Grist

getgrist.com
Database
Few Days

The collaborative spreadsheet that minds its business

How to Replace Grist

Overview

Grist is an open-source, self-hostable relational spreadsheet-database tool that combines the simplicity of spreadsheets with the power of databases. It enables teams to build custom data apps and workflows without coding, with support for Python formulas, granular access controls, and real-time collaboration. Available both as a cloud-hosted SaaS and self-managed deployment.

Features

33 features across 25 categories

AI(1)

AI AssistantAIPremium

Chat with your data and have productive conversations. Analyze data and formulas in plain language. Create and modify records and formulas with integrated conversational context.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Administration(1)

Admin ControlsPremium

Advanced user and site management tools for administrators.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Smartsheet

Analytics & Reporting(3)

Charts

Create various chart types to visualize your data and trends.

Summary Tables

Summarize and analyze data in pivot tables to see the big picture.

Visualizations

See what matters at a glance with charts, pivot tables, and custom widgets. Summarize data, link charts to update dynamically, and show data in new ways.

Also in: Ivanti, Ramp, Stampli

Collaboration(2)

Comments

Comment and respond on cells and mention users for inline communication.

Real-time Collaboration

Work on your data with others at the same time with real-time updates.

Also in: Notion, Airtable, Obsidian

Customization(3)

Custom BrandingPremium

Logos and Grist theme/colors customization.

Custom DomainPremium

Access Grist using your own custom domain.

Custom Subdomain

Set the URL for a team site (e.g., your-team.getgrist.com).

Also in: monday.com, Obsidian, Smartsheet

Data Collection(1)

Forms & Surveys

Collect and analyze data easily. Create simple and effective forms, share with a single click, and analyze data in real time.

Also in: Insider CDP, Lytics, monday.com

Data Management(2)

Automatic Backups

Grist stores automatic snapshots of your data. You can revert to older snapshots and view differences.

Snapshot History

Automatic snapshots of your data that can be reverted and compared.

Also in: monday.com, Notion, Airtable

Extensibility(1)

Custom Widgets

Present data however you need, such as on a map or calendar, using widgets from the gallery or building your own.

Also in: Labelbox, Obsidian, WordPress.com

File Management(1)

Attachment Storage

Store attachments with per-document and organization-wide limits.

Formatting(1)

Conditional Formatting

Create conditional rules that determine cell styles based on data values.

Formulas & Calculations(2)

Python Formulas

Write single or multiline Python formulas with full Python standard library support, combined with familiar Excel functions.

Spreadsheet Formulas

Most Excel-like spreadsheet functions are supported.

Hosting(1)

Dedicated ServerPremium

Choose preferred geographical region for dedicated hosting.

Integrations(2)

REST API

API for integrating Grist data with other services. Includes webhooks and custom integrators.

Third-party Integrators

Connect other services to Grist by using third party integrators.

Internationalization(1)

Localization

Localized into 20+ languages.

Notifications(1)

Email NotificationsPremium

Receive email updates on document changes and comments.

Organization(1)

Multiple Team SitesPremium

Enable separate Grist sites under one installation.

Security & Authentication(1)

Custom SSOPremium

Single sign-on integrations via OIDC or SAML.

Security & Compliance(1)

Audit Log StreamingPremium

Stream audit log events from your installation to an external destination.

Security & Permissions(1)

Access Rules

Collaborate with confidence using granular data permissions. Control who sees what down to each row and column, share data in part or in full while maintaining real-time collaboration, and share limited views with third parties.

Services(1)

Grist SolutionsPremium

Professional services to create custom solutions for your data needs.

Sharing(1)

Link Sharing

Option to publicly share data. Can be combined with access rules to create crowdsourcing workflows.

Templates(1)

Ready-to-use Templates

Pre-built templates that can be used as-is or customized for specific needs.

Training(1)

Grist Training WorkshopPremium

Multi-day curriculum covering fundamentals, data modeling, dashboards, reporting, and governance for enterprise users.

UI/UX(1)

Flexible Layout

Arrange your data on screen to maximize productivity. Drag-and-drop widgets to make custom layouts, link data to quickly pull up details and related records, turn rows into data cards, and attach relevant images and files.

Views(1)

Card View

Present and enter data in form-like cards instead of traditional table rows.

Pricing

Free

Free
  • Unlimited number of documents
  • Up to 5,000 records per document
  • Snapshot history goes back 30 days
  • 100 AI Assistant credits (one time)
  • Drag-and-drop layouts
  • Summary tables
  • Forms and surveys
  • Python formulas
  • Spreadsheet formulas
  • Conditional formatting
  • Card view
  • Charts
  • Third-party integrators
  • Custom widgets
  • Granular access rules
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Comments
  • Link sharing
  • Custom subdomain
  • Community forum
  • Up to 2 guests per document
  • 5k API calls/doc/day

Pro

$10/user/mo or $8/user/mo annually
  • Everything in Free, plus:
  • Up to 100,000 records per document
  • Snapshot history goes back 3 years
  • Starting at 100 AI Assistant credits per month
  • 40k API calls/doc/day
  • 3GB attachment storage per document

Business

$30/user/mo or $24/user/mo annually
  • Everything in Pro, plus:
  • Up to 150,000 records per document
  • Snapshot history goes back 5 years
  • Starting at 2,000 AI Assistant credits per month
  • Priority email support
  • 60k API calls/doc/day
  • 20GB attachment storage per document
  • Grist Solutions access
  • Grist Training Workshop eligible

Enterprise

Custom
  • Everything in Business, plus:
  • Dedicated server
  • Choose preferred geographical region
  • Custom SSO
  • Custom domain
  • Custom branding
  • Admin controls
  • Audit log streaming
  • Multiple team sites
  • Enterprise-level support and training services
  • Minimum 50 users

Enterprise Lite

$30/user/mo or $24/user/mo annually
  • Advanced features at lower cost without support
  • Admin controls
  • AI Assistant
  • Audit log streaming
  • Multiple team sites
  • Comments
  • Email notifications

Community Edition (Grist Core)

Free
  • Free and open-source
  • Self-hosted on your own server
  • Community support

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Grist

Monthly$10/mo
Yearly$120/yr
5-Year Total$600

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~4 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyEasy

Total Cost Comparison

1 Year
SaaS
$120
DIY
$240
3 Years
SaaS
$360
DIY
$720
5 Years
SaaS
$600
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 33 features at easy complexity.

Build vs Buy

Should you build a Grist alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 33 features.

Buy Grist

Better Value
Monthly cost$100/mo
3-year total$3,600
Time to deployDays

Build Your Own

Development cost$24,000
Maintenance$360/mo
3-year total$36,960
Dev time~2 months

Buying Grist saves ~$33,360 over 3 years vs building.

Estimates based on 33 features and a BuildScore of 4/5. Actual costs vary.

Integrations

8 known integrations

AWSAzureCloudronn8nREST APIUnraidWebhooksYunohost