Choosing the right app for Tables in Confluence cloud: A comparative study

[#1]

By Mia Tamm, Simpleasyty – vendor of Simple Table

Why this article?

Tables are everywhere in Confluence. Teams use them for project trackers, budgets, meeting notes, inventories, and countless other use cases. Yet when requirements go beyond the basics – such as filtering, calculations, grouping, or visual reporting – users quickly realize that Confluence’s native tables have their limits.

At that point, the question arises: Should I use Confluence Databases? Should I install a Marketplace app? Which one is the right fit for my team?

To help answer these questions, I’ve put together this unbiased comparative study of the main options available in Confluence Cloud.

Disclaimer: I’m part of the team at Simpleasyty, the vendor behind Simple Table. I’ve included our app here for completeness, but my intention is to provide a fair comparison of all solutions so that users can make an informed decision.

The Options We Compared

• Confluence Tables (native)

• Confluence Databases (native)

• Table Enhancer (TNG Technology Consulting)

• Simple Table (Simpleasyty)

• Advanced Tables (Appfire / Bob Swift)

• Table Filter & Charts (StiltSoft)

Native Options

Confluence Tables

Every Confluence user starts here. They’re good for quick lists and static content. You can sort by column and apply simple formatting (merge cells, background colors, numbered column, etc.).

• Pros: Always available, simple, no add-ons needed.

• Cons: Static; no filtering, formulas, or aggregations.

Confluence Databases

A newer feature from Atlassian. Databases allow structured fields (text, dates, users, status, etc.) and data reuse across pages. They also support multiple views (table, card, board) and real-time updates.

• Pros: Free, built-in, structured and reusable data, edit in view mode.

• Cons: Still maturing; no formulas or charts; Cloud-only.

Marketplace Apps

Simple Table (Simpleasyty)

Our own app, built on Forge (ROA) and offered free of charge. It aims to bring spreadsheet-like power into Confluence pages. Key features: calculated columns, grouping, footer aggregations, filtering, hiding/showing columns, CSV/Excel import/export.

• Pros: Free, ROA, strong formula and grouping support, easy to use.

• Cons: No charts yet; relatively new app; no multi-table joins.

• Best for: Teams who need calculations and summaries without exporting to Excel.

Table Enhancer (TNG)

A Paid app that adds small but useful features: row numbering, default sorting, freeze headers/columns, and a total line.

• Pros: Very lightweight, just 4 features.

• Cons: Paid only, not ROA, limited scope; no filters, charts, or advanced calculations.

• Best for: Users who just need quality-of-life improvements.

Advanced Tables (Appfire / Bob Swift)

A well-established paid app. It provides macros for enhancing Confluence tables and importing external data. Features include multi-column sorting, totals, advanced formatting with CSS, and CSV/JSON table imports.

• Pros: Mature, Cloud Fortified, trusted vendor, external data integration.

• Cons: Paid only, not ROA, no pivot tables or charts.

• Best for: Teams needing external data integration plus enhanced formatting.

Table Filter & Charts (StiltSoft)

The most comprehensive (and complex) solution on the list. It combines interactive filtering, pivot tables, charting (bar, pie, line, Gantt), SQL-like table joins, spreadsheet editing, and external data imports.

• Pros: Extremely powerful, Cloud Fortified, supports interactive dashboards.

• Cons: Paid only, learning curve, not yet ROA (migration in progress).

• Best for: Teams building full reporting dashboards inside Confluence.

Comparison Table

Solution	Free/Paid	ROA	Key Features	Pros	Cons	Best For
Confluence Tables	Free	Yes	Basic tables, formatting, simple sort	Always available	Static, no formulas/filters	Simple data display
Confluence Databases	Free	Yes	Structured fields, reusable data, multiple views	Single source of truth, real-time updates	No formulas/charts yet	Project trackers, inventories
Simple Table	Free	Yes	Formulas, grouping, footer totals, filtering, import/export	Spreadsheet-like power, free	No charts, new app	Calculations & summaries
Table Enhancer	Paid	No	Row numbering, totals, freeze headers	Lightweight, fills gaps	Very limited	Small table tweaks
Advanced Tables	Paid	No	Totals, filtering, CSS, CSV/JSON import	Mature, external data	Paid, no pivots/charts	Formatting + external sources
Table Filter & Charts	Paid	No	Filters, pivots, charts, SQL joins, external data	All-in-one powerhouse	Paid, complex	Full reporting dashboards

Final Thoughts

There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. The best solution depends on your team’s needs and budget:

• Just simple tables? → Stick with Confluence’s native tables (maybe add Table Enhancer).

• Structured lists and inventories? → Confluence Databases is free and integrated.

• Spreadsheet-like analysis? → Simple Table is a strong free option.

• External data imports and styling? → Advanced Tables.

• Dashboards and reports? → Table Filter & Charts.

My hope is that this comparison helps you find the right fit for your team and sparks discussion. I’d love to hear what solutions others are using, and in which scenarios they shine.

— Mia Tamm

[Anna Mitina _Stiltsoft_]

Hi @Mia Tamm _Simpleasyty_ ,

Thanks for mentioning Table Filter, Charts & Spreadsheets by Stiltsoft!
This is a great idea and a helpful source for teams looking to elevate their Confluence reporting.
We'd like to add that we'll be ready with ROA and more good stuff very soon. Stay tuned 

[Mia Tamm _Simpleasyty_]

Hi @Anna Mitina _Stiltsoft_ Thank you so much for your kind comment and for enjoying my post. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and share your thoughts.

— Mia Tamm