Licensing & Cost
DevExtreme Complete: $899/year per developer. Includes 80+ React UI components (grid, charts, scheduler, forms, etc.), ThemeBuilder, CLI tools, and 12 months of updates + tech support. Free 30-day trial available, 60-day money-back guarantee.
You're evaluating React data grids and found DevExtreme React Grid by DevExpress—a commercial enterprise component suite with a reputation for feature-rich, polished UI components. DevExtreme has been a trusted name in enterprise development for years, serving Fortune 500 companies with comprehensive solutions.
DevExtreme React Grid is part of a full-featured component library with 80+ widgets. The Data Grid itself includes virtualization, hierarchical data, master-detail views, editing modes, Excel/PDF export, and integrated charting. It's designed for large-scale enterprise applications where support contracts and guaranteed updates matter.
Simple Table offers a free tier for zero-revenue companies (MIT licensed) and a Pro plan ($85/month or $850/year) for revenue-generating businesses. At 42KB with zero dependencies, it delivers core data grid features—virtualization, sorting, filtering, pagination, grouping, column pinning—at a fraction of enterprise costs. For broader context, see our guide to free React data grids.
This comparison explores when DevExtreme's enterprise features and support justify the $899/year cost, and when Simple Table's free, open-source approach provides everything you need. We'll examine pricing, features, vendor lock-in, and real-world scenarios to help you choose.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Criteria | DevExtreme React Grid | Simple Table |
|---|---|---|
| License | Commercial ($899/year) | Free or $850/year |
| Annual Cost (1 product) | $4,495/year (5 devs) | $0-$850/year |
| Bundle Size | Large (80+ components) | 42 kB |
| Dependencies | DevExtreme ecosystem | Zero dependencies |
| Tech Support | ✓ Official (included) | Community/Discord |
| Component Suite | ✓ 80+ components | Table only |
| Source Code Access | ✓ Included | ✓ Open-source |
| Best For | Enterprise apps, full UI suite | Cost-conscious, standalone table |
Total Cost of Ownership: $0 vs $899+/year
Let's break down the real cost difference between DevExtreme and Simple Table over time:
DevExtreme: Commercial Licensing Costs
- DevExtreme Complete: $899/year per developer
- 5-developer team: $4,495/year (annual cost)
- 3-year cost: $13,485 for 5 developers
- Renewal: ~50% of original price after first year ($449/dev/year)
- Includes: Tech support, updates, ThemeBuilder, CLI, 80+ components
- 60-day money-back guarantee (risk-free trial period)
Simple Table: Flexible Pricing Model
- FREE: $0 for zero-revenue companies (MIT License)
- PRO: $85/month or $850/year for revenue-generating companies
- Per-product licensing: No per-developer fees (unlimited users per product)
- 3-year savings: $11,937 vs DevExtreme (5-dev team)
- Support: Community (FREE) or Priority support (PRO)
- No vendor lock-in: Open-source, migrate anytime
Cost-Benefit Analysis
DevExtreme justifies its cost if: You need the full 80+ component suite, require guaranteed support SLAs, or want a single vendor for all UI needs. Simple Table wins if: You only need a data grid and want dramatically lower costs—$850/year vs $4,495/year for a 5-dev team. For startups with zero revenue, Simple Table's FREE tier eliminates licensing costs entirely.
Feature Comparison: Enterprise vs Essential
DevExtreme Grid is feature-rich with enterprise capabilities. Simple Table focuses on core data grid essentials:
| Feature | DevExtreme Grid | Simple Table |
|---|---|---|
| Core Table Features | ||
| Sorting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Filtering | ✓ Advanced | ✓ |
| Pagination | ✓ | ✓ |
| Row Selection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Virtualization | ✓ | ✓ Built-in |
| Grouping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Features | ||
| Column Resizing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Column Reordering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed/Pinned Columns | ✓ | ✓ |
| Master-Detail | ✓ | ✓ Expandable rows |
| Inline Editing | ✓ Multiple modes | ✓ Via custom cells |
| Excel/PDF Export | ✓ Built-in | ✓ Via callbacks |
| Enterprise Features | ||
| Integrated Charts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Form/Popup Editing | ✓ | △ Custom |
| Summary Rows | ✓ | △ Custom |
| ThemeBuilder | ✓ Included | ✗ |
| Official Support | ✓ Guaranteed | Community |
| TypeScript | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent |
Feature parity on essentials: Both handle core data grid needs (sorting, filtering, virtualization, grouping, pinning). DevExtreme adds enterprise extras like integrated charts, popup editing forms, and guaranteed support. Simple Table delivers essentials without the price tag.
