# Pyspread review (2026): is it any good? > Free open-source spreadsheet where every cell holds Python code Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Pyspread is a desktop spreadsheet that takes Python expressions in its cells instead of a spreadsheet formula language. Each cell returns a Python object that other cells can use, so lists, matrices and charts can sit in a grid. The project says its target users already know Python or want to learn it, and it is not aimed at people looking for a drop-in Excel replacement. - **Category:** Spreadsheets & Databases - **Made by:** Martin Manns and the pyspread team - **Website:** https://pyspread.gitlab.io - **Runs on:** Linux, Windows - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you use a Mac, as macOS is currently unsupported. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Pyspread is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** None. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | Free software under the GPL v3 licence; no paid plans. | Read from https://pyspread.gitlab.io/ on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Pyspread before buying. ## Key features - **Python in cells:** Cells accept Python expressions, so no separate spreadsheet formula language is needed. - **Python modules available:** Cells can use modules such as NumPy, and a macro panel can import your own modules. - **Charts and images:** Cells can show text, markup, images, dates or charts; Matplotlib and R charts are supported, some through optional dependencies. - **Import and export:** Imports CSV, SVG and XLSX, and exports CSV, SVG and PDF; XLSX import needs optional dependencies and PDF is made by printing to file. - **Signed save files:** The pysu save format works with git, and blake2b signatures are meant to stop foreign code from running. ## Good for - Python users comparing results of different parameter sets in a grid - People who want to keep business data in CSV files and calculate with tested Python modules ## Worth knowing - The project says people without Python experience may find the learning curve for code in cells too steep. - It is not built to parallelize heavy computation, and long-running cells can lock up the app. - The install page lists Linux, POSIX platforms and Windows, and says macOS is currently unsupported. - It needs Python and PyQt6, and is installed with pip or a system package. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 2.6 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Pyspread is a free, open-source spreadsheet where each cell is Python code. The project itself says the learning curve may be too steep without Python experience, it needs Python and PyQt6, and macOS isn't supported. - **Value for money: A.** Free under GPL v3 for anyone to download and run, with no paid plan. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free outright, with no cap and no paid tier. - **Features: C.** Python in cells, modules, charts, images and import and export. Long-running cells can lock the app, and it isn't built for heavy computation. - **Ease of use: D.** You install it with pip or a system package and it needs Python and PyQt6. The project warns that cell code is a steep climb for non-programmers. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** A program for computers only, on Linux and Windows. macOS is listed as unsupported, with links to NumPy, Matplotlib and R. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Martin Manns and the pyspread team's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among spreadsheet and database tools - Pyspread's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 38 of the 63 other spreadsheet and database tools we grade, and level with 8. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 51 of 63) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0). - Pyspread has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/spreadsheets ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Pyspread is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. - You could not: A spreadsheet engine with its formulas. - You could not: A real app for Windows and Linux. Something home-made would be a web page. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. ## Works with NumPy, Matplotlib, R, Plotnine **Tags:** Spreadsheets, Open source ## Alternatives - [LibreOffice Calc](https://toolgpa.com/tools/libreoffice-calc): Free, open-source spreadsheet for Windows, macOS and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/libreoffice-calc-vs-pyspread) - [Gnumeric](https://toolgpa.com/tools/gnumeric): Free, open-source spreadsheet program. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/gnumeric-vs-pyspread) - [VisiData](https://toolgpa.com/tools/visidata): Terminal spreadsheet-style tool for exploring tabular data. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/pyspread-vs-visidata) - [Mito](https://toolgpa.com/tools/mito): Jupyter extensions: spreadsheet view and AI chat that write Python. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/mito-vs-pyspread) - [Calligra Sheets](https://toolgpa.com/tools/calligra-sheets): Desktop spreadsheet from KDE's Calligra office suite. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/calligra-sheets-vs-pyspread) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://pyspread.gitlab.io/ - https://pyspread.gitlab.io/install.html Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/pyspread Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).