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Databases · head to head

Grist vs Helm

Grist logo

Grist

Databases

The evolution of spreadsheets

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit GristFull review
H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit HelmFull review

The short version

  • Helm is a Kubernetes package manager, licensed Apache 2.
  • Helm is free; Grist starts at $10/mo.
  • Where Grist falls short: business plan has minimum 5-user requirement.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grist and Helm actually diverge.

Attributes where Grist and Helm differ
AttributeGristHelm
Pricing modelFreemiumOpen-source
CategoryDatabasesDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Grist

  • Collaborative data and spreadsheet managementnot Helm
  • Database creation and automationnot Helm
  • Team data analysis and reportingnot Helm

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot Grist

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Grist

  • Business plan has minimum 5-user requirement
  • Enterprise self-hosted pricing not disclosed publicly
  • Annual billing discount only 20%, lower than some competitors

Helm

  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

Pricing, plan by plan

Grist

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited documents
    • Up to 5,000 records per document
    • 30-day snapshot history
  • Pro$10/mo
    • Up to 100,000 records per document
    • 3-year snapshot history
    • 100+ AI credits monthly
  • Business$30/mo
    • 150,000 records per document
    • 5-year snapshot history
    • 2,000 AI credits monthly

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Grist if

  • You want to start without paying.
Grist review

Choose Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm review

Questions people ask

Is Grist or Helm better?
Neither clearly leads. Grist starts at Free and Helm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grist or Helm?
Grist starts at Free and Helm at Free.
Does Grist or Helm run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Grist for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Grist best used for?
Grist is most often used for collaborative data and spreadsheet management, database creation and automation, team data analysis and reporting. Of those, collaborative data and spreadsheet management and database creation and automation are not what Helm is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Grist: Does Grist have a free version?

Yes. Grist Free includes unlimited documents with up to 5,000 records each, 30-day snapshot history, and 100 AI Assistant credits. No credit card required.

Source
Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

Source
Grist: How much does Grist Pro cost?

Grist Pro is $10/user/month (billed monthly) or $8/user/month with annual billing. It includes up to 100,000 records per document and 3-year snapshot history.

Source
Grist: What does Grist's Business plan include?

Grist Business is $30/user/month ($24 annually) with a minimum of 5 users. It includes 150,000 records per document, 5-year snapshot history, 2,000 AI credits monthly, and automations with priority support.

Source
Grist: Do nonprofits get discounts on Grist?

Yes. Nonprofits receive a 50% discount on the Pro plan with Letter of Determination verification.

Source
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