What we should learn from the AirTable buyout

That distant wailing you heard last week was probably me, and a horde of other data nerds, recoiling in horror when we heard that Bending Spoons is acquiring AirTable for $1.28 billion.

The creators of tech tools are often hoping to make exactly that kind of deal one day, which I can understand. Handing over the tool you’ve built and walking away with enough cash to retire on does sound pretty sweet on paper.

This kind of thing can be bad news for the people who work for those companies or use their tools, however. Bending Spoons, in particular, has acquired companies like Evernote and Vimeo, and established a track record of laying off upwards of 75% of staff, and imposing strict limits on anyone who doesn’t want to pay higher prices to keep using their services.

The lesson here? We need to stay ready for the day when our favorite tools get sold to more capitalistic ownership. It may come sooner than we think.

Keep control over your data and your software

One of the biggest issues with online apps and tools is access to your data. The information you store in those apps is part of what keeps your business running, so if your data is stuck on a particular app, you're stuck with that app, too.

If you’re not able to easily export your content, your subscriber lists, into a format that you can easily transfer to another tool, that’s a red flag. Take a moment to export your data–or at least find out whether you can.

Backups are also key. It’s best practice from a security standpoint, because you never know what can happen. Make it a habit to back up your data regularly, so you’re covered in the event that you need to quickly pivot to another platform.

And then, there’s perhaps the hardest part: start looking for alternative tools that offer similar capabilities and features. There can be a lot of options depending on your needs, but if you want to guard against buyouts and price hikes, open-source software should be on your radar.

What exactly is open-source software?

Open-source software refers to tools whose source code is openly available to the public. That means anyone can download and view the code, or even modify it, if they have some coding skills. A lot of open-source tools are free to download, which is an obvious advantage in a time when SaaS companies are charging monthly subscriptions.

Also, because the code is publicly available, 3rd-party developers can contribute to open-source projects directly, or even write their own add-ons. The vast directory of Wordpress Plugins is just one example of how independent developers can support and improve open-source tools.

As an added bonus, with open-source, you have the option to self-host. Yes, self-hosting does involve some legwork, but in my mind, it’s worth it: you’ll have your own copy of the app and its features, and you’re able to take your data with you at any time.

Of course, there are some trade-offs. Open-source tools don’t have huge corporate teams backing them–they may even be created entirely by one developer. So, you may find there’s no dedicated support team when something goes wrong. Or, if that lone developer gets too busy with other projects, they may let their open-source project fall out of date.

And, to be honest, there can be some real duds among those open-source apps and plugins. They may be less intuitive to use, or they may not quite work as described–again, because there’s no backing team to handle things like UX or QA. You may have to test out a few different options before you find one that does exactly what you need.

Always try new software before you buy

Above all else, no matter what kind of tool you’re considering, always try before you buy. Virtually every online tool has some level of Free plan, or at least a free trial period, so take advantage of that to get a feel for the tool, and make sure it does what you need.

If you’re on the prowl for less harmful alternatives to what you’re currently using, AlternativeTo.net is an awesome searchable catalog of tech tools that lets you filter your search based on parameters such as cost, features, or whether it’s an open-source tool.

Additionally, if there’s a tool you’d like to keep using, you may want to take a moment to search for it on AppSumo. AppSumo periodically offers discounts, or even Lifetime deals on apps you may already have as part of your workflow, so you may find an opportunity to lock in a lower cost on an app you already like.

If you’re looking for particular recommendations, stay tuned for next time–I’ll be digging into and testing out some alternative tools for functions that small business owners need over the coming weeks.