# Baserow

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

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.

Alternative to: Airtable

- Capabilities: adaptable, operable
- Vertical: smb-ops-crm
- Shape: internal-tool
- Form factor: web-app
- Execution model: hybrid
- Provenance: human-written (recorded, never ranked)
- Repo: https://github.com/baserow/baserow (MIT core with premium/ and enterprise/ under separate license), 5771 stars, last commit 2026-09-02
- Last activity: 2026-09-02
- Page: apps/baserow--baserow.html
- JSON: apps/baserow--baserow.json

## 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

## Editions

- Self-hosted (MIT core): Free, open source
  - source: https://github.com/baserow/baserow
  - container: docker run -v baserow_data:/baserow/data -p 80:80 -p 443:443 baserow/baserow:2.3.3
  - one-click: https://www.heroku.com/deploy/?template=https://github.com/baserow/baserow/tree/master
- Cloud Free: Free, closed source
  - hosted: https://baserow.io
- Premium and Enterprise: Free, closed source
  - hosted: https://baserow.io/pricing

## Adaptable: make it yours

Effort: config-only (22 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'll need: SMTP provider; S3-compatible storage (optional); model provider (AI field, optional)

## Operable: what an agent can drive

Operability: official. Interface: mcp at https://baserow.io/user-docs/mcp-server (published by the builder, both).

### Reach (partial coverage)

- 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: Python, JavaScript
- Frameworks: Django, Vue.js, Nuxt, Celery
- Package manager: pip + yarn
- Database: PostgreSQL, Redis
- Hosting target: Docker, Docker Compose, Helm, Heroku, Render, Railway

## Model stack

- Providers: OpenAI and others through AI field and assistant (optional)
- Models: none
- Keys you need (names only): BASEROW_ENTERPRISE_ASSISTANT_LLM_MODEL, BASEROW_EMBEDDINGS_API_URL
- Prompts live in: none
- Tools: create rows, read/list rows, update rows, delete rows, get table schema, list tables, list databases

## Skills

contributor: Repo carries contributor-facing development skills for extending Baserow's backend, builder elements, and formulas. [contributor tooling, not adopter-facing]
- Paths: .agents/skills/*/SKILL.md

## Evidence and confidence

- formFactor: README: Django plus Vue web app in one Docker image (confidence 0.95)
- executionModel: README: Kuma AI assistant and AI field on a deterministic database core; BASEROW_ENTERPRISE_ASSISTANT_LLM_MODEL (confidence 0.8)
- operability: baserow.io/user-docs/mcp-server on the Builder's domain: 7 tools; REST API at api.baserow.io/api/redoc (confidence 0.9)
- effort: .env.example with 150+ named BASEROW_* vars; docs/installation (confidence 0.9)
- editions: README: MIT core, premium/enterprise separate; free cloud sign-up (confidence 0.7)
- active: GitHub pushedAt 2026-09-02
- reach:  (confidence 0.9)

## 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

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