SheetAI and SheetSmart both use AI to generate Google Sheets formulas from plain English. But they work differently, cost differently, and the free tiers aren't even close. Here's the honest comparison.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | SheetSmart | SheetAI |
|---|---|---|
| Price (monthly) | $7.99/mo | $8-$20/mo |
| Price (annual) | $59.99/yr ($5/mo) | $72/yr ($6/mo) |
| Free tier | 10 formulas/day | 5 total + 50 function calls |
| Type | Chrome side panel | Workspace add-on + =SHEETAI() |
| API key needed? | No | Yes (for $20/mo tier) |
| AI model | Claude (Anthropic) | GPT (OpenAI) |
| Explain formulas? | Yes | Limited |
| Sheet context auto-detect | Yes | No |
The Free Tier — Not Even Close
SheetAI gives you 5 formula generations total. Not per day. Not per month. Five. Then you're done unless you pay.
SheetSmart gives you 10 formulas every single day. That's 200+ per month. For most people, the free tier is enough and you never need to pay.
How They Work
SheetSmart opens as a side panel inside Google Sheets. You type what you need, it generates the formula, you click Copy and paste it. It automatically detects your sheet name, selected cell, and column headers — so it knows the context of your spreadsheet without you explaining it.
SheetAI installs as a Google Workspace add-on. You can use a sidebar or type =SHEETAI("your prompt") directly in a cell. The in-cell approach is powerful for bulk operations but has a steeper learning curve.
When to Choose SheetAI
If you need to process entire columns with AI (categorize 1,000 product descriptions, extract emails from 500 cells, etc.), SheetAI's in-cell function is better suited. It's a data processing tool disguised as a formula generator.
When to Choose SheetSmart
If you want to quickly generate individual formulas — VLOOKUPs, SUMIFs, array formulas, conditional formatting rules — SheetSmart is faster and simpler. No setup, no API key, no learning curve. Open the panel, type what you need, done.
Our Recommendation
For 90% of Google Sheets users who just need help writing formulas: SheetSmart is the better value. Cheaper monthly, much more generous free tier, simpler to use, and no API key required.
For data analysts doing bulk AI processing across thousands of rows: SheetAI's =SHEETAI() function is worth the premium.