Happy Valley

Grist vs NocoDB

Grist and NocoDB are both databases & spreadsheets tools. Grist is aimed at developers and small businesses, while NocoDB is aimed at developers. Grist costs less, from $10/mo versus $15/mo for NocoDB. Both have a free plan.

Grist

Relational spreadsheet with Python formulas

NocoDB

Turn any database into a smart spreadsheet

PricingOpen source · $10Freemium · $15
Starting price$10/mo$15/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial30 days—
Built forDevelopers, Small businessesDevelopers
Platformswebweb
CountryUS · 2017SG · 2021
Rating——

Choose Grist if

Power users wanting spreadsheet + database.

  • Powerful formulas
  • Fine-grained permissions
  • Open source

Look elsewhere if: Simple lists.

Choose NocoDB if

Developers exposing SQL data to non-technical users.

  • Works on existing databases
  • Self-hostable
  • API generation

Look elsewhere if: Teams wanting polished UX (Airtable).

Grist vs NocoDB pricing

Grist

  • Free$0Hosted; up to 5,000 records per document
  • Pro$10/user/mo$8 billed annually
  • Business$30/user/mo$24 billed annually; min 5 users; 150,000 records/doc
  • EnterpriseCustomCustom SSO, audit log streaming, SLAs
  • Community edition$0Free and open source, self-hosted

NocoDB

  • Free$0Up to 3 editors, 1,000 records, 1 GB storage
  • Plus$15/seat/mo$12 billed annually; pay for max 9 seats; 50K records
  • Business$30/seat/mo$24 billed annually; 300K records, SSO
  • Scale$54/seat/mo$45 billed annually; min 3 seats; 1M records
  • EnterpriseCustomSCIM, SSO, dedicated CSM

Grist · Key features

  • Relational tables
  • Python formulas
  • Granular access rules
  • Linked widgets and dashboards
  • Self-hosting
  • API

Cons

  • Learning curve
  • Smaller ecosystem
  • UI less familiar

NocoDB · Key features

  • Spreadsheet UI over SQL
  • Views and forms
  • Auto-generated APIs
  • Permissions
  • Webhooks
  • Self-hosting

Cons

  • UI less polished
  • Feature gaps vs Airtable
  • Self-hosting maintenance

Grist vs NocoDB: FAQ

Which is cheaper, Grist or NocoDB?

Grist starts at $10/mo and NocoDB at $15/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do Grist and NocoDB have a free plan?

Yes, both Grist and NocoDB have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, Grist or NocoDB?

Grist lists small businesses as a core audience, while NocoDB is aimed more at developers.

Not sure yet?

Grist vs NocoDB (2026): Pricing and Features · Happy Valley