The Best AG-Grid Alternative for Spreadsheets
Jspreadsheet vs AG-Grid: Four Key Comparisons
AG-Grid is a powerful data grid for displaying and editing tabular data in web applications. Jspreadsheet is a spreadsheet component built for Excel-like behavior—formulas, multi-sheet workflows, and file import/export. If your project needs cell formulas, Excel compatibility, or real-time collaboration, the following comparison outlines four key themes to help you choose: spreadsheet features, pricing, technical capabilities, and usage limitations.
- ✓ 500+ Excel formulas built-in
- ✓ XLSX import & export out of the box
- ✓ Built-in collaboration (Server edition)
- ✓ Spreadsheet-first: cells, formulas, multi-sheet
- ✓ Pivot tables
- ✓ MCP server integration
- ✓ From $1,999/year for teams of 5 developers
- ✗ No formula engine (data grid, not spreadsheet)
- ○ XLSX export in Enterprise only; no XLSX import
- ✗ No built-in collaboration
- ○ Grid-first: pivoting, grouping (Enterprise)
- ○ ~$750/year per developer (Enterprise)
Spreadsheet vs Data Grid
Core functionality comparison
AG-Grid is a data grid: it displays and edits rows and columns, with sorting, filtering, and (in Enterprise) pivoting and grouping. It does not include a formula engine—calculations must be done in your application code. Jspreadsheet is a spreadsheet: it provides an Excel-like UI with in-cell formulas, cross-sheet references, and standard spreadsheet operations.
| Feature | Jspreadsheet | AG-Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Full Excel-like spreadsheet UI | Data grid (can emulate many Excel UI behaviors) |
| Formulas | 500+ Excel formulas, in-cell and cross-sheet | No formula engine; values set via code only |
| Field Types | Text, number, checkbox, dropdown, date/time, image, rating, progress bar | Custom cell renderers (checkboxes, ratings, images via code) |
| Cross-Sheet / Relations | ✓ Cross-sheet formulas and lookups | ✗ Single grid; relations via app logic |
| Real-Time Collaboration | ✓ Built-in via Jspreadsheet Server | ✗ Requires custom implementation |
Pricing
Licensing and cost comparison
AG-Grid Community is free (MIT) for all use; Enterprise adds pivoting, grouping, Excel export, and more for a per-developer fee. Jspreadsheet offers an MIT-licensed community edition for non-commercial use and site-wide Enterprise licenses that can be more cost-effective for teams when you need spreadsheet features.
| Aspect | Jspreadsheet | AG-Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Free Version | MIT Community Edition for non-commercial use; 30-day free trial for evaluation | MIT Community Edition—free for all use; Enterprise features require paid license |
| Paid Plans | $1,999/year (Enterprise for teams of 5 or fewer developers) | ~$750/year per developer (Enterprise; perpetual option available) |
| Free Trial | ✓ 30-day free trial | ✓ Enterprise trial with watermark; 2-week key available |
| Money-Back Guarantee | ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee | ✗ No explicit refund policy |
| Discounts | 50% off for nonprofits and startups | Case-by-case for nonprofits/education; free for open-source projects |
If you need formulas, XLSX import/export, or collaboration, Jspreadsheet bundles these in. With AG-Grid you pay per developer for Enterprise and still need to add formula logic and file handling yourself—or integrate separate libraries.
Technical Features
Performance, API, and data handling
Both are self-hosted front-end libraries with strong APIs and framework support. AG-Grid is renowned for handling very large datasets (millions of rows with server-side row model). Jspreadsheet focuses on spreadsheet workflows: built-in XLSX and Google Sheets import/export, virtual rendering for large sheets, and a small footprint for embedding.
| Feature | Jspreadsheet | AG-Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Browser-based; self-hosted or embedded | Front-end library; self-hosted in your app (on-prem or cloud) |
| Framework Support | ✓ React, Vue, Angular wrappers | ✓ React, Angular, Vue |
| File Import/Export | Built-in JSON, CSV, XLSX + Google Sheets importer | JSON/CSV in; CSV out in Community; XLSX export in Enterprise only; no XLSX import |
| Bundle Size | 85 KB | 350 KB |
| Memory Usage | 222 KB | 2.01 MB |
| Data Sources | Any data via JS; REST/AJAX typical | In-memory or Server-Side Row Model for huge data (API hooks) |
| Large Data | ✓ Virtual rendering for 100k+ rows | ✓ Millions of rows via virtualization / server-side |
Limitations and Usage
Constraints and ideal use cases
AG-Grid Community has no feature limits but no formulas or Excel export; Enterprise adds pivoting, grouping, Excel export, and integrated charts. Jspreadsheet Community has some Pro extensions gated (e.g. advanced validations, charts, Spreadsheet to Form); Enterprise unlocks full spreadsheet and collaboration features. Choosing between them depends on whether you need a spreadsheet (formulas, files, collaboration) or a high-performance grid (display/edit, pivot, server-side data).
| Aspect | Jspreadsheet | AG-Grid |
|---|---|---|
| Row/Column Limits | No hard limits; 100k+ rows with virtualization | Millions of rows in server-side mode; browser limit in client-side |
| Feature Limitations | Advanced features (500+ functions, collaboration) in Pro/Enterprise | Community: no pivot, grouping, Excel export; Enterprise required for those |
| Best For | Excel-like sheets Formulas & calculations XLSX & collaboration | Data-heavy grids Pivot/grouping (Enterprise) Server-side data |
Performance: Side-by-Side Testing
Understanding real-world performance differences helps you make informed decisions. Here's how Jspreadsheet compares to AG-Grid in key performance metrics.
