Excel’s rules and scripts beside TulipFarm’s
How Excel’s validation, Copilot and Office Scripts line up against TulipFarm’s field rules, agents and workflows, with Microsoft’s pages cited.
TulipFarmvs
Feature comparison
The Excel column comes from Microsoft’s own support, Learn and pricing pages. “Not published” means Microsoft doesn’t say, not that the feature is missing.
| Feature | TulipFarm | Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Data | ||
| Values that break a rule are refused | YesType, required, choices and unique | YesData validation with a Stop alert |
| Rules that apply to every editor | YesSet on the field, for people and agents | PartialPer range; locked in shared workbooks and protected sheets |
| Formulas, PivotTables and charts | No | Yes |
| Size of one sheet | PartialImports up to 100,000 rows at a time | Yes1,048,576 rows by 16,384 columns |
| Version history | PartialRow history and restore | YesKept 30 days in OneDrive and SharePoint |
| Agents | ||
| AI that edits your data | YesSaved agents that run in your workspace | YesIncluded in Business Standard and Premium with Copilot; an add-on for Basic |
| Approval before an AI change applies | YesShows the exact change on the actions you pick | PartialPlan mode asks first; edit mode changes directly |
| Reusable skills | Yes | YesCustom skills for repeatable tasks |
| Reads the web | YesSearches the web and reads public pages; no browser | YesCopilot fetches web info with citations |
| Writes Excel files | YesXLSX, DOCX and PPTX into Files | Yes |
| Automation | ||
| Code steps | PartialJavaScript or Python as a workflow step | YesOffice Scripts, recorded or written |
| Scheduled runs | YesWorkflow intervals down to every minute | PartialScript scheduling paused; use Power Automate |
| Runs that wait days for a person | YesUp to 30 days, resumes after a restart | Not published |
| Integrations | ||
| Microsoft 365 apps | NoConnects to Slack, GitHub, Google Workspace, Atlassian and Trello | YesPart of Microsoft 365 business plans |
| Desktop, web and mobile apps | NoWorks in the browser | YesDesktop from Business Standard; web and mobile on all |
| Security and deployment | ||
| Company identity and access | NoSign in with Google or an email link | YesMicrosoft Entra ID; advanced on Business Premium |
| Audit logs | PartialRecords who changed memberships; no audit export | YesPurview audit, 180 days on Audit (Standard) |
| SOC 2 Type 2 | No | YesOffice 365 audit reports |
| Personal chats hidden from admins | Yes | Not published |
Pricing
Excel for the web is also free with a Microsoft account. Microsoft prices checked on 21 October 2026.
TulipFarm
$50 free
In credits on your first signup. Paid plans aren’t public yet; see the pricing page.
Excel
$7 a month
Microsoft 365 Business Basic includes Excel for the web and mobile. Desktop Excel starts with Business Standard, listed at $23.50 with Copilot.
microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/compare-all-microsoft-365-business-productsWhere TulipFarm differs from Excel
Four differences that matter once a workbook stops being a model and starts being the list your team works from, each with how Excel handles it.
One reprint queue, not five copies
TulipFarm
The queue is one shared table. Rules sit on the field, so Sam, Maya and agents all hit the same check.
See TablesHow Excel handles it
Data validation is set per range, and it can’t be changed while the workbook is shared or the sheet is protected.
support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/apply-data-validation-to-cells-29fecbcc-d1b9-42c1-9d76-eff3ce5f7249Agent changes wait for a yes
TulipFarm
You choose which agent actions need approval. Those show the exact change and wait until a person approves it.
See AgentsHow Excel handles it
Copilot’s edit mode changes the workbook directly; plan mode shows a plan to confirm first.
support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/get-started-with-copilot-in-excel-d7110502-0334-4b4f-a175-a73abdfc118aScripts that run on their own
TulipFarm
A workflow starts from one trigger, such as a timer or a webhook, runs JavaScript or Python steps, and can wait up to 30 days for a person.
See WorkflowsHow Excel handles it
Office Scripts record or code actions, but script scheduling is temporarily disabled; Microsoft points to Power Automate.
learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/scripts/overview/excelAgents still hand you a workbook
TulipFarm
An agent can write an XLSX, DOCX or PPTX file into Files, so the client still gets a spreadsheet.
