Alternatives · Spreadsheets
GRID alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best GRID alternative for most people is Google Sheets (3.4 GPA), first in our ranking of spreadsheet and database tools. It's also the best free one.
GRID compared with 4 alternatives: Univer, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel and Equals.
GRID's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site. 3 of the 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a GRID sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRIDThis tool | Free trial | Trial only | Web |
| Univer | Free plan · from $99/mo | Yes | Web |
| Google Sheets | Free plan · from $7/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Microsoft Excel | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Equals | Free trial · from $24,000/yr | Trial only | Web |
How each one differs from GRID
Univer
Embeddable spreadsheet, document and slide SDK
- Univer starts at $99 per month, or from $1,000 per year billed annually.
- Univer has a free plan, which GRID lacks.
- Univer is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
Suits: Developers adding a spreadsheet editor to their own product
Google Sheets
Browser-based spreadsheet, free with a Google Account
- Google Sheets starts at $7 per user / month with a 1-year commitment (Workspace Business Starter).
- Google Sheets has a free plan, which GRID lacks.
- Google Sheets also lists iOS and Android apps.
- Google Sheets does not cover AI agents, which GRID does.
Suits: Teams that edit and review the same spreadsheet together in a browser
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet app sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser
- Microsoft Excel starts at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal).
- Microsoft Excel has a free plan, which GRID lacks.
- Microsoft Excel also lists Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Microsoft Excel also covers templates.
- Microsoft Excel does not cover AI agents, which GRID does.
Suits: People who need a full desktop spreadsheet on Windows or Mac
Equals
Spreadsheet connected to business data, with dashboards
- Equals starts at $24,000 per year, unlimited seats, sold through a demo.
- Equals also covers workflow automation, reports and dashboards.
- Equals does not cover AI agents, which GRID does.
Suits: Revenue and sales teams reporting on ARR, pipeline and retention
Limits worth knowing in GRID
- No published prices: commercial licenses are scoped to the use case and quoted through a contact form.
- The evaluation license is for development, testing and personal use only; shipping a product or running an internal workflow needs a commercial license.
- It is a developer toolkit rather than a spreadsheet app for end users.
- Early-stage companies are told to get in touch for matching pricing.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to GRID?
The alternatives to GRID in this directory are Univer, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel and Equals. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with GRID.
Is there a free alternative to GRID?
Yes. Univer, Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which GRID alternatives work on Windows?
The GRID listing does not include a Windows app. Microsoft Excel lists one.
Which GRID alternatives work on macOS?
The GRID listing does not include a macOS app. Microsoft Excel lists one.
Is there an open-source alternative to GRID?
Univer is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.