Free Plan + Open-Source

Smartsheet alternative for connected data

Start with a solid foundation, build with a familiar spreadsheet UI, and then grow with confidence.

A complete package for connected data

Smartsheet connects project management with spreadsheet management to keep your data and your team connected. But users find that their unique needs often require premium add-ons like DataMesh and Data Shuttle for fundamental tasks like linking and syncing information.

Grist’s database foundation means that related and connected data is built in from the get-go. Combine this with unparalleled permissions and real data ownership for a future-proof Smartsheet alternative.

Smartsheet’s hidden costs surface quickly

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Premium add-ons for basics
DataMesh and Data Shuttle cost $100+/month just to link and sync your data.

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The 20,000 row wall
Hit this limit and your sheets can fail without warning.

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No true data ownership
Proprietary format locks you in. Grist uses portable SQLite files you can take anywhere that retain relationships.

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Zero transparency
Closed-source. Grist’s open-source license allows for greater transparency and community trust.

Grist flowchart showing it's database structure and frontend views.

Key differences

Smartsheet

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Built-in PM tools like Gantt charts, critical paths, and resource tracking

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Spreadsheet interface with layered PM features for operational teams

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Portfolio management with rollup reports, dashboards, and cross-project visibility

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Proprietary format creates vendor lock-in

Grist

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Spreadsheet UI + database structure for clean data with higher row limits

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Foundational flexibility and extensibility with custom views and integrations

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Granular access rules (RBAC) for secure, cross-functional collaboration

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SQLite format ensures data portability

Feature comparison

Smartsheet
Grist
Spreadsheet interface
Data visualizations
Reporting
Real-time collaboration
Automations
Excel formula support
API / webhooks
Forms
Integrations
Drag-and-drop layouts
Native Python supportX
Relational dataX
Free plan with no time limitX
Granular access controlsX
Self-hostableX
Open-sourceX
AI AssistantEnterprise only.
Row limits20,000 (All plans).5,000 (free plan), 150,000 (Paid).

Grist is the best Smartsheet alternative for:

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Businesses with unique processes in need of highly customizable solutions

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Enterprises handling sensitive data who need to host on their own servers

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Data-intensive teams needing robust relational databases and secure collaboration

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Users looking to try out generous free solutions with no lock-in

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my data if I leave Grist?

Your data lives in standard SQLite files. Take it anywhere. No proprietary formats, no export headaches. True ownership.

Do I need to pay extra for basic features?

Never. Relational data, permissions, imports/exports, API access, for example, are all included. Even our AI Assistant is available on all plans, not just Enterprise.

Can I actually edit data in dashboards?

Yes. Unlike Smartsheet’s read-only dashboards, Grist’s layouts are fully interactive. View charts and edit underlying data on the same screen.

“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

“Grist has become our go-to for more complex, structured data. It sits somewhere between Excel and Access—powerful, relational, and flexible enough for prototyping real data-driven applications.”

Olivier Lambert
CEO at Vates

“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 discovered Grist after becoming frustrated with the limitations of 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

“Sharing an Access database is near impossible, but Grist makes sharing a relational database simple.”

Walt Rice
IT Consultant

“I needed an open-source master database that could connect to n8n and AI tools. After trying Notion, Airtable, Siyuan, Baserow, and NocoDB, I chose Grist for its Python-native AI support, flexible integrations, and simple n8n connections.”

Robin A.
Project Manager

“I’ve worked extensively with NocoDB, Notion, SeaTable, and Baserow, and Grist really stands out. The balance between spreadsheet-style flexibility and structured, low-code database design is excellent.”

Andriy Kostyuk
Automation Engineer, Founder at Enceladus

Get Started

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