Google Sheets is fast and comfortable until you realize the finance model, the customer list, or the wedding budget lives on someone else’s server. Moving off it used to mean giving up real-time collaboration. In 2026 the self-hosted spreadsheet market caught up. The seven apps below all support multi-user editing, run from a Docker container or a lightweight installer, and keep every cell inside your own network.
We tested each with a shared 20,000-row finance sheet, a database-shaped CRM, and a small formula-heavy household budget. What follows is what actually worked.
What to look for in a self-hosted spreadsheet
- Real-time collaboration that scales to at least 5-10 concurrent editors
- Docker-first packaging so upgrades and backups are simple
- Formula compatibility with Google Sheets or Excel (so migration is not a rewrite)
- Import and export in
.xlsx,.csv, and.ods - Access control (per-sheet, per-column, or per-record) rather than “shared or not”
Some apps in this list lean spreadsheet-first, others lean database-first with a spreadsheet view. Both approaches work; pick the one that matches how your data is actually shaped.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grist | Formula-heavy sheets with typed columns | Linux (Docker), macOS, Windows | Free, open source | $0 | 4.7 |
| NocoDB | Airtable-style database over any SQL | Linux (Docker), Windows, macOS | Free, open source | $0 | 4.6 |
| Baserow | Team database with visual builder | Linux (Docker), any browser | Free, open source | $0 | 4.6 |
| EtherCalc | Real-time collaborative spreadsheet | Linux (Docker), any browser | Free, open source | $0 | 4.3 |
| ONLYOFFICE | Excel-compatible office suite | Linux (Docker), Windows, macOS | Free Community | $0 | 4.6 |
| Collabora Online | LibreOffice on the web via Nextcloud | Linux (Docker), Windows, macOS | Free Community | $0 | 4.4 |
| CryptPad | End-to-end-encrypted collaborative sheets | Linux (Docker), any browser | Free, open source | $0 | 4.4 |
The apps
1. Grist, best for formula-heavy sheets with typed columns
Grist is a spreadsheet-database hybrid with typed columns, Python formulas, and referential integrity between tables. It shines when a Google Sheet grew into an accidental application, one with joins and conditional formatting. Self-hosting is a single Docker container.
Where it falls short: the Python formula engine is powerful but different from Google Sheets’ function library. Migration takes a few hours per non-trivial workbook.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited on self-hosted community edition
- Paid: no paid tier for self-host; team plans on their SaaS start at $8/user/mo
Platforms: Linux (Docker), Windows and macOS via desktop wrapper, any browser
Download: Grist
Bottom line: our default pick when the sheet is really a small database.
2. NocoDB, best for a database-shaped Airtable replacement
NocoDB turns any SQL database (Postgres, MySQL, SQLite) into a spreadsheet, kanban, gallery, and form view. Great for teams that already have a database and want a friendly editing interface. Real-time updates, API access, and webhooks come standard.
Where it falls short: the “spreadsheet” view lacks a full formula language. Calculated columns are limited compared to Grist.
Pricing:
- Free: everything on self-host
- Paid: SaaS starts at $12/user/mo
Platforms: Linux (Docker), Windows, macOS
Download: NocoDB
Bottom line: the choice when your data lives in a real database.
3. Baserow, best for a team database with a visual builder
Baserow is a fully open-source Airtable competitor with a database-first view, form builder, and application builder. Its permissions model is stronger than Grist or NocoDB, which matters for larger teams.
Where it falls short: heavier install (Postgres, Redis, worker, web) than Grist. Fine on a NUC-class machine, tight on a Raspberry Pi.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited on self-hosted community edition
- Paid: hosted plans start at $12/mo
Platforms: Linux (Docker), any browser
Download: Baserow
Bottom line: the pick for teams that want fine-grained permissions on shared data.
4. EtherCalc, best for real-time collaborative spreadsheets
EtherCalc is the spreadsheet cousin to Etherpad. Anyone with the URL edits the same sheet in real time, no accounts, no friction. Ideal for a one-off shared computation between a few people. Import and export .xlsx and .csv.
