Key Takeaways
- Merging spreadsheets is a common but highly inefficient task. Manual methods like VLOOKUPare not only time-consuming but also prone to errors from mismatched field names, leading to inaccurate data.
- The new generation of AI tools can simplify this process from hours of tedious work into a single, plain-English command, dramatically improving both accuracy and speed.
- This guide objectively reviews 7 popular AI tools for merging spreadsheets, providing a clear comparison to help you choose the best fit for your needs.
Anyone who works with spreadsheets knows the pain of merging multiple files. This seemingly simple task often consumes a huge amount of time and effort. Hours spent wrestling with VLOOKUP functions, dealing with mismatched column names, and fixing annoying #N/A errors—it's a notorious productivity black hole. It's not just tedious; any small mistake can compromise the integrity of your entire analysis.
The good news is, AI is reshaping this entire process. A new wave of intelligent tools empowers you to let go of the manual work. With a simple file upload and a one-sentence command, complex merging jobs can be done automatically in seconds.
As analysts who deal with data wrangling daily, we’ve tested the best and most popular AI tools on the market. We've compiled their features and ideal user profiles to help you find the most efficient assistant for your work.
7 Best AI Spreadsheet Merging Tools
1. Excelmatic

- Features: A conversational AI tool. Users simply upload files and describe their merging needs in natural language, just like talking to a colleague. A key advantage is its "fuzzy matching" capability, which automatically recognizes that Customer IDandCust_IDare the same, reducing the need for manual data cleaning beforehand.
- Who it's for: Virtually anyone who works with spreadsheets, especially non-technical users who want the most direct way to solve a problem.
2. Microsoft Copilot for Excel

- Features: As a deeply integrated assistant within Excel, its strengths lie in its seamless workflow and enterprise-grade security. It primarily uses Power Query to execute merges, generating the necessary steps based on your natural language instructions.
- Who it's for: Enterprise users who are heavily invested in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
3. Julius AI

- Features: A conversational analytics tool that balances ease of use with technical transparency. While executing a merge command, it also displays the Python code it generated in the background. This design is valuable for users who want to understand or verify the process.
- Who it's for: Data analysts who want to simplify their workflow while still having visibility into the underlying mechanics.
4. Ajelix

- Features: Unlike conversational tools, Ajelix provides a dedicated, wizard-style graphical user interface (UI) for merging. Users follow clear steps to upload files, select matching columns, and confirm outputs, making the process highly intuitive.
- Who it's for: Users who prefer clicking through a guided, visual process rather than typing text commands.
5. Numerous.ai

- Features: As an "AI toolkit" that lives directly inside Excel and Google Sheets. Instead of being a separate website, it’s an add-in powered by its unique =AI() function. Users can call on AI directly within a cell to perform tasks like extracting text, classifying data, generating content, and assisting with complex formula logic. For merging, it can help you generate or debug sophisticated lookup and matching formulas.
- Who it's for:"Power users" or anyone who wants a versatile, Swiss Army knife of AI functions integrated directly into their existing spreadsheets.
6. Rows

- Features: Rows is positioned more as a "connected" online spreadsheet. It excels at handling continuous, automated data streams rather than one-off, static file merges. You can use it to connect multiple data sources and build dynamic, auto-updating dashboards.
- Who it's for: Power users who need to build automated, real-time reports and dashboards.
7. Duet AI for Google Workspace

- Features: As the native AI assistant for Google Sheets, it helps you build merging logic more efficiently, for instance, by quickly generating complex formulas for cross-sheet lookups. It acts more like a "formula booster" than a fully automated merging tool.
- Who it's for: Teams and individuals who are heavily reliant on Google Sheets and the broader Google ecosystem.
Quick Guide: Which Tool Is Right for You?
| Tool | Ideal User | How It Works | Key Advantage | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Excelmatic | Everyday Business Users | Conversational AI (Chat) | Zero learning curve, intelligent matching | 
| MS Copilot | M365 Enterprise Users | Integrated AI (Assistant) | Seamless in Excel, secure | 
| Julius AI | Data Analysts | Conversational AI + Code | Balances simplicity and transparency | 
| Ajelix | Visual Learners | UI Wizard (Step-by-step) | Very intuitive, no chat needed | 
| Numerous.ai | Spreadsheet Power Users | AI Add-in (=AI() function) | Versatile "Swiss Army knife" | 
| Rows | Automation Power Users | Connected Spreadsheet | Best for live, automated dashboards | 
| Duet AI | Google Workspace Users | Integrated AI (Assistant) | Native to Google Sheets | 
How to Choose the Best AI Merging Tool for You
From the review, we can see that AI tools offer two distinct approaches to this problem. Some, like Copilot and Duet AI, are "assistant-style" tools that help you build the merging logic faster. Others, like Excelmatic, are "fully-automated" tools that directly produce the final, merged file for you.
The right choice depends on your primary goal.
If your objective is to completely bypass the technical details and get a clean, accurate, merged file as quickly as possible, a fully-automated, conversational tool is undoubtedly the more efficient path.
In this regard, Excelmatic provides a compelling solution. It packages professional-grade data merging technology behind an incredibly simple chat interface. Users don't need to worry about what VLOOKUP is or manually unify column names beforehand; they just need to focus on the result they want. For the vast majority of non-technical professionals, this zero-learning-curve experience is its core value.
Start Experiencing Efficient Merging Today
The era of repetitive manual work is coming to an end. The true purpose of AI tools is to free us from tedious data wrangling, allowing us to invest our valuable energy into more meaningful analysis and insight.
Whichever tool you choose, taking this step means you are transitioning to a smarter, more efficient way of working.
Try Excelmatic for free and feel the efficiency revolution AI brings.
 
  
  
  
  
  
 