Which Excel add-in fits your work?
Frank is for following calculations, reviewing models and handling everyday formatting. Other tools may cover more of your workflow. Here is what we could verify, and where you should ask for a demonstration.
Read this as a feature guide, not a scorecard. Competitor entries are based on the official sources below, not hands-on tests of their current releases. Plans and versions differ. “Not verified” means we could not confirm that exact capability from the sources reviewed—it does not mean the tool lacks it.
On a small screen, swipe the table sideways. Keyboard users can focus it and use the arrow keys. Source numbers link to the review notes.
| Feature or purchase detail | Frank | Macabacus | Arixcel | S&P Capital IQ Pro Office | FactSet Office tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readable explanations of workbook formulas | Rule-based explanations using worksheet labels where available. Not every formula can be explained. [1] | Tracing documented; equivalent explanations not verified. [2] | Not verified [6] | Equivalent explanations not verified. | Calculation breakdowns documented for FactSet formulas; general workbook explanations not verified. [5] |
| Trace precedents and dependents | Navigate to referenced cells. By default, stop at those cells; nested functions and ranges still expand. Deeper cell expansion is optional. [1] | Trace In, Trace Out and automatic tracing of logic chains. [2] | Not verified [6] | Exact tracing workflow not verified. | General workbook tracing not verified; source-document auditing is documented. [5] |
| Model auditing | Health check: consistency, hardcodes, errors, names and other findings. Review required. [1] | Model Check and auditing tools; check your plan. [2] | Not verified [6] | Model-auditing tools documented; exact checks not verified. [4] | Auditing of FactSet formulas to source data documented; whole-model checks not verified. [5] |
| Compare workbook versions | Compare formula and value differences across ranges, sheets or workbooks. [1] | Equivalent version comparison not verified. | Not verified [6] | Equivalent version comparison not verified. | Equivalent version comparison not verified. |
| Custom keyboard shortcuts | Reassign commands; import and export bindings. [1] | Customisable Excel shortcuts. [2] | Not verified [6] | Exact customisation options not verified. | Custom hotkeys documented in the banking brochure. Confirm current availability. [5] |
| Offline operation | No network calls by the add-in. Paid access uses a local licence file. Details | Offline mode is mentioned in release notes; limits and activation requirements not verified. [3] | Not verified [6] | Data refresh uses the vendor’s database. Offline productivity-tool limits not verified. [4] | Cloud model refresh is offered. Offline productivity-tool limits not verified. [5] |
| Financial market data | Not included. Frank reviews the workbook you already have. | Comparable financial database not verified. | Not verified [6] | Financial data delivered into Excel. [4] | Financial data and research integrated with Excel. [5] |
| Excel-to-PowerPoint linking | Not included. | Included in Professional and above. [2] | Not verified [6] | Linking to PowerPoint and Word documented. [4] | Linked Excel charts and models documented. [5] |
| Annual licence / pricing | S$99 individual. Founding offer: S$45/year for the first three years, first 100 licences. Terms | Basic and Professional annual plans; Enterprise pricing separately. Current prices | Current price not verified. [6] | Confirm price and included Office tools with the vendor. [4] | Confirm price and included Office tools with the vendor. [5] |
| Trial | 14 days; no card. Windows 64-bit Excel only. Try Frank | 14 days; no card. Eligibility restrictions apply. Trial terms | Not verified [6] | Ask the vendor about an evaluation. | Ask the vendor about an evaluation. |
Where Frank fits
Choose Frank if you want a focused set of tools for understanding and reviewing an existing workbook, with an individual licence you can buy yourself. It combines formula explanations, model checks, comparison and formatting; it does not claim to be the only tool with any of those capabilities.
If you need company data, research or connected presentations, those requirements matter too. Frank does not replace a financial-data subscription or a presentation suite. If your existing tools already meet your needs, you may not need another add-in.
Try Frank on a non-sensitive copy of a model you know. Check whether the explanations help you, whether the checks find useful issues, and whether the shortcuts fit your work. Findings are not a guarantee that a model is correct.
Try Frank free for 14 days See Frank’s pricing
Sources and review limits
- Frank 1.0.15: implementation reviewed on 18 September 2026, plus product examples, security notes and licence pricing. Frank’s developer reviewed these entries. Windows desktop, 64-bit Excel 2016 or Microsoft 365; no native Mac version.
- Macabacus: tracing and related tools, plan inclusions and pricing, and trial and licensing FAQ. Features across the range are shown; do not assume every feature is in Basic. We link to current prices rather than compare different currencies as if they were equivalent.
- Macabacus offline mode: official release notes mention it. This does not establish unrestricted offline use or no network traffic.
- S&P Capital IQ Pro Office: S&P Global’s investor-relations workflow guide, page 9. This column covers the Pro Office offering documented there, not every version of the original Capital IQ plug-in. Ask the vendor about your subscription’s entitlements.
- FactSet: Solutions for Investment Bankers, page 2 (2020 brochure) documents source auditing, linking and hotkeys. It is older material, not proof of today’s plan inclusions. The January 2025 Pitch Creator announcement describes Office integration and cloud refresh. Verify availability with FactSet.
- Arixcel: we could not retrieve usable current documentation from its official Explorer page during this review. We have left its feature and pricing entries unverified, rather than turn historical experience or third-party claims into current facts. This is not a claim that the product is unavailable or lacks those features.
This is a selected comparison, not a benchmark or a comprehensive feature inventory. Documentation may lag the software. Platform support, licensing and feature availability should be checked with each vendor before purchase. Product names belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied. Spot an error? Send the source and we’ll review it.