There are only three serious options here, and the choice is decided less by capability than by which suite your files already live in. The exception is worth knowing about, because it is the one case where a standalone tool clearly wins.
1. PopAI Sheets - best for building from scratch
The only one that does not assume you already pay someone else. Describe what you want and it builds the sheet, and it is clearly the strongest of the three at generating a spreadsheet from nothing.
The other two shine when they have your existing data to work with. PopAI shines when you have a blank page and a description, and it can pull web research and your own PDFs into the same structured table, which neither integrated option does well.
Free trial credits, then 14 EUR/mo for Plus and 35 EUR/mo for Pro, billed annually. Note that PopAI publishes its pricing in euros.
2. Excel with Microsoft 365 Copilot - best if you already use Excel
Works inside the file you already have and understands the data in it. If your company runs on Microsoft 365, this is the path of least resistance and there is not much to debate.
$30/user/mo on top of your existing Microsoft 365 licence, the most expensive option here by a distance.
3. Google Sheets with Gemini - best integrated free option
Same logic, other ecosystem, and considerably cheaper: it comes with Google One AI Premium rather than as a separate per-seat charge. Capability is broadly comparable to Copilot’s for everyday work.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Entry price | Building from scratch | Ecosystem integration |
|---|---|---|---|
| PopAI Sheets | 14 EUR/mo | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Excel + Copilot | $30/user/mo | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ (Microsoft) |
| Google Sheets + Gemini | Included with Google One AI | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ (Google) |
Which one should you pick?
If your company runs on Microsoft 365: Copilot, and accept the price. Moving data between tools costs more in wasted time than $30 a month.
If you live in Google Workspace: Sheets with Gemini. It is bundled into a subscription many people already hold, which makes it the cheapest real option.
If you are not committed to either, or you build sheets from a description rather than analysing existing ones: PopAI Sheets.
The honest framing for this category: your ecosystem has probably already decided, and the real question is whether AI in spreadsheets saves you enough time to justify any of them. Try whatever is attached to what you already pay for before buying something new.