The best alternative to Google Sheets

Data is the new fuel of the tech industry, and effectively storing, analyzing, and leveraging it is more important than ever. Managing large datasets, integrating code, and collaborating in real time often require complex setups with external tools. While AI and automation have transformed other areas of technology, spreadsheets have remained mostly untouched, lacking native support for programming languages, real-time collaboration, and seamless integrations.

I've always relied heavily on spreadsheets like Google Sheets for organizing data, analyzing results, and keeping projects on track. But over time, as the data grew larger and my projects became more complex, I started to notice limitations. Performance issues, and lack of easy coding integrations.

Why Traditional Spreadsheets Fell Short

• Slow and Laggy Performance: Navigating large spreadsheets can feel sluggish, with slow response times and unresponsive interactions. Scrolling, zooming, and editing may lag, making it difficult to work efficiently.

• Missing Coding Features: If I wanted to do anything advanced like use Python, SQL, or JavaScript, I had to export data and switch between tools constantly.

• Basic Automation and AI: The built-in automation was basic, and there was little support for modern AI integrations.

• Difficult to Connect Data Sources: Linking spreadsheets directly to databases or APIs was often complicated and required extra steps or tools.

Discovering Quadratic: A Better Alternative

I recently spoke with David Kircos, the founder of Quadratic, a new browser-based spreadsheet that takes a different approach. Built using technologies like Rust, WASM, and WebGL, Quadratic is a new spreadsheet tool designed specifically to address these common pain points.

How Quadratic Solved My Spreadsheet Problems

1. Fast and Smooth: Small details can make a big difference in workflow efficiency. Features like smooth pinch-to-zoom, effortless drag-and-drop for CSVs and other file types, and responsive navigation create a fluid experience, reducing friction in everyday tasks.

2. Built-In Coding: Now I can use Python, JavaScript, or SQL right within the spreadsheet, which makes my analysis faster and more seamless.

3. AI Support: Quadratic integrates advanced AI models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o, helping automate complex tasks, saving me a ton of time.

4. Easy Data Connections: Connecting to external databases and APIs is straightforward, meaning no more manual data transfers.

5. Real-Time Collaboration: My team can now work together in real-time directly in the browser, improving our productivity significantly.

Quadratic makes handling data easier for people in many different roles:

• Data Analysts: Quickly process and analyze large datasets.

• Business Intelligence Experts: Combine and visualize data without hassle.

• Developers: Write scripts directly in the spreadsheet to automate tasks.

• Operations Teams: Manage workflows and resources more efficiently.

• Marketing Professionals: Automate insights and analysis for campaigns.

• Finance Teams: Easily handle detailed financial data and modeling.

Easy and Intuitive Data Analysis

With Quadratic, playing with data becomes easy as it helps you replace the manual tasks with AI. In the below demo, I have taken a sample data of AI consumption yearly from 2020. Users can easily perform various operations like applying filters and creating charts, tables, and graphs by giving simple prompts to AI models integrated into the tool. It gives users the option to have customized operations using languages like Python.

Quick Filtering

Creating Charts and Graphs

Performing Advanced Calculations

Writing Code Directly in Cells

Real-Time Collaboration with My Team

Why Quadratic Works for Me

• Fast and Responsive: Importing data is quick and intuitive with drag-and-drop support for CSVs and other file types, eliminating unnecessary steps and making data access seamless.

• Coding Made Easy: Python, JavaScript, and SQL built right into the tool.

• Collaborative Workspace: Real-time editing and collaboration without setup hassles.

• AI Automation: Powerful AI support makes complicated tasks easy.

• Open and Transparent: It's open-source, meaning the community helps it grow and improve continually.

Getting Started with Quadratic

If you're curious about trying it yourself:

• Check out the Quadratic website to give it a spin for free.

• Explore their detailed documentation to learn more about specific features.

Traditional spreadsheets, while powerful, often fall short when it comes to modern data workflows. Quadratic redefines spreadsheet functionality by integrating programming languages, AI, and seamless data connections, making data analysis more efficient and accessible. Whether for finance, marketing, operations, or development, Quadratic provides a flexible, high-performance tool for professionals seeking a smarter way to work with data.

Shoutout to Quadratic for collaborating with me on this blog.