8 Best AI Plugins & Add-ins for Excel (2026)
"AI plugin for Excel" can mean two very different things: an in-grid add-in that writes formulas and fills cells, or a companion tool that analyses the whole file. Here's an honest ranking of both — with what each is genuinely best at, and the free options.
The short version
· Best for whole-file analysis: DataHub Pro — dashboards, forecasts and reports from the file, with an audit trail.
· Best native add-in: Microsoft Copilot in Excel (if you pay for M365 Copilot).
· Best formula add-ins: Ajelix, GPT for Excel, Formula Bot.
· Best free: GPT for Excel, Formula Bot and GPTExcel (formulas); DataHub Pro free tier (analysis).
Two kinds of "AI plugin" — pick the right one
Most "AI plugins for Excel" are formula assistants: you describe what you want in plain English and they write the formula, regex or script, or fill a column with AI. Brilliant for the cell-level grunt work. But they don't analyse your data — they don't build a dashboard, forecast a trend, or segment your customers. For that you want a companion analytics tool that reads the whole file. The list below covers both, clearly labelled. No affiliate links; pricing taken from each vendor in June 2026.
| Tool | Type | Best for | Free tier | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DataHub Pro | Companion app | Whole-file analysis & reports | Yes | $14.99/mo |
| Copilot in Excel | Native add-in | In-grid AI on M365 | No | ~$30/user/mo |
| Ajelix | Add-in/web | Formulas, templates, VBA | Limited | $9/mo |
| GPT for Excel | Add-in | Formula functions in cells | Yes | Free / paid |
| Formula Bot | Add-in/web | Formula generation | Yes | $9/mo |
| Numerous.ai | Add-in | Bulk AI in cells | Limited | $10/mo |
| GPTExcel | Web | Free formula/SQL gen | Yes | Free / paid |
| Arcwise | Add-in | AI in Google Sheets/Excel | Limited | Paid |
1. DataHub Pro — companion app
From $14.99/mo · free tierNot a formula add-in — a full analytics layer for the file you already have. Upload an Excel/CSV and get KPI dashboards, Holt-Winters forecasts, cohort/RFM analysis, anomaly detection and plain-English Q&A, then export a branded Word/PowerPoint report. Every answer ships with the pandas operations it ran, so the numbers are auditable.
2. Microsoft Copilot in Excel — native add-in
~$30/user/moThe built-in AI, available with a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription. Summarises ranges, suggests formulas and answers questions about the sheet you're in.
3. Ajelix — add-in / web
From $9/moA popular Excel/Sheets AI toolkit: formula generator and explainer, template generator, VBA scripts and translation. Strong, affordable formula helper.
4. GPT for Excel (Excel Labs) — add-in
Free / paidAdds AI functions (like =GPT()) directly into your cells via the Excel Labs add-in — handy for generating, cleaning or classifying text at scale.
5. Formula Bot — add-in / web
Free tier · from $9/moText-to-formula and a data-analysis chat. One of the original "describe it, get the formula" tools, with a usable free tier.
6. Numerous.ai — add-in
From $10/moBrings ChatGPT into spreadsheet cells with a drag-down formula — ideal for classifying, writing or extracting across thousands of rows.
7. GPTExcel — web
Free / paidA free, no-frills generator for Excel/Sheets formulas, SQL and scripts. Great zero-cost starting point.
8. Arcwise — add-in
PaidAn AI copilot for spreadsheets with data connectors and context-aware help. More analyst-oriented than a pure formula bot.
Which should you install?
If you just want help writing formulas, start with a free option — GPT for Excel, Formula Bot or GPTExcel — and upgrade to Ajelix or Copilot if you want more. But if what you actually need is to turn the spreadsheet into a dashboard, forecast or board report — the work a formula plugin can't do — use DataHub Pro alongside Excel. Many teams run both: a formula add-in for cell work, and DataHub Pro for the analysis and reporting.
Go beyond formulas
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