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Excel tables are an essential part of data analysis, and with the increasing volumes of data, the need for efficient and powerful tools to process and streamline this data is becoming more necessary. Thankfully, there are numerous options available in the market, with features that make data processing faster, more efficient, and more intuitive. If you are struggling to keep up with the data you handle, then you might need an Excel Table Processor. In this blog post, we shall dive deep into seven of the best Excel Table Processors in the market today.
Video Tutorial:
What is an Excel Table Processor?
An Excel Table Processor is a software program designed to expand the capabilities of Excel. These tools help you deal with massive amounts of data that can become overwhelming in Excel spreadsheets. With these tools, you can easily sort, filter, validate, and modify data to meet your business needs. Excel Table Processors provide additional functionality to Excel, making it more efficient, faster, and intuitive. They generally work by adding more intuitive interfaces, features, and checks on data.
Top 7 Excel Table Processors
1. DataHero
DataHero is one of the top Excel table processors in the market. Its features and capabilities center on blending and consolidating data, creating visualizations and graphs, and automating reports. Upon importing data, DataHero automatically creates visualizations giving you insights into trends, peaks, and valleys in the data. Additionally, you can easily blend data from different sources such as; spreadsheets, databases, and cloud services such as Salesforce, Google Analytics, among others. DataHero’s report generation mechanism allows you to set up automatic reports that are sent daily, weekly, or monthly.
Pros:
- Intuitive and easy to use with drag and drop features
- Generates automatic reports, saving time and effort
- Blends and consolidates data from multiple sources
- Automatically creates visualizations upon importing data
Cons:
- No free version, the pricing plans range from $49 to $249 per month
- Limited flexibility in customizing reports
- Not suitable for complex data analysis
2. Tableau
Tableau is a widely used analytics and visualization tool that provides intuitive ways to interact with your tables. Its capabilities extend beyond visualization, allowing you to connect to various data sources, transform and aggregate data, and visualize insights. The software allows for an intuitive drag and drop interface for building queries and interactive reports, making it easy to use. With Tableau, you can perform complex data analysis procedures, set up dashboards for monitoring KPIs, and access data from anywhere with Tableau Server.
Pros:
- Provides comprehensive features for data analysis and visualization
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface with drag and drop reporting
- Allows for dashboards to be set up for monitoring KPIs
- Connects to numerous data sources, both on-premise and in the cloud
Cons:
- Expensive pricing, with the desktop version starting at $70 per month
- Requires prior technical knowledge in data analysis and visualization
- Limited data transformation capabilities
3. Altezza
Altezza is an Excel table processor software that extends the capabilities of Excel, making it more efficient. With Altezza, you can clean, process, and analyze large volumes of data in real-time. Its salient features include; analytical modeling, data validation, data profiling, metadata management, transformation, among others. Additionally, Altezza enables you to collaborate on your data analysis projects as it allows multiple people to work together on the same workbook.
Pros:
- Provides powerful data analysis and transformation features for large volumes of data
- Allows multiple users to collaborate on the same workbook
- Integrates with multiple data sources, including Excel, SQL databases, and Cloud services.
- Provides data quality checks, validation, and profiling modules
Cons:
- No free version, pricing starts at $40 per user per month
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited flexibility in customizing reports and visualizations
4. Power Pivot
Power Pivot is an Excel add-in that expands the capabilities of Excel tables by adding more powerful features to them. The tool allows for fast data analysis and reporting, thanks to its in-memory database architecture. Its capabilities include; building data models, creating relationships between tables, performing complex calculations, creating hierarchies, and more. Importantly, the tool integrates with Power BI, allowing you to easily create interactive and intuitive dashboards, charts, and graphs.
Pros:
- Provides powerful in-memory data analysis and modeling capabilities
- Integrates with other Microsoft products
- Allows for complex calculations and functions
- Easy integration with Power BI for reporting and visualizations
Cons:
- Requires a Windows OS and Microsoft Excel 2010 and above
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- No free version, as it’s a Microsoft add-in
- Requires advanced Excel knowledge for maximum benefits
5. Smartsheet
Smartsheet is an Excel table processor software designed to help you manage projects, create reports, and collaborate with your team. With Smartsheet, you can create sheets that contain your data, processes, and workflows, collaborate across teams, and automate routine tasks. The software allows you to track project progress and identify bottlenecks easily, thanks to its Gantt chart feature. Additionally, Smartsheet integrates with numerous enterprise applications such as Salesforce, Dropbox, and Jira, among others.
