Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Rows.
Want the closest match?
SourcetableMost similar to Rows in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Sourcetable in a new tab)Need a free plan?
BricksHas a free plan, rated 4.2 out of 5.
Visit (opens Bricks in a new tab)Want to pay less than Rows?
GPTExcelFrom $6.99/mo, against from $15/mo for Rows.
Visit (opens GPTExcel in a new tab)Want the best rated?
QuadraticRated 4.2 out of 5 in our review, against 4.4 for Rows.
Visit (opens Quadratic in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Rows, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 RowsBaseline | 4.4 | $15/mo | Yes | A spreadsheet with live API connections built into the cells | |
| Sourcetable | 5.0+0.6 | $20/mo$5 more | Yes | AI built into a real spreadsheet grid, not a separate chat window | vs Rows |
 Numerous.ai | 4.0−0.4 | $10/mo$5 less | No | An =AI() spreadsheet function for open-ended text tasks | vs Rows |
| Quadratic | 4.2−0.2 | Not listed | No | Spreadsheet that runs Python and SQL, connects to your database, and answers in plain English. | vs Rows |
 Formula Bot | 4.0−0.4 | $18/mo$3 more | Yes | Generates spreadsheet formulas, not general AI text functions | vs Rows |
 Arcwise | 4.1−0.3 | $29.99/mo$14.99 more | Yes | AI copilot embedded in Google Sheets that turns plain-language requests into pivots, charts, and cleaned data. | vs Rows |
 Ajelix | 3.3−1.1 | Free | Yes | Agentic AI turns your data into working Excel files with formulas, live dashboards, and finished presentations - not suggestions, actual deliverables ready to use. | vs Rows |
| GPTExcel | 3.9−0.5 | $6.99/mo$8.01 less | Yes | AI formula generator that converts plain-language requests into Excel, SQL, VBA, and regex output. | vs Rows |
| Bricks | 4.2−0.2 | $20/mo$5 more | Yes | The middle ground between plain Excel and full Tableau complexity | vs Rows |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Rows.
Sourcetable
5.0$20/mo
vs Rows$5 more+0.6
AI built into a real spreadsheet grid, not a separate chat window.
- AI assistance built directly into a spreadsheet grid interface
- AI-generated formulas and chart suggestions within cells
- Database and file connections for live data
Familiar grid interface suits spreadsheet-first thinkers directly
Less suited to users who prefer a pure conversational interface
Numerous.ai
4.0$10/mo
vs Rows$5 less−0.4
An =AI() spreadsheet function for open-ended text tasks.
- =AI() function for open-ended text tasks in spreadsheet cells
- Bulk processing across many rows at once
- Duplicate-query avoidance to reduce cost
Handles genuinely open-ended text tasks standard formulas can't express
No self-serve free tier, only a paid trial
Quadratic
4.2Not listed
vs Rows−0.2
Spreadsheet that runs Python and SQL, connects to your database, and answers in plain English.
- Python, SQL and formulas in the same grid
- Live connections to Postgres, Snowflake, BigQuery and more
- Natural-language questions that generate the code
Removes the export-to-CSV step where analysis goes stale
No pricing figures published, only a free trial
Formula Bot
4.0$18/mo
vs Rows$3 more−0.4
Generates spreadsheet formulas, not general AI text functions.
- Generates standard spreadsheet formulas from plain English
- Formulas work independently without ongoing AI access
- Chat interface for basic questions about uploaded data
Generated formulas are portable and don't require continued AI access
Less capable than AI-native cell functions for open-ended text tasks
Arcwise
4.1$29.99/mo
vs Rows$14.99 more−0.3
AI copilot embedded in Google Sheets that turns plain-language requests into pivots, charts, and cleaned data.
- $AI.TRANSFORM, $AI.CLASSIFY, and $AI.EXTRACT custom functions for running AI operations on cell ranges
- Chat-style assistant that builds pivot tables, charts, and summary reports from natural-language requests
- PDF upload with automatic extraction of tables and data into spreadsheet rows
Works inside Google Sheets directly, avoiding an export/import workflow
Limited to Google Sheets, with no native Microsoft Excel version
Ajelix
3.3Free
vs Rows−1.1
Agentic AI turns your data into working Excel files with formulas, live dashboards, and finished presentations - not suggestions, actual deliverables ready to use.
- Generates working Excel files with formulas and VBA scripts
- AI Dashboards for automated reporting
- Persistent workspace storing files up to 1GB across conversations
Produces finished, usable deliverables rather than just chat suggestions
Paid tier pricing isn't detailed on the page
GPTExcel
3.9$6.99/mo
vs Rows$8.01 less−0.5
AI formula generator that converts plain-language requests into Excel, SQL, VBA, and regex output.
- Natural-language-to-formula conversion for Excel and Google Sheets
- SQL query generation from plain-language descriptions
- VBA, Google Apps Script, and Airtable script generation
Pro plan at $6.99/month undercuts most AI spreadsheet-assistant pricing
Free tier's 4 tool uses per 12 hours limits it to light, occasional use
Bricks
4.2$20/mo
vs Rows$5 more−0.2
The middle ground between plain Excel and full Tableau complexity.
- Combined spreadsheet, dashboard, report, and presentation generation
- One-click theming and drag-and-drop layout adjustment
- Data refresh without rebuilding visualizations from scratch
Genuinely different middle-ground positioning between simple and complex tools
Less powerful than dedicated enterprise BI platforms for complex analysis
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Rows free?
Rows has a free plan, and paid plans start from $15/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Rows?
Sourcetable is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (5.0 out of 5). Other free options: Bricks, Arcwise, Formula Bot.
What is the cheapest alternative to Rows?
Among paid plans, GPTExcel has the lowest starting price (from $6.99/mo). If you need it free, start with Sourcetable.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.