# Mathesar: Free Open Source Alternative to Airplane, Stackby

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/fork/mathesar
Last updated: 2026-11-07

Mathesar (Open Source, Open Source) replaces Airplane, Stackby. A self-hosted tool that provides an intuitive, spreadsheet-style interface for viewing, editing, and querying PostgreSQL databases without technical expertise.

## Tool Specifications
- **Tool Name**: Mathesar
- **Type**: Open Source Project
- **License**: Open Source
- **Official Website**: https://mathesar.org
- **GitHub Repository**: https://github.com/mathesar-foundation/mathesar
- **GitHub Stars**: ★ 5.2k
- **Runs On**: Self-host
- **Maintenance Status**: nov 2026
- **Platforms**: web, self-hosted, docker to self-host
- **Data Storage**: All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/mathesar-foundation/mathesar or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup Requirements**: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- **The Catch / Limitation**: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Airplane.

## Paid SaaS Applications Replaced (2)
Replacing these paid tools with Mathesar saves up to $30/mo ($360/yr) in software subscriptions:

| Replaced Software | Category | SaaS Price | Comparison Guide |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Airplane](https://caniforkit.com/airplane) | [forms](https://caniforkit.com/category/forms) | $15/mo | [Compare Airplane vs Mathesar](https://caniforkit.com/vs/airplane-vs-mathesar) |
| [Stackby](https://caniforkit.com/stackby) | [forms](https://caniforkit.com/category/forms) | $15/mo | [Compare Stackby vs Mathesar](https://caniforkit.com/vs/stackby-vs-mathesar) |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Mathesar free and open source?
Mathesar is an open source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. A self-hosted tool that provides an intuitive, spreadsheet-style interface for viewing, editing, and querying PostgreSQL databases without technical expertise.

### What is the trade-off or limitation of using Mathesar?
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Airplane.

## Related

- [Self-Hosted Open Source Directory](https://caniforkit.com/self-hosted)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)
- [Software Categories Directory](https://caniforkit.com/categories)
- [Homepage](https://caniforkit.com)