beyond excel & Basic spreadsheets
AI for spreadsheets
Can your spreadsheet’s AI tool handle relational data? While Excel has Copilot, and Google Sheets, Gemini, Grist has embedded AI that understands data structure; not just cells.
AI spreadsheet assistant
Say hello to Grist’s AI Assistant, your context-aware collaborator, available under the ‘Tools’ menu in the left-hand navigation panel of every document.
Simply describe what you’re trying to do, and the assistant will guide you through it.
AI spreadsheet generator
Watch Grist’s AI bring your spreadsheet ideas to life – no coding knowledge required.
Bring a vision of a template and enter a prompt, and Grist’s AI handles the rest.
AI spreadsheet data visualization
Grist’s AI builds the Python-powered summaries you need to visualize insights from your spreadsheets, all using natural language.
Learn how automated data preparation meets user-driven visualization on Grist.
AI data cleaning for spreadsheets
Grist natively supports data cleaning through intelligent imports, relational structures, and formula transformations for consistency.
Learn how the AI enhances this power through natural language commands.
Grist is built for modern data workflows
Spreadsheet AI that understands structure, not just cells.
Spreadsheet familiarity, database power
When inventory affects orders affects forecasting (for example), Grist maintains these connections automatically — and the AI tool understands the relationships.
Build custom apps without coding
Create the exact workflow your team needs. The AI tool helps construct pages, prepare data for charts, and link data views through simple conversation.
Python power, natural language interface
Access Python’s capabilities by describing what you need. Grist’s AI generates formulas using the standard library — from basic calculations to data transformations.
One spreadsheet, converging AI-powered solutions
From creating summary tables with specified GROUP BY columns to generating Python and Excel formulas to linking widgets on the same page, Grist’s AI adapts to how your relational data actually works.
Transform data chaos into structured intelligence
Core capabilities, now AI-powered:
Data standardization made simple
Inconsistent date formatting? Poor naming conventions? The AI identifies patterns and suggests fixes across related tables — maintaining referential integrity where Excel cannot.
From flat files to relational structure
Import data chaos. The AI helps identify relationships, suggest table structures, and build relations — transforming isolated data into a connected system.
Collaborative without conflicts
Multiple users, different permissions, one source of truth. The AI helps set up views and access patterns, preventing the version nightmares plaguing shared spreadsheets.
Scale without breaking
As data grows from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of rows, Grist maintains performance. The AI helps create efficient summaries and manage complexity at scale.
Frequently asked questions
How does Grist’s AI compare to Excel Copilot?
Excel Copilot is limited to generating text summaries and basic content within cells. Microsoft explicitly warns against using it for “any task requiring accuracy or reproducibility,” especially numerical calculations.
Grist’s AI understands relational data structures, creates Python formulas for complex calculations, builds document architecture (pages, widgets, summaries), and modifies data with undo support. Unlike Copilot’s text-only focus, Grist’s AI works with your actual data relationships.
What are the usage limits and pricing?
Grist AI:
- Additional credits: 500 for $10/month or 2,000 for $29/month
- Free plan: 100 AI credits (lifetime)
- Pro plan ($8-10/user/month): 100 credits/month
- Business plan ($24-30/user/month): 2,000 credits/month
Excel Copilot Pro:
- $20/user/month (requires Microsoft 365 subscription)
- Limited to 100 calls per 10 minutes or 300 calls per hour
Can I import my existing Excel files?
Yes. Grist imports Excel (.xlsx) and CSV files directly. The AI can help restructure flat spreadsheet data into proper relational tables, maintaining all your existing information while adding database capabilities Excel lacks.
Do I need to know Python to use Grist’s AI
No. The AI writes Python formulas from your plain English descriptions. You describe what you need i.e, “calculate the moving average of sales for the last 3 months” and the AI generates the Python code using the full standard library.
Is my Spreadsheet data sent to AI servers?
Your data is sent to OpenAI only when you actively submit a request to the AI Assistant. You control exactly when and what data is shared.
What can’t Grist’s AI do?
The AI Assistant cannot:
- Make structural changes to access rules (though Grist has granular permissions)
- Automatically monitor changes without prompting
- Access external APIs or live web data directly
- Generate advanced machine learning models (though it can write Python for data analysis)
Why can’t Excel Copilot handle numerical calculations?
Microsoft acknowledges Copilot’s tendency to hallucinate and generate incorrect responses, making it unsuitable for financial reporting, legal documents, or any high-stakes calculations. Grist’s AI, working with structured data and Python’s deterministic functions, provides reliable, reproducible calculations.
Can multiple users work with AI simultaneously?
Yes. Grist’s real-time collaboration means multiple team members can use the AI Assistant in the same document, with each person’s changes tracked and reversible. Excel Copilot works only for individual licensed users.
Is Grist available offline or self-hosted?
Unlike Excel’s cloud-dependent Copilot, Grist offers self-hosting options. Enterprise customers can run Grist on their own servers with the AI Assistant, maintaining complete data sovereignty. Excel Copilot requires cloud connectivity and cannot be self-hosted.