Vendor Lock-in vs Open-Source Freedom
Choosing DevExtreme means committing to a commercial vendor relationship:
DevExtreme: Commercial Vendor Lock-in
- Guaranteed support: SLA-backed tech support, dedicated team
- Predictable updates: Regular releases, clear roadmap
- Single vendor accountability: One company responsible for quality/security
- Annual renewal dependency: Must renew to receive updates/support
- License management overhead: Track seats, renewals, compliance
- Migration cost: Switching away means rewriting, losing support investment
Simple Table: Open-Source Freedom
- Zero licensing costs: No annual fees, unlimited developers
- No vendor dependency: Fork, modify, or switch anytime
- Community-driven: Bug fixes, features from diverse contributors
- Full source access: Inspect, debug, customize without restrictions
- No guaranteed support: Community-based, no SLA
- Self-service troubleshooting: Discord, GitHub issues, docs
The Trade-off
DevExtreme: Pay for peace of mind (support, accountability, guarantees). Simple Table: Save money, gain freedom, accept community support model. For startups and cost-conscious teams, open-source wins. For enterprises needing vendor accountability, DevExtreme's cost may be justified.
Decision Framework: When to Pay vs Go Free
Choose DevExtreme When:
- Need guaranteed support SLAs for mission-critical apps
- Want 80+ components from a single vendor (grid, charts, scheduler, forms)
- Require enterprise features (popup editing, integrated charts, ThemeBuilder)
- Budget allows $899/year per developer
- Enterprise compliance requires vendor accountability
Choose Simple Table When:
- Want $0 cost (save $13,485 over 3 years for 5 developers)
- Only need a data grid (not full component suite)
- Prefer open-source freedom (fork, modify, no licensing)
- Community support via Discord/GitHub is sufficient
- Core features (virtualization, grouping, pinning) meet your needs
The Verdict: Pay for Support or Save with Open-Source
DevExtreme and Simple Table serve different organizational needs:
DevExtreme: Enterprise Premium
- ✓ $899/year per developer (80+ components, support, updates)
- ✓ Guaranteed tech support with SLAs
- ✓ Enterprise features (popup editing, charts, ThemeBuilder)
- ✓ Single vendor accountability
- ✗ Licensing overhead, annual renewals required
- ✗ Vendor lock-in (migration cost if switching)
Simple Table: Affordable Open-Source
- ✓ FREE for zero-revenue companies (MIT license)
- ✓ PRO: $850/year for commercial use (vs $4,495/year for DevExtreme 5-dev team)
- ✓ 42KB bundle, zero dependencies
- ✓ Core features (virtualization, grouping, pinning, filtering)
- ✓ No vendor lock-in, open-source freedom
- ✓ Saves $11,937 over 3 years vs DevExtreme (commercial use)
- △ Community support (FREE) or Priority support (PRO)
Our recommendation: DevExtreme justifies its cost if you need the full 80+ component suite, require vendor support SLAs, or have budget for enterprise tooling. But for most teams—especially startups and cost-conscious projects—Simple Table's flexible pricing ($0 for startups, $850/year for commercial use) delivers everything you need at a fraction of DevExtreme's $4,495/year cost for a 5-dev team. Invest the $11,937 savings over 3 years in custom features, more developers, or other priorities.
For other commercial alternatives, see AG Grid pricing or Handsontable licensing. For free alternatives, see our complete guide.