Pros:
- Allows for easy project management and workflow automation
- Integrates with numerous enterprise applications, allowing you to pull data from those applications
- Provides real-time progress tracking and reporting
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Provides project templates for easy set up
Cons:
- No free version, pricing starts at $14 per user per month
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited data analysis and transformation capabilities
6. Domo
Domo is another powerful Excel table processor software that allows you to read and process large volumes of data quickly. With Domo, you can connect to various types of data sources, easily transform data, visualizations, and charts in real-time. Additionally, Domo provides you with numerous analytical tools such as trend analysis, comparative analysis, and other advanced analytical functions, making it suitable for more complex statistical analysis procedures.
Pros:
- Provides powerful data visualization and transformation features
- Leverages cloud-architecture for faster response times
- Provides advanced analytical capabilities
- Integrates with numerous data sources and cloud services
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
Cons:
- No free version, pricing starts at $83 per user per month
- Limited advanced customization options on dashboards and reports
- Steep learning curve for beginners
7. Zoho Sheet
Zoho Sheet is another Excel table processor that allows you to manage, transform, and analyze your data in a collaborative environment. The tool provides an intuitive user interface, allowing you to easily navigate the application and its features with ease. The tool’s features include easy collaboration, automatic data validation, data imports and exports, and more. Importantly, Zoho Sheet integrates with numerous other Zoho applications such as Zoho CRM, Zoho Projects, and more.
Pros:
- Provides comprehensive features for data analysis and visualization
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Leverages cloud architecture for fast response times
- Allows for easy collaboration with team members
- Provides easy data export and import features
Cons:
- No free version, pricing starts at $5 per user per month
- Integration with non-Zoho applications is limited
- Steep learning curve for beginners
Comprehensive Comparison of Each Software
| Features | DataHero | Tableau | Altezza | Power Pivot | Smartsheet | Domo | Zoho Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FREE TRIAL | 14 Days | 14 Days | 14 Days | 30 Days | 30 Days | Free Demo, No Free Version | 15 Days |
| PRICE | Starting from $49 per month to $249 per month | Starting from $70 per month for desktop version to $50 per month per user for cloud version | Starting from $40 per month per user to $100 per month per user | Microsoft Add-in, no extra cost | Starting from $14 per user per month | Starting from $83 per user per month | Starting from $5 per user per month |
| EASE-OF-USE | Intuitive and easy to use with drag and drop features | Requires prior technical knowledge in data analysis and visualization | Steep learning curve for beginners | Requires advanced Excel knowledge for maximum benefits | Steep learning curve for beginners | Steep learning curve for beginners | Steep learning curve for beginners |
| VALUE FOR MONEY | Provides value for its price | Expensive compared to other options | Slightly expensive but provides value for its price | Microsoft add-in, no extra cost | Provides value for its price | A bit expensive but provides value for its price | Provides value for its price |
Our Thoughts on Excel Table Processors
Choosing the right Excel table processor depends on your business needs. Each of the seven options reviewed above provides different benefits and caters to various organizational requirements. Based on our reviews and research, we recommend Altezza as the best option for complex data analytics, DataHero for general analytics and visualization, and Smartsheet for easy project management and collaboration. However, this is not set in stone, and your choice should depend on what you need for your business.
FAQs
Q1: Can I install more than one Excel table processor on my computer?
A: Yes, you can install multiple Excel table processors on your computer.
Q2: Are Excel table processors easy to use for beginners?
A: Some Excel table processors are easy to use for beginners, while others can be quite technical and require significant technical knowledge.
Q3: Can I import data from different sources into an Excel table processor?
A: Yes, most Excel table processors allow you to import data from various sources such as CSV, SQL databases, and cloud-based services.
Q4: Do I need to pay to use Excel table processors?
A: Some Excel table processors offer free versions, while some require payment before use. The pricing plans range from $5 per user per month to $249 per month, depending on the software’s capabilities.
Q5: Do I need prior knowledge in data analysis to use an Excel table processor?
A: While some Excel table processors require prior knowledge in data analysis, some are quite intuitive and can be used by beginners. Therefore, pick one that suits your experience level.
In Conclusion
Excel table processors make data analysis more efficient, faster, and more intuitive, particularly when handling vast amounts of data. In today’s business setting, it is essential to have the right tool for data analysis to ensure timely and accurate decision making. Our review of the seven best Excel table processors provides a comprehensive view of what each software offers. Therefore, when making a choice, consider your business requirements, costs, and ease of use.