Comparison

Spreadsheet Maker vs LightPad

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spreadsheet Maker

Create and manage spreadsheets, schedules, and tables directly on your mobile device. Offers robust data entry, formatting, calculations, and export options to PDF, PNG, and CSV. Optimized for small screens with intuitive controls for editing and data input.

Highlights
  • Cell input and formulas
  • Rich formatting options
  • Flexible border customization
  • Powerful table editing
  • Custom pick lists
  • Image integration
  • Multiple sheets
  • PDF, PNG, and CSV export
Features
Read full description

Create spreadsheets, schedules, rosters, brackets, budgets, inventories, and checklists—right from your iPhone/iPad. GridSmith is a flexible spreadsheet and table maker that brings data entry, calculations, formatting, images, and PDF, PNG, and CSV export together in one mobile app. Tap a cell to enter data. Long-press to copy, paste, or clear it. Edit rows and columns with intuitive controls designed specifically for a phone. #KEY FEATURES ■ CELL INPUT AND FORMULAS Enter text, numbers, dates, currency, percentages, and multi-line notes. Use cell references in formulas and see calculated results automatically. ■ RICH FORMATTING Customize cells with: • Background and text colors • Font family and size • Bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough • Horizontal and vertical alignment • Indentation and line spacing • Number, currency, date, and percentage formats Apply formatting to multiple cells, rows, or columns at once. ■ FLEXIBLE BORDERS • Solid, thick, dotted, dashed, and double lines • Adjustable line width • Custom border colors Place borders on selected sides, outside edges, or inside ranges. ■ POWERFUL TABLE EDITING • Add, delete, move, reorder, resize, or hide rows and columns • Copy, cut, and paste cells, ranges, rows, and columns • Copy values, formatting, and input rules together • Select multiple cells and use autofill • Merge cells for titles and headings • Undo and redo individual or bulk edits ■ CUSTOM PICK LISTS Create reusable choices for names, statuses, and categories, then select a value instead of repeatedly typing it. ■ IMAGES Add images from your library or camera. Move, resize, and display them as circles, squares, or rounded rectangles. ■ MULTIPLE SHEETS Switch, rename, duplicate, delete, and reorder sheets within a document. ■ PDF, PNG, AND CSV EXPORT Create files for printing, saving, or sharing. Configure PDF paper size, orientation, margins, export range, title position, and headings. Export PNG images or CSV data for other spreadsheet apps. ■ TEAM WORKSPACES Eligible plans let you invite members and manage tables together. #GREAT FOR • Budgets and expense tracking • Sales, customer, and inventory management • Rosters, contacts, and work schedules • Shift planners, timetables, and calendars • Checklists, estimates, and reports • Product lists and price sheets • Photo records and survey results • Scoreboards and tournament brackets GridSmith is optimized for a small screen with pinch-to-zoom, fixed headings, range selection, an input bar, and long-press menus. #AUTO-RENEWABLE SUBSCRIPTIONS Pro plans: • Pro Entry: $4.99 per month • Pro Standard: $9.99 per month • Pro Advanced: $19.99 per month Eligible new subscribers may receive a 3-day Pro trial. Eligibility is determined by Apple. Biz plans: • Biz Entry: $49.99 per month • Biz Standard: $99.99 per month • Biz Advanced: $199.99 per month • Biz Ultra: $499.99 per month • Biz Max: $999.99 per month Biz plans have no free trial. Limits vary by plan. See the purchase screen for current features, local prices, and eligibility. #PAYMENT AND RENEWAL Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. A trial automatically converts to a paid subscription when it ends. Subscriptions renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current billing or trial period ends. Your account is charged within 24 hours before renewal. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions > GridSmith. Deleting the app does not cancel a subscription. Paid features remain through the current period. Refund eligibility follows Apple's policies. Restore purchases from within the app. Terms of Use: https://lisfee.com/about-rule Privacy Policy: https://lisfee.com/privacy-policy

About

LightPad

Read full description

Lay a source sheet and a blank sheet on the display: a bright, evenly lit surface shines through both, and you trace on real paper with confidence. Built for how tracing actually works: LIGHT YOU CAN TUNE - A light surface that never sleeps or dims on its own mid-trace - Color temperature from 2700 K (warm) to 6500 K (daylight), rendered from real black-body values — warm light keeps thin pencil lines readable - Brightness from a soft low glow up to your display’s true peak — on HDR displays the slider goes beyond regular screen white - Dimming happens in the light surface itself, never by pushing the panel low — no added flicker in the dark range TRUE-TO-SIZE GRIDS - Metric 1 cm grid, or imperial 1-inch grid with 1/4-inch subdivisions - Physically accurate on every supported iPhone and iPad — 1 cm on screen is 1 cm on paper - Center crosshair for squaring up your sheets - Pure black lines with adjustable line width, so grids stay visible through paper MADE FOR PAPER ON GLASS - Touch lock: one tap locks the screen so resting palms and paper press nothing; hold to unlock - Controls fade away and return with a tap — while you work, it is all light - Works in any orientation and window size PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No account, no ads, no tracking, no analytics - Requests zero permissions and never connects to the network - Works completely offline For illustrators inking and refining sketches, animators flipping between drawings, calligraphy and lettering practice, embroidery and quilting pattern transfer, and anyone who traces on real paper.

Screenshots

Spreadsheet Maker4 screens
LightPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: LightPad at none against Spreadsheet Maker's shown. Spreadsheet Maker's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spreadsheet Maker ships an update every 4 days, LightPad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Spreadsheet Maker versus LightPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpreadsheet MakerLightPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLisfee, Inc.Mingwei Cui

In-app purchases

None

Spreadsheet Maker

No in-app purchases

None

LightPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spreadsheet Maker free?
Spreadsheet Maker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LightPad free?
LightPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spreadsheet Maker or LightPad have ads?
Spreadsheet Maker shows ads; LightPad does not.
Which is updated more often, Spreadsheet Maker or LightPad?
Spreadsheet Maker ships an update every 4 days, and LightPad fortnightly. Most recently, Spreadsheet Maker was updated on October 5, 2026 and LightPad on October 15, 2026.

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