Spreadsheet familiarity, database power
Take a quick tour of the Grist interface, customizable widgets, and relational capabilities.
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Spreadsheet comparison for modern data management
Grist vs Sheets
Drowning in spreadsheet chaos? Google Sheets and Grist solve fundamentally different data problems. Find out which solution matches your data reality.
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Choose Grist when: You’ve outgrown spreadsheets and need the power and stability of a database. Your data relationships are complex, and you need Python-powered analysis. You need granular access rules for collaboration, or the security of self-hosting.
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Choose Google Sheets when: Your team needs basic spreadsheet collaboration that’s free and accessible. You’re working with simple data, prioritize real-time collaboration, and want seamless integration with Google Workspace tools.
| Google Sheets | Grist | |
|---|---|---|
| Relational data | Limited. Primarily flat spreadsheet structure with basic lookup functions. | Native. Supports multiple related tables for structured data management. |
| Granular access controls | Basic. Sheet-level sharing with view, edit, and comment permissions. | Advanced. Access controls down to individual cells, with rules based on user attributes and data values. |
| Advanced formulas (Python) | Limited. Supports basic Excel-like functions and Apps Script, but no native Python for complex calculations. | Native. Offers Python formulas with full standard library access, enabling powerful data analysis. |
| JSON | Limited. Custom function to call the API location (versus the ability to import a file). | Native. Import JSON files as a new document or integrate into existing data. |
| AI assistant | Yes. Gemini AI available in paid Google Workspace plans. Limited in free version. | Yes. Built-in AI assistant for formula creation and data analysis, available on all plans. |
| Version control | ✔ | ✔ |
| Integrations | Strong. Seamless with Google Workspace; supports add-ons and Apps Script for custom integrations. | Strong. Offers REST API, webhooks, and integrations (Zapier, n8n, and more) for developer-friendly connectivity. |
| Real-time collaboration | Strong. Real-time editing, commenting, and chat for seamless team collaboration. | Strong. Teams collaborate in real-time with precise access rules, ensuring a single source of truth. |
| Data portability | Limited. Export to Excel, CSV formats. Dependent on Google’s cloud infrastructure. | Advanced. SQLite format preserves all data, formulas, and relationships. No vendor lock-in. |
| Customization & views | Basic. Limited to standard spreadsheet layouts with minimal view options. | Flexible. Drag-and-drop layouts, custom widgets, and multiple views (tables, cards, charts) for tailored workflows. |
| Data visualization | Basic. Excels at simple charts and pivot tables, but struggles with complex, multi-dimensional data. | Advanced. Supports charts, card views, and summary tables for dynamic data insights. |
| Self-hostable | X | Yes. Self-hostable and open-source. Complete control over data and infrastructure. |
Google Sheets vs Grist
Drowning in spreadsheet chaos while your operations continue to grow? The choice between Google Sheets and Grist depends on your core problem: basic collaboration or escaping spreadsheet limitations.
Google Sheets transformed team collaboration with free, cloud-based spreadsheets that anyone can access and edit together instantly.
Grist transforms data management itself. Purpose-built for SMBs outgrowing spreadsheets who need database power and data standardization, and technical users requiring advanced capabilities like Python support and complete data control through self-hosting.
How Sheets compares to Grist
When unstructured data causes workflow issues and manual consolidation wastes time, businesses need more than better sharing features.
Google Sheets excels at accessible collaboration. Teams love its ease of use, familiar interface, and seamless Google Workspace integration.
But if you’re working with complex data relationships, need granular access controls, or require analytical power, Google Sheets may fall short.
Grist unlocks true database power. Built-in relational capabilities, Python formulas, cell-level permissions, and self-hosting options solve the data management challenges that slow business growth.
Why businesses choose Google Sheets
Ease of use & accessibility
- Familiar, intuitive, and simple to get started. Short learning curve for basic tasks.
- Web-based SaaS architecture makes it accessible from any device with a network connection.
Cost-effectiveness
- Free for individual and small business use.
- Paid Google Workspace plans offer additional business features at a reasonable cost.
