Generating tables, formulas and analysis with AI no longer depends only on how well you write prompts. It depends on which spreadsheet ecosystem you are already in. These three are very different propositions: one standalone, two built into suites you probably already pay for.
Quick summary
| PopAI Sheets | Excel + Copilot | Google Sheets + Gemini | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | 14 EUR/mo (Plus, yearly) | $30/user/mo | Included with Google One AI Premium |
| Requires an existing subscription | No | Yes (Microsoft 365) | Partly (Google One AI) |
| Building from scratch, no existing data | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Integration with your existing setup | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ (Microsoft) | ★★★★★ (Google) |
| Combines web research with your own documents | Yes | Limited | Limited |
PopAI Sheets: the independent option
The one that does not assume you already pay someone else. You describe what you want and it builds the sheet, which is where it clearly beats the other two: generating a spreadsheet from nothing.
Copilot and Gemini are strongest when they have your existing data to work with. PopAI is strongest when you have a blank page and a description.
It also combines web research with your own documents in the same query, which neither integrated option does well.
The trade-off is that it lives outside your suite, so the output has to be moved to wherever your work actually happens. Note that PopAI publishes its pricing in euros: 14 EUR/mo for Plus and 35 EUR/mo for Pro, both billed annually.
Excel with Microsoft 365 Copilot: best if you already pay Microsoft
If your company runs on Microsoft 365, this is the path of least resistance. It works inside the file you already have, understands the data already in it, and requires no new tool or export step.
At $30/user/mo on top of your existing Microsoft 365 licence, it is the most expensive of the three. That price is only defensible if the integration is saving you real time daily.
Google Sheets with Gemini: best if you live in Google Workspace
Same logic, other ecosystem, and cheaper: it comes with Google One AI Premium rather than as a separate per-seat add-on.
Capability is broadly comparable to Copilot’s for everyday work. The deciding factor is not quality, it is which suite your files are already in.
Which one to choose
If you already pay for Microsoft 365 and use Excel daily: Copilot, and accept the price. Moving data between tools costs more than $30 a month in wasted time.
If you live in Google Workspace: Sheets with Gemini. It is included in a subscription many people already have, which makes it the cheapest real option here.
If you are not committed to either suite, or you build spreadsheets from scratch: PopAI Sheets. It is the only one that does not require an existing subscription, and generating from a description is its strongest capability.
The uncomfortable truth about this category: your ecosystem has probably already decided for you, and the honest question is not which tool is best but whether AI in spreadsheets saves you enough time to justify any of them. Try the one attached to what you already pay for before buying anything new.