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Spreadsheets · head to head

Quadratic vs Zoho Sheet

Quadratic logo

Quadratic

Spreadsheets

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho Sheet logo

Zoho Sheet

Spreadsheets

Free standalone cloud spreadsheet from Zoho, also bundled into the low-cost Zoho Workplace suite

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Zoho Sheet its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • They diverge on capability: Quadratic covers Multi-language cells, Zoho Sheet covers Real-time collaboration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Quadratic and Zoho Sheet actually diverge.

Attributes where Quadratic and Zoho Sheet differ
AttributeQuadraticZoho Sheet
Pricing modelPer user per monthFree standalone, bundled into paid Zoho Workplace for organisations
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Quadratic

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

Only in Zoho Sheet

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Deluge scripting
  • Pivot tables and formulas
  • Excel compatibility
  • Zoho ecosystem integration
  • Offline access

What people use each for

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

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 Zoho Sheet
  • Ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cellnot Zoho Sheet
  • Sharing a reproducible analysis with a colleague who will only ever open a spreadsheet, not a notebooknot Zoho Sheet
  • Prototyping a data pull against a warehouse before committing it to a scheduled pipelinenot Zoho Sheet

Zoho Sheet

  • An individual wanting a genuinely free spreadsheet without a Google or Microsoft account requirementnot Quadratic
  • A small business already using Zoho CRM that wants spreadsheet data flowing directly from itnot Quadratic
  • A price-sensitive team choosing Zoho Workplace over Google Workspace for the same headcountnot Quadratic
  • A nonprofit or startup on the Zoho Workplace Forever Free plan for up to 5 usersnot Quadratic

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Zoho Sheet

  • Its template, add-on and third-party integration ecosystem is much smaller than Google Sheets or Excel, so specialised workflows may not have a ready-made extension.
  • Collaborators outside a company who are used to Google Sheets or Excel face a small adjustment to the Zoho interface and keyboard shortcuts.
  • Zoho Workplace Forever Free is capped at 5 users and 5GB, so it stops being viable the moment a team grows past that.
  • Deluge, its scripting language, is Zoho-specific, so automation logic written for Zoho Sheet does not transfer to Google Apps Script or Excel VBA if a company later switches suites.
  • Brand recognition and market share are far smaller than Google or Microsoft, so IT departments evaluating vendors may have less familiarity or fewer case studies to draw on.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Zoho Sheet

Free
  • Zoho Sheet (standalone)Free
    • Full core spreadsheet functionality
    • No forced account upgrade
    • Individual use
  • Zoho Workplace Forever FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • 5GB storage
    • Sheet, Docs, Slides, Mail and Meeting bundled
  • Zoho Workplace Professional$6/month
    • Full Workplace suite for teams
    • Annual billing rate
    • Larger storage per user

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Zoho Sheet if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want deluge scripting.
Zoho Sheet review

Questions people ask

Is Quadratic or Zoho Sheet better?
Neither clearly leads. Quadratic starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Quadratic or Zoho Sheet?
Quadratic starts at Free and Zoho Sheet at Free.
Does Quadratic or Zoho Sheet run on more platforms?
Quadratic runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. Zoho Sheet runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Quadratic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Quadratic best used for?
Quadratic is most often used for an analyst who wants a sql result, a python transformation and a set of manual assumptions visible in one file instead of three tools, ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cell, sharing a reproducible analysis with a colleague who will only ever open a spreadsheet, not a notebook, prototyping a data pull against a warehouse before committing it to a scheduled pipeline. Of those, an analyst who wants a sql result, a python transformation and a set of manual assumptions visible in one file instead of three tools and ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cell are not what Zoho Sheet is typically brought in for.
What can Quadratic do that Zoho Sheet cannot?
Quadratic covers Multi-language cells, Infinite canvas, Direct database connections, AI agent in the sheet. Zoho Sheet covers Real-time collaboration, Deluge scripting, Pivot tables and formulas, Excel compatibility.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Zoho Sheet: Is Zoho Sheet free on its own, without buying the suite?

Yes, it can be used as a standalone spreadsheet with a free Zoho account with no forced upgrade.

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.

Zoho Sheet: How does Zoho Workplace pricing compare with Google Workspace?

Independent pricing comparisons put Zoho Workplace at roughly 50 to 70 percent cheaper than equivalent Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plans.

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.

Zoho Sheet: Does Zoho Sheet open Excel files?

Yes, it imports, edits and exports Microsoft Excel format files.

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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