kitio.aiAirtable vs Grist
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Grist has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $24 for Airtable.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Relational tables
- AI fields
- Omni AI app builder
- Interfaces
- Automations
- AI spreadsheet generator
- AI Assistant
- Relational tables
- Forms and automations
- MCP server
- Self-hosting
| Feature | Airtable | Grist |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Database-spreadsheet platform with AI apps and agents | Relational spreadsheet with an AI assistant and AI spreadsheet generator |
| Category | Data & analytics | Data & analytics |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $24/mo | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Airtable | Grist Labs |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: Relational tables.
Pricing compared
Grist has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $24 for Airtable.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 5 editors
- 1,000 records per base
- Limited AI
Team
$24/mo
- Per seat
- 50,000 records per base
- Gantt and timeline views
Business
$54/mo
- Per seat
- 125,000 records per base
- Admin panel and SAML SSO
Enterprise Scale
Contact sales
- Enterprise governance
- Advanced security
4 plans
Free
Free
- Unlimited documents
- 5,000 records per document
- 30-day snapshot history
Pro
$10/mo
- Per user
- 100,000 records per document
- 100 AI Assistant credits a month
Business
$30/mo
- Per user
- Minimum 5 users
- 2,000 AI Assistant credits a month
- Automations
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Custom SSO and domain
- Dedicated server
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Airtable
- Flexible structure for many use cases
- AI fields work across rows
- Easy for non-developers
- Per-seat pricing adds up
- Record limits on lower plans
Grist
- Open-source self-hosted option
- Relational data in a spreadsheet UI
- AI builds whole workflows
- Free plan limits records per document
- AI credits only on paid plans
- Business requires five users minimum
Which one should you choose?
Choose Airtable if you want:
- Flexible structure for many use cases
- AI fields work across rows
- Easy for non-developers
Watch out: per-seat pricing adds up.
Choose Grist if you want:
- Open-source self-hosted option
- Relational data in a spreadsheet UI
- AI builds whole workflows
Watch out: free plan limits records per document.
Airtable vs Grist FAQ
What is the difference between Airtable and Grist?
Airtable: Database-spreadsheet platform with AI apps and agents. Grist: Relational spreadsheet with an AI assistant and AI spreadsheet generator. Both are data & analytics tools.
Is Airtable or Grist cheaper?
Grist has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $24 for Airtable.
Do Airtable and Grist have free plans?
Airtable: Yes. Grist: Yes.
Who makes Airtable?
Airtable is made by Airtable, based in United States.
Who makes Grist?
Grist is made by Grist Labs, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Airtable or Grist?
Choose Airtable if you value flexible structure for many use cases and ai fields work across rows. Choose Grist if you value open-source self-hosted option and relational data in a spreadsheet ui.