Research · June 13, 2026 · 9 min read
ChatGPT for Excel and Google Sheets vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot: Two Paths to AI-in-Spreadsheets
Two products, very different strategies, both targeting the same small-business workflow: AI assistance inside a spreadsheet. ChatGPT for Excel and Google Sheets went generally available across every OpenAI plan on May 5, 2026 (running on GPT-5.5). Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot launches July 1, 2026 with Copilot baked into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for new Business SKUs.
For SMB owners deciding where to spend AI budget, this isn't an either/or question — but it is a stack-fit question. This post is the honest comparison, with every claim sourced from OpenAI and Microsoft directly.
What ChatGPT for Excel and Sheets actually does
Verified from OpenAI's own announcement and the help center page:
- Spreadsheet-native sidebar inside both Excel and Google Sheets
- Build, update, clean up, and explain workbooks — including large multi-tab files with formulas, references, and assumptions
- Powered by GPT-5.5, GA as of May 5, 2026
- Available globally to: Business, Enterprise, Edu, K-12, plus consumer plans Free, Go, Pro, Plus
- Beta history: ChatGPT for Excel launched March 5, 2026; Google Sheets extension April 22, 2026
- Free preview for Business/Enterprise/Edu/K-12 plans through June 2, 2026; after that, usage follows each plan's credits and usage terms
- Data privacy: data shared with ChatGPT is not used to train OpenAI's models for Business, Enterprise, Edu, and Teachers plan users by default
What Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot does (briefly)
We covered the full M365 Business with Copilot announcement in a separate post. The short version, verified directly from Microsoft's announcement:
- Launch: July 1, 2026
- SKUs: Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot, Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot
- Copilot built directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- Multiple AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic
- 1,000+ named connectors (Shopify, PayPal, Xero, HubSpot, etc.)
- Security through existing M365 sensitivity labels and DLP
The honest comparison
Two different bets on how AI-in-spreadsheets should work:
ChatGPT for Excel and Google Sheets
Availability
GA today (May 5, 2026 onwards) across all tiers
Strength
Works in BOTH Excel and Google Sheets — only product that crosses Microsoft and Google stacks. Sidebar UX. No need to migrate productivity stack. Free tier eligible. Same conversation history as your other ChatGPT use, so context persists.
Limit
No deep integration with the rest of Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint) the way Copilot is. Limited to the spreadsheet workflow. After June 2, Business preview ends — usage follows plan credits, and at scale that can get expensive faster than a per-seat Copilot license.
Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot
Availability
Launches July 1, 2026 (new SKUs)
Strength
Deep integration across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AND Outlook — not just spreadsheets. Built-in security via existing M365 sensitivity labels and DLP. Multi-model (OpenAI + Anthropic) hedges your model risk. 1,000+ connectors connect spreadsheet work to actual business data (QuickBooks, HubSpot, etc.). Best fit if you're already on M365.
Limit
Requires Microsoft 365 stack. Pricing not disclosed at launch — needs follow-up with your Microsoft Partner. Doesn't help if your team prefers Google Sheets. Hard to evaluate ROI before July 1.
The decision framework
If you're on Google Workspace, the answer is clear: ChatGPT for Sheets
It's the only AI-spreadsheet tool that's actually inside Google Sheets. Microsoft 365 Copilot is not available for Google Sheets at all. ChatGPT for Sheets is GA today across every tier — free if you're a personal user, plan-billed if you're Business.
If you're already on Microsoft 365, wait for July 1
Pilot M365 Business with Copilot. The integration depth across Word + Excel + PowerPoint + Outlook + Teams is the differentiator. Add ChatGPT for Excel only if you have a specific need GPT-5.5 fills better than the underlying M365 Copilot model.
If you use both Excel and Google Sheets, use ChatGPT
Many small businesses run financial models in Excel and shared docs in Google Sheets. ChatGPT for Excel and Sheets is the only product that works in both. The portability beats Copilot's depth in one product.
If you haven't migrated to GPT-5.5 personally, this is the trigger
ChatGPT for Excel/Sheets is GPT-5.5-powered. If you've been holding off on the model upgrade, the spreadsheet workflow is a natural place to test it. Use your existing ChatGPT account; no separate product purchase needed.
Cost math worth running
Two pricing models to compare:
- ChatGPT Business: $25 USD per user per month (annual). Includes ChatGPT for Excel/Sheets. Usage follows plan credits after June 2, 2026 preview period.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (existing standalone): $18 USD per user per month after 15% promo (extended through December 31, 2026).
- Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot (new SKUs): Pricing not disclosed at launch — check with your Microsoft Partner.
On a per-seat basis, the existing M365 Copilot Business is cheaper than ChatGPT Business. The trade-off is the deeper integration with Microsoft 365 you get for that lower price. ChatGPT's $7/seat-month premium buys cross-platform (Excel AND Sheets) capability plus the broader ChatGPT product. Math your specific use case.
The bottom line
For most SMBs, this isn't a head-to-head choice. The honest answer is: which productivity stack is your team already on?
- Google Workspace? ChatGPT for Excel and Google Sheets. Live today.
- Microsoft 365? Wait for July 1 and pilot M365 Business with Copilot.
- Both? ChatGPT covers the cross-platform need.
The lock-in cost of either choice is low — they're monthly per-seat subscriptions. Pilot one, measure, switch if needed.
Don't forget the AI visibility side
Picking the right AI for your spreadsheets is one decision. Making sure customers find your business across ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google AI Mode, and Siri is another. Our free scan covers all five. Under 10 seconds, no signup.
Run my free scan →Sources: OpenAI — Introducing ChatGPT for Excel, OpenAI Help Center — ChatGPT for Excel and Google Sheets, Microsoft 365 Blog — M365 Business with Copilot.
Written by the team at Kesem Marketing, a digital agency helping small businesses get found in the AI-first era.