Grist: Free Open Source Spreadsheet Software
Spreadsheets have been the backbone of data management for decades, but traditional tools often feel limited once teams grow or workflows become more complex. That’s where Grist comes in.
Grist is a free, open-source spreadsheet software designed to go beyond rows and columns. It combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with the power of a database, providing advanced features for teams, organizations, and individuals who want flexibility and control over their data.
Watch our platform overview on YouTube
Onboarding & Tutorials
Grist makes it easy to get started. New users are welcomed with interactive tutorials and guides that introduce the platform step by step. The learning curve is surprisingly smooth, especially for those already comfortable with Excel or Google Sheets. Built-in examples and demo documents let you practice before diving into your own projects.
Templates
Need to hit the ground running? Grist offers a library of ready-to-use templates covering use cases like project management, CRM, finances, and inventory tracking. Templates aren’t rigid — they can be customized freely, giving you a head start without locking you into predefined structures.
While the templates are only available on the cloud version, they can be used as source of inspiration on your self-hosted instance.
Turn Spreadsheets into Database
One of Grist’s standout features is its ability to transform spreadsheets into powerful databases.
With relational tables, linked records, and lookup fields, you can model data more intelligently than in standard spreadsheets. This makes Grist especially useful for businesses that need the flexibility of a database but prefer the simplicity of a spreadsheet interface.
Widgets & Customization
Grist lets you tailor your workspace with widgets such as charts, summary tables, and cards. You can build dashboards that visualize data in meaningful ways, making it easier to analyze information at a glance.
The customization options mean you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all layout — you can create a view that best suits your workflow.
Form Creation
Collecting data doesn’t have to mean messy manual input. Grist includes a form creation feature that lets you design custom forms to capture information directly into your tables.
Whether it’s customer feedback, employee timesheets, or product surveys, forms streamline data entry and ensure consistency.
Access Rules
Collaboration is a big part of modern spreadsheets, but it also raises questions about control. Grist addresses this with granular access rules.
You can decide exactly who can view, edit, or manage specific parts of your data. This is especially useful in team environments where different roles require different levels of access.
Audit Trail
Transparency matters. Grist provides an audit trail that tracks changes across documents. You can see who edited what and when, making it easier to maintain accountability and recover from mistakes. For organizations where data integrity is critical, this feature is a major advantage.
Workspaces & Teams
For larger projects, Grist offers workspaces to organize documents and manage permissions across teams.
Workspaces make it simple to separate projects by department, client, or function while still allowing collaboration within groups.
Team management tools help ensure everyone has the right level of access without unnecessary complexity.
Conclusion
Grist isn’t just another spreadsheet tool — it’s a powerful open-source platform that bridges the gap between spreadsheets and databases. With features like templates, widgets, forms, and access rules, it gives teams full control over how they manage and share data.
If you’re looking for a free, customizable, and collaborative alternative to traditional spreadsheet software, Grist is well worth exploring. It empowers users to organize data more intelligently, collaborate securely, and scale workflows without hitting the limits of conventional tools.