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Work with documents or data · Excel, spreadsheets, and formulas

Best AI model for Excel — November 2026

On BenchLM's public evidence, Claude Opus 5.5 has the highest coding score estimate among the models that meet this page's constraints (82.8). Coding is a proxy. The current dataset does not measure spreadsheet-app integration or formula reliability end to end.

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The shortlist for Excel

Constraints on this page: a builder choosing by accuracy, hosted processing allowed, any price, ordinary input size. Change any of them under Refine. A small score gap does not establish a reliably better model.

Compare Claude Opus 5.5 vs Claude Sonnet 5.5Full coding leaderboard

  1. 01Claude Opus 5.5Best fit

    Anthropic · Proprietary

    82.8

    Coding score estimate

    • Highest coding estimate among candidates passing the measured filters
    • $8.00 for the stated workload
    • 1M context
    • Anthropic lists the model ID on each documented platform. Access details · checked September 22, 2026.
    • Provider API offer: Claude API. Check which models qualify and whether payment details are required. Limits and source.

    Estimate sources: LiveBench Coding

    Model page and evidence

  2. 02Claude Sonnet 5.5

    Anthropic · Proprietary

    81.9

    Coding score estimate

    • Estimate 81.9 on the same coding evidence
    • $4.00 for the stated workload
    • 1M context
    • Anthropic lists the model ID on each documented platform. Access details · checked September 28, 2026.
    • Provider API offer: Claude API. Check which models qualify and whether payment details are required. Limits and source.

    Estimate sources: LMArena Code Overall, LiveBench Coding

    Model page and evidenceCompare with Claude Opus 5.5

  3. 03Gemini 4 Carbon

    Google · Proprietary

    81.3

    Coding score estimate

    • Estimate 81.3 on the same coding evidence
    • $4.00 for the stated workload
    • API access is not verified. Check the provider documentation before relying on it.
    • Provider API offer: Gemini API (Google AI Studio). Check which models qualify and whether payment details are required. Limits and source.

    Estimate sources: LMArena Code Overall

    Model page and evidenceCompare with Claude Opus 5.5

  4. 04Claude Fable 5.1

    Anthropic · Proprietary

    76.6

    Coding score estimate

    • Estimate 76.6 on the same coding evidence
    • $20.00 for the stated workload
    • 1M context
    • Anthropic says Fable 5.1 is available on all platforms. Enterprise Frontier Safeguards will roll out in phases; eligible customers can use zero data retention until EFS is ready. Access details · checked September 1, 2026.
    • Provider API offer: Claude API. Check which models qualify and whether payment details are required. Limits and source.

    Estimate sources: LMArena Code Overall, Artificial Analysis, LiveBench Coding, Vals AI coding-task composite

    Model page and evidenceCompare with Claude Opus 5.5

  5. 05GPT-6 Astra

    OpenAI · Proprietary

    74.8

    Coding score estimate

    • Estimate 74.8 on the same coding evidence
    • $20.00 for the stated workload
    • 1.05M context
    • OpenAI says GPT-6 Astra is rolling out first to enterprises in its Trusted Access Program, with API, ChatGPT plan, Azure, and Bedrock access following in the coming days. Enterprise access is off by default; eligible API customers can use Zero Data Retention. Access details · checked September 3, 2026.
    • Provider API offer: OpenAI API, Free usage tier. Check which models qualify and whether payment details are required. Limits and source.

    Estimate sources: LMArena Code Overall, Artificial Analysis, LiveBench Coding, Vals AI coding-task composite

    Model page and evidenceCompare with Claude Opus 5.5

Refine for your situation

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What this shortlist rests on

The coding surface. Each model’s estimate names its own sources above; these are the public weighted benchmarks for the category.

What to verify before choosing

  • Coding is a proxy. The current dataset does not measure spreadsheet-app integration or formula reliability end to end.
  • Composite scores are estimates. A small score gap does not establish a reliably better model.

Try three representative examples of your own work. Compare errors, time, cost, and the tools available in your actual setup.

Questions

Which AI model is best for Excel?

On BenchLM's public evidence, Claude Opus 5.5 by Anthropic has the highest coding score estimate among models that meet the page's default constraints (82.8). Ordered by task score under the stated constraints. Coding is a proxy. The current dataset does not measure spreadsheet-app integration or formula reliability end to end.

What are the alternatives to Claude Opus 5.5 for Excel?

Claude Sonnet 5.5 (81.9), Gemini 4 Carbon (81.3), Claude Fable 5.1 (76.6), GPT-6 Astra (74.8) follow on the same evidence. A small gap does not establish a reliably better model; compare them on three representative examples of your own work.

How does BenchLM pick the best ai model for excel?

The page runs the LLM Selector with fixed answers: a builder choosing by accuracy, hosted processing allowed, any price, ordinary input size. The selector uses the coding evidence surface, filters by the stated constraints, and orders by that evidence. It never adds a hidden fit score or a bonus for open weights or reasoning style.

Can I change the constraints?

Yes. Every link under "Refine" opens the selector with one answer changed, and the address carries the answers so a result can be shared or reopened against the current dataset.

Method: bench-align-v5.8-2026-09-30. Read the methodology and benchmark confidence pages for how scores and verification statuses are produced.

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