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Spreadsheets · head to head

Teable vs Zoho Sheet

Teable logo

Teable

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet interface over real PostgreSQL tables, so the data stays queryable by anything that speaks SQL

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Sheet logo

Zoho Sheet

Spreadsheets

Free standalone cloud spreadsheet from Zoho, also bundled into the low-cost Zoho Workplace suite

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Teable the automation builder is far less capable than the established commercial alternatives, so multi step workflows usually end up in an external tool that must be paid for and maintained separately.; Zoho Sheet its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • They diverge on capability: Teable covers PostgreSQL native storage, Zoho Sheet covers Real-time collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Teable and Zoho Sheet actually diverge.

Attributes where Teable and Zoho Sheet differ
AttributeTeableZoho Sheet
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeFree standalone, bundled into paid Zoho Workplace for organisations
PlatformsWeb, LinuxWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Spreadsheets).

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 Teable

  • PostgreSQL native storage
  • Multiple views
  • Linked records and rollups
  • Generated REST API
  • Real time collaboration
  • Self hosting via Docker
  • Field level permissions

Only in Zoho Sheet

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Deluge scripting
  • Pivot tables and formulas
  • Excel compatibility
  • Zoho ecosystem integration
  • Offline access

What people use each for

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

Teable

  • A team that has hit the record ceiling of a hosted spreadsheet database and does not want to move to raw SQLnot Zoho Sheet
  • Operational data that a business intelligence tool must also read directly, without an export or a sync jobnot Zoho Sheet
  • A regulated or data resident organisation that needs the underlying database inside its own infrastructurenot Zoho Sheet
  • An internal tool where a grid interface and a REST API over the same table are both requirednot Zoho Sheet

Zoho Sheet

  • An individual wanting a genuinely free spreadsheet without a Google or Microsoft account requirementnot Teable
  • A small business already using Zoho CRM that wants spreadsheet data flowing directly from itnot Teable
  • A price-sensitive team choosing Zoho Workplace over Google Workspace for the same headcountnot Teable
  • A nonprofit or startup on the Zoho Workplace Forever Free plan for up to 5 usersnot Teable

Where each one falls short

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

Teable

  • The automation builder is far less capable than the established commercial alternatives, so multi step workflows usually end up in an external tool that must be paid for and maintained separately.
  • Self hosting moves PostgreSQL backups, version upgrades, connection pooling and capacity planning onto your team, and the licence saving disappears if that time is costed honestly.
  • The integration catalogue is small, so connecting to a common business system often means writing against the REST API rather than installing a connector.
  • The project is young relative to the products it replaces, and interface and API changes still arrive at a pace that requires reading release notes before upgrading.
  • Storing every table as a real PostgreSQL table means schema changes are real migrations, so a careless field type change on a large table can lock it far longer than a spreadsheet user would expect.

Zoho Sheet

  • Its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • Collaborators outside a company who are used to Google Sheets or Excel face a small adjustment to the Zoho interface and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Zoho Workplace Forever Free is capped at 5 users and 5GB, so it stops being viable the moment a team grows past that.
  • Deluge, its scripting language, is Zoho-specific, so automation logic written for Zoho Sheet does not transfer to Google Apps Script or Excel VBA if a company later switches suites.
  • Brand recognition and market share are far smaller than Google or Microsoft, so IT departments evaluating vendors may have less familiarity or fewer case studies to draw on.

Pricing, plan by plan

Teable

Free
  • Self hosted open sourceFree
    • No licence fee
    • Unlimited rows subject to your PostgreSQL capacity
    • Docker deployment

Zoho Sheet

Free
  • Zoho Sheet (standalone)Free
    • Full core spreadsheet functionality
    • No forced account upgrade
    • Individual use
  • Zoho Workplace Forever FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 5GB storage
    • Sheet, Docs, Slides, Mail and Meeting bundled
  • Zoho Workplace Professional$6/month
    • Full Workplace suite for teams
    • Annual billing rate
    • Larger storage per user

Which should you pick?

Choose Teable if

  • You need postgresql native storage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux.
  • You also want multiple views.
Teable review

Choose Zoho Sheet if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want deluge scripting.
Zoho Sheet review

Questions people ask

Is Teable or Zoho Sheet better?
Neither clearly leads. Teable starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Teable or Zoho Sheet?
Teable starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free.
Does Teable or Zoho Sheet run on more platforms?
Teable runs on Web, Linux. Zoho Sheet runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Teable for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Teable best used for?
Teable is most often used for a team that has hit the record ceiling of a hosted spreadsheet database and does not want to move to raw sql, operational data that a business intelligence tool must also read directly, without an export or a sync job, a regulated or data resident organisation that needs the underlying database inside its own infrastructure, an internal tool where a grid interface and a rest api over the same table are both required. Of those, a team that has hit the record ceiling of a hosted spreadsheet database and does not want to move to raw sql and operational data that a business intelligence tool must also read directly, without an export or a sync job are not what Zoho Sheet is typically brought in for.
What can Teable do that Zoho Sheet cannot?
Teable covers PostgreSQL native storage, Multiple views, Linked records and rollups, Generated REST API. Zoho Sheet covers Real-time collaboration, Deluge scripting, Pivot tables and formulas, Excel compatibility.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Teable: How many rows can it actually hold?

As many as your PostgreSQL instance can serve. There is no product imposed record limit on the self hosted edition, which is the main reason to choose it.

Zoho Sheet: Is Zoho Sheet free on its own, without buying the suite?

Yes, it can be used as a standalone spreadsheet with a free Zoho account with no forced upgrade.

Teable: Can I query the data with SQL directly?

Yes. Tables are real PostgreSQL tables, so any SQL client or reporting tool can read them.

Zoho Sheet: How does Zoho Workplace pricing compare with Google Workspace?

Independent pricing comparisons put Zoho Workplace at roughly 50 to 70 percent cheaper than equivalent Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plans.

Teable: Is self hosting genuinely free?

The licence is. The database server, backups and the engineer maintaining them are not.

Zoho Sheet: Does Zoho Sheet open Excel files?

Yes, it imports, edits and exports Microsoft Excel format files.

Teable: Does it replace Airtable feature for feature?

No. Views and field types are close; automations, apps and the integration catalogue are not.

Teable: What happens to my data if the project stops?

It remains in a standard PostgreSQL database that you control, which is a materially better exit than a proprietary export format.

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