Univer vs SpreadJS: Comprehensive Analysis of the Next-Generation Open-Source Collaborative Engine and Traditional Commercial Spreadsheet Controls
By Ggol Afred4 min read785 words

Univer vs SpreadJS: Comprehensive Analysis of the Next-Generation Open-Source Collaborative Engine and Traditional Commercial Spreadsheet Controls

Technology
Productivity

1. Introduction

In enterprise applications, SaaS platforms, low-code/no-code tools, and BI (Business Intelligence) solutions, spreadsheet engines have become essential infrastructure. They are not only core for data visualization and computation but also directly impact user experience, development efficiency, and system scalability.

For years, GrapeCity's SpreadJS has been a leading commercial front-end spreadsheet control. Recently, with the rise of open-source software and collaborative office needs, Univer from the DreamNum team has rapidly gained attention as a new choice for developers and enterprises worldwide.

This article provides a comprehensive comparison of Univer and SpreadJS from multiple angles to help developers and enterprise decision-makers make informed choices.

2. Product Background

Univer

  • Official Website: https://univer.ai/
  • Open Source: https://github.com/dream-num/univer
  • Core Positioning: An open-source, extensible engine supporting spreadsheets (Sheets), documents (Docs), and presentations (Slides).
  • Technical Features: Built with TypeScript, featuring a plugin system, emphasizing cross-platform and real-time collaboration.
  • Community Activity: Continuous growth in GitHub stars and active developer contributions as of 2025.

SpreadJS

  • Vendor: GrapeCity
  • Positioning: Full-featured commercial JavaScript spreadsheet control with Excel-like experience.
  • Licensing: Commercial, charged per developer or deployment scale.
  • Advantages: Years of market presence, stable features, suitable for enterprise IT projects.

3. Feature Comparison

1. Core Spreadsheet Functions

  • Univer: Gradually achieving full Excel compatibility, including cell formulas, conditional formatting, and pivot tables, continuously expanding with community contributions.
  • SpreadJS: Mature functionality with well-established Excel-like features.

2. Document and Multi-Modal Support

  • Univer: Natively supports spreadsheets, documents, and presentations, providing an integrated solution similar to Google Workspace.
  • SpreadJS: Focuses solely on spreadsheet controls.

3. Collaboration Capabilities

  • Univer: Built-in real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to edit simultaneously; ideal for remote work, education, and multinational teams.
  • SpreadJS: No built-in collaboration; requires additional development or third-party integration.

4. Extensibility and Customization

  • Univer: Open-source and plugin-based, highly customizable by developers.
  • SpreadJS: Feature-rich but closed-source; customization depends on vendor APIs.

5. Internationalization and Localization

  • Univer: Supports multi-language environments natively, facilitating adaptation to different countries and regions.
  • SpreadJS: Multi-language support exists but requires more complex configuration.

4. Cost and Licensing

Univer

  • Fully open-source under Apache-2.0 license, free for commercial and personal use.
  • Reduces costs for SaaS startups and SMEs, especially for budget-conscious or globally expanding teams.

SpreadJS

  • Commercial licensing with higher costs.
  • Suitable for enterprises with sufficient budgets; higher barrier for small to medium teams.

5. Performance and Tech Stack

  • Univer: Modern architecture using TypeScript and Canvas/WebGL, optimized for large-scale data tables, with rapid performance iterations.
  • SpreadJS: Stable performance, suitable for existing enterprise applications, but architecture is relatively traditional.

6. Ecosystem and Community

  • Univer: Open-source driven, increasing GitHub contributions, and growing plugin ecosystem. Developers can directly contribute code and provide feedback.
  • SpreadJS: Strong vendor support with comprehensive documentation and after-sales service, but community relies mainly on official support.

7. Use Case Comparison

  • Univer:
    • Online collaborative office (Google Docs/Sheets-like experience)
    • SaaS platforms (education, finance, enterprise services)
    • Global applications (multi-language support)
  • SpreadJS:
    • Internal enterprise management systems
    • Financial reports and ERP systems
    • Projects requiring high Excel compatibility

8. Market Trends and Data

According to Statista, the global online office software market is projected to reach nearly $100 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, the penetration of open-source technologies in the global software market is steadily increasing. Historical open-source success stories like Red Hat and Linux indicate that enterprises are increasingly considering open-source alternatives to traditional commercial licensing.

Univer's advantage: It not only enters the collaborative office segment but also leverages open-source development to build a global developer ecosystem, aligning with market trends and user behavior changes.

9. Summary and Recommendations

  • Startups / SaaS teams / International applications → Prefer Univer: open-source, collaborative, multi-modal, cost-effective, enhancing competitiveness.
  • Traditional enterprises / sufficient budget / single spreadsheet requirements → SpreadJS remains a reliable choice: stable, mature, with strong technical support.

Overall, Univer has greater future potential, serving not only as a spreadsheet engine but as a next-generation open-source office engine capable of meeting enterprise collaboration and global development needs.

10. References