#32 in Frameworks & LibrariesUpdated 2026-08

Grist

by Grist · Relational spreadsheet-database with Python formulas and row-level access rules

49.5 — BenchRank score out of 100

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Overview

Grist is a relational spreadsheet-database for building data applications without code. Documents combine spreadsheet-style grids with linked tables, drag-and-drop layouts, charts, summary tables and forms, and formulas written in Python or familiar Excel functions. Granular access rules control who sees each row and column, and it can be self-hosted or reached through a REST API and webhooks.

Best for: Teams turning spreadsheets into relational apps that need row-level access rules or self-hosting
Pricing: Free plan, then Pro at $8/user/month and Business at $24/user/month (minimum 5 users), with Enterprise on request; annual billing saves 20% and nonprofits get 50% off Pro.
Runs on: WebSelf-hosted

Strengths and trade-offs

Strengths

Formulas support Python syntax plus Excel functions
Access rules control visibility down to row and column
Can be self-hosted; documents stored in SQLite format
REST API, webhooks and custom widgets for extension

Trade-offs

Records per document capped: 5,000 free, 150,000 on Business
Business plan requires a minimum of 5 users
Automations and priority email support start at $24/user/month
SSO, audit log streaming and admin controls are Enterprise-only

Pricing

Published plans from Grist’s own pricing page, in USD. Usage charges and add-ons may apply on top.

Grist pricing tiers, monthly rates in USD
Plan	Monthly	Includes
Free	—per user	Up to 5,000 records per document 30 days of automatic backups 1GB attachment storage per document 100 AI Assistant credits for the lifetime of the account
Pro	$8per user	Up to 100,000 records per document Snapshot history goes back 3 years From 100 AI Assistant credits per month 40k API calls per document per day 30-day trial
Business	$24per user	Minimum 5 users Up to 150,000 records per document, 5 years of snapshots Automations and priority email support From 2,000 AI Assistant credits per month
Enterprise	Contact sales	Dedicated server, custom SSO, domain and branding Admin controls and audit log streaming Multiple team sites and custom limits Grist Training Workshop and Grist Solutions

How this score is made up

Each dimension is scored out of 100 and combined into the headline score using fixed weights.

MCP support: 0 out of 100
API quality: 30 out of 100
Documentation: 60 out of 100
Agent friendliness: 67 out of 100
Pricing transparency: 100 out of 100
Changelog: 100 out of 100
Marketing site structure: 45 out of 100
Operational trust: 25 out of 100

Measured, but not part of the score

Useful to know, but not a mark for or against the product — so these do not affect the ranking.

Openness: 85 out of 100
Maintenance: 100 out of 100

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