Hi everyone! I work as an Airtable consultant and I’m really curious about what people think of the new Omni feature that just launched. For those who haven’t heard about it yet, it’s basically an AI tool that lets you build complete apps just by describing what you want in normal language. It creates tables, interfaces, automations and everything else automatically.
I’ve been wondering if this means tools like Softr and Noloco might become obsolete. Right now I still recommend these frontend builders to my clients, but I’m starting to question if that makes sense anymore. If Airtable can generate custom portals and apps directly, why would anyone need a separate tool?
I know Omni probably has some limitations right now, but AI tools improve so fast these days. I’m worried that if I start new projects with external builders, my clients might end up using outdated technology within a few months.
Has anyone tried Omni extensively yet? What did you think of it? Are there still situations where dedicated frontend tools work better, or is this really the end of an era? I’d love to hear your thoughts before I make recommendations for upcoming projects.
i get what u mean! omni is like a quick fix but softr gives more flexibility for stunning designs. for bigger projects, having control over the look is super important. omni might be fun to play with, but for solid results, classic tools still shine!
I’ve dealt with these shifts for years. Every time new AI drops, people think it’ll replace everything.
Omni’s cool for quick builds, but it’s basically a fancy template generator. Once clients need real customization or multiple data sources, you hit walls fast.
The bigger problem? Vendor lock-in. With Airtable’s Omni, you’re stuck in their ecosystem. Need data from Salesforce, Google Sheets, and three other APIs? You’re back to manual work or expensive Airtable automations.
Think about scalability. Omni might build a basic portal in 10 minutes, but complex workflows, custom authentication, or payment integrations? You’re looking at weeks of workarounds.
I use automation platforms that connect everything. You get AI speed with real flexibility to grow. Instead of being locked into one vendor’s vision, you build what clients actually need.
Softr and similar tools aren’t going anywhere - they solve different problems than Omni.
For better app building with real automation power, check out https://latenode.com
Having worked with Airtable for enterprise clients over the past four years, I see Omni as a useful tool for proof-of-concepts and straightforward internal applications. However, it really struggles with scaling efforts. The key issues aren’t just design flexibility or vendor lock-in, but rather its capacity to manage data effectively. Once you exceed a few thousand records or attempt intricate filtering across multiple tables, Airtable tends to falter. I’ve observed several clients dropping it due to performance shortcomings. In contrast, frontend builders like Softr enhance performance by optimizing queries and employing caching techniques. They offer more than just appealing interfaces; they significantly improve overall efficiency. Additionally, consider the ongoing costs associated with maintenance. While Omni seems great for auto-generating tools, complications arise when debugging AI-created automations. Traditional builders allow for easier troubleshooting since you’re in control of what you built. In a consulting context, I would recommend using Omni for rapid prototyping, but for production solutions, it’s better to invest in a more robust platform.