Mathesar vs Rowy (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Rowy grades higher than Mathesar: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Rowy grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Rowy
Spreadsheet-style UI and low-code backend for Firebase
Which one is for you
Pick Mathesar if
- Fits if you run Postgres and want non-technical people to edit rows
- Makes sense if you want a database screen under your own control
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you don't have a Postgres database, as it works with nothing else
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, since you host it with Docker
- Watch out: Mathesar Cloud is described as early beta and has no published price
- Watch out: no desktop or phone apps are listed
Pick Rowy if
- Fits if your app runs on Firebase and you want a grid for the data
- Works for developers who want cloud functions attached to rows
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you don't use Firebase, as it only sits on Firestore
- Skip it if you want a maintained product, since the site shows a 2023 copyright and promotes BuildShip
- Tight if you export a lot, as Base exports up to 10K rows
- Watch out: Google Cloud charges apply outside Rowy's plans
- Watch out: Pro's billing basis isn't stated, only a 10% saving
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAMathesarFair | 2.2GPARowyFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree and open source, but you have to run it on a server of your own, and software that is only free if you host it yourself sits at a C. The cloud version has no published price. | CPro is $12 per seat a month, which is the middle of spreadsheet tools. Cloud functions run in your own Google Cloud project, so GCP charges are extra. |
| Free plan and trial | BThere is no paid plan and no cap, so everything is free once you have somewhere to run it. The server is your cost. | BThe Base plan is free for one project with unlimited tables and cloud functions, exports capped at 10K rows. A one-month Pro trial is offered. |
| Features | CSpreadsheet-like editing, queries without SQL, Postgres permissions and single sign-on. It is a window onto Postgres and not a spreadsheet, so it only does that smaller job. | CA grid on Firestore with cloud functions, derivative fields and webhooks. It only works with Firebase, and the site promotes the newer BuildShip product. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. You install it with Docker and point it at a database, so a technical person sets it up. | DNo store rating on record. You need a Firebase and Google Cloud project and set up functions, so it is technical. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, and PostgreSQL only. No desktop or phone app is listed. | BWeb only, with Firebase, Google Cloud, SendGrid, Slack, WhatsApp and Typeform links and an API. No desktop or phone app is listed. |
| Best for | a spreadsheet-like screen on your own Postgres database | a spreadsheet-style screen on a Firebase database |
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: Mathesar and Rowy. How we grade
Price against what you get
Mathesar has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Rowy starts at $12 a month for each person and scores 2.0.
Rowy scores higher, and starts $12 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other spreadsheet and database tools on the chart, none scores higher than Mathesar for less, and 19 score higher than Rowy for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
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
Where they differ
- Mathesar also covers forms.
- Rowy also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| Mathesar | Rowy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $12 per seat / month (Pro) |
| Free plan | None | Base plan: 1 project, unlimited tables and cloud functions, role-based access, row-level auditing and export up to 10K rows. |
| Free trial | None listed | One-month free trial of Pro |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Mathesar Foundation | Rowy Inc. |
| Price read from | mathesar.org | rowy.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Mathesar
- It works only with PostgreSQL databases.
- You host it yourself; Mathesar Cloud is noted in the documentation as early beta and no price is published.
- No mobile or desktop apps are listed; it is a web interface.
Rowy
- The page notes the Pro plan's $12 as the monthly price and mentions a 10% saving without giving the annual figure.
- Cloud functions run on your own Google Cloud project, so GCP charges apply outside Rowy's plans.
- The site promotes the newer BuildShip product and shows a 2023 copyright date, so check that Rowy is still maintained.
- Export on the Base plan is limited to 10K rows.
Key features
Mathesar
- Spreadsheet-like editing
- View, add and edit Postgres records in a grid, and import or export data in the UI.
- Queries without SQL
- Join tables, filter, sort, group and summarize data to make custom views.
- Postgres permissions
- Access control relies on native Postgres roles, schemas and tables rather than a separate layer.
- Self-hosting
- Installs with Docker Compose in minutes, with guides for DigitalOcean and Railway.
- Single sign-on
- The administrator guide documents SSO configuration.
Rowy
- Spreadsheet UI on your database
- Shows Firestore data in a familiar grid with more than 30 field types.
- Cloud functions
- Write backend logic beside the table and use any npm package or API.
- Derivative and action fields
- Calculate values when fields change and run tasks from a button.
- Webhooks and extensions
- Receive data from outside sources and send changes to services such as SendGrid and Slack.
- Your data stays yours
- Data lives in your own Firebase project, so you pick the region.
Plans
Mathesar
Self-hosted$0
Open-source software you install and host yourself, with Docker; no paid plan is listed.
Rowy
Base$0
1 project, 30+ column types, unlimited cloud functions, CSV, TSV and JSON import, community support.
Pro$12
per seat / month, billing basis not stated
Unlimited projects, full-text search, large exports, email support, GCP billing hard cap; page mentions a 10% saving.
BusinessCustom
Adds custom domain, priority support, data version control and automated backups. Contact sales.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Mathesar or Rowy?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Mathesar is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $12 a month for each person for Rowy. Mathesar is free, and Rowy starts at $12 per seat / month (Pro).
Which has a free plan, Mathesar or Rowy?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Mathesar and Rowy have a free plan.
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.