kitio.aiCopilot in Excel vs Shortcut
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Copilot in Excel has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $125 for Shortcut.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Natural-language formulas
- Agent mode
- COPILOT cell function
- Python in Excel
- Charts and PivotTables
- Excel add-in
- Financial model building
- Ask and action modes
- Formula-aware edits
- Web spreadsheet
| Feature | Copilot in Excel | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft's AI assistant and agent mode built into Excel | AI agent that builds and edits Excel models for finance work |
| Category | Data & analytics | Data & analytics |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | $9.99/mo | $125/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Made by | Microsoft | Shortcut |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Copilot in Excel has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $125 for Shortcut.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Microsoft 365 Personal
$9.99/mo
- 1 person
- Copilot in Excel and Office apps
- 1TB cloud storage
Microsoft 365 Family
$12.99/mo
- Up to 6 people
- Copilot for the subscription owner
Business Standard + Copilot
$28.20/mo
- Per user, monthly subscription
- Desktop Office apps
- Copilot Chat and Work IQ
Business Premium + Copilot
$38.40/mo
- Per user, monthly subscription
- Advanced security
- Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps
4 plans
Free
Free
- 20 free weekly credits
- Web, desktop, Excel and Sheets
Pro
$125/mo
- 1,000 monthly credits
- Unlimited file creation and edits
- Platform API access
Teams
$320/mo billed yearly
- Plus $100 per seat/mo
- 1,000 pooled team credits
- Shared workspace and analytics
Enterprise
Custom
- SSO and custom permissions
- BYOK and private gateway
- Custom contracts and SLAs
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Copilot in Excel
- Built into the spreadsheet most people use
- Agent mode handles multi-step edits
- Enterprise data protections
- Needs a Microsoft 365 subscription
- Usage limits on consumer plans
- Works best with data in tables
Shortcut
- Strong at finance models
- Works inside Excel
- Keeps existing formatting
- Expensive paid plan
- Less suited to everyday small tasks
Which one should you choose?
Choose Copilot in Excel if you want:
- Built into the spreadsheet most people use
- Agent mode handles multi-step edits
- Enterprise data protections
Watch out: needs a microsoft 365 subscription.
Choose Shortcut if you want:
- Strong at finance models
- Works inside Excel
- Keeps existing formatting
Watch out: expensive paid plan.
Copilot in Excel vs Shortcut FAQ
What is the difference between Copilot in Excel and Shortcut?
Copilot in Excel: Microsoft's AI assistant and agent mode built into Excel. Shortcut: AI agent that builds and edits Excel models for finance work. Both are data & analytics tools.
Is Copilot in Excel or Shortcut cheaper?
Copilot in Excel has the lower starting price: about $10 a month, against $125 for Shortcut.
Do Copilot in Excel and Shortcut have free plans?
Copilot in Excel: No. Shortcut: Yes.
Who makes Copilot in Excel?
Copilot in Excel is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Shortcut?
Shortcut is made by Shortcut, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Copilot in Excel or Shortcut?
Choose Copilot in Excel if you value built into the spreadsheet most people use and agent mode handles multi-step edits. Choose Shortcut if you value strong at finance models and works inside excel.