Overview
This article answers the most common questions from SheetXAI AppSumo buyers: BYOK and credits, license management, the Excel add-on, Google Sheets vs Excel, feature capabilities, automation, tier differences, language support, buying credits, and integrations.
BYOK & Credits
What does BYOK mean?
Bring Your Own Key — you use your own API keys from providers like OpenRouter, OpenAI, Claude, and others instead of buying credits from SheetXAI. We provide the app; you supply the "fuel" (your API key). If you prefer not to manage API keys, you can buy our credit packs instead.
Do I need to buy credits or can I use my own API key?
You can choose either: buy our credits for convenience, or use BYOK for unlimited operations at your own API cost. Whichever you're comfortable with is fine.
How do credits work? How many do I need?
Credits use a simple formula: base cost × model cost. Chatbot operations use a base of 5; SAI (cell-by-cell) operations use a base of 1. For example, with GPT-4o Mini each operation is about 2 credits, so chatbot use is 2 × 5 = 10 credits per operation, and SAI is 2 credits per operation. You can see exact prices inside the SheetXAI app. 5,000 credits typically lasts around 4 months for normal Excel/Sheets use; heavy use (daily with images/videos) may use them in about a month.
Can I use ChatGPT Plus/Pro with this?
No. ChatGPT Plus is a subscription product and is separate from the OpenAI API. SheetXAI needs an OpenAI API key (from a separate, usage-based account) or you can use OpenRouter to access models without a ChatGPT subscription.
Which API provider should I use?
OpenRouter is the most recommended: zero rate limits, access to all major models, and one API key for all text operations. For image and video generation, Fal AI is similarly flexible with many models. Both keep setup simple and cost-effective.
Are credits monthly or one-time?
Credits are one-time purchases. They do not expire and there are no monthly renewals. This keeps the LTD sustainable while giving you full control. When a pack runs out, you can buy another or switch to BYOK.
How long do credits last?
Roughly 4 months for typical spreadsheet-only use (e.g. ~100 operations per month). For intensive use (lots of images, video, or bulk content), a 5k pack may last about 1 month. Features are being added to make credits last longer (e.g. repeated operations may not deduct extra).
License Management
What is a license?
One license = one email address = one person who can use SheetXAI. That person can use it on unlimited devices and unlimited spreadsheets.
Do I need separate licenses for Google Sheets and Excel?
No. One license works for both Google Sheets and Excel (if you have the Excel add-on). The same email gets access in Gmail/Sheets and in Excel.
Can I use one license across multiple devices?
Yes. The license is tied to your email, so you can use it on laptop, desktop, phone, etc. You’ll be signed out on one device when you use another (we don’t allow two active sessions at once).
Can I transfer or reassign licenses?
Yes. From your dashboard you can remove a license from one email and assign it to another anytime.
Does 1 license = 1 email or 1 device?
1 license = 1 email. That email can use SheetXAI on any number of devices and spreadsheets.
Excel Add-on
What is the Excel AI Agent add-on?
By default, your AppSumo deal includes the Google Sheets version of SheetXAI (with the most features). The Excel AI Agent add