# Analyse data

> “Analyse a spreadsheet with AI”. Ranked by expert consensus and what people use now; affiliate links never change the order.

A chat assistant can answer most questions about a spreadsheet. Julius takes a spreadsheet, CSV or database, writes and runs the analysis code for you and returns charts and summaries. ChatGPT and Claude analyse files you upload in the same conversation you use for everything else, and Claude has a free plan. Hex suits the step after that: shared SQL and Python notebooks wired to your data warehouse, with finished work published as apps your colleagues can use.

Last checked: 2026-10-02

## Ranking

1. **[ChatGPT](https://suiteintent.com/t/chatgpt?m=GB)**: OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant. · Best for: Daily writing, research and quick answers · Free plan
2. **[Julius](https://suiteintent.com/t/julius?m=GB)**: AI data analyst you chat with. · Best for: Charts from spreadsheets without coding · Pricing on request
3. **[Claude](https://suiteintent.com/t/claude?m=GB)**: Anthropic's AI assistant, with MCP connections. · Best for: Connecting AI to your own tools with MCP · Free plan
4. **[Hex](https://suiteintent.com/t/hex?m=GB)**: SQL and Python notebooks for data teams. · Best for: Sharing analyses with non-technical colleagues · Free plan

## Side by side

| Tool | Price | Ease of use (1-5) | Team size |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ChatGPT | Pricing on request | 4 | solo, small team, growing team |
| Julius | Pricing on request | 4 | solo, small team, growing team |
| Claude | Free plan | 5 | solo, small team, growing team, large team |
| Hex | Free plan | 3 | solo, small team, growing team |

## Why these picks

- Prices last checked: 2026-10-02
- Ranked by expert consensus and what people use now; affiliate links never change the order.

## Head to head

- [ChatGPT vs Claude: which helps you prep interviews](https://suiteintent.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-claude)
- [ChatGPT vs Gemini: which AI assistant for a team](https://suiteintent.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-gemini)
- [ChatGPT vs Julius: which to analyse your data](https://suiteintent.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-julius)
- [ChatGPT vs Copilot: for Microsoft 365 users](https://suiteintent.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-microsoft-copilot)
- [ChatGPT vs Mistral Vibe: US giant or French pick](https://suiteintent.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-mistral-vibe)
- [ChatGPT vs Perplexity: assistant or AI search](https://suiteintent.com/compare/chatgpt-vs-perplexity)
- [Claude vs Gemini: careful reader or Google helper](https://suiteintent.com/compare/claude-vs-gemini)
- [Claude vs Perplexity: deep thinker or fast answers](https://suiteintent.com/compare/claude-vs-perplexity)
- [Julius vs Hex: chat with data or notebooks](https://suiteintent.com/compare/julius-vs-hex)

## Questions

### Can I trust the numbers an AI gives me from my spreadsheet?

Tools such as Julius write and run real analysis code, which is more reliable than a model guessing totals from text. Ask to see the code or formula behind any number you plan to act on. Check one figure by hand, such as a monthly total, before you share a chart. Clean column names and one header row cut most mistakes.

### ChatGPT, Claude or Julius for a sales spreadsheet?

ChatGPT analyses files and data inside the assistant you may already pay for. Claude handles long documents and careful reasoning well, and it has a free plan to test your file. Julius is built only for data, so it returns charts, tables and summaries by default and can connect to a database. Run the same question through two of them and keep the one whose answer you can check fastest.

### Do I need Hex if a chat assistant already answers my questions?

A chat tool covers one-off questions on a file. Move to Hex once you query a data warehouse with SQL and want the analysis to rerun with fresh data. Finished Hex notebooks publish as interactive apps, so colleagues get answers without writing code. It has a free plan, but it suits teams with someone comfortable in SQL or Python.

### How big a file can I analyse this way?

Limits depend on the tool and plan, so check the upload cap before you export a full year of orders. For large data, connect a database instead of uploading a file: Julius and Hex both work that way. Remove columns you do not need, which speeds things up and keeps personal data out. Split very large exports by month if an upload fails.

### Is it safe to upload customer data to an AI tool?

Customer names, emails and order histories are personal data under GDPR, so you need a data processing agreement with the vendor. Check whether your plan lets the vendor train on your uploads, and switch that off where you can. Remove or replace names and emails when the question does not need them. Totals by region or product rarely need anyone's identity.