When to Choose Which
Choose Jspreadsheet when you need:
- In-cell and cross-sheet Excel formulas
- XLSX import and export without extra libraries
- Built-in real-time collaboration
- Spreadsheet-to-form or Excel-like UX
Choose AG-Grid when you need:
- Extremely large datasets with server-side row model
- Pivot tables and advanced grouping (Enterprise)
- Pure data grid with no formula engine
- Charts from grid data (Enterprise Integrated Charts)
What Jspreadsheet Customers Are Saying
Jspreadsheet reduces customers' development time. Here are some of their experiences.
"At SplitC we struggled sometimes when users wanted to bulk insert/edit things (sometimes over 100k rows) and we needed performance. Jspreadsheet is probably the fastest spreadsheet component you'll find out there, and with a small bundle size. By the way, support is awesome."
"We vetted 10 JavaScript components and we must say that Jspreadsheet comes out as the best."
"The latest version of Jspreadsheet is a powerful data grid tool, providing an excellent front end for our spreadsheet interface. The Jspreadsheet team is helpful and quick to respond."
Conclusion
Jspreadsheet is built for spreadsheet use cases: Excel-like formulas, XLSX import/export, multi-sheet workflows, and optional real-time collaboration. AG-Grid excels as a high-performance data grid with optional Enterprise features (pivot, grouping, Excel export, charts) but no formula engine.
If your application needs in-cell formulas, Excel file support, or collaboration out of the box, Jspreadsheet is the stronger fit. If you need a pure grid for huge server-side datasets or advanced pivot/grouping without spreadsheet semantics, AG-Grid is a solid choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about AG-Grid vs Jspreadsheet
Spreadsheet vs Data Grid
Does AG-Grid support Excel formulas?
No. AG-Grid is a data grid—it has no built-in formula engine. Cell values are set programmatically or by user editing. For in-cell formulas and Excel-like calculations, you need a spreadsheet component like Jspreadsheet or to implement calculation logic yourself.
Can I import/export Excel files with AG-Grid?
AG-Grid does not parse or import XLSX files. Export to Excel (XLSX) is available in AG-Grid Enterprise only. Jspreadsheet supports both XLSX import and export out of the box, including via a built-in SheetJS-based plugin.
When should I use Jspreadsheet instead of AG-Grid?
Use Jspreadsheet when you need spreadsheet behavior: formulas, multi-sheet references, XLSX round-trip, or built-in collaboration. Use AG-Grid when you need a high-performance grid for very large datasets (e.g. server-side row model), pivot/grouping (Enterprise), or charts from grid data, without spreadsheet semantics.
Pricing & Licensing
Is AG-Grid free?
AG-Grid Community is free under the MIT license for all use. Enterprise features (pivoting, grouping, Excel export, integrated charts, etc.) require a paid per-developer license (~$750/year per developer, with perpetual options).
How does Jspreadsheet pricing compare for teams?
Jspreadsheet offers site-wide Enterprise licenses (e.g. $1,999/year for teams of 5 or fewer developers), so multiple developers are covered under one license. AG-Grid Enterprise is typically licensed per developer, which can add up for larger teams.
Can I migrate from AG-Grid to Jspreadsheet?
Yes, if your use case is spreadsheet-oriented. You would replace the grid component with Jspreadsheet, load your data (including from XLSX if needed), and optionally add formulas and collaboration. Migration guides and support can help with the transition.
Features
Does Jspreadsheet support real-time collaboration?
Yes. Jspreadsheet offers real-time collaboration through the Server edition. AG-Grid does not include collaboration; you would need to build it using grid events and your own backend.
Which handles larger datasets better?
AG-Grid is known for handling millions of rows with its Server-Side Row Model. Jspreadsheet uses virtual rendering and handles 100k+ rows well for spreadsheet workflows. For purely display/edit of huge server-backed data, AG-Grid has an edge; for formula-heavy sheets and Excel compatibility, Jspreadsheet is designed for that.
Does AG-Grid have charts?
AG-Grid Enterprise includes Integrated Charts—you can create bar, line, pie, etc., from selected grid data in the browser. Jspreadsheet offers charts via an official plugin (e.g. Chart.js integration). Both require the respective paid/Enterprise tier for full chart features.
The content in this article is provided for informational purposes only and, to the best of Jspreadsheet's knowledge, the information provided in this article is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication. That said, Jspreadsheet encourages readers to verify all information directly.