See FilesHow Excel handles it
Copilot in Excel creates sheets, formulas, charts and PivotTables inside the workbook you have open.
support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/get-started-with-copilot-in-excel-d7110502-0334-4b4f-a175-a73abdfc118a
When to stay with Excel
Excel is the better choice if any of these sound like your team.
- You build models, not lists
- Forecasts, PivotTables and heavy formulas across a million rows are what Excel is for. TulipFarm tables don’t calculate.
- Your company runs on Microsoft 365
- Excel sits next to Outlook, Teams and OneDrive. TulipFarm doesn’t connect to Microsoft 365.
- People work offline in the desktop app
- Desktop Excel comes with Business Standard and up, alongside web and mobile apps. TulipFarm works in the browser.
- Compliance asks for Microsoft’s controls
- Entra ID sign-in, Purview audit and Office 365 SOC 2 Type 2 reports are available today. TulipFarm has no SSO or SOC 2.
Moving a sheet from Excel
Keep the models in Excel. Move the sheet that tracks live work, and let agents write the workbooks clients still expect.
Pick the sheet that gets emailed around
Choose the list with “final v3” in its name: jobs, reprints or client orders.
Import the XLSX
Import the sheet into a TulipFarm table and review the rows before they apply. Formula and merged cells aren’t supported, so paste values first.
Set rules on the fields
Make quantities numbers, statuses choices and order numbers unique, so every editor gets the same check.
Hand back spreadsheets where needed
Give an agent a skill for quotes or weekly reports, and it writes the XLSX into Files. Your first signup includes $50 in free credits.
Questions about TulipFarm and Excel
Is TulipFarm an Excel alternative?
For shared lists of records, yes. TulipFarm keeps jobs, orders and clients in one table with field rules, and agents change it only with approval on the actions you pick. For models, formulas and PivotTables, Excel is the better tool.
Can TulipFarm import my Excel files?
Yes. Import an XLSX or CSV of up to 100,000 rows and 10 MiB into a table, and review the rows before they apply. Formula cells, merged cells and rich cells aren’t supported, so convert them to values first.
Can TulipFarm create Excel files?
Yes. An agent can write an XLSX, DOCX or PPTX file into Files, such as a quote or a weekly report built from your tables.
How is a TulipFarm agent different from Copilot in Excel?
Copilot works inside the open workbook and, in edit mode, changes it directly. A TulipFarm agent is saved in your workspace with reusable skills, can run on a schedule up to once an hour, and waits for approval on the actions you pick.
Does TulipFarm connect to Microsoft 365?
No. TulipFarm connects to Slack, GitHub, Jira, Confluence, Trello and each person’s Google account. It doesn’t connect to Outlook, Teams or OneDrive.
Can I schedule automations like Office Scripts?
Yes. A TulipFarm workflow can start on an interval as often as every minute and run JavaScript or Python steps. Microsoft says Office Scripts scheduling is temporarily disabled and points to Power Automate.
When should I stay with Excel?
Stay with Excel if you build models, work offline in the desktop app, run on Microsoft 365, or need Entra ID, Purview audit and SOC 2 reports today.
How much does TulipFarm cost compared with Excel?
Your first TulipFarm Cloud signup includes $50 in free credits. Paid plans aren’t public yet; see the pricing page to ask for more credits or apply for student, NGO or startup support. Excel for the web is free, and Microsoft 365 Business Basic is $7 per user a month, paid yearly.
Move one Excel sheet into a shared table.
Sign up for TulipFarm Cloud and import the sheet your team keeps emailing around. The research preview is open to everyone, and your first signup includes $50 in free credits.
Not sure TulipFarm connects to your tools? Contact us and tell us what your team uses.
Sources
- Compare Microsoft 365 business planschecked 21 October 2026
- Free Microsoft 365 onlinechecked 21 October 2026
- Get started with Copilot in Excelchecked 21 October 2026
- Apply data validation to cellschecked 21 October 2026
- Excel specifications and limitschecked 21 October 2026
- Restore a previous version of a file in OneDrivechecked 21 October 2026
- Office Scripts in Excelchecked 21 October 2026
- Microsoft Purview audit solutionschecked 21 October 2026
- Microsoft SOC 2 offeringchecked 21 October 2026
Last reviewed 21 October 2026.