Grist vs Sourcetable

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

Sourcetable

• Analysts who want to query databases and SaaS data without writing SQL
• Finance and market research in a spreadsheet with an AI assistant
• Students and faculty, who get 50% off the Pro and Max plans

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.

Sourcetable

• AI use is metered in credits: 50 a month on the free Regular plan, 2,000 on Pro and 6,000 on Max, with extra credits sold in one-time packs from $10.
• Deep Research, premium AI models, the Python toolkit and the SQL editor need the Pro plan.
• It runs in the browser only; on phones the vendor describes viewing workbooks and quick edits rather than the full experience.
• The pricing page lists monthly prices only, and the vendor's FAQ page quotes a different Pro price ($20 a month).

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.

Sourcetable

AI analyst in the spreadsheet

Ask a question in plain English and the AI answers it, writes formulas, builds pivots and cleans or transforms data. Manual control stays available through A1-style formulas.

Data connectors

Connects to databases and applications including PostgreSQL, MySQL, BigQuery, Supabase, Stripe, Notion, GA4 and Google Ads. The vendor counts more than 900 data sources.

Charts from a prompt

Describe a chart and it is built from the data. Visualizations can be downloaded as images or embedded as interactive widgets that update when the data changes.

Python and SQL

The Pro plan adds a Python and data science toolkit with libraries such as Pandas, NumPy and Scikit-learn, plus a SQL editor, query builder and query library.

Large files

Files of up to 10 GB are supported, with larger limits on request. Large files are processed server-side, and the vendor says files with over 1 million rows can be analyzed.

Sharing and version history

Workbooks are shared by email invite or link with view, edit or admin permissions and edited together in real time. Changes are saved automatically, with versions that can be restored.

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.

Sourcetable

• Regular$0

  50 AI credits a month, the AI spreadsheet assistant with message limits, formulas, pivots, charts and access to data connectors.

• Pro$29

  per user / month

  2,000 credits a month, Deep Research, premium AI models, the Python and data science toolkit, and a SQL editor, query builder and library.

• Max$100

  per user / month

  6,000 credits a month, the highest model intelligence, advanced agent capabilities and unlimited AI messages, subject to abuse guardrails.

• EnterpriseCustom

  For teams of 15 or more seats: SAML single sign-on, bring-your-own-key encryption, role-based access control and a dedicated account manager.

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.

Sourcetable

• Education

  50% off Pro and Max for students and faculty

  The pricing FAQ says students and faculty receive a 50% discount on the Pro and Max plans by emailing support. Students are also asked to sign up with a university email.

• Nonprofit

  Discounted pricing for registered non-profits

  Sourcetable's FAQ says registered non-profit organizations can receive discounted pricing by contacting support with their documentation. The amount is not published.