Baserow vs Grist

Baserow

• Teams that want an Airtable-style database they can host themselves
• Building internal tools and portals on top of structured data
• Organizations with data residency or compliance requirements

Grist

• Spreadsheet users who have outgrown a single sheet and need linked tables
• Teams that must limit what each collaborator can see in one document
• Organizations that want to self-host open-source software
• People comfortable writing Python in formulas

Baserow

• Cloud plans cap rows per workspace at 3,000 on Free, 50,000 on Premium and 250,000 on Advanced; after 7 days over the cap, new rows are blocked.
• The Free plan is limited to Grid, Form and Gallery views and CSV export; Kanban, Calendar and Timeline views and row comments need Premium.
• Role-based permissions, audit logs and single sign-on start at the Advanced plan, $18 per user / month billed yearly.
• Baserow Cloud limits the API to 10 concurrent requests; the self-hosted version has no rate limit.

Grist

• Records per document are capped at 5,000 on Free, 100,000 on Pro and 150,000 on Business.
• Business has a 5-user minimum, and Automations and priority email support start on that plan.
• On Grist's own servers, custom SSO, a custom domain and audit log streaming are listed under Enterprise only.
• The desktop app is a separate open-source build for Windows, macOS and Linux that works on spreadsheets stored locally.

Baserow

Relational databases and views

Tables link to one another and offer more than 20 field types. Grid, Form and Gallery views are free; Kanban, Calendar, Timeline and Survey views need a paid plan.

Application Builder

A drag-and-drop builder for internal tools, client portals and admin panels that sit on Baserow data, published on a Baserow subdomain or a custom domain.

Automations

No-code workflows with triggers, branches, conditions and loops, native HTTP, email and webhook actions, and third-party connectors. Runs draw on a monthly credit allowance.

Kuma and AI fields

Kuma, the built-in assistant, sets up databases and applications from a description, and the AI field creates, classifies and enriches data. Teams can bring their own LLM.

Self-hosting

Baserow can be installed with Docker, Helm, AWS or Cloudron. The self-hosted version has no limits on rows, storage or API requests, and paid features are licensed per user.

API and data sync

An open API with a published OpenAPI specification, plus webhooks. Data sync covers PostgreSQL tables and iCal feeds; Jira, GitLab, GitHub and HubSpot sync is part of the Advanced plan.

Grist

Relational spreadsheet documents

A Grist document is a relational spreadsheet-database with multiple tables, stored in SQLite format. Linked widgets pull up the details and related records of a selected row.

Python and Excel-style formulas

Formulas can be single or multi-line Python with the full standard library available, and most Excel-like spreadsheet functions are supported as well.

Granular access rules

Rules decide who can see or edit individual tables, columns, records and cells, so one document can be shared in part with team members, guests or public links.

Custom layouts, charts and widgets

Pages are arranged by dragging tables, cards and charts into place. Summary tables work as pivot tables, and custom widgets show data on a map or calendar.

Forms

Forms and surveys are built from a table and shared with a link, and the responses are analyzed in the same document as they arrive.

AI Assistant

Answers questions about data and formulas in plain language and can create or modify records and formulas. Usage is metered in credits, with extra packs from $10 a month on paid plans.

Baserow

• Free$0

  3,000 rows and 2 GB of storage per workspace, 2,000 automation credits, 500 external app users, and Grid, Form and Gallery views.

• Premium$10

  per user / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly)

  50,000 rows and 20 GB per workspace, 100,000 automation credits, all view types and AI features.

• Advanced$18

  per user / month, billed yearly ($22 billed monthly)

  250,000 rows and 100 GB per workspace, 500,000 automation credits, role-based permissions and audit logs.

• EnterpriseCustom

  1,000,000 rows and 1,000 GB per workspace, unlimited external app users, implementation support and payment by invoice.

Grist

• Free$0

  Unlimited documents with up to 5,000 records each, 10 team members, 30 days of snapshot history and 100 one-time AI Assistant credits.

• Grist Community edition$0

  Free and open-source edition hosted on your own server, with community support, custom domain and custom branding.

• Pro$8

  per user / month, billed annually ($10 billed monthly)

  Up to 100,000 records per document, snapshot history going back 3 years and AI Assistant credits starting at 100 a month.

• Business$24

  per user / month, billed annually ($30 monthly); min. 5 users

  Up to 150,000 records per document, 5 years of snapshot history, 2,000 AI Assistant credits a month, Automations and priority email support.

• Grist (self-hosted)$24

  per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly)

  Self-hosted edition with admin controls, the AI Assistant, Automations, custom SSO and audit log streaming, sold without support.

• EnterpriseCustom

  A dedicated server in a chosen region, or a supported self-hosted installation, with custom SSO, custom domain and audit log streaming.

Baserow

• Annual discount

  Lower rates with yearly billing

  Premium is $10 per user a month billed yearly against $12 billed monthly, and Advanced is $18 against $22, a saving of roughly 17% to 18%.

• Nonprofit

  Discounts for non-profits

  Baserow's pricing FAQ says it offers discounts for non-profits. The amount is not published and is arranged through the sales team.

• Education

  Discounts for education

  The same FAQ says discounts are available for education. The amount is not published and is arranged through the sales team.

Grist

• Annual discount

  Save 20% by paying annually

  Pro is $8 per user a month billed annually against $10 billed monthly, and Business is $24 against $30.

• Nonprofit

  50% off Pro for nonprofits

  Non- and not-for-profit organizations are eligible for a 50% discount on the Pro plan, requested by emailing a Letter of Determination before the free trial ends.

• Other savings

  Free activation key for small self-hosters

  Individuals and organizations with less than $1 million in total annual income may request a free activation key for self-hosted Grist.