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Databases · head to head

Marqo vs Quadratic

Marqo logo

Marqo

Databases

AI-native product discovery platform for ecommerce

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quadratic logo

Quadratic

Spreadsheets

Infinite-canvas spreadsheet that runs Python, SQL and formulas in the same grid

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Quadratic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Marqo pricing not publicly available, enterprise sales-only model; Quadratic aI usage is metered as a dollar allowance rather than a flat entitlement, so a team that adopts the agent enthusiastically will exhaust 20 USD per user per month quickly and the true cost per seat becomes unpredictable.
  • They diverge on capability: Marqo covers Semantic search, Quadratic covers Multi-language cells.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Marqo and Quadratic actually diverge.

Attributes where Marqo and Quadratic differ
AttributeMarqoQuadratic
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelcontact-salesPer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb API, SaaSWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux
CategoryDatabasesSpreadsheets
Founded2022Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Marqo

  • Semantic search
  • Multimodal image search
  • AI model training
  • Automated merchandising
  • Multi-surface integration
  • Commerce platform integrations
  • API access

Only in Quadratic

  • Multi-language cells
  • Infinite canvas
  • Direct database connections
  • AI agent in the sheet
  • WebAssembly engine
  • Python package support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Marqo

  • Improve search revenue for fashion and beauty retailersnot Quadratic
  • Implement multimodal image and product searchnot Quadratic
  • Increase checkout conversion through better product discoverynot Quadratic
  • Create personalized product recommendationsnot Quadratic
  • Reduce customer support inquiries with relevant search resultsnot Quadratic

Quadratic

  • An analyst who wants a SQL result, a Python transformation and a set of manual assumptions visible in one file instead of three toolsnot Marqo
  • Ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cellnot Marqo
  • Sharing a reproducible analysis with a colleague who will only ever open a spreadsheet, not a notebooknot Marqo
  • Prototyping a data pull against a warehouse before committing it to a scheduled pipelinenot Marqo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Marqo

  • Pricing not publicly available, enterprise sales-only model
  • Requires custom implementation and integration work
  • Limited to ecommerce use cases compared to general search
  • Model training requires sufficient customer behavior data

Quadratic

  • AI usage is metered as a dollar allowance rather than a flat entitlement, so a team that adopts the agent enthusiastically will exhaust 20 USD per user per month quickly and the true cost per seat becomes unpredictable.
  • Self-hosting is available only on the Enterprise plan, so an organisation that cannot send data to the vendor cloud has to enter a sales negotiation rather than run a container.
  • Excel and Google Sheets compatibility is partial, so files with heavy conditional formatting, pivot tables or macros do not survive a round trip and have to be rebuilt.
  • The product is young and the connector list is short, covering the main relational databases and two warehouses, so anything else has to be reached through Python code you write and maintain yourself.
  • There is no real mobile editing experience, which matters more than it sounds for a spreadsheet because approvals and quick checks routinely happen on a phone.

Pricing, plan by plan

Marqo

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Marqo review.

Quadratic

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Limited AI usage
    • Limited files and connections
    • Limited sharing
  • Pro$18/month
    • Billed annually
    • 20 USD of AI credits per month
    • Unlimited files
  • Business$36/month
    • Billed annually
    • 40 USD of AI credits per month
    • Advanced permissions
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Quoted
    • Self-hosting option
    • Custom AI usage

Which should you pick?

Choose Marqo if

  • You need semantic search.
  • You work on Web API, SaaS.
  • You also want multimodal image search.
Marqo review

Choose Quadratic if

  • You need multi-language cells.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want infinite canvas.
Quadratic review

Questions people ask

Is Marqo or Quadratic better?
Neither clearly leads. Marqo starts at On request and Quadratic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Marqo or Quadratic?
Quadratic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Marqo and Free for Quadratic.
Does Marqo or Quadratic run on more platforms?
Marqo runs on Web API, SaaS. Quadratic runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Quadratic for free?
Yes. Quadratic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Marqo starts at On request.
What is Marqo best used for?
Marqo is most often used for improve search revenue for fashion and beauty retailers, implement multimodal image and product search, increase checkout conversion through better product discovery, create personalized product recommendations. Of those, improve search revenue for fashion and beauty retailers and implement multimodal image and product search are not what Quadratic is typically brought in for.
What can Marqo do that Quadratic cannot?
Marqo covers Semantic search, Multimodal image search, AI model training, Automated merchandising. Quadratic covers Multi-language cells, Infinite canvas, Direct database connections, AI agent in the sheet.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Marqo: How do Marqo models get trained?

Marqo trains dedicated AI models on each retailer's product catalog and customer behavior data including clicks, purchases, and browsing patterns. This ensures models are optimized for the specific retailer's products and customers.

Source
Quadratic: Do I need to know Python to use it?

No, formulas work on their own, but the reason to choose Quadratic over Google Sheets is the code cells, so a team with no Python will not get the value.

Marqo: What results can retailers expect from Marqo?

Enterprise retailers using Marqo report 10-23% increases in search revenue and conversion rates, with proven results across fashion, beauty, electronics, and home goods.

Source
Quadratic: What happens when the AI credits run out?

Prompting stops until the next monthly reset or until you move up a plan; the spreadsheet itself keeps working normally.

Marqo: Which ecommerce platforms does Marqo integrate with?

Marqo has native integrations with Shopify, Adobe Commerce (Magento), and Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and also provides API access for custom implementations.

Source
Quadratic: Can it replace a BI tool?

Not for scheduled distribution or governed metrics. It is for exploratory work by one person or a small team, not for dashboards a hundred people read.

Marqo: How is Marqo priced?

Marqo pricing is customized based on catalog size, search volume, and feature requirements. Contact their sales team to book a demo and discuss pricing.

Source
Quadratic: Is my database query sent to the vendor?

Connections run through the vendor service on all plans except Enterprise self-hosting, which is the option to take if that is unacceptable.

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