Grist
Rows
| Feature | Grist | Rows |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10/mo | Free / from $59/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, data-teams, non-profits, open-source-advocates | data-analysts, marketers, startups, growth-teams |
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
| Relational Data | ✓ | ✗ |
| Python Formulas | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Access Rules | ✓ | ✗ |
| Incremental Imports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Assistant | ✗ | ✓ |
| Charts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Connections | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Rows Pros
- Built-in data integrations
- Modern clean interface
- Powerful AI features
- Great for data analysis
✗ Rows Cons
- Limited free plan
- Smaller community
- Some integrations require paid plan
The Verdict
Grist is built for developers and data teams, with a focus on relational-data and python-formulas. Rows targets data analysts and marketers and leads with integrations and ai-assistant.
On pricing, Grist is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $10/mo compared to $59/mo for Rows. That $49/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.