Microsoft Excel vs Quadratic
Microsoft Excel and Quadratic are both databases & spreadsheets tools. Microsoft Excel is aimed at small businesses and enterprise, while Quadratic is aimed at developers and small businesses. Microsoft Excel costs less, from $9.99/mo versus $20/mo for Quadratic. Both have a free plan.
The standard spreadsheet for analysis, modeling and reporting
AI spreadsheet with Python, SQL and JavaScript in the cells
| Pricing | Freemium · $10 | Freemium · $20 |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers | Developers, Small businesses, Enterprise |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, ios, android | web |
| Country | US · 1985 | US |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Microsoft Excel if
Finance, accounting and analyst teams that need the deepest spreadsheet features and the industry standard file format.
- Industry standard skills and file format
- Unmatched depth for financial modeling and analysis
- Handles large datasets on the desktop
Look elsewhere if: Teams that mostly collaborate live in the browser on simple sheets (Google Sheets) or need a relational database with views (Airtable).
Choose Quadratic if
Analysts, data scientists and technical founders who want spreadsheet speed with Python and SQL power.
- Real Python in a spreadsheet without local setup
- Fast browser rendering even on very large datasets
- Code stays visible and auditable cell by cell
Look elsewhere if: Finance teams wanting classic spreadsheet modelling (Equals) or non-technical teams needing an operational database (Airtable).
Microsoft Excel vs Quadratic pricing
Microsoft Excel
- Excel for the web$0Free with a Microsoft account, reduced feature set
- Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/mo$99.99/yr; 1 person, desktop apps, Copilot, 1 TB
- Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/mo$129.99/yr; up to 6 people, 1 TB each
- Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/mo$199.99/yr; higher Copilot limits and advanced AI
- Office Home 2024$179.99/one-timePerpetual Excel, Word, PowerPoint for 1 PC or Mac
Quadratic
- Free$0Limited AI usage, sharing, files and connections
- Pro$20/user/mo$18 billed annually; $20 in AI credits/mo, unlimited connections
- Business$40/user/mo$36 billed annually; $40 in AI credits/mo, buy extra credits
- EnterpriseCustomSSO, self-hosting option, dedicated support
Microsoft Excel · Key features
- Dynamic array formulas including XLOOKUP, FILTER and LAMBDA
- PivotTables, PivotCharts and a wide range of chart types
- Power Query to import, clean and reshape data from many sources
- Power Pivot data models for large multi-table analysis
- Python in Excel for analysis and visualization in the grid
- Copilot to generate formulas, analyses and summaries from prompts
Cons
- Advanced features have a steep learning curve
- Web version lacks some desktop features
- Emailed copies lead to version chaos
Quadratic · Key features
- Python, SQL and JavaScript code cells next to formulas
- AI that writes formulas, code and charts from plain language
- Direct connections to Postgres, MySQL, Snowflake and BigQuery
- Import of CSV, Excel, Parquet and PDF tables
- Agents for auditing sheets, fixing errors and augmenting data
- MCP server and API for external AI agents
Cons
- Less familiar for Excel users who never write code
- AI usage capped by monthly credit allowances
- Fewer finance-specific templates than Excel or Equals
Microsoft Excel vs Quadratic: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Excel or Quadratic?
Microsoft Excel starts at $9.99/mo and Quadratic at $20/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Microsoft Excel and Quadratic have a free plan?
Yes, both Microsoft Excel and Quadratic have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.