Team collaboration
- Users work simultaneously with real time updates, comments, and chat, eliminating version control issues and enhancing productivity for remote or distributed teams.
Google ecosystem
- Seamlessly integrates with other Google Workspace apps and services, streamlining workflows and providing a centralized environment.
Automation capabilities
- Supports macros and Google Apps Script for automating repetitive Google Workspace tasks and linking to Google APIs.
What are the disadvantages of Sheets?
Limited access controls & security: lacks granular user-level change tracking for accountability, making it prone to errors, data breaches, or malicious tampering.
Manual data consolidation challenges: consolidating data from various sources is time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies and inconsistencies.
Multiple sources of truth: frequent edits and changes in dynamic environments can lead to conflicting versions of data, making it difficult to ensure accuracy for decision-making.
No relational data capabilities: connecting data across sheets requires complex VLOOKUP formulas and manual updates, negatively impacting data integrity as relationships grow.
No self-hosting or data ownership options: data lives exclusively on Google’s servers with no option for data sovereignty.
Why businesses choose Grist
True relational database
Connect data across tables without fragile formulas. Maintain data integrity as your business grows.
Granular access controls
Control who sees and edits specific parts of your data, down to individual cells.
Self-hosting and data control
Host on your severs, export to SQLite for portability, customize everything. Ideal for businesses with data privacy concerns.
Python formulas and AI assistance
Advanced calculations with Python plus AI Assistant for formula creation + data analysis and insights.
Spreadsheet interface
The power of a database with the familiar UI that everyone knows and loves. Collaborate with users of all technical levels without compromise.
Single source of truth
All your interconnected data in one place. No reconciliation of multiple spreadsheets or conflicting versions.
“I love Grist. It’s crazy powerful. I still can’t believe what we’ve been able to achieve in it. It’s the dream that low-code was sold as for years – we can do incredible things in each column with Python and we can build our own widgets to run on those! Wild!”
Elliot Lee
User Researcher
“The more I use Grist, the more I LOVE it. I have been surveying self-hosted database GUI tools, and I was consistently disappointed with their shortcomings or bugginess. Grist is the first to have tilted the balance the other way.”
Stephen S.
Publications, Personal City Guides
“Grist has given us incredible flexibility to solve data problems and find solutions, whether it is for a small team at the district, or at scale with the entire district staff. We’re really excited about the different ways we can use it going forward.”
Director of Product
EdTech Company
“What I like about Grist the most is its focus. It appears simple, but it’s very powerful in a focused way. Grist has really improved our workflow and communication.”
Chris Scott
Co-founder in Digital Marketing
“If people spend some time learning a new tool they’ll have more power to do their work and research. I said to one of my students, ‘You will be very very happy using Grist because you are miserable using Excel!'”
Eduardo Dalcin, Ph.D.
Biodiversity Informatics Expert
“Most CRMs don’t work the way Grist works. Grist’s layouts are simple and do exactly what we need.”
Jennifer Bledsoe
IT Tech at Law Firm
“I recently discovered Grist after becoming frustrated with the limitations of traditional spreadsheets like Excel and Google Sheets. Grist has been a breath of fresh air, especially with its ability to handle structured data in a way that feels familiar to anyone with experience in relational databases, but with the added flexibility of Python.”
Will Bailey
Small Business Manager
How businesses can get started with Grist
Easily import existing XLSX and CSV files to start using Grist right away.
Grist’s incremental imports feature allows users to import new activity to existing data and Grist intelligently combines it without creating duplicates or needing manual cleanup.
Pre-built templates
Jump right into Grist’s spreadsheet-like interface with these pre-built templates:
The evolution of spreadsheets
Excel set the standard. Google Sheets democratized it. But when spreadsheet limitations break your workflows, you need database capabilities.
Google Sheets made collaboration free and instant, bringing real-time editing to teams worldwide.
Grist rebuilds spreadsheets from the ground up. When you’re drowning in data complexity and need relational power without losing spreadsheet simplicity, Grist delivers the database foundation teams actually want to use.
