The open-source app in question is Grist, a relational spreadsheet that can make linked records easier to manage than a workbook built around text IDs and lookup formulas. It is not a universal Excel replacement: it is most compelling when your data consists of related record types, while Excel remains a strong fit for calculations and financial models.
What changes when a workbook becomes a database?
A flat spreadsheet works well when each row stands on its own and the main job is calculating, sorting, or filtering. The strain appears when multiple sheets describe connected things—for example, books and their authors—and the workbook relies on repeated text IDs and lookup formulas to keep those sheets in sync.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
In a How-To Geek example by Tony Phillips, the fictional workbook contains 40 authors and 180 books. Each book row has an Author ID. In Grist, the Books table can use a reference column to point to the corresponding record in the Authors table instead of treating the ID as an ordinary text value. The counts illustrate the workflow; they are not a benchmark or a general measure of Grist’s performance. How-To Geek’s example
That reference makes the relationship explicit: a book points to one author record, rather than storing a separate copy of the author’s details in every book row. If an author’s information changes, the linked record remains the source of truth. You can also bring selected author information into the Books table with lookup fields when it is useful to see it alongside book data.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic Office Apps | Includes classic desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ease.
- Install on a Single Device | Install classic desktop Office Apps for use on a single Windows laptop, Windows desktop, MacBook, or iMac.
- Ideal for One Person | With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
- Consider Upgrading to Microsoft 365 | Get premium benefits with a Microsoft 365 subscription, including ongoing updates, advanced security, and access to premium versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, plus 1TB cloud storage per person and multi-device support for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
How Grist compares with Excel for connected data
| Question | Grist | Excel |
|---|---|---|
| How are related records represented? | Reference columns connect records across tables, as in the Books-to-Authors example. | Excel can model relationships through its Data Model; the cited example found Grist’s reference-column workflow more direct for this use. |
| What does the working view look like? | A page can arrange tables, cards, and charts as linked widgets. | A familiar worksheet grid is well suited to calculations and financial models. |
| Which routine operations are shown? | The example includes sorting, filtering, summaries, grouping, and counting records. | The author says Excel remains their choice for calculations, financial models, and many everyday spreadsheet tasks. |
This is a workflow distinction, not proof that Excel cannot handle relationships. Excel’s Data Model offers relational capabilities too. The practical question is whether you want to work mainly in a calculation-oriented workbook or in an interface where linked records are a first-class part of the workflow.
What linked tables make possible in Grist
Once records are connected, the same relationship can help shape the way you explore the data. The example uses pages that combine tables, cards, and charts. Widgets can be moved and resized, and one widget can filter or link to another. Selecting an author can therefore show that author’s information in a card while related book records appear in a table.
Rank #2
- Fully compatible with Microsoft Office documents, Office Suite is the number 1 affordable alternative. It is compatible with Word, Excel and PowerPoint files allowing you to create, open, edit and save all your existing documents in an easy-to-use professional office suite. Suitable for home, student, school, family, personal and business use, it includes comprehensive PDF user guides to help you get started, plus a dedicated guide for university students to help with their studies. Multilingual - English, Spanish (Español) and more languages supported.
- Professional premier office suite includes word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, graphics, database and math apps! It can open a plethora of file formats including doc, docx, odt, txt, xls, xlsx, xlsm, ppt, pptx and many more, making it the only office suite you will ever need. You can use the ‘Save as’ feature to ensure your files remain compatible with Word, Excel and PowerPoint, plus you can convert and export your documents to PDF with ease.
- Full program included that will never expire! Free for life updates with lifetime license so no yearly subscription or key code required ever again! Unlimited users allow you to install to both desktop and laptop without any additional cost, and everything you need is provided on USB; perfect for offline installation, reinstallation and to keep as a backup. Compatible with Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (32/64-bit), Mac OS X and macOS.
- PixelClassics exclusive extras include 1500 fonts, 120 professional templates, 1000's of clip art images, PDF user guides, over 40 language packs, easy-to-use PixelClassics installation menu (PC only), email support and more! Each USB comes complete with our quick start install guide, plus a fully comprehensive PDF guide is provided on USB.
