Looking for cost-effective database recommendations
I’m a retiree working on a cemetery documentation project as a hobby. Currently considering Airtable but the pricing doesn’t fit my budget. The free tier has too many restrictions (limited records per database and only 1GB for file storage), while the paid version at $240 annually is too steep for personal use.
Key requirements I need:
Mobile form completion on iOS devices (preferably offline capable)
Multiple connected tables instead of cramming everything into one
Report generation functionality
Sufficient storage for photos and data
My goal is to document gravestone information completely, then generate printable reports to share with genealogy groups and historical organizations in my area.
Baserow might work for your budget. It’s basically an open-source Airtable that hits your main needs without the crazy pricing. The free version gives you way more room than Airtable’s tight limits, plus you can self-host later.
I ditched Airtable for a similar project last year. Mobile forms work fine on iOS - not as slick, but gets the job done. Table connections work like you’d expect, and photo uploads don’t eat into brutal storage limits.
Reports export clean to PDF or Excel, which works great for sharing with genealogy groups. Offline isn’t perfect but handles cemetery work where cell service sucks.
Feels just like Airtable, so there’s barely a learning curve. I’ve been running mine for eight months documenting historical sites - zero costs except my time.
Been there - database pricing for personal projects is insane. Storage limits and record caps kill it every time.
Skip the databases entirely. Build a custom workflow connecting Google Sheets (free, unlimited storage) with mobile forms and auto report generation.
What you need:
Mobile forms that work offline, sync later
Connected sheets acting like database tables
Auto photo uploads to organized folders
One-click PDF reports
Auto email to genealogy groups
You own everything. No fees, no limits, photos don’t eat your quota.
Built this exact setup for a historical society last year. They ditched manual data copying for full automation. Photos resize and organize themselves, reports format properly, works offline in remote cemeteries.
You’ll have this running in a weekend, zero ongoing costs.
Been automating data collection for years - database subscriptions kill personal projects with their fees. You’re thinking about this wrong though.
Ditch the hunt for another database that’ll eventually charge you. Automate everything using free tools you already have.
Use Google Sheets as your backend (free, no limits) and build automation flows for the rest. Mobile forms that work offline in remote cemeteries, auto photo processing, connected data across multiple sheets like database tables.
Best part? Auto-generate genealogy reports and email them straight to historical societies. No manual exports or formatting needed.
Built this exact system for a client documenting historic properties. They went from hours of data entry and report creation to just walking cemeteries with their phone. Everything else runs itself.
Photos resize and organize themselves, data validates automatically, reports generate on schedule. Zero ongoing costs, you own it all.
Takes a weekend to build but you’ll never pay database fees again. The automation platform that makes it work: https://latenode.com
Had this exact problem documenting old mining sites. Started with Airtable but ran into the same walls you’re hitting. Switched to NocoDB and it’s been perfect for this work. It’s open source (free), links multiple tables like you need, and handles photos without worrying about storage limits. Mobile interface works fine for field entry - not as pretty as paid options but gets the job done. For your cemetery project, you’d set up separate tables for locations, people, families, and photos, all connected. Reporting isn’t fancy but exports to Excel clean for your genealogy reports. Running locally means you control all your data, which genealogy people usually want. Takes about an hour to set up if you’re decent with tech. I’ve been using it two years now, documented 800+ historical sites, cost me nothing but time.
Google Sheets works but you’ll want something more structured for cemetery documentation. I’ve done this before with a local historical group.
Notion’s your best option. The free tier crushes Airtable - basically unlimited personal use. You get proper relational databases, mobile forms work great, and the iOS app handles offline well.
For cemetery work:
Separate databases for locations, graves, people, photos
Link everything together
Mobile entry works smooth on iOS
Built-in PDF export for reports
Photo storage doesn’t hit harsh limits
I built something similar tracking construction equipment across job sites. Same idea - connected tables, mobile entry, photo docs. Notion handled it no problem.
Want automation later? Connect it to other tools. This video shows some wild automation possibilities that might spark ideas:
Notion’s free tier should cover everything you need without the price shock.
Check out Fibery - way cheaper than Airtable for personal use. Free plan’s got solid limits and handles connected databases really well. Mobile app’s nothing special but does basic data entry fine. I’ve used it for old building records and it handles photos without constantly hitting storage limits like other platforms.
