Copilot for Excel vs. TwistlyCells: Is Copilot Outperformed?
Smarter spreadsheets, on your terms.
Microsoft Copilot brings AI to Excel, but it’s often locked behind subscriptions and system requirements. TwistlyCells gives you powerful AI features inside Excel, but with no long-term commitment, cloud dependency, or surprise fees.
It’s the flexible, easy-to-use ChatGPT for Excel add-in designed for people who just want to get work done (faster).
The best alternative to Microsoft Copilot in Excel
Copilot is Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant for 365 users. It can analyze trends, create charts, and suggest formulas, if your data is formatted properly and stored in OneDrive.
TwistlyCells does things a little bit differently.
This ChatGPT for Excel add-in (available on the official Microsoft AppSource) skips the complexity and delivers eight purpose-built AI formulas. The difference? These formula functions are designed for real-world spreadsheet tasks that you actually use: summarizing findings, rewriting cell contents, cleaning up messy columns, extracting data, translating entries, and more.
Plus, there’s no long-term subscription or contract. No special file setup or additional tools needed. Just install the add-in and start working smarter.
Why TwistlyCells is the way to work smarter
Works inside Excel—without locking you in
TwistlyCells integrates with Excel just like any other function. You don’t need a certain type of Microsoft 365 subscription, cloud storage, or Copilot Pro. Just install it from AppSource and start using AI directly in your sheets, using any plan that works for you.
Smarter AI built for your real-world workflow
TwistlyCells taps into top-tier AI models (including GPT-4 and Claude) to help you extract, fill, summarize, and format with precision. None of the same old basic suggestions, but rather actual useful output that you can use straight away; formatting sheets to your request, pulling information from the database to complete half-finished lists, and more.
Flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing
Try it for free to see how you can use each of the eight unique functions. Keep using it as much or as little as you need, with a plan that suits you. What’s more, TwistlyCells plans are completely flexible, with no hidden costs or commitments so you can chop and change as you choose.
TwistlyCells vs Copilot for Excel: What’s the difference?
| Feature | TwistlyCells | Microsoft Copilot for Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Designed For Excel | Yes! Custom AI formulas for spreadsheet tasks | Yes, with AI suggestions for formulas and insights |
| Subscription Required | No. Pay-as-you-go, cancel anytime | Yes. Requires Microsoft 365 + possibly Copilot Pro |
| File Requirements | Works with any sheet, local or cloud | Requires tables + cloud storage (OneDrive/SharePoint) |
| Functions & Tools | 8 unique formulas: AI.ASK, AI.EXTRACT, AI.TRANSLATE, etc. | Natural language Q&A, chart generation, insights |
| AI Model Access | Connects to GPT-4, Claude, and more | Uses Microsoft’s internal AI models |
| Installation | Microsoft AppSource (ChatGPT for Excel add-in) | Built into Microsoft 365 |
| Best For | Analysts, marketers, freelancers, daily Excel users | Teams fully invested in Microsoft cloud ecosystem |
| Other Tool Support | Applications for PowerPoint and Word | Excel only |
AI that works the way you do
Copilot is great if you’re deep in the Microsoft ecosystem, fully subscribed, and ready to follow their structure.
TwistlyCells gives you the same AI power, with more flexibility and direct control. Want to extract email addresses from a block of text? Done. Imagine how useful it would be if you could summarize a column of feedback with just a couple of words. Translate, reformat, complete, or generate a table? No problem. It’s all handled with simple, natural-language prompts that you can completely customize to your requirements.
No special training or restrictive contracts. Just results.
Try it free, upgrade anytime
You don’t need a license, and need to commit to pricey long-term subscriptions. With TwistlyCells, you just install the add-in and start working. If it fits, pick the plan that suits your workflow and integrate it into your everyday life.
Starter plan
Great for light usage and individual accounts. Twistly handles usage and billing.
Pro plan
Connect your own OpenAI account and pay a subscription for access to the functions when you need them.
Team plan
Multi-account management made simple for organizations. Multiple users with shared access and central billing.
It works in PowerPoint and Word too
TwistlyCells is part of a wider set of tools built for the Microsoft apps you already use:
- Twistly AI for PowerPoint: turn prompts into full decks
- TwistlyWords for Microsoft Word: rewrite, polish, or generate in one click
One approach with multiple tools. Smarter work—everywhere you look.
Start using AI in Excel your way
Spreadsheet assistance, built for the future. No subscriptions or restrictions, just smarter spreadsheets powered by AI that works to your instructions and customizes output based on your needs.
Ready when you are.
FAQs
No, TwistlyCells works as a standalone Excel add-in and doesn’t require a 365 subscription. You choose a plan and work on a pay-as-you go basis that you can cancel whenever you want.
Copilot focuses on insights, charts, and formula suggestions, but it requires cloud storage and subscriptions. TwistlyCells gives you more control, faster access, and flexibility in how you work.
Yes, the ChatGPT for Excel Pro and Team plans let you connect your own account if you want to manage your usage directly with OpenAI.
The eight functions built into TwistlyCells lets you summarize, extract, fill, translate, rewrite, reformat, and more. The world’s your oyster! Every function uses real AI formulas inside Excel, and mines an expansive AI database to pull information, including translations, knowledge, context and more.
