My opinion is that Access doesn't appear to have any competition for a desktop development.
Whenever you are looking at the Ten Best Alternatives to Access, all of them include Libra or OpenOffice, which simply displays that these self-appointed advisors (advertisers?) do not know what they are talking about. You have to conclude that they have never developed anything useful for others to use in their life.
Access is often slated but it has been (for me) a reliable development language for business systems for nearly 30 years, frequently upgrading. I have used Access since Access97 and have always been able to create even the most complex screens and reports using easily developed queries. I don't believe that commerce or industry can be, or ever will be able to operate on a smartphone. But it does appear that there are some who do not understand business applications and are ambitious that the smartphone will eventually do everything. A bit like those who think that providing a CHAT feature on their website is an excellent way of providing remote help or assistance.
Microsoft clearly want only totally web based developments, which Access will never be. But it does have a place in the scheme of things. They should accept this and maintain the product professionally instead of treating it as lower-class or some sort of nuisance in the whole Microsoft scheme of things. It has served them well for over 30 years and can continue to do so.
Hopefully Microsoft will continue to develop Access and add new features. Also, stop treating it like a hospital job, or something to give an apprentice to do when they are a little short of work for them.
To reiterate; if you looked at the ten best alternatives to Access, by the time you've got to number ten, you realise there isn't a single alternative that you can switch to.....well I haven't found one anyway