Grist
Photopea
| Feature | Grist | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10/mo | Free / from $5/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, data-teams, non-profits, open-source-advocates | designers, students, photo-editors, budget-conscious-creatives |
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
| Relational Data | ✓ | ✗ |
| Python Formulas | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Access Rules | ✓ | ✗ |
| Incremental Imports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Photo Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Psd Support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Layers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Filters | ✗ | ✓ |
| Batch Processing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vector Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Grist Pros
- Fully open-source (Apache 2.0)
- Python formulas instead of spreadsheet formulas
- Self-hostable
- Strong access control and permissions
✗ Grist Cons
- Fewer integrations than Airtable
- Smaller template library
- Less intuitive for non-technical users
✓ Photopea Pros
- Free and browser-based
- Opens PSD files perfectly
- No installation needed
- Full editing capabilities
✗ Photopea Cons
- Ads on free version
- Can be slow with large files
- Limited batch processing
The Verdict
Grist is built for developers and data teams, with a focus on relational-data and python-formulas. Photopea targets designers and students and leads with photo-editing and psd-support.
On pricing, Photopea is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $10/mo for Grist. That $5/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.