# Microsoft Excel alternatives: what AI models name instead, September 2026

Finance AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition. 199 of the 216 answers in the 1 category where Microsoft Excel holds a standing named it neither first nor as an alternative; these are the first choices those answers made. Page: https://finance-ai-index.com/vendors/microsoft-excel/alternatives/

## Named instead, most often (every category and segment added)

- Anaplan: 23
- Cube: 9
- Datarails: 9
- Limelight: 9
- Clockwork: 7
- Fathom: 6

## Financial modeling and scenario planning

**Small business**: 64 of 72 answers did not name Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Excel is #9 of 13 at 6%).

- Clockwork: first choice in 7 of those 64
- Fathom: first choice in 6 of those 64
- LivePlan: first choice in 6 of those 64
- Cube: first choice in 3 of those 64
- Excel/Google Sheets: first choice in 3 of those 64
- Finmark: first choice in 3 of those 64
- Float: first choice in 3 of those 64
- Forecastr: first choice in 3 of those 64

**Mid-market**: 63 of 72 answers did not name Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Excel is #4 of 8 at 11%).

- Datarails: first choice in 9 of those 63
- Cube: first choice in 5 of those 63
- Vena: first choice in 3 of those 63
- Drivetrain: first choice in 2 of those 63
- Limelight: first choice in 2 of those 63
- Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets: first choice in 2 of those 63
- Pigment: first choice in 2 of those 63
- Planful: first choice in 2 of those 63

**Enterprise**: 72 of 72 answers did not name Microsoft Excel.

- Anaplan: first choice in 23 of those 72
- Limelight: first choice in 7 of those 72
- Erwin Data Modeler: first choice in 2 of those 72
- Pigment: first choice in 2 of those 72
- Acterys: first choice in 1 of those 72
- Ardoq: first choice in 1 of those 72
- Board: first choice in 1 of those 72
- Cube: first choice in 1 of those 72

Published under CC BY 4.0. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.