TreeSheets
Open-source hierarchical spreadsheet for free-form notes and data
TreeSheets report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for plans and brainstorms that outgrow a flat outline
TreeSheets is a free, open-source oddity: a spreadsheet where any cell can hold another whole grid, so your notes nest like an outline but spread out in two directions. It's small and good for plans and brainstorms that have outgrown a flat list. It's desktop only, and each cell is a single line of text, so don't expect a proper writing editor.
Who TreeSheets is for
- Great if your brainstorms and plans have outgrown a flat outline
- Handy when you want structure in two dimensions, not just indentation
- Good for desktop users who want a small organiser that can sit in the system tray
Who TreeSheets is not for
- Skip it if you need your notes on a phone, as there's no mobile or web version
- Not for you if you write long formatted text, because a cell is a single line and not a rich text editor
Why TreeSheets gets a 3.4
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree and open source under the zlib licence. Every build is a free download from the project's GitHub releases, and there's no paid edition.
- AFree plan and trialThe full app is free on Windows, macOS and Linux, with nothing kept back.
- BFeaturesAny cell can hold its own sub-grid to any depth, and the mouse wheel zooms into nested ones. Cells resize after every edit, images can sit in cells, and pasting indented text rebuilds it as a tree. Clever. But each cell is one line of text, and files are .cts, so other software needs an XML, HTML or text export.
- BEase of useNo rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It's rows and columns, like a spreadsheet. One snag: the written tutorial on the website is marked as out of date, and the current one is a document that opens inside the app.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWindows, macOS and Linux, with Debian packages, AppImages and a Flatpak on Linux. The project lists no mobile or web version.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from TreeSheets' own pages on 9 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make TreeSheets? Put this grade on your site
Paste this where you want the badge. It links here and follows the grade if it changes. About badges
<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/treesheets#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/treesheets.svg" alt="TreeSheets: 3.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is TreeSheets?
TreeSheets is a free, open-source data organizer that its author calls a hierarchical spreadsheet. Information goes into grids of cells, and any cell can contain another grid, so a document nests like an outline while laying out in two dimensions. It is pitched for to-do lists, planning, brainstorming and other loosely structured data, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
TreeSheets is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Brainstorming and planning that outgrows a flat outline
- People who want structure in two dimensions, not just indentation
- Desktop users who want a small, fast organizer on any major OS
Worth knowing
- Desktop only: builds are offered for Windows, macOS and Linux, and the project lists no mobile or web version.
- Each cell is edited as a single line of text with optional word wrap, so it does not work like a rich text editor.
- The written tutorial on the website is marked as out of date; the current one is a document that opens inside the app.
- Documents are saved as .cts files, so using the data in other software means exporting to XML, HTML or text.
Key features
- Grids inside grids
- Any cell can hold its own sub-grid, so data nests to any depth while keeping a spreadsheet-like layout of rows and columns.
- Shrinking and zooming
- Text size is relative to nesting depth, cells can shrink to a pixel per character, and the mouse wheel zooms into a nested grid to make it readable.
- Automatic layout
- Cells resize to fit their content after every edit, and a column-width setting controls how the text in a cell wraps.
- Images in cells
- An image can be added to any cell and is stored as part of the document file, then copied to other cells in the sheet.
- Import, export and indented text
- Documents export to XML, HTML or text and import from XML. Pasting text indented by hierarchy level rebuilds that structure as a tree.
- Small footprint
- The author reports about 5 MB of memory on Windows 7 with several documents loaded, so it can stay in the system tray.
TreeSheets pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free and open source under the zlib license. Every build is a free download from the project's GitHub releases, and there is no paid edition.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| TreeSheets | $0 | The full app for Windows, macOS and Linux, with Debian packages, AppImages and a Flatpak for Linux. |
Read from strlen.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with TreeSheets before you buy.
Works with
TreeSheets alternatives
- TreeSheets vs Workflowy
Free plan · from $6.99/mo
- TreeSheets vs Dynalist
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
- TreeSheets vs OmniOutliner
Free trial · from $24.99 one-time
- TreeSheets vs NoteCase Pro
Free plan · from $5 one-time
Common questions
Is TreeSheets free?
Yes. TreeSheets is free to use. Free and open source under the zlib license. Every build is a free download from the project's GitHub releases, and there is no paid edition.
How much does TreeSheets cost?
TreeSheets lists one plan. TreeSheets: $0. Prices were read from strlen.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does TreeSheets work on?
TreeSheets is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does TreeSheets have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. TreeSheets is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does TreeSheets have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. TreeSheets is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is TreeSheets open source?
Yes. TreeSheets is open source, according to its own site.
What does TreeSheets integrate with?
TreeSheets's listing names Claude Code. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes TreeSheets?
TreeSheets is made by Wouter van Oortmerssen.
What are the alternatives to TreeSheets?
The closest alternatives to TreeSheets in our directory are Workflowy, Dynalist, OmniOutliner, CherryTree and NoteCase Pro. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with TreeSheets.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.