Smartsheet alternatives: 8 open-source picks
Smartsheet costs $12/mo — $144 a year. These 8 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Teable, Grist and Baserow. All 8 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Airtable-shaped tables, forms, kanban, and automation; AI is where the upsell begins
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or Docker Compose/Kubernetes for self-hosting
enginesAI features can use a configured model provider or self-hosted compatible service; standalone community deployment omits AI and App Builder
dataCloud records live in Teable Cloud; self-hosted records live in PostgreSQL, with attachments in local, MinIO, S3, or Aliyun object storage; bases export as .tea backups and tables as CSV
the catch vs SmartsheetTeable is an Airtable-like database rather than a project execution suite, so dependencies, portfolio reporting, and resource management are substantially weaker.
setupSelf-hosting needs Docker, at least 4 GB RAM, PostgreSQL, secrets, storage, and a public URL; the full AI/App Builder stack is materially heavier than the standalone deployment
facts verified 2026-08-10
A spreadsheet that grew relations, forms, and dashboards without becoming Smartsheet
licenseApache-2.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, desktop app, or Docker container for self-hosting
dataEach document is a .grist SQLite database containing table data, attachments, document metadata, and recent history; CSV/Excel exports are also available
the catch vs SmartsheetIt lacks Smartsheet's mature project dependencies, resource management, cross-sheet reports, and workflow automation built around schedules.
setupNone for hosted or desktop use; shared self-hosting requires Docker, authentication, backups, a public URL, and safe Python-formula sandboxing
facts verified 2026-08-10
Airtable's database half with public forms and your own disk underneath
licenseMIT
runsyour machine or their cloud
installHosted signup, or Docker/Docker Compose for self-hosting
dataCloud workspaces live in Baserow Cloud; self-hosted records live in PostgreSQL and uploaded files in the mounted Baserow data volume; CSV export is available
the catch vs SmartsheetBaserow can hold project rows but does not match Smartsheet's Gantt dependencies, critical-path planning, portfolio reporting, and resource management.
setupSelf-hosting requires Docker, persistent volumes, secrets, and public-URL/TLS configuration
facts verified 2026-08-10
Open-source project management with issues, cycles, and product roadmaps
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Kanban and project boards, a Trello/Notion-boards alternative from Mattermost
licenseMIT/AGPL dual
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Full-featured classic and agile project management with gantt and cost tracking
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Realtime kanban board that feels exactly like Trello, on your own server.
licenseFair Use (source available)
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Self-hosted to-do and task management with lists, gantt, and kanban views
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Teable · Grist · Baserow · Plane · Focalboard · OpenProject
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
NocoDBCommunity has tables and views, but timeline, Gantt, conditional forms, and the richer workflow layer are paid
how to choose a Smartsheet alternative
Easiest to get running
Focalboard — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Plane, with 55,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 8, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
Needs real ops to self-host
OpenProject is capable but expects someone to run a server, updates and backups. Budget for that before choosing it.
what you give up by leaving Smartsheet
- spreadsheet familiarity, enterprise controls, connectors, automation, and scale
- deep integrations
- enterprise permissions
- large-scale reporting
- battle-tested notifications and mobile apps
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Smartsheet alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teable | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 21,300 | 2026-08 |
| Grist | Apache-2.0 | docker to self-host | web, macos, windows, linux, self-hosted | 11,400 | 2026-08 |
| Baserow | MIT | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 5,400 | 2026-08 |
| Plane | AGPL-3.0 | docker to self-host | self-hosted, web | 55,000 | 2026-08 |
| Focalboard | MIT/AGPL dual | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 26,000 | 2026-08 |
| OpenProject | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | self-hosted, web | 11,000 | 2026-08 |
| Planka | Fair Use (source available) | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 10,000 | 2026-08 |
| Vikunja | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 5,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Smartsheet
People still pay for Smartsheet because teams pay because project state has to remain authoritative through staff changes, outages, and years of accumulated workflow exceptions. The recurring cost buys auth, permissions, notifications, search, migrations, audit history, integrations, backups, and uptime, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $144 a year.
questions about switching from Smartsheet
Is there an open-source alternative to Smartsheet?
Yes: Teable, Grist, Baserow and 5 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Smartsheet?
Our verdict is YES. Plane (55k stars), Focalboard (26k stars), Teable (21k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Smartsheet — self-host with docker and stop paying $12/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/smartsheet.
What is the easiest open-source Smartsheet alternative to set up?
Focalboard — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Smartsheet alternative?
By GitHub stars, Plane (55,000). Focalboard is next with 26,000.
