ManyExcel vs Columns AI (formerly Columns)

ManyExcel turns plain-English prompts into spreadsheet formulas, regex patterns, and automation scripts for Excel and Google Sheets. You describe what you want in everyday language, and the tool returns the formula or code plus an explanation of how it works.

Most formula assistants stop at cell logic. ManyExcel also generates regex patterns from text instructions and writes VBA for Excel plus Apps Scripts for Google Workspace, so you can automate repetitive workbook tasks without opening separate tools. Pro subscribers get access to the Data Analysis Tool for working with uploaded spreadsheet files.

ManyExcel is built for analysts, accountants, and anyone who lives in spreadsheets but does not want to memorize function syntax. The free tier lets you try every generator without a credit card, and paid plans remove monthly caps on generation.

Columns AI takes messy files and live data sources through ingestion, automation, and chart publishing without making you stitch together separate tools. Drive ingests CSV, Excel, PDF, and images with OCR, Flow connects warehouses and apps with plain-language transformations, and Graph publishes brand-matched visuals you can embed or export.

Most BI tools assume your data is already clean and your team knows SQL. Columns splits the problem into three steps on purpose: structure files in Drive, automate sync and transforms in Flow, then ship client-ready charts from Graph without opening a separate design tool. You pay per row processed, and the Basic plan has no monthly base fee.

The site lists 12,000+ users across business operators, consultants, marketing and RevOps teams, analysts, and freelancers. Founder Shawn Cao previously built data infrastructure at Microsoft, Facebook, and Pinterest.