Need help finding the right table component
I’m working on a project and need a really good table component that works like the ones you see in modern database applications. You know those really smooth, fast tables that let you do things like:
- Resize columns by dragging
- Different column types (text, numbers, dates, etc)
- Clean, modern design that looks professional
- Fast performance even with lots of data
- Excel-like editing experience
Basically, I want something that feels as polished as what you’d find in popular productivity tools. The user experience should be really smooth and intuitive.
Has anyone found good components (either free or commercial) that provide this kind of functionality? I’m wondering if most companies just build these internally or if there are actually good off-the-shelf options available.
Any recommendations would be really helpful. Thanks!
Been down this road myself and the landscape’s gotten way better recently. I’ve settled on AG Grid for most enterprise stuff. The free version covers basics, but you’ll probably need the paid license for things like Excel export and server-side filtering. Steeper learning curve than simpler options, but it crushes large datasets. For React projects, I’ve had good luck with Tanstack Table. It’s headless so you control all the styling - can be great or a pain depending on your design needs. Super flexible but takes more dev time upfront. Here’s what I learned the hard way: most free solutions break around 10k rows or when you need complex multi-column sorting. If you’re dealing with big datasets, just budget for a commercial solution from day one instead of trying to hack a free component later.
Built something like this last year and tried tons of options. Ended up with a hybrid approach that worked great.
For massive datasets, Luckysheet blew me away. It’s an open source Excel clone that chews through hundreds of thousands of rows like nothing. Users love it because it feels exactly like a spreadsheet.
Here’s the thing though - don’t overlook building your own with react-window plus a basic table. Sounds like more work, but you get exactly what you want without the bloat.
Most companies build these internally, but only because they need custom business logic. If you just want smooth UX and standard features, there are solid options out there.
The other answer missed Glide Data Grid - check it out if you’re using React. Built specifically for that Excel feel and handles editing really well. Way less setup than AG Grid but still performs great.
Real trick is knowing your data volume first. Under 5k rows? Almost anything works. Over 50k? You need virtual scrolling and lazy loading.