smb-ops-crm:curated
baserow.io/user-docs/mcp-server sourcing:smb-ops-crm:curated