Fontics vs Arixcel
Arixcel Explorer is a focused, keyboard-driven tool for understanding and checking formulas in Windows Excel. Fontics is an analysis and review add-in for deal teams. If your day is tracing formulas, Arixcel is quick and focused; if you then need to stress-test the model, that is where Fontics comes in.
Last reviewed by Admin.
Facts about Arixcel come from Arixcel's public pages and other public sources, listed under Sources. Prices are list prices as of the review date.
Short answer
- Arixcel Explorer shows any formula's logic in a pop-up and lets you jump to precedents and back, maps formulas with a temporary colour scheme to reveal inconsistencies, hardcodes and external links, and compares workbooks, sheets or ranges with automatic row and column alignment.
- It is a Windows desktop Excel add-in with a 30-day free trial, regularly updated (version 9 in 2026).
- Fontics covers formula audits and deep traces and adds the analysis layer: scenario sets, tornado charts, break-evens, solvers, Monte Carlo and valuation reviews, on Windows, Mac and Google Sheets.
you spend your day reading and checking formulas in Windows Excel and want the fastest explorer, formula map and workbook compare.
you check the model and then need to analyze it: audits and traces plus scenarios, sensitivities, Monte Carlo and valuation checks, on any platform.
At a glance
What each tool is built to do. A dot means it can be done, but you prompt for it or set it up yourself each time.
| Stage | Job | Arixcel | Fontics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | Build a model from scratch | No | No |
| Write and fix formulas | PartlyEdit formulas in Explorer; shortcuts | No | |
| Data wrangling, pivots, charts | No | No | |
| Plain-language questions | No | No | |
| Analyze | Scenario analysis | Not listed | Yes10+ scenarios in a minute |
| Sensitivity and tornado charts | Not listed | YesRank drivers in seconds | |
| Stress tests and break-evens | Not listed | Yes | |
| Multi-driver goal seek and solvers | Not listed | Yes | |
| Monte Carlo simulation | Not listed | Yes1,000+ runs, add-on from $5/month | |
| Review | Valuation review (DCF/LBO drivers, DLOM, Black-Scholes) | No | Yes |
| Formula audit | YesFormula maps: inconsistencies, hardcodes | Yes | |
| Deep precedent and dependent traces | YesPop-up explorer, calculation flow | Yes | |
| Compare workbooks, sheets and ranges | YesAuto-aligns inserted rows | NoNot the focus | |
| Platform | Same answer every run | Yes | YesAI-free |
| Excel for Mac | NoWindows desktop Excel | Yes | |
| Google Sheets | No | YesSame plan |
Side by side
| Fact | Arixcel | Fontics |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Arixcel Explorer, an Excel add-in for auditing, understanding and maintaining spreadsheet formulas.[1][2] | An AI-free Excel and Google Sheets add-in that runs analysis (scenarios, sensitivities, stress tests, solvers, Monte Carlo) and reviews models (formula audits, deep traces, valuation reviews) for investment, credit and valuation teams. |
| Formula exploration | Pop-up view of a formula's logical structure; navigate to precedents and back; multi-cell dependents; edit formulas from the Explorer window.[1][3] | Deep traces of precedents and dependents across sheets, plus formula audits. |
| Formula maps | Temporary colour scheme that reveals inconsistent formulas, hardcoded data and external references.[1] | Special-cell highlighting and formula audits. |
| Compare | Compare workbooks, worksheets and blocks of cells; detects inserted rows and columns and aligns sheets first.[1] | Not the focus. Analysis runs in new sheets so your original model is untouched. |
| Analysis | Not a focus: no scenario, tornado, goal-seek or Monte Carlo modules listed. | Scenario sets, tornado charts, data tables, break-evens, multi-driver goal seek, Monte Carlo, football fields. |
| Platforms | Windows desktop Excel (MSI installer, deployable via winget or Intune).[1][4] | Excel on Windows and Mac, and Google Sheets. One plan covers both. |
| AI | None. | AI-free and 100% deterministic: same inputs, same answer, every time. |
| Trial and price | 30-day free trial, no card. Annual per-user licence; see arixcel.com for current pricing.[1] | Free Core plan; paid plans $20 and $50/month; Monte Carlo add-on from $5/month |
Choose Arixcel if
- You read and check other people's formulas all day and want a fast, keyboard-driven explorer.
