The problem
You know what you want the spreadsheet to calculate, but not which of the hundreds of functions to use or how to nest them. AI turns your description into a working formula and explains it.
Best AI tools for this
Ranked by how well they fix this problem. Free options first when results are close.
- Claude Top pick
Free plan. Describe your columns and what you want calculated.
Free plan Pricing sourceOpen
No tool matches all those filters.
Fix it in 4 steps
- 1 Describe your sheetSay which columns hold what, and which row the data starts on.
- 2 Say what you wantDescribe the result in plain words, like 'total sales per region for March'.
- 3 Paste the formulaCopy the formula into one cell of a copy of your sheet.
- 4 Test itCheck two or three rows by hand before filling it down.
Prefer a chatbot? Copy this prompt
I use Excel. Column A has dates, column B has region names, column C has sale amounts, starting on row 2. Write one formula for cell F2 that totals the sales for the region in E2 during March 2026. Explain in one sentence how it works, and tell me if it needs a newer Excel version.
Replace the column details with your own. Say Google Sheets instead of Excel if you use Sheets.
What AI can't fix here
- AI can't see your file unless you upload it, so it relies on your description.
- Complex financial models still need someone who understands them to review.
Questions
Does this work for Google Sheets?
Yes. Say you're using Google Sheets in the prompt, because a few functions differ between Sheets and Excel.