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Gnumeric vs VisiData (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 12, 2026, Gnumeric grades higher than VisiData: 3.0 against 2.6 out of 4.0.

Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA

Gnumeric grades higher on features and ease of use. VisiData grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and the free plan.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

Gnumeric

Free, open-source spreadsheet program

Free
Full detailsgnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org

VisiData

Terminal spreadsheet-style tool for exploring tabular data

Free
Full detailsvisidata.org

Which one is for you

Pick Gnumeric if

  • Fits if you run Linux and open large spreadsheets
  • Works for people who want a spreadsheet without a subscription or an account

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you use Windows, as the project does not release Windows binaries
  • Not for you if you use a Mac, phone or browser, since none is listed
  • Watch out: the newest Windows build the site links is 1.12.17, older than the current 1.12.62
  • Watch out: no cloud sharing is described

Pick VisiData if

  • Fits if you spend your day in a terminal and need a quick look at a data file
  • Works for people who know a little Python

Look elsewhere if

  • Not for you if you want a mouse and menus, since there is no graphical or browser interface
  • Skip it if you want Excel-style formulas, as calculation uses Python expressions
  • Watch out: Windows use goes through WSL or MSYS2's Python
  • Watch out: there is no phone or browser version

How we grade them

3.0GPAGnumericVery good2.6GPAVisiDataGood
Value for money
AFree of charge, open source under the GPL. A program anyone can download and run counts as free and substantial.
AFree and open source under GPLv3, installed with pip, Homebrew, conda or a package manager. A program anyone can download and run counts as free and substantial.
Free plan and trial
ANo plan, no cap and no account: the whole program and its source are free.
AThe whole program is free with no cap and no account. Its pricing page mentions paid plans that fund development, which you don't need.
Features
BA full spreadsheet program with a manual and tested functions. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core job.
CMany file formats, keystroke analysis, Python expressions and replayable sessions. Calculation is done in Python, not Excel-style formulas, which is a gap for a spreadsheet.
Ease of use
BNo store rating on record. On Linux you install it from your distribution's packages and open it, with nothing to set up.
DNo store rating on record. It is a terminal program run from a command line and learned through keystrokes.
Platforms and integrations
DLinux and BSD only. The project does not release Windows binaries, and no Mac, phone or browser version is listed.
CMac and Linux, with Windows only through WSL or MSYS2. It is a program for computers, and Python, SQLite and pandas links.
Best fora free spreadsheet on Linuxexploring CSV and JSON files from the terminal

The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Gnumeric and VisiData. How we grade

Price against what you get

Gnumeric has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. VisiData has no paid plan and scores 1.7.

Gnumeric scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other spreadsheet and database tools on the chart, none scores higher than Gnumeric for less, and none scores higher than VisiData for less.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500$1k$2kMore for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessGnumericVisiData

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of spreadsheet and database tools, and the best at every price

Where they differ

    In commonFree planLinuxOpen sourceSpreadsheets

    At a glance

    GnumericVisiData
    PricingFreeFree
    Starts atFreeFree
    Free planNoneThe software is free and GPLv3-licensed.
    Free trialNone listedNone listed
    macOS
    Linux
    Made byGnumericSaul Pwanson
    Price read fromgnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.orgvisidata.org
    CheckedNov 12, 2026Nov 12, 2026

    Worth knowing

    Gnumeric

    • The project does not release Windows binaries; the newest older build it links is 1.12.17.
    • On Linux and BSD the site recommends installing from your distribution's packages.
    • The site lists no macOS, mobile or browser versions.

    VisiData

    • It is a terminal program with no graphical or browser interface.
    • Windows use is through WSL or MSYS2's Python, per the install page.
    • The pricing page mentions paid plans that fund development, but their contents did not load in plain text, so their prices are not recorded here.
    • It is not built for formulas in the Excel sense; calculation is done in Python expressions.

    Key features

    Gnumeric

    Open source
    The program and its source code are free of charge under GPL version 2 or version 3.
    Fast with large files
    The site says Gnumeric starts quickly and stays responsive with large spreadsheets.
    Accuracy of functions
    The site points to research that found its built-in functions accurate.
    Tested functions
    The project aims to test every sheet function, preferably in its automated test suite; coverage is not complete.
    User's manual
    A user's manual and FAQ are published alongside the download page.

    VisiData

    Many file formats
    Opens CSV, TSV, JSON, Excel, HTML tables, SQLite, HDF5, YAML and more; the site says it handles millions of rows.
    Keystroke analysis
    Frequency tables and histograms come from one keystroke, and scatterplots are drawn in the terminal.
    Python expressions
    Compute a Python expression for each row to clean or derive columns.
    Replayable sessions
    Sessions can be saved and replayed, per the homepage.

    Plans

    Gnumeric

    • Free$0

      The full program and its source code, licensed under GPL version 2 or version 3.

    VisiData

    • Free$0

      The open-source program, installed with pip, Homebrew, conda or a Linux package manager.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, Gnumeric or VisiData?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, both Gnumeric and VisiData are free to use.

    Which has a free plan, Gnumeric or VisiData?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, both Gnumeric and VisiData have a free plan.

    Which platforms do Gnumeric and VisiData run on?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, only VisiData lists a macOS app. Both list a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.

    More comparisons

    How this page was made

    • The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
    • The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
    • Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
    • The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.
    How we review and grade