Grist
Hacker ApprovedRanked 2 of 3 no-code databases by recommenders
Recommended as an open source, self-hostable database that works like a spreadsheet, with Python, webhooks and row-level access control.
Recommended as an open source, self-hostable database that works like a spreadsheet, with Python, webhooks and row-level access control.
23 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 21
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 91%
Recommended in 7 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 21 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 11 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 7 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Open source and self-hostable
“It's self-hostable (and the community version is FOSS I think), and really useful in a way I find better than just a spreadsheet.”
Comment from 8 Dec 2025 in “Microsoft increases Office 365 and Microsoft 365 license prices” “Your use case (specifically with Forms) seems aligned with Grist, which is also open source”
Comment from 21 Feb 2026 in “LibreOffice blasts OnlyOffice for working with Microsoft to lock users in” “your company to me represents a win for free/open software and cross-country collaboration”
Comment from 4 Feb 2026 in “France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US” - Comment from 5 Aug 2026 in “Bending Spoons makes first post-IPO acquisition with $1.3B Airtable deal”
- Comment from 4 Feb 2026 in “France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US”
- Comment from 8 Dec 2025 in “Microsoft increases Office 365 and Microsoft 365 license prices”
Database behind a spreadsheet interface
“Grist[1] is great for this stuff, at first glance its a spreadsheet but that spreadsheet is backed by a SQLite database”
Comment from 4 Feb 2026 in “Show HN: Craftplan – I built my wife a production management tool for her bakery” “It's a db not a spreadsheet but it's basically the tool I actually needed when I would reach for excel.”
Comment from 19 Apr 2026 in “Swiss authorities want to reduce dependency on Microsoft” “Brings over column types, references, simple formulas, attachments etc”
Comment from 5 Aug 2026 in “Bending Spoons makes first post-IPO acquisition with $1.3B Airtable deal” - Comment from 5 Aug 2026 in “Bending Spoons makes first post-IPO acquisition with $1.3B Airtable deal”
Automations, Python and API access
“You can run python as a column/ cell and it doesn't have a lot of the limitations of Airtable”
Comment from 4 Aug 2026 in “Bending Spoons makes first post-IPO acquisition with $1.3B Airtable deal” “I find Grist (via API) and n8n much more applicable and process oriented than core DS pandas”
Comment from 12 Sep 2026 in “Pandas Should Go Extinct” “Grist can react to changes in your data automatically, sending emails or firing webhooks.”
Comment from 1 Apr 2026 in “Grist (spreadsheets) v1.7.12 adds Automations” Used for manufacturing and forms
“Grist forms are open source and were used to keep the toilets clean at FOSDEM”
Comment from 3 Feb 2026 in “France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US” “they have built their entire manufacturing process management on it”
Comment from 6 Aug 2026 in “Bending Spoons makes first post-IPO acquisition with $1.3B Airtable deal” “Manufacturing ops is a pretty common use case in Grist.”
Comment from 12 Aug 2026 in “Bending Spoons makes first post-IPO acquisition with $1.3B Airtable deal”
Other no-code databases people recommend
The two most recommended other no-code databases, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
See all 3 no-code databases, rankedWhat people said
28 of the 31 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“You could try changing your process, use something like getgrist.com.”
“They are CI&CD native and give you infinite reproducibility.”
“I find Grist (via API) and n8n much more applicable and process oriented than core DS pandas”
“Manufacturing ops is a pretty common use case in Grist.”
“they have built their entire manufacturing process management on it”
“has RBAC down to every row and cell, enforced live. And you can self-host it.”
“Brings over column types, references, simple formulas, attachments etc”
“It brings over column types, references, and simple formulas intact.”
“You may want to start looking at alternatives.”
“You can run python as a column/ cell and it doesn't have a lot of the limitations of Airtable”
“The difference is that Grist is a core part of the French Government's open source web applications La Suite”
“It looks pretty promising”
“It's a db not a spreadsheet but it's basically the tool I actually needed when I would reach for excel.”
“it just feels like the most no nonsense software”
“Grist can react to changes in your data automatically, sending emails or firing webhooks.”
“Your use case (specifically with Forms) seems aligned with Grist, which is also open source”
“Let them sink happily into spreadsheets powering everything.”
“nothing really feels as accessible as the original Access”
“Grist[1] is great for this stuff, at first glance its a spreadsheet but that spreadsheet is backed by a SQLite database”
“your company to me represents a win for free/open software and cross-country collaboration”
“Everything you see in our standard docker image is open source.”
“Grist forms are open source and were used to keep the toilets clean at FOSDEM”
“Kudos, Grist is great ! Super features, quite seamless only the UI could be more modern”
“leaving mildly unimpressed with form support”
“I played around with it and it seemed quite awesome.”
“None of the things you listed are suitable replacements for Excel. None.”
“It's self-hostable (and the community version is FOSS I think), and really useful in a way I find better than just a spreadsheet.”
“And Grist is quite good, and self-hostable.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.