# Excel/Google Sheets: how AI models rank it, September 2026

Finance AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition. Named in 10 judge labels across 5 categories by 9 of 12 models. Page: https://finance-ai-index.com/vendors/excel-google-sheets/

## Standing by category

| Category | Share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash flow forecasting | 0% | 85 | 100% | 3 |
| FP&A platforms | 0% | 21 | 0% | 3 |
| Financial modeling and scenario planning | 0% | 27 | 0% | 2 |
| Financial close management | 0% | 66 | 100% | 1 |
| Supplier management | 0% | 37 | 0% | 1 |

## What the models said for it

- "Best for: quick business modeling, small datasets, scenario analysis ... Need simple business forecasting? Excel / Sheets" (GPT-5.4 mini, Financial modeling)
- "If you're just getting started, this is often the right baseline before adding a specialized tool." (GLM 4.7 FlashX, FP&A platforms)
- "I'd suggest starting with Excel or Google Sheets if your needs are simple" (MiniMax M2.5, FP&A platforms)
- "(Free): Still viable for basics (many reviews recommend starting here)" (Grok 4.1 Fast, FP&A platforms)

## And against it

- "Avoid Spreadsheets Eventually: While Excel/Google Sheets are "free," they become inefficient and error-prone" (Qwen 3.7 Flash, Cash flow forecasting)
- "remains the #1 trap... treat that as your biggest risk to mitigate — not a tool to keep." (DeepSeek V4 Flash, Cash flow forecasting)
- "relying on Excel/Google Sheets for close management is widely recognized as problematic" (Kimi K2, Financial close manageme)
- "they are the number-one "tool" to move away from as complexity grows" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, Cash flow forecasting)

## Record

- Method: https://finance-ai-index.com/methodology/
- Raw judge labels and full responses: https://finance-ai-index.com/data/
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as Finance AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition, finance-ai-index.com.