- You will receive the USB (not a disc) exactly as pictured, in protective sleeve (retail box not included). Our slimline USB is 100% compatible with ALL standard size USB ports. To ensure you receive exactly as advertised including all our exclusive extras, please choose PixelClassics. All our USBs are checked and scanned 100% virus and malware free giving you peace of mind and hassle-free installation, and all of this is backed up by PixelClassics friendly and dedicated email support.
Grist’s official site also describes flexible layouts, linked data, data cards, charts, pivot tables, custom widgets, forms, APIs, and integrations. These are vendor-described capabilities; check the current product documentation and plan details to confirm what is available for your intended setup. Grist
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWho should consider switching—and who should stay with Excel?
Grist may fit better when
- Your workbook contains distinct but connected record types, such as books and authors.
- You repeatedly maintain IDs and lookup formulas to connect separate sheets.
- You want a page that combines linked tables with cards or charts, rather than relying only on worksheet tabs.
- You need to explore records through sorting, filtering, grouping, or summary views.
Excel may remain the better fit when
- Your main work is calculations, financial models, or familiar everyday spreadsheet tasks.
- Your process depends on workbook features, formulas, macros, or integrations whose compatibility with Grist you have not confirmed.
- Changing tools would disrupt established workflows more than explicit record relationships would help.
There is no need to treat this as an all-or-nothing choice. A sensible candidate for migration is a workbook whose connected records are causing recurring maintenance problems, not every spreadsheet you use.
Open-source, desktop, browser, or self-hosted?
The demonstration uses Grist in a browser. The project’s repository describes Grist as a relational spreadsheet and identifies both a desktop application and a server for hosting spreadsheets. It describes Grist Desktop as available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and says the grist-core, grist-desktop, and grist-static projects are open source under the Apache License 2.0. Grist repository
Grist’s official site describes managed service and self-hosting options, along with access rules for rows and columns. Those descriptions do not establish current hosted pricing, plan limits, or identical feature availability across deployment types. Confirm the specific requirements and terms for the option you plan to use before moving production data.
Rank #4
- THE ALTERNATIVE: The Office 9 Package is the perfect alternative to MS Office. It offers you word processing as well as spreadsheet analysis and the creation of presentations.
- Excellent word processing - Powerful spreadsheet processing - Stunning presentations
- Adjustable user interface: classic look or ribbon style
- Office at home, you can run it on up to 5 PCs! A single license is enough to provide your entire family with a powerful office suite! If you use it commercially though, it's one license per installation.
- FULL COMPATIBILITY: ✓ Compatible with Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint ✓ Suitable for Windows 11, 10 (32 and 64-bit versions) ✓ Fast and easy installation ✓ Easy to navigate
Check these details before migrating a production workbook
The example demonstrates a relational workflow, not a complete migration test. Before committing important data, verify the details that can affect your own workbook:
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute- Import behavior: Test representative sheets, data types, formulas, and any unusual workbook structure.
- Formula and macro needs: Identify formulas, macros, or automation that your current process depends on, then confirm how they work in the Grist setup you intend to use.
- Collaboration and access: Check who needs access and whether the chosen deployment supports the row- or column-level controls your work requires.
- Deployment requirements: Decide whether browser access, a local desktop app, or self-hosting suits your needs, and verify current technical requirements.
- Current limits and terms: Confirm plan limits, pricing, and feature availability directly for the service or deployment you choose; the project and product descriptions alone do not settle them.
A small pilot with a copy of one representative workbook can reveal whether references, lookups, views, and your essential spreadsheet operations behave as expected, without putting the original workflow at risk.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- THE ALTERNATIVE: The Office Suite Package is the perfect alternative to MS Office. It offers you word processing as well as spreadsheet analysis and the creation of presentations.
- LOTS OF EXTRAS:✓ 1,000 different fonts available to individually style your text documents and ✓ 20,000 clipart images
- EASY TO USE: The highly user-friendly interface will guarantee that you get off to a great start | Simply insert the included CD into your CD/DVD drive and install the Office program.
- ONE PROGRAM FOR EVERYTHING: Office Suite is the perfect computer accessory, offering a wide range of uses for university, work and school. ✓ Drawing program ✓ Database ✓ Formula editor ✓ Spreadsheet analysis ✓ Presentations
- FULL COMPATIBILITY: ✓ Compatible with Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint ✓ Suitable for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP (32 and 64-bit versions) ✓ Fast and easy installation ✓ Easy to navigate
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
