Rows alternatives: 3 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
A real analysis spreadsheet with database connections and programmable cells; API work is less point-and-click than Rows.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup in the browser
enginesQuadratic currently defaults to Claude Sonnet 5 and selects among frontier hosted models; self-hosted deployments can instead bring provider API keys
dataSpreadsheet files live in Quadratic Cloud and can be downloaded or shared as local files; connected database data remains in the source and query results enter the sheet
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs RowsQuadratic makes database and API work more code- and query-driven, lacking Rows' large catalog of point-and-click integrations and API-powered spreadsheet functions.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Rows with tables instead of theatre: two live API columns, manual refresh, and 100 automations a month.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup
enginesAI co-builder is available with low free usage; AI fields/agents require paid plans and can connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini using user-supplied keys
dataStacks and attachments live in Stackby cloud; individual tables/views export to CSV and complete stacks can export to Excel
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs RowsStackby is a database table with connected columns rather than a full spreadsheet, so cell-level formulas, analysis, and flexible connected calculations are weaker.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Connected tables and manual-refresh integrations inside a formula-heavy doc; enough for small live reports, not data engineering.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup
enginesSuperhuman Docs AI is vendor-managed; the provider/model mix is not publicly fixed, and free workspaces receive only trial or limited AI usage
dataDocs, tables, automations, and attachments live in the vendor cloud on AWS; owned docs export as text/Markdown-like files plus CSV tables, and pages can export to PDF
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs RowsIts connected tables and integrations are less spreadsheet-native and often refresh less automatically, making it weaker for live API-powered financial or operational models.
facts verified 2026-08-10
latest recorded source check 2026-08-10 · check current terms at the source
Rows FreeRows joined Superhuman and now sends new users to Superhuman Docs; not a durable product to adopt today.
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadratic Personal | proprietary, free | they host it | web | — | — |
| Stackby Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
| Superhuman Docs Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web, macos, windows, ios, android | — | — |
People pay for bringing business data into a familiar spreadsheet and keeping reports refreshed without maintaining each connector or calculation engine. The recorded subscription totals $96 a year before any costs of an alternative.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to Rows?
Yes: Quadratic Personal, Stackby Free, Superhuman Docs Free. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own Rows?
Our verdict is KINDA. A connected spreadsheet for one reporting workflow is feasible. Formula breadth, reliable refresh connectors, collaboration and AI-assisted analysis make the complete product much larger. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the Rows build guide.
