ExcelAI vs Grist

ExcelAI is an add-in that works inside Microsoft Excel and handles natural-language requests. It can write formulas, generate P&L statements, balance sheets and cash flow reports, format sheets, create charts, clean data and run multi-step workflows with undo support. Its analysis can identify patterns and anomalies and process thousands of rows, according to the maker. ExcelAI is a COM add-in for Excel 2019, Excel 2021 and Microsoft 365 on Windows and macOS. Listed model providers include Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama and Mistral. The privacy policy says prompts and temporary operation context are processed transiently, while the maker says it does not store workbook contents or train AI models on user data. Communications with its servers are encrypted using TLS 1.3. A free plan includes 20 requests per five hours. Starter is listed at $5 a month for the first month, then $10/month; Pro is listed at $20 a month, with billing details stating no monthly fee and a separate $0.88 card processing fee. Google Sheets is marked as coming soon.

Grist combines spreadsheet analysis with database-style organization for complex data work. It structures information relationally while supporting Python formulas and Excel-like spreadsheet functions. Pages can present tables, cards, forms, charts, calendars and custom widgets, and access rules can govern visibility or editing at the table, column and record level. A REST API supports programmatic reading and modification of documents, workspaces and team sites; integrations include Zapier, Integrately, Pabbly Connect, n8n and Make. Grist is available as a hosted service, a free open-source Community edition for self-hosting, and a desktop app that works without internet access or an online account. Documents are SQLite databases and can be exported as.grist files. Hosted Grist uses AWS infrastructure, HTTPS, encrypted storage and backups, and optional MFA, but has not undergone certification or auditing for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA or GDPR compliance. The free plan allows up to 5,000 records per document; a 30-day trial is listed.