- You need to compare two versions of a workbook with rows and columns aligned automatically.
- You want formula maps that expose inconsistencies and hardcodes at a glance.
- Your team is on Windows desktop Excel and wants a lightweight, focused tool.
What Arixcel does well
- Fast formula exploration in a pop-up, without leaving the sheet.
- Workbook, sheet and range comparison with automatic alignment.
- Formula maps for inconsistencies, hardcodes and external links.
- Mature and actively updated, with silent MSI deployment for IT.
Choose Fontics if
- After checking the model, you need to run scenarios, sensitivities, break-evens and Monte Carlo on it.
- You review valuations: DCF and LBO drivers, DLOM, Black-Scholes.
- Your team uses Mac or Google Sheets.
- You want one add-in for review and analysis.
Where Fontics is not the right tool
- Fontics does not compare two versions of a workbook or offer a pop-up formula explorer.
What Arixcel does well
- Fast formula exploration in a pop-up, without leaving the sheet.
- Workbook, sheet and range comparison with automatic alignment.
- Formula maps for inconsistencies, hardcodes and external links.
- Mature and actively updated, with silent MSI deployment for IT.
Where Fontics is not the right tool
- Fontics does not compare two versions of a workbook or offer a pop-up formula explorer.
Using Arixcel and Fontics together
Arixcel to read the model, Fontics to test it.
- 01
Read with Arixcel
Explore key formulas, run a formula map and compare against the last version.
- 02
Trace with Fontics
Run deep traces on the outputs the IC cares about and audit the formulas feeding them.
- 03
Stress-test with Fontics
Run scenarios, a tornado chart, break-evens and Monte Carlo, with native charts for the paper.
Who uses each
Arixcel
Financial modellers, model reviewers, auditors and other spreadsheet-intensive professionals in project finance, mostly on Windows desktop Excel.[2][5]
Fontics
Investment, credit and valuation teams at funds, banks, lenders and advisors. They run DCF, LBO, project finance and real estate models and need to defend the numbers in front of an investment or credit committee.
Pricing
Arixcel
Fontics
- Core is free forever, Transactions is $20/month and Institutional is $50/month.
- Monte Carlo is an add-on from $5/month ($5 on Core, $10 on Transactions and Institutional).
- Every plan covers Excel and Google Sheets.
FAQ
Is Fontics an Arixcel alternative?
For formula audits and deep traces, partly. Arixcel's pop-up explorer and workbook compare are more specialized. Fontics adds scenario, sensitivity, goal-seek, Monte Carlo and valuation analysis that Arixcel does not focus on.
Can I use Arixcel and Fontics together?
Yes. They are separate add-ins. Many reviewers read the model with a formula explorer, then stress-test it with Fontics.
Does Arixcel work on Mac or Google Sheets?
Arixcel Explorer is for Windows desktop Excel. Fontics works in Excel on Windows and Mac and in Google Sheets.
Does Arixcel run scenarios or Monte Carlo?
Not as listed features. Fontics has scenario, sensitivity, goal-seek and Monte Carlo modules.
Does Fontics change my model?
No. Analysis runs in new sheets and your original model is left intact.
Sources
- 1.Wingetly, Arixcel Explorer package (v9.0)
- 2.G2, Arixcel Explorer
- 3.Adaptiva, Arixcel Explorer x64 release history
- 4.IPROS, Arixcel Explorer for Windows Excel
- 5.Arixcel
Vendor features and prices change often. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it. Product names are trademarks of their owners; Fontics is not affiliated with them.
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