Fontics vs Excel
Fontics runs inside Excel, so this is not either-or. The question is whether Excel's built-in what-if and auditing tools are enough for the job, or whether you want them automated, charted and extended.
Last reviewed by Admin.
Facts about Excel come from Microsoft's public pages and other public sources, listed under Sources. Prices are list prices as of the review date.
Short answer
- Excel already has the building blocks: Data Tables (up to two inputs), Scenario Manager, Goal Seek (one input), Solver (many inputs), Trace Precedents and Dependents, and Python in Excel.
- Each needs manual setup: a data table per sensitivity, a scenario per case, a chart built by hand, a click per arrow when tracing. That is fine for one-offs and slow across 10+ drivers.
- Fontics uses your model's own formulas and does the setup for you: rank many drivers in a tornado chart, run 10+ scenarios in a minute, multi-driver goal seek, Monte Carlo, and audits that trace across sheets. It also works in Google Sheets.
you need a one-off answer: a single 2-way data table, one Goal Seek, a quick Solver run, or checking one formula's precedents.
you run the same analysis on every model, across many drivers, and want charts, tables and audits produced in seconds.
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 | Excel | Fontics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | Build a model from scratch | YesYou build it | No |
| Write and fix formulas | Yes | No | |
| Data wrangling, pivots, charts | YesPivotTables, Power Query, Python | No | |
| Plain-language questions | PartlyWith a Copilot licence | No | |
| Analyze | Scenario analysis | PartlyScenario Manager, manual | Yes10+ scenarios in a minute |
| Sensitivity and tornado charts | PartlyData Tables, max 2 inputs each | YesRank drivers in seconds | |
| Stress tests and break-evens | PartlyManual | Yes | |
| Multi-driver goal seek and solvers | PartlyGoal Seek (1 input); Solver | Yes | |
| Monte Carlo simulation | PartlyRAND() + Data Table, by hand | Yes1,000+ runs, add-on from $5/month | |
| Review | Valuation review (DCF/LBO drivers, DLOM, Black-Scholes) | No | Yes |
| Formula audit | PartlyError checking, Show Formulas | Yes | |
| Deep precedent and dependent traces | PartlyArrows, one cell at a time | Yes | |
| Platform | Same answer every run | Yes | YesAI-free |
| Excel for Mac | YesSome tools Windows only | Yes | |
| Google Sheets | Separate productGoogle Sheets is not Excel | YesSame plan |
Side by side
| Fact | Excel | Fontics |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Microsoft's spreadsheet, the standard format for financial models. | An add-in that runs inside Excel (and Google Sheets) on your existing model. |
| Sensitivities | Data Tables: at most two inputs per table; each table and its chart are set up by hand.[1] | Select many drivers at once. Fontics ranks them in a tornado chart, then stress-tests the top ones with native, editable charts. |
| Scenarios | Scenario Manager stores sets of up to 32 input values each; summary reports do not recalculate when inputs change.[2] | Define 10+ scenarios and run them in about a minute, with outputs side by side in a new sheet. |
| Goal seek | Goal Seek changes one input to hit a target. Solver handles several inputs with constraints, set up per problem.[3][4] | Multi-driver goal seek and break-evens in one module, e.g. the exit multiple and leverage that hit a 20% IRR. |
| Monte Carlo | No built-in module. Possible with RAND()-based inputs and a Data Table, built and maintained by hand. | Monte Carlo module, 1,000+ runs, add-on from $5/month. |
| Tracing | Trace Precedents and Dependents draw arrows one cell and one level at a time.[5] | Deep traces follow an output back through every level and sheet to its inputs. |
| Comparing versions | Spreadsheet Compare, only in Excel for Windows with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise or Office Professional Plus.[6] | Not the focus. Analysis runs in new sheets so your original model is untouched. |
| AI | Copilot is built in with a licence; Claude and ChatGPT add-ins also run in the workbook. | AI-free and 100% deterministic: same inputs, same answer, every time. |
| Price | Part of Microsoft 365 business and personal plans. | Free Core plan; paid plans $20 and $50/month; Monte Carlo add-on from $5/month |
Choose Excel if
- You need a single 2-way sensitivity table for the deck and nothing more.
- You are solving one optimization problem with constraints and are comfortable setting up Solver.
- You are checking one formula and its immediate precedents.
- You cannot install any add-ins on your machine.
What Excel does well
- Everyone in finance can open, read and change an Excel model.
- Data Tables, Goal Seek, Solver and Scenario Manager are free with Excel and transparent.
- Power Query, PivotTables and Python in Excel for data work.
- Works offline as a desktop app.
Choose Fontics if
- You flex many drivers and want them ranked, not one data table at a time.
- You re-run the same base, downside and upside cases every time the model changes.
- You need multi-driver goal seeks and break-evens without setting up Solver each time.
- You want Monte Carlo without building RAND() tables.
- You want to trace an output through every sheet in one view, and audit formulas before IC.
Where Fontics is not the right tool
- Fontics is not a spreadsheet: you still build and keep the model in Excel or Google Sheets.
- For one quick data table, native Excel is just as fast.
What Excel does well
- Everyone in finance can open, read and change an Excel model.
- Data Tables, Goal Seek, Solver and Scenario Manager are free with Excel and transparent.
- Power Query, PivotTables and Python in Excel for data work.
- Works offline as a desktop app.
Where Fontics is not the right tool
- Fontics is not a spreadsheet: you still build and keep the model in Excel or Google Sheets.
- For one quick data table, native Excel is just as fast.
How Fontics fits into Excel
Fontics is an Excel add-in. Your model stays exactly as it is.
- 01
Keep your model
Build and maintain the model in Excel as you do today. Fontics does not change it.
- 02
Select inputs and output
Click the cells to flex (growth, WACC, leverage) and the result you care about (IRR, DSCR, equity value).
- 03
Get the chart, table or audit
Results land in new sheets with native Excel charts and the data behind them, ready for the IC memo. Re-run in seconds.
Who uses each
Excel
Practically every finance professional. Native what-if tools suit occasional, one-off analysis.
Fontics
Analysts and associates who run sensitivities, scenarios and reviews on DCF, LBO, project finance and real estate models every week, and want those hours back.
Pricing
Excel
- Included with Microsoft 365 business and personal plans. Copilot features depend on the licence.
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
Does Fontics replace Excel?
No. Fontics is an add-in that runs inside Excel (and Google Sheets) on your existing model.
Is Fontics just a wrapper around Data Tables?
No. Fontics flexes your inputs, recalculates your model and records the outputs, without data tables in your model. It adds ranking, scenario sets, multi-driver goal seek, Monte Carlo and audits, and charts the results.
Will Fontics slow my workbook?
Analysis runs on demand and results are written to new sheets as values and native charts, so nothing keeps recalculating in the background.
Can I edit the charts?
Yes. Fontics outputs are native Excel (or Google Sheets) charts and tables.
Does it work on Mac?
Yes. Fontics works in Excel on Windows and Mac, and in Google Sheets.
Sources
- 1.Microsoft Support, Calculate multiple results by using a data table
- 2.Microsoft Support, Switch between various sets of values by using scenarios
- 3.Microsoft Support, Use Goal Seek to find the result you want
- 4.Microsoft Support, Define and solve a problem by using Solver
- 5.Microsoft Support, Display the relationships between formulas and cells
- 6.Microsoft Support, Compare two versions of a workbook by using Spreadsheet Compare
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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