3 alternatives to Rows
Compare free and open-source solutions before building your own. Check each option’s license, setup, and limitations.
A real analysis spreadsheet with database connections and programmable cells; API work is less point-and-click than Rows.
LicenseFree, closed source
PlatformsIn the provider’s cloud
InstallationHosted signup in the browser
ModelsQuadratic 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✓ Installation verified
Limitations compared to 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.
LicenseFree, closed source
PlatformsIn the provider’s cloud
InstallationHosted signup
ModelsAI 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✓ Installation verified
Limitations compared to 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.
LicenseFree, closed source
PlatformsIn the provider’s cloud
InstallationHosted signup
ModelsSuperhuman 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✓ Installation verified
Limitations compared to 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
Updated 2026-08-10 · no paid listings
Rows FreeRows joined Superhuman and now sends new users to Superhuman Docs; not a durable product to adopt today.
| Tool | License | Setup | Platforms | Stars | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadratic Personal | Free, closed source | Hosted by the provider | web | — | — |
| Stackby Free | Free, closed source | Hosted by the provider | web, ios, android | — | — |
| Superhuman Docs Free | Free, closed source | Hosted by the provider | web, macos, windows, ios, android | — | — |
People still pay for Rows because teams pay when a flexible database becomes a shared operational system with integrations and years of accumulated business logic. The recurring cost buys schema changes, formulas, permissions, imports, attachments, views, APIs, concurrency, backups, and migrations, not just the visible interface. If those points do not matter to you, the options above could save $72 per year.
Is there a free alternative to Rows?
Yes: Quadratic Personal, Stackby Free, Superhuman Docs Free. This page lists 3 free or open-source options. Check the limitations of each.
Should I build my own Rows?
Our verdict: With trade-offs. The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Rows, build connected spreadsheets with a limited set of API-powered cells. The hard boundary is integration catalog, formulas, ai, collaboration, and hosted computation, plus data model flexibility, collaboration, and integrations. The complete prompt is on the Rows page on Vibe Radar.
