Softwr

Productivity · head to head

RowShare vs Anvil

RowShare logo

RowShare

Productivity

Shared online table where each contributor sees only their own rows

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Anvil logo

Anvil

Productivity

PDF workflow tools for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Anvil has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: RowShare it is a table rather than a spreadsheet, so the formula and analysis capability people expect from Excel is not there, and anything requiring modelling or charting has to be exported and finished elsewhere.; Anvil free and AI Pack plans restrict interactive signing to UI-only access
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RowShare and Anvil actually diverge.

Attributes where RowShare and Anvil differ
AttributeRowShareAnvil
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in RowShare

  • Row-level permissions
  • Column-level permissions
  • Typed columns
  • Forms
  • Automatic reminders
  • Microsoft Teams integration
  • Zapier connections
  • Excel import and export

Only in Anvil

Nothing recorded that RowShare does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

RowShare

  • Collecting a recurring return such as timesheets, budget lines or stock counts where contributors must not see each other's entries.not Anvil
  • Replacing an emailed spreadsheet that one person consolidates by hand at the end of every month.not Anvil
  • A shared list where some columns belong to the contributor and others are only for the administrator.not Anvil
  • A structured departmental table inside Microsoft Teams that does not warrant a full database or a heavier platform licence.not Anvil

Anvil

  • PDF automation for document workflowsnot RowShare
  • E-signature solutions for legal documentsnot RowShare
  • Data collection through mobile webformsnot RowShare
  • Insurance and healthcare document processingnot RowShare
  • Real estate and financial document automationnot RowShare

Where each one falls short

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

RowShare

  • It is a table rather than a spreadsheet, so the formula and analysis capability people expect from Excel is not there, and anything requiring modelling or charting has to be exported and finished elsewhere.
  • It is a small independent product, so putting a recurring business process on it means a single vendor decision can end that process, and unlike the larger alternatives there is no ecosystem or partner network to fall back on.
  • Integration is largely through Zapier rather than deep native connectors, which adds an intermediary service, another subscription and another place for a data flow to fail silently.
  • The niche it occupies is increasingly covered by list tools included in Microsoft 365, so the purchase has to be justified against something the organisation may already be paying for and already administers.
  • Licensing in this category is per user, so if contributors need accounts rather than form links, an occasional contributor costs the same per head as a daily one, and it is worth confirming which model applies before planning a rollout.

Anvil

  • Free and AI Pack plans restrict interactive signing to UI-only access
  • HIPAA compliance and embedded builders require Enterprise tier
  • No native Salesforce or HubSpot integrations, Zapier only

Pricing, plan by plan

RowShare

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the RowShare review.

Anvil

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 user seats
    • Unlimited templates
    • Unlimited submissions and e-sign packets
  • AI Pack$99/month
    • 5 user seats
    • API access to Document AI
    • 50-page Document AI limit
  • Product Pack$425/month
    • 5 user seats
    • All AI Pack features
    • White-labeling
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Unlimited user seats
    • White-label builders
    • Advanced security (HIPAA/BAA/DPA, SSO)

Which should you pick?

Choose RowShare if

  • You need row-level permissions.
  • You also want column-level permissions.
RowShare review

Choose Anvil if

  • You want to start without paying.
Anvil review

Questions people ask

Is RowShare or Anvil better?
Neither clearly leads. RowShare starts at On request and Anvil at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RowShare or Anvil?
Anvil has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for RowShare and Free for Anvil.
Does RowShare or Anvil run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Anvil for free?
Yes. Anvil has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RowShare starts at On request.
What is RowShare best used for?
RowShare is most often used for collecting a recurring return such as timesheets, budget lines or stock counts where contributors must not see each other's entries., replacing an emailed spreadsheet that one person consolidates by hand at the end of every month., a shared list where some columns belong to the contributor and others are only for the administrator., a structured departmental table inside microsoft teams that does not warrant a full database or a heavier platform licence.. Of those, collecting a recurring return such as timesheets, budget lines or stock counts where contributors must not see each other's entries. and replacing an emailed spreadsheet that one person consolidates by hand at the end of every month. are not what Anvil is typically brought in for.
What can RowShare do that Anvil cannot?
RowShare covers Row-level permissions, Column-level permissions, Typed columns, Forms.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RowShare: How is this different from a shared spreadsheet?

Sharing is per row rather than per file. Everyone works in one table, and each person sees only their own rows, which removes the consolidation step rather than speeding it up.

Anvil: Does Anvil offer a free plan?

Yes, Anvil's free plan includes unlimited Etch e-signature packets (dashboard only), dashboard-only PDF filling with Document AI, 2,500 free credits for PDF generation, and 500 free PDF-filling API calls.

Source
RowShare: Can I get my data out?

Tables export to Excel and CSV, so the data itself moves. The permission structure, forms and reminders that made the process work do not, so an exit means rebuilding the workflow.

Anvil: What is the cheapest paid plan?

The AI Pack tier costs $99/month ($79/month annually) and includes 5 user seats, API access to Document AI features, and 50-page document tagging limit.

Source
RowShare: Is it a database?

No. It is a permissioned table with typed columns, not a relational store you can query, so it collects structured data rather than modelling it.

Anvil: What additional fees does Anvil charge?

Beyond subscription plans, Anvil charges usage-based fees: $0.10 per PDF fill/generation (2,500 included), $1.00 per workflow submission (25 included), and $1.50 per e-sign packet (25 included). Volume discounts up to 55% off are available.

Source
RowShare: Who is behind it?

A French vendor with named enterprise customers. It is a small company, so weigh continuity carefully before making it the home of a process you expect to run for years.

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