Flatfile alternative
Client-side CSV importer
and spreadsheet editor
Add a complete import flow to your app instead of building it from scratch. Users map columns, fix errors, and submit clean, validated data without leaving the browser.
100% client-side React-first, framework-agnostic Flat $199/domain/month
Updog and Flatfile at a glance
| Dimension | Updog | Flatfile |
|---|---|---|
| Data privacy | Files are parsed and edited in the browser. Row data never reaches Updog's servers, so there is no data processor, DPA, or residency to manage. | Files are uploaded to Flatfile's servers to process. Flatfile acts as a data processor, with SOC 2 Type II compliance and a DPA available. |
| White-label | Full styling through CSS variables and class overrides. No Updog logos or "powered by" on any plan, including the free one. | Theme the importer on every plan, within Flatfile's styling limits; remove Flatfile branding on the Professional plan and up. |
| Pricing | Free for development. In production, a flat $199 per domain per month, the same at any volume. | Free for up to 50 files and 10M imported cells a month. Above that, usage-based pricing on files and data, pay-as-you-go or with volume discounts. |
| Data mapping | Schema in code. Fuzzy column matching with a built-in synonym dictionary you can extend, or connect the AI your organization already approves through a hook, so it runs on infrastructure you control with no new AI vendor to clear. Maps incoming values to your options. Auto-detects number and date formats. Combines files by upserting on a key. | Schema in code. Built-in AI column matching. Transforms values with code or AI. Casts values to your field types. Imports multiple files, with a dedupe plugin. |
| Data cleaning | Inline validation and error highlighting, filter to problem rows, find & replace, bulk transforms, and full undo/redo, so everything can be fixed without leaving the editor. Any view also exports in any supported format, if a user would rather fix outside. | Inline validation and error highlighting, filter to problem rows, find & replace, bulk transforms, and version snapshots you can revert. |
| Scale & performance | About 1M rows in the browser, bound by the machine's memory. | Large datasets on the server, with streaming advised above 500K rows. |
| Integration | React component, plus a Web Component for Vue, Angular, Svelte, and vanilla JS. Renders inline in your page's DOM. | JavaScript SDK, with React, Vue, and Angular wrappers. Renders its UI in an iframe. |
| Accessibility & RTL | Built on an ARIA grid with full keyboard navigation and screen-reader support. English by default, with every UI string overridable, so you can localize into any language. Right-to-left is first-class: it flips layout, text alignment, scrollbars, and column pinning, and carries through to export. | Localized into 25 interface languages. No right-to-left support found. |
Flatfile the company rebranded to Obvious in late 2025. The Flatfile product keeps the Flatfile name. Facts checked against Flatfile's public pages in June 2026.
Which one fits your team
Flatfile may fit better if
- You want a hosted, server-side data platform.
- Your team needs multi-user collaboration with roles and permissions.
- You want built-in AI for mapping and transforms.
- You're fine with usage-based pricing that scales with files and data.
Updog may fit better if
- You want an importer and spreadsheet editor embedded in your own app.
- You want file data processed in the browser, with nothing stored on a server.
- You want flat, public pricing with no per-import fees.
- You want to use the AI your organization already approves, with no new vendor to clear.
Questions people ask
Is Updog a drop-in replacement for Flatfile?
No. They solve similar problems in different ways. Updog is an importer and spreadsheet editor that runs in the browser, embedded in your app. Flatfile is a hosted, server-side data platform. Updog fits if you want importing and editing inside your product. Flatfile fits if you want a standalone platform with team collaboration.
Does Updog store my users' data the way a server-side platform does?
No. Mapping, validation, and editing all run in the browser. File data is never sent to Updog servers.
How does Updog pricing compare?
Updog is $0 for development and $199 per production domain per month. Every feature is on every plan, with no per-import fees. Flatfile has a free tier, then usage-based pricing on files and data.
Can Updog handle large files like a server-side tool?
Updog handles about 1 million rows (at around 20 columns) in the browser, bound by the machine's memory. That covers parsing, mapping, validation, editing, and export. For larger data, a server-side platform built for streaming is the better fit.
Can it be used to view or edit existing data, without an import?
Yes. Load existing data straight into the editor and users can view and edit it. A read-only mode is available when you want viewing only.
Is Updog accessible, and does it support right-to-left languages?
Yes. The grid is built on ARIA semantics with full keyboard navigation and screen-reader support, and right-to-left is first-class, flipping layout, alignment, and column pinning. Flatfile is localized into 25 interface languages, with no right-to-left support found.
Try it in the browser
Install the package, add your columns, render the component. Free on localhost. Every feature included.