Crafting Apps GuideSpreadsheets and data analysis · In development
GridCraft: Free Open-Source Microsoft Excel Alternative
GridCraft is a free Rust app from the ArtCraft team for spreadsheets and data analysis. Check its documented capabilities and gaps before relying on it for your work.
What is GridCraft?
Its README describes a clean-room Rust reimplementation of the Microsoft Excel workflow. The official listing describes the apps as free, open source and built from scratch in Rust.
GitHub license metadata: Apache License 2.0 (Apache-2.0). The README documents a choice of MIT OR Apache-2.0; GitHub's single-license field does not show that full choice. Read the repository license and asset notices.
GitHub stars: 3,207 at the 2026-10-12 snapshot. Official one-line description: Fast, open-source spreadsheets and data analysis, rebuilt in pure Rust.
Source: official apps listing
Key features
Calculate and organize
The calculation engine supports dynamic arrays, spilling and dependency-based recalculation. Tables, sorting, filtering, validation, outlining and subtotals are documented.
Workbooks and display
Styles, themes, charts, pictures, comments, PivotTables and print settings are included in the documented XLSX workflow. A virtualized grid renders the visible area.
File formats
| Format | Documented behavior |
|---|---|
| XLSX | Native format, with documented workbook round trips. |
| CSV, TSV | Read/write exchange. |
| .xls | Imports values, formulas and number formats; formatting and objects not yet. |
| XLSB, ODS | Worksheet data import uses saved values rather than formulas. |
Format support has different depths. Do not equate data import with full workbook conversion.
Status and limits
The listing says In development; the README describes an alpha. Real-world XLSX fidelity, very large workbooks, multi-threaded recalculation, chart depth and text-script coverage remain priorities. The roadmap still lists .xls import work despite the limited import already documented; those statements refer to different levels of completeness.
Download and install GridCraft
Start at GridCraft on getartcraft.com or the official GitHub Releases page. You can also use ArtCraft Launcher to install the desktop apps.
Naming difference in the snapshot: repository metadata points to /apps; the README points to /apps/gridcraft. We retain both official URLs without assuming why they differ.
The latest snapshotted release is v0.5.0, published . These are exact asset names from that release; download them on the official Releases page.
Windows 6 release files
Match x64, arm64 or x86 to your computer. The MSI is an installer; the portable ZIP is the alternative for running an unpacked build. Follow the README for permissions and portable settings.
Show 6 Windows release files
gridcraft-0.5.0-windows-arm64-portable.zipgridcraft-0.5.0-windows-arm64.msigridcraft-0.5.0-windows-x64-portable.zipgridcraft-0.5.0-windows-x64.msigridcraft-0.5.0-windows-x86-portable.zipgridcraft-0.5.0-windows-x86.msi
Windows troubleshooting
The README documents graphics-driver startup problems and a backend override. Read its full warning before using the following verbatim commands.
$env:WGPU_BACKEND = "vulkan"
& .\gridcraft.exe
Remove-Item Env:WGPU_BACKEND # restore the default for later launchesAn explicit `gl` override can bring the driver crash back on affected systems, and `vulkan` can bring back a crash in some Intel UHD Graphics drivers (`igvk64.dll`, #120).
Official README, Windows downloads
See the README for additional shader-compiler and renderer-fallback notes, where documented.
macOS 2 release files
The universal DMG is the desktop app for Apple silicon and Intel. The README labels it signed and notarized. A separate CLI ZIP, where listed, contains the command-line tool.
Show 2 macOS release files
gridcraft-0.5.0-macos-universal.dmggridcraft-cli-0.5.0-macos-universal.zip
Linux 13 release files
Choose the package for your architecture: AppImage, Debian/Ubuntu DEB, Fedora/RHEL/openSUSE RPM, sandboxed Flatpak or a tarball. RISC-V support and runtime requirements are package-specific. Read the README installation notes.
Show 13 Linux release files
gridcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.AppImagegridcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.AppImage.zsyncgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.debgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.flatpakgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.rpmgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-aarch64.tar.gzgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-riscv64.tar.gzgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.AppImagegridcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.AppImage.zsyncgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.debgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.flatpakgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.rpmgridcraft-0.5.0-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
FreeBSD 1 release files
The README provides tarball instructions and required runtime libraries. Read those before unpacking into system directories.
Show 1 FreeBSD release files
gridcraft-0.5.0-freebsd-x86_64.tar.gz
Web (WebAssembly) 1 release files
A web ZIP contains a static WebAssembly build to host on a static server. The official listing also labels browser support.
Show 1 Web (WebAssembly) release files
gridcraft-web-0.5.0.zip
Verify your download against SHA256SUMS.txt from the same official release. Compare a locally calculated SHA-256 digest with the entry for the exact file you downloaded. See the checksum guide.
Build GridCraft from source
The following first-run block is copied verbatim from the official README. Run it from the repository checkout; commands without a clone step assume you already have the code. Read the README for Rust toolchain requirements, operating-system dependencies and optional fonts.
cargo run --release -p gridcraft # desktop app
cargo run --release -p gridcraft -- --sample sales # open a sample (sales, budget, grades)
cargo run --release -p gridcraft -- book.xlsx # open a workbook
cargo run --release -p gridcraft -- --sample sales --control 7979 # + JSON control channel
cargo xtask ci # fmt, clippy, tests, assets, layering, wasmGridCraft vs Microsoft Excel
The comparison here covers only GridCraft's documented capabilities. Its README positions it against Microsoft Excel; the official apps listing labels it In development. The feature summary describes documented tools, and status and limits records the gaps. File support is scoped by the format table.
This is a documentation-based review, not a hands-on test or a guarantee of replacement readiness. For your workflow, test a copy of a representative file and check the result before moving important work.
Agent, CLI and MCP features
The GridCraft README documents a command-line tool, a JSON control channel and an MCP server. These expose app operations to scripts and agents; the exact commands and protocol depend on the repository. Read the official automation documentation ↗
Frequently asked questions
Is GridCraft made by ArtCraft?
Yes. The official listing and repository README identify the ArtCraft team and community behind the Crafting Apps. Its source is published under the storytold GitHub organization.
Where can I download GridCraft?
Use its official getartcraft.com page or the storytold GitHub Releases page. This guide links to official sources and does not distribute installers.
Is GridCraft safe?
This guide has not audited the binaries. Use official releases, verify the published SHA-256 checksums and read the documented platform warnings. Early software can have bugs.
Which platforms does GridCraft support?
The official listing documents macOS, Windows, Linux, Web. Check the download section for the packages in the latest research snapshot.
Does GridCraft open XLSX files?
Yes. XLSX is its native format. The README also documents CSV and TSV, limited .xls import, and saved-value import from XLSB and ODS.
Is GridCraft free?
Yes. It is part of the free, open-source Crafting Apps. GitHub records Apache-2.0; the README offers MIT OR Apache-2.0.