TL;DR: Quadratic is an AI spreadsheet where normal formulas sit next to Python and SQL cells, and an AI assistant writes, edits, and debugs the code and charts for you. Its Personal plan is free forever with limited AI usage, limited sharing, files, and connections. It is a real working tool at $0, not a demo — but heavy AI use and team sharing are what the paid plans sell.
What does Quadratic actually do?
Quadratic rebuilds the spreadsheet around code and AI. One grid holds ordinary formulas alongside Python and SQL cells that reference the sheet’s data and write results back into cells. Connect live data sources through APIs and database connections, and build charts from the results — all in a browser-based, collaborative canvas.
The AI layer is the point. You describe what you want in plain language and the AI generates or fixes the code, formulas, and visualizations. Spreadsheet people can reach real data analysis without leaving the grid, and technical users can skip the export-to-a-notebook dance.
What is actually free on Quadratic?
According to Quadratic’s official pricing page, checked October 23, 2026, the Personal plan is free and includes:
- The full AI spreadsheet — formulas, Python and SQL cells, charts, and collaboration in the browser
- Limited AI usage (Quadratic does not publish an exact free credit number)
- Limited sharing, files, and connections
- Limited support
The honest read: the limits are described in words, not numbers. You get the real product with a meter on the AI and caps on sharing and connections — genuinely usable for personal analysis and learning, with the caps as the upgrade trigger for team work.
What do the paid plans add?
Pro is $18 per user per month billed annually: $20 in AI credits per month, additional models, additional privacy controls, and unlimited sharing, files, and connections. Business is $36 per user per month billed annually with $40 in monthly AI credits and on-demand top-ups. Enterprise adds custom AI usage, single sign-on, and self-hosting. You pay for more AI, more sharing, and admin control — not to unlock the spreadsheet itself.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Real spreadsheet on the free plan — formulas, Python, and SQL in one grid
- AI writes and debugs code and formulas from plain-English prompts
- Live connections to databases and APIs instead of copy-pasted exports
- Free forever for individuals, not a timed trial
Cons
- Free AI usage is “limited” with no published number, so heavy users cannot plan around it
- Sharing, file, and connection caps push teams toward Pro quickly
- Smaller feature set and community than Excel or Google Sheets
- The code-forward design rewards some technical comfort
Who is Quadratic best for?
Quadratic’s free plan is best for analysts, founders, and data-curious spreadsheet users who regularly hit the ceiling of Excel or Google Sheets — cleaning messy data, joining sources, or running the same analysis every week. If your work is simple budgets and lists, a conventional spreadsheet is still the simpler tool.
FAQ
Is Quadratic really free?
Yes. The Personal plan costs $0 and is positioned as a free account for individuals, with limited AI usage, sharing, files, and connections. It is not a timed trial.
How much AI usage does the free plan include?
Quadratic’s pricing page says “limited AI usage” without publishing a number. Paid plans state their allowance plainly — $20 of AI credits a month on Pro and $40 on Business.
Do I need to know Python or SQL to use Quadratic?
No, but it helps. The AI assistant can write and debug code from plain-language prompts, so non-coders can get results. The tool’s full power still comes from being able to read and tweak the code it writes.
Can Quadratic replace Excel or Google Sheets?
For data analysis work, it can. For general office documents, shared budgets, and maximum compatibility with everyone else’s files, the established tools still win on ecosystem and familiarity.
Research-based review — no hands-on testing claims. Free-tier details checked October 23, 2026 against Quadratic’s official pricing page. Plans can change; check Quadratic before you rely on a limit.