ChatGPT for Excel and Google Sheets: AI Right Inside Your Spreadsheet

Since May 5, 2026, ChatGPT is available directly inside Excel and Google Sheets — as a sidebar that runs alongside your spreadsheet. No tab switching, no file uploading. ChatGPT reads your cells, formulas, and sheet structure and works directly in the document.

What ChatGPT can do in spreadsheets:

- Create spreadsheets from scratch: Describe what you need ('Create a budget plan for a team event with 20 people'), and ChatGPT builds the spreadsheet with formulas and formatting
- Ask questions about existing data: 'Which cost center had the highest spending in April?' — ChatGPT reads across multiple worksheets and links its answer to the relevant cells
- Edit data with natural language: 'Add a column showing the percentage change from the previous month' — ChatGPT writes the formula and applies it
- Explain formulas: Select a complex formula and ask 'What does this formula do?' — you get a clear explanation

Important: Non-destructive by design

ChatGPT asks for permission before every change. You see exactly what will be modified and can undo each step. Existing formulas and formatting are preserved — ChatGPT never overwrites anything without your approval.

How to set it up:

Excel:
1. Open Excel and go to Insert > Get Add-ins
2. Search for 'ChatGPT' and click Add
3. Sign in with your ChatGPT account
4. The sidebar appears to the right of your spreadsheet

Google Sheets:
1. Open Google Sheets and go to Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons
2. Search the Google Workspace Marketplace for 'ChatGPT'
3. Install the add-on and sign in
4. Open ChatGPT from the Extensions menu

Availability and pricing:
- All plans: Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu
- Business/Enterprise/Edu: Free preview until June 2, 2026 — after that, usage follows each plan's credits and terms
- Model: Runs on GPT-5.5 — ChatGPT's current default model

Comparison: ChatGPT vs. Claude in spreadsheets

As of May 2026, both OpenAI and Anthropic have spreadsheet integrations. The difference:
- ChatGPT: Works in Excel and Google Sheets, available on the free plan
- Claude: Works in Excel (as part of the M365 add-ins), but offers cross-app context between Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Which tool fits better depends on your workflow: If you mainly work in Google Sheets, ChatGPT is currently the only AI option directly in the spreadsheet. If you use the full Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Claude is worth a look.

Privacy note:

For the sidebar to work, spreadsheet data is transmitted to OpenAI (and for Google Sheets, also to Google). Enterprise accounts are protected: data is not used for model training. On Free and Plus plans, check your settings to disable training usage before working with sensitive data. Confidential business data should only be used with training disabled or on the Enterprise plan.

Practical use cases:

- Accounting: 'Summarize revenue and expenses by quarter and highlight items over 5,000 euros'
- Project management: 'Create a Gantt-like layout from this task list with calendar weeks'
- Data cleaning: 'Find duplicate entries in column A and highlight them yellow'
- Reporting: 'Create a pivot-like summary of sales figures by region and product'

Sources: openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-excel, help.openai.com/en/articles/20001063-chatgpt-for-excel-and-google-sheets, chatgpt.com/apps/spreadsheets