Google Sheets vs Microsoft Excel
Zero of twelve models named Google Sheets first on the direct prompt; zero named Microsoft Excel. Google Sheets was named by eight of the twelve models and Microsoft Excel by eight and Google Sheets carries 10 labels and Microsoft Excel 14, so the shares are not directly comparable.
Named in nine categories this edition.
Named in eleven categories this edition.
Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all twelve models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category; every quote names the model and the prompt it came from. Both figures come from the financial modeling and scenario planning page.
By framing
Google SheetsFirst choices, of twelve modelsMicrosoft Excel
Across every category in the September 2026 Edition, Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel were named in the same answer sixty-five times, of the 95 answers naming Google Sheets and the 145 naming Microsoft Excel. In those answers Microsoft Excel took the first choice four times and Google Sheets four.
Every model, every framing
| Model | Direct | Paraphrase | Comparative | Budget-constrained | Scale-constrained | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | | | ||||
| GPT-5.4 mini | | |||||
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | ||||||
| Perplexity Sonar | ||||||
| Grok 4.1 Fast | | | ||||
| Mistral Small | ||||||
| DeepSeek V4 Flash | ||||||
| Llama 4 Maverick | | |||||
| Qwen 3.7 Flash | | | ||||
| Kimi K2 | | |||||
| GLM 4.7 FlashX | | | ||||
| MiniMax M2.5 | |
Google Sheets Microsoft Excel first choice named as an alternative argued againstblank: not namedEach cell is one answer, Google Sheets on the left and Microsoft Excel on the right.The direct prompt
Neither was named
12 of 12 modelsThe answer made no first choice from these two in this category.Bold names in an answer are the products the judge labeled a first choice; a model naming several gives each of them that label. The full answer text for every row is in the record.
By buyer segment
Google Sheets6%#8 of 13Microsoft Excel6%#9 of 13Google Sheets13%#2 of 8Microsoft Excel11%#4 of 8Google Sheets0%#– of 7Microsoft Excel0%#– of 7What the models said about Google Sheets
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Three of four in this category shown.
“Start with Google Sheets or Excel, and optionally use EasyFinancialModels for templates.” GLM 4.7 FlashX · budget prompt · first choice
“Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets remain the practical sweet spot” Claude Haiku 4.5 · budget prompt · first choice
“includes options like Google Sheets or Excel, which are free or low-cost” Llama 4 Maverick · budget prompt · first choice
What the models said about Microsoft Excel
Every negative label with a quote, up to three, then the highest-weighted positives, up to three. Three of four in this category shown.
“Microsoft Excel | General‑purpose financial modeling | Dominant in finance, powerful formulas, Python in Excel, AI Copilot, wide ecosystem” GLM 4.7 FlashX · comparative prompt · first choice
“Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets remain the practical sweet spot, offering functionality, familiarity, and affordability.” Claude Haiku 4.5 · budget prompt · first choice
“For many small businesses, the absolute best tool is the one you likely already own.” Qwen 3.7 Flash · budget prompt · first choice
Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category, each against each. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.