Grist
Twenty
| Feature | Grist | Twenty |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10/mo | Free only |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, data-teams, non-profits, open-source-advocates | startups, developers, privacy-focused-businesses, open-source-enthusiasts |
| Founded | 2019 | 2023 |
| Relational Data | ✓ | ✗ |
| Python Formulas | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| Access Rules | ✓ | ✗ |
| Incremental Imports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contacts Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pipeline | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom Objects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Graphql Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Calendar Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Twenty Pros
- Completely open-source and free to self-host
- Modern, beautiful UI rivaling paid CRMs
- Flexible data model with custom objects
- GraphQL API for developers
✗ Twenty Cons
- Young project with frequent breaking changes
- Fewer integrations than mature CRMs
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise
The Verdict
Grist is built for developers and data teams, with a focus on relational-data and python-formulas. Twenty targets startups and developers and leads with contacts-management and pipeline.
Twenty uses custom enterprise pricing, while Grist starts at $10/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Twenty offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Grist takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for developers — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
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.