Filla vs Miniextensions: Which should you choose?
Both Filla and Miniextensions build forms for Airtable. Both support linked records, conditional logic, and custom branding.
But they serve different purposes.
Filla is a form builder. It does one thing deeply: create powerful forms that work natively with Airtable.
Miniextensions is a portal builder. Forms are one part of a larger toolkit for building Airtable-powered apps.
Quick answer: If you need forms specifically, Filla is simpler to use and more cost-effective. If you're building a complete client portal with user authentication, protected views, and multiple interfaces, Miniextensions is the better choice.
The core difference
Filla: Form-focused simplicity
Filla does forms. That's it. This focus means:
- Faster setup (connect and build in minutes)
- Simpler interface (no portal/app concepts to learn)
- Predictable pricing (forms and submissions, not users or apps)
- Deep form features (nested forms, formula display, linked record filtering)
Miniextensions: Portal-building power
Miniextensions is a suite of tools:
- Forms
- Portals
- Password-protected views
- User authentication
- Gallery views
- Custom interfaces
- And more
This breadth means more capability but also more complexity.
Where Filla wins
1. Simplicity for form-only use cases
If you need forms without the portal infrastructure, Filla is dramatically simpler:
Filla workflow:
- Connect your Airtable base
- Select your table
- Build your form
- Share your link
Miniextensions workflow:
- Connect your Airtable base
- Choose which extension you need (forms, portals, etc.)
- Configure the extension
- Manage users/permissions if using portals
- Build your form within the extension context
For form-only use cases, Filla's focused approach saves time.
2. Nested forms (child forms)
Filla's nested forms let you create records in multiple linked tables in one submission.
Example: A project request form that creates:
- One record in the Projects table
- Multiple records in the Tasks table (linked to the project)
- A record in the Clients table if it's a new client
This happens in one form, one submission, automatically linked.
Miniextensions forms can create records, but nested/child form capability is more limited.
3. Formula and lookup display in forms
Filla can display formula calculations and lookup field values directly in your forms.
Use cases:
- Show calculated pricing as users select options
- Display customer account status from a lookup
- Show inventory availability based on formulas
Miniextensions has formula display in portals but form-specific formula integration is less polished.
4. Simpler, predictable pricing
Filla pricing:
- Free: 5 forms, unlimited submissions, all features
- Starter: $12/month for unlimited forms + branding removal
Miniextensions pricing:
- Pricing varies by extension, users, and features
- Can add up quickly when combining multiple tools
- User-based pricing for portals increases with scale
For form-focused use cases, Filla's pricing is more predictable.
Where Miniextensions wins
1. Full portal capabilities
If you're building a complete client portal (not just forms), Miniextensions is purpose-built:
- User authentication: Customers log in with accounts
- Protected views: Users see only their own records
- Custom dashboards: Display data in gallery/kanban views
- Role-based access: Different interfaces for different user types
Filla is forms-only. It doesn't try to be a portal builder.
2. Multiple view types
Miniextensions offers:
- Form views
- Gallery views
- Kanban views
- List views
- Calendar views
Filla offers forms. If you need multiple interface types, Miniextensions has them.
3. Established ecosystem
Miniextensions has been in the Airtable ecosystem longer:
- More templates
- Larger user community
- More tutorials and documentation
- Proven at scale
4. User management and permissions
For applications where users need accounts, Miniextensions handles:
- User registration
- Login/logout
- Password reset
- User-specific data filtering
- Role-based permissions
Filla doesn't have user account features. It's focused on form submissions.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Filla | Miniextensions |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Forms only | Full portal suite |
| Setup complexity | Simple | More involved |
| Linked record support | Full | Full |
| Nested/child forms | Yes | Limited |
| Formula field display | Yes (in forms) | Yes (in portals) |
| Conditional logic | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-step forms | Yes | Yes |
| Update existing records | Yes | Yes |
| Custom branding | Yes (paid) | Yes (paid) |
| User authentication | No | Yes |
| Protected views | No | Yes |
| Multiple view types | No (forms only) | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per form | Per extension/users |
Use case scenarios
Scenario 1: Client intake forms
Situation: You need a form where new clients submit their information, which creates records in your Clients table and links to appropriate services.
Better choice: Filla
Why: This is pure form functionality. Filla's simpler setup and nested forms handle it cleanly without portal overhead.
Scenario 2: Client portal with forms and dashboards
Situation: Clients need to log in, see their projects, submit requests, and view their invoices, all in one place.
Better choice: Miniextensions
Why: This requires user authentication, protected views, and multiple interface types. Miniextensions is built for exactly this.
Scenario 3: Order forms with line items
Situation: You need customers to submit orders with multiple products, see real-time pricing, and have both order and line item records created automatically.
Better choice: Filla
Why: Filla's nested forms create records in multiple tables (Orders + Line Items) in one submission. Formula display shows calculated totals.
Scenario 4: Membership portal
Situation: Members need accounts to access resources, submit forms, and see their membership status.
Better choice: Miniextensions
Why: User accounts, login functionality, and protected resources require Miniextensions' portal features.
Scenario 5: Event registration forms
Situation: You need attendees to register, select sessions from linked records, and have their preferences tracked.
Better choice: Either
For simple registration: Filla (faster setup, cleaner form experience) For registration with attendee accounts: Miniextensions (if attendees need to log in and manage their registration)
Pricing comparison
Filla
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 5 forms, unlimited submissions, all core features |
| Starter | $12/mo | Unlimited forms, branding removal |
Simple, predictable, scales with forms not users.
Miniextensions
Pricing varies by extension:
- Forms: Starts at ~$15/month
- Portals: Starts at ~$29/month
- User-based pricing for authenticated portals
- Combining extensions adds cost
More capability, but costs grow with complexity.
When pricing matters
Choose Filla if: You need 10+ forms and want predictable costs. Filla's $12/month unlimited plan is straightforward.
Choose Miniextensions if: You're building a full portal where the value justifies per-user pricing.
Migration considerations
Moving from Miniextensions to Filla
If you're using Miniextensions just for forms (not portals), switching to Filla is straightforward:
- Forms are rebuilt from your Airtable schema
- No data migration needed (data stays in Airtable)
- Form URLs change (update embeds/links)
Moving from Filla to Miniextensions
If you outgrow forms and need full portal capabilities:
- Miniextensions can import your base structure
- Forms are rebuilt in Miniextensions
- Portal features (auth, views) are added on top
Your Airtable data is always the source of truth, making tool changes manageable.
Questions to ask yourself
Do you need user accounts?
Yes → Miniextensions No → Either (but Filla is simpler)
Do you need views beyond forms?
Yes (galleries, dashboards, kanban) → Miniextensions No (forms only) → Filla
Do you need protected, user-specific views?
Yes → Miniextensions No → Either
Is simple pricing important?
Yes → Filla (flat pricing, no user tiers) No, value matters more than simplicity → Either
Do you need nested forms (multi-table submissions)?
Yes → Filla (cleaner implementation) Maybe → Either
Our recommendation
Choose Filla if:
- You need forms, not portals
- Simple setup and pricing matter
- Nested forms are important for your workflow
- You want to display formulas in forms
- You don't need user authentication
Choose Miniextensions if:
- You're building a full client portal
- Users need accounts to log in
- You need multiple view types (gallery, kanban, etc.)
- Protected, user-specific views are required
- You're comfortable with more complex pricing
Try Filla for form-focused workflows
If forms are what you need, Filla delivers without the complexity.
Start free with 5 forms and unlimited submissions. Connect to Airtable in seconds, not hours.