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Machine Learning · head to head

Neptune.ai vs Numbers

Neptune.ai logo

Neptune.ai

Machine Learning

Metadata store for MLOps

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Numbers logo

Numbers

Spreadsheets

Apple spreadsheet, free on Apple hardware, now with an optional Apple Creator Studio subscription for AI features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Neptune.ai free tier limited to 100 hours per month, exhausted quickly with serious ML work; Numbers numbers is not available on Windows or Android as a full application, so any collaborator outside the Apple ecosystem is limited to the basic iCloud.com web version.
  • They diverge on capability: Neptune.ai covers Experiment tracking, Numbers covers Canvas-style layout.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Neptune.ai and Numbers actually diverge.

Attributes where Neptune.ai and Numbers differ
AttributeNeptune.aiNumbers
Pricing modelUnknownFree with Apple hardware, optional Apple Creator Studio subscription for AI features
PlatformsWeb, Self-hostedmacOS, iOS, Web
CategoryMachine LearningSpreadsheets
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Neptune.ai

  • Experiment tracking
  • Model registry
  • Metadata logging
  • Comparison views
  • Custom dashboards
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Keras

Only in Numbers

  • Canvas-style layout
  • Formulas and categories
  • iCloud collaboration
  • Excel import and export
  • Apple Pencil and touch support
  • Apple Creator Studio AI features

What people use each for

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

Neptune.ai

  • Machine learningnot Numbers
  • Data analysisnot Numbers
  • Model trainingnot Numbers
  • Predictive analyticsnot Numbers

Numbers

  • A Mac or iPad user who wants a spreadsheet with no additional software cost beyond the devicenot Neptune.ai
  • Someone building a visually laid-out document, an invoice or a planner, rather than a dense data tablenot Neptune.ai
  • A small team already on Apple hardware collaborating through iCloud without adopting Google Workspace or Microsoft 365not Neptune.ai
  • A user who wants light AI-assisted content generation and is willing to pay for Apple Creator Studio to get itnot Neptune.ai

Where each one falls short

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

Neptune.ai

  • Free tier limited to 100 hours per month, exhausted quickly with serious ML work
  • Lacks hyperparameter sweeps compared to Weights and Biases
  • No pipeline orchestration or broader MLOps lifecycle management
  • Dashboard visualization limitations - automatic resizing affects visualization order and size
  • Cloud-based SaaS only (as of last available service) requires internet connectivity

Numbers

  • Numbers is not available on Windows or Android as a full application, so any collaborator outside the Apple ecosystem is limited to the basic iCloud.com web version.
  • Complex Excel formulas, pivot tables and VBA macros do not convert reliably, so heavy Excel users moving files into Numbers risk losing functionality.
  • Its canvas-style layout that is a strength for visual documents becomes a weakness for large, dense datasets, where a fixed grid like Excel or Sheets is easier to navigate.
  • The newest AI features are now gated behind the separate Apple Creator Studio subscription, meaning the previously all-free app now has a paid tier for its most talked-about new capability.
  • Performance and formula depth trail both Excel and Google Sheets for serious financial modelling or statistical analysis.

Pricing, plan by plan

Neptune.ai

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Neptune.ai review.

Numbers

Free
  • NumbersFree
    • Free with a Mac, iPad or iPhone
    • Core spreadsheet and canvas features
    • iCloud collaboration included
  • Apple Creator Studio$12.99/month
    • AI-assisted features across Numbers, Pages and Keynote
    • Premium templates
    • 129 USD annual option

Which should you pick?

Choose Neptune.ai if

  • You need experiment tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want model registry.
Neptune.ai review

Choose Numbers if

  • You need canvas-style layout.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, Web.
  • You also want formulas and categories.
Numbers review

Questions people ask

Is Neptune.ai or Numbers better?
Neither clearly leads. Neptune.ai starts at Free and Numbers at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Neptune.ai or Numbers?
Neptune.ai starts at Free and Numbers at Free.
Does Neptune.ai or Numbers run on more platforms?
Neptune.ai runs on Web, Self-hosted. Numbers runs on macOS, iOS, Web.
Can I use Neptune.ai for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Neptune.ai best used for?
Neptune.ai is most often used for machine learning, data analysis, model training, predictive analytics. Of those, machine learning and data analysis are not what Numbers is typically brought in for.
What can Neptune.ai do that Numbers cannot?
Neptune.ai covers Experiment tracking, Model registry, Metadata logging, Comparison views. Numbers covers Canvas-style layout, Formulas and categories, iCloud collaboration, Excel import and export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Neptune.ai: Does Neptune.ai support self-hosting?

Yes. Neptune can be self-hosted on a Kubernetes cluster with ClickHouse, MySQL, and Redis dependencies, allowing organizations to maintain full data control.

Source
Numbers: Do I have to pay for Numbers?

No, it is free for anyone with a Mac, iPad or iPhone; it does not require a separate purchase.

Neptune.ai: What machine learning frameworks does Neptune integrate with?

Neptune integrates with PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras, scikit-learn, XGBoost, LightGBM, Hugging Face Transformers, and Optuna for hyperparameter optimization.

Source
Numbers: What does Apple Creator Studio add?

AI-assisted content generation and premium templates across Numbers, Pages and Keynote, for around 12.99 USD a month.

Neptune.ai: What is the cost for a team of 10 data scientists?

Neptune's Team plan costs $49 per user per month, resulting in $490/month for 10 users, comparable to Weights and Biases at $50/user.

Source
Numbers: Can I use Numbers on Windows?

Only through a limited web version at iCloud.com; there is no native Windows application.

Neptune.ai: When is Neptune.ai shutting down?

Neptune.ai is shutting down its external SaaS service on March 5, 2026, following its acquisition by OpenAI in December 2025. Customers must export and migrate data before that date.

Source
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