Analyze a spreadsheet: how to do it with AI
Last checked 2026-10-15
BeginnerBot with human review 📊 Data analysis
Upload a CSV/XLSX and ask questions, get charts.
1. Bot automation level
Bot with human review The bot does the work, but facts, numbers or code should be checked.
2. Before you hand it to the bot
- Gather inputs: the text, file or details the bot needs.
- Access: make sure you can use the chosen bot/plan (see limits below).
- Context: tell the bot audience, purpose, constraints and examples of good output.
- Privacy check: remove personal, confidential or regulated data unless your plan/workspace is approved for it.
- Success criteria: write down what 'done' looks like (length, format, tests passing, fields filled).
3. Copy-paste prompts
Main prompt
Here's sales.csv: which region grew fastest? Chart it.
Beginner-friendly
Here's sales.csv: which region grew fastest? Chart it. I'm new to this: explain each step in plain words and ask me for anything you need before starting.
Check-your-work
Here's sales.csv: which region grew fastest? Chart it. When you finish, list any assumptions you made, anything you're unsure about, and what I should double-check before using the result.
Free tiers that can handle this (verified): ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex), Claude (incl. Claude Code), Google Gemini. Others: check plan.
4. Step-by-step
- Remove columns with personal data you don't need.
- Upload the CSV/XLSX and describe each column briefly.
- Ask a specific question and request the method (code or formula) along with the answer.
- Ask for a chart and check axes, units and filters.
- Re-compute one headline number yourself in a spreadsheet.
5. Which bots and plans can do it
| Tool | What's different here | Plan limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex) | Data analysis with interactive tables and charts on Plus+ (per pricing page). | Free tier has limited deep research, Codex and Work; scheduled tasks need Go or higher (per chatgpt.com/pricing). | help.openai.com/en/articles/20001275-chatgpt-work-and-codex |
| Claude (incl. Claude Code) | Creates and edits files with code execution, on all plans per pricing page. | Claude Code and Research need Pro or higher; computer use is Pro/Max only (research preview). | code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop |
| Google Gemini | Pro plan advertises up to 1,500 pages of file uploads. | Free tier includes Deep Research, Canvas, Gems; video generation needs AI Plus or higher. | gemini.google/overview/deep-research/ |
| Microsoft Copilot | Copilot in Excel with an eligible Microsoft 365 plan. | Copilot in Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook needs an eligible Microsoft 365 plan. | www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/features |
| Perplexity (incl. Comet) | — | Pricing not verified — check official site for Deep Research limits. | www.perplexity.ai/comet/ |
Free or paid?
- ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex): Free plan: yes. unlimited text chats; limited uploads, images, voice, deep research and Codex. Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. Its free tier can handle this task.
- Claude (incl. Claude Code): Free plan: yes. chat, web search, files & code execution, Artifacts, connectors. Claude Code and Research need Pro. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $20/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- Google Gemini: Free plan: yes. Flash-Lite model, image generation, Deep Research, Live, Canvas, Gems. Video needs AI Plus or higher. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $99.99/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- Microsoft Copilot: Free: not verified, so check the official site. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $23.5/month (other plans may exist). For this task, check the plan.
- Perplexity (incl. Comet): Free plan: yes. search with citations, limited daily use. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $17/month (other plans may exist). For this task, check the plan.
6. Risks and what to double-check
- Models can misread headers or dates — check row counts match.
- Charts can hide filtering choices; ask what was excluded.
- Spot-check numbers against the source file; check formulas and filters.
- AI can hallucinate facts — verify anything that matters.
- Don't share secrets or other people's personal data.