Where it falls short: no long-term storage model beyond the sheet URL. Best for short-lived work.
Pricing:
- Free: everything, open source
- Paid: no paid tier
Platforms: Linux (Docker), any browser
Download: EtherCalc
Bottom line: the answer to “let’s just get a shared cell on screen right now.”
5. ONLYOFFICE Docs, best for Excel compatibility
ONLYOFFICE Docs is a full office suite with the closest formula compatibility to Excel we tested. Documents open in-browser or in the free desktop editor with identical rendering. Integrations for Nextcloud, ownCloud, Seafile, and self-hosted Moodle come pre-packaged.
Where it falls short: real-time cursors are less polished than Google Sheets. It handles two or three editors well, five or more gets choppy.
Pricing:
- Free: Community Edition (up to 20 concurrent connections)
- Paid: Enterprise Edition subscription
Platforms: Linux (Docker), Windows, macOS desktop, any browser
Download: ONLYOFFICE
Bottom line: the Excel-first pick for households and small offices migrating from Microsoft 365.
6. Collabora Online, best for LibreOffice on the web
Collabora Online is LibreOffice compiled for the web. Attach it to Nextcloud, ownCloud, or Seafile and you get in-browser editing for .ods, .xlsx, .docx, and .pptx with a very familiar toolbar. Real-time collaboration works across five to eight editors reliably.
Where it falls short: heavier resource use than ONLYOFFICE. A 4 GB container is the baseline.
Pricing:
- Free: Community Edition
- Paid: Collabora Online Enterprise sold with support
Platforms: Linux (Docker) plus a browser or the Nextcloud desktop client
Download: Collabora Online
Bottom line: pick this if you already run Nextcloud and want office editing bundled.
7. CryptPad, best for end-to-end encrypted sheets
CryptPad stores every document encrypted client-side, so the server never sees your data. It offers a spreadsheet, a rich-text editor, a whiteboard, a kanban, and a form builder. The server operator (you) cannot read anything even if the disk is stolen.
Where it falls short: performance on very large sheets is limited. It is a strong pick for privacy-heavy work but not for a 100,000-row model.
Pricing:
- Free: on the public instance or self-hosted
- Paid: paid plans on the hosted service start at €5/mo
Platforms: Linux (Docker), any browser
Download: CryptPad
Bottom line: the answer when end-to-end encryption is a hard requirement.
How to pick the right one
If your sheet is really a small database (typed columns, joined tables): Grist.
If your data already lives in Postgres or MySQL: NocoDB.
If your team wants a visual database with permissions per column and role: Baserow.
If you just want a shared cell on screen: EtherCalc.
If Excel compatibility matters: ONLYOFFICE.
If you already run Nextcloud: Collabora Online.
If secrecy from the server operator matters: CryptPad.
FAQ
What is the best self-hosted alternative to Google Sheets? Grist for formula-heavy work, ONLYOFFICE for Excel compatibility, and Collabora Online if you already run Nextcloud. Each is strong on a different axis.
Can I import my Google Sheets into these apps?
Yes. Every app on the list imports .xlsx and .csv, which Google Sheets exports natively. Formulas port over cleanly to ONLYOFFICE and Collabora, and mostly cleanly to Grist and NocoDB after minor edits.
Which self-hosted spreadsheet works best on mobile? Grist and Baserow have responsive web UIs that hold up on a tablet. Collabora Online has a mobile SDK used by Nextcloud’s mobile client. CryptPad is browser-only.
How much hardware do I need? A mini PC with 8 GB RAM covers Grist, EtherCalc, or CryptPad for a small team. 16 GB is comfortable for ONLYOFFICE or Collabora on top of Nextcloud. Baserow with heavy use of joined tables benefits from 16 GB or more.
Do any of these support real-time cursors like Google Sheets? ONLYOFFICE, Collabora Online, and CryptPad show live cursors and selection colors. Grist and Baserow show live edits but no cursor per user. EtherCalc shows edits without cursors.
