head to head · open source
DBeaver vs Grist
DBeaver has 52,266 GitHub stars, 4,441 forks, 3,334 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Grist has 12,039 stars, 679 forks, 727 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. DBeaver leads on adoption by 334% (52,266 vs 12,039 stars). DBeaver is written in Java under Apache-2.0; Grist is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. DBeaver has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, Grist 6%. DBeaver was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (database), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| DBeaver | Grist | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 52K | ★ 12K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Java | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-01 | 2026-10-30 |
| Forks | ⑂ 4.4K | ⑂ 679 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick DBeaver if
- You weight community size — 52K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Grist if
- You want the Grist feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Grist fits your workflow better
About DBeaver
DBeaver Free multi platform database tool for developers, SQL programmers, database administrators and analysts. Has a lot of features including schema editor, SQL editor, data editor, AI chat, ER diagrams, data export/import/migration, SQL execution plans, database administration tools, database dashboards, Spatial data viewer, proxy and SSH tunnelling, custom database drivers editor, etc. Out of the box supports more than 100 database drivers . Supports any database which has JDBC or ODBC driver (basically almost all existing databases). Integrates AI tools for work with data, SQL and database structure…
read the full DBeaver overview →
About Grist
Grist Grist is a modern relational spreadsheet. It combines the flexibility of a spreadsheet with the robustness of a database. grist core (this repo – also known as Grist Community edition) has what you need to run a powerful server for hosting spreadsheets. grist desktop is a Linux/macOS/Windows desktop app for viewing and editing spreadsheets stored locally. grist static is a fully in browser build of Grist for displaying spreadsheets on a website without back end support. Grist is developed by Grist Labs, an NYC based company 🇺🇸🗽. The French government 🇫🇷 organizations ANCT Données et Territoires and…
read the full Grist overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is DBeaver or Grist more popular?
DBeaver has 52,266 GitHub stars and Grist has 12,039. DBeaver has the larger community by that measure.
Are DBeaver and Grist free?
Both are open source. DBeaver is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Grist under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between DBeaver and Grist?
DBeaver is written in Java and Grist in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, DBeaver or Grist?
Choose DBeaver if you want the larger community (52,266 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Grist if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.