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Spreadsheets · head to head

Cube Software vs Quadratic

Cube Software logo

Cube Software

Spreadsheets

FP&A layer that connects Excel and Google Sheets to source systems without asking finance to leave the spreadsheet

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: Cube Software the pricing page is titled transparent and upfront pricing but shows no figures at all, only three tiers with quote buttons, so the marketing claim and the buying experience directly contradict each other.; 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: Cube Software covers Excel and Google Sheets add-ins, Quadratic covers Multi-language cells.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cube Software and Quadratic actually diverge.

Attributes where Cube Software and Quadratic differ
AttributeCube SoftwareQuadratic
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotePer user per month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Excel add-in, Google Sheets add-onWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux

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

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 Cube Software

  • Excel and Google Sheets add-ins
  • Source system connectors
  • Central dimensional model
  • Drill-down to source
  • Scenario planning
  • Dashboards
  • Workflow automation
  • Slack and Teams integration

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.

Cube Software

  • A finance team on Google Workspace that cannot use the Excel-add-in-only planning tools most of the market sellsnot Quadratic
  • A startup finance function of two or three people replacing a shared workbook without a six-month implementationnot Quadratic
  • Consolidating actuals from an accounting system and a CRM into one forecast without building a warehousenot Quadratic
  • Collecting departmental budget inputs on a schedule with an audit trail rather than by email attachmentnot 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 Cube Software
  • Ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cellnot Cube Software
  • Sharing a reproducible analysis with a colleague who will only ever open a spreadsheet, not a notebooknot Cube Software
  • Prototyping a data pull against a warehouse before committing it to a scheduled pipelinenot Cube Software

Where each one falls short

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

Cube Software

  • The pricing page is titled transparent and upfront pricing but shows no figures at all, only three tiers with quote buttons, so the marketing claim and the buying experience directly contradict each other.
  • Add-ons for premium support, additional modules and API access are priced separately, which means the tier you are quoted is a floor rather than the total.
  • The spreadsheet remains the modelling surface, so organisations that grow into large multidimensional planning problems will eventually migrate again to a purpose-built tool.
  • It is a layer over source systems rather than a system of record, so data quality problems in the ERP or CRM surface in the forecast and Cube gives you no way to fix them at source.
  • The vendor targets small finance teams, so buyers needing deep statutory consolidation, multi-entity currency translation or heavy allocation logic will find the functional depth thinner than the established enterprise platforms.

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

Cube Software

On request
  • Bronze$undefined/year
    • Full platform access
    • Unlimited dimensions and users
    • Unlimited dashboards
  • Silver$undefined/year
    • Everything in Bronze
    • Slack and Teams integration
    • Workflow automation
  • Gold$undefined/year
    • Everything in Silver
    • Premium support
    • All integrations and workflows

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 Cube Software if

  • You need excel and google sheets add-ins.
  • You work on Web, Excel add-in, Google Sheets add-on.
  • You also want source system connectors.
Cube Software 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 Cube Software or Quadratic better?
Neither clearly leads. Cube Software 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, Cube Software or Quadratic?
Quadratic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Cube Software and Free for Quadratic.
Does Cube Software or Quadratic run on more platforms?
Cube Software runs on Web, Excel add-in, Google Sheets add-on. 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. Cube Software starts at On request.
What is Cube Software best used for?
Cube Software is most often used for a finance team on google workspace that cannot use the excel-add-in-only planning tools most of the market sells, a startup finance function of two or three people replacing a shared workbook without a six-month implementation, consolidating actuals from an accounting system and a crm into one forecast without building a warehouse, collecting departmental budget inputs on a schedule with an audit trail rather than by email attachment. Of those, a finance team on google workspace that cannot use the excel-add-in-only planning tools most of the market sells and a startup finance function of two or three people replacing a shared workbook without a six-month implementation are not what Quadratic is typically brought in for.
What can Cube Software do that Quadratic cannot?
Cube Software covers Excel and Google Sheets add-ins, Source system connectors, Central dimensional model, Drill-down to source. Quadratic covers Multi-language cells, Infinite canvas, Direct database connections, AI agent in the sheet.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cube Software: Does Cube work with Google Sheets?

Yes, and that is its main differentiator. Google Sheets is a first-class interface, not a secondary export.

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.

Cube Software: Is pricing published?

No, despite the page being titled transparent pricing. All three tiers require a quote.

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.

Cube Software: Is it a replacement for our accounting system?

No. It reads actuals from your accounting or ERP system and adds planning, reporting and workflow on top.

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.

Cube Software: What are the tiers called?

Bronze, Silver and Gold, with add-ons for premium support, extra modules and API access.

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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