By task · Level beginner

AI for Excel: formulas, tables and charts with Copilot or ChatGPT

How to use Copilot in Excel (edit, plan and chat modes) or a free assistant to create formulas, PivotTables and charts without being an expert. Official requirements and prices in Spain.

By Cognenza editorial team · Updated 15 October 2026 · 3 min read · Sources cited

Two routes

Copilot inside Excel: works on your sheet, creates formulas, charts and PivotTables and can make changes directly. It needs a Microsoft 365 subscription with AI.
A free assistant (ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude): you describe the sheet and it gives you the formula and an explanation. You paste it in.

Copilot in Excel, step by step

According to Microsoft Support, Copilot in Excel has three modes:

Chat: questions about your data (“which month did we sell most?”).
Plan: proposes the steps before doing anything.
Edit: applies changes to the sheet: formulas, formatting, charts or PivotTables.

It can even search the web and cite its sources. Important requirement: the file must have AutoSave on (saved in OneDrive or SharePoint).

Prices in Spain (checked on 15 October 2026)

Plan	Price	AI in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Free account	€0	No (limited image generation in Copilot)
Microsoft 365 Personal	€10/month or €99/year	Yes
Microsoft 365 Family	€13/month or €129/year	Owner only
Microsoft 365 Premium	€22/month or €219/year	Yes, with more usage

Prices in other countries may differ: check Microsoft’s page for your region.

With a free assistant

Describe your sheet without pasting real data: column names and one or two made-up rows are enough. Always ask for:

The formula for your language version of Excel (function names and separators vary by language).
An explanation of each part.
A simpler alternative if there is one (filter, PivotTable).

Always check

Work out two or three rows by hand.
Check the formula covers the whole range (including new rows).
Before Copilot edits, save a copy.

Frequently asked questions

Is Copilot in Excel free?

Not inside desktop Excel. According to Microsoft Spain’s page, AI in the apps is included in Microsoft 365 Personal (€10/month or €99/year), Family (€13/month or €129/year, AI for the owner only) and Premium (€22/month or €219/year). The free account has no Copilot in the apps.

Can I use ChatGPT or Gemini for Excel for free?

Yes, to ask for formulas and explanations. Only copy column names or made-up sample data, never real customer or personal data. Gemini can also create charts from spreadsheets you upload.

Does Copilot work in Excel on mobile?

According to Microsoft, Windows, Mac and web have all modes; iPad has chat and plan; iPhone and Android have chat only.

Keep reading

Sources

Official sources are linked in their original language.

Introducción a Copilot en Excel — Microsoft
Comparar todos los productos de Microsoft 365 — Microsoft España
Subir y analizar archivos en las aplicaciones de Gemini — Google
ChatGPT Pricing — OpenAI

Change log

15 October 2026: First published with Microsoft 365 prices in Spain checked that day.

Educational content, prepared with the help of AI tools, with sources cited. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Tools change fast: if you spot something out of date, write to us at contacto@cognenza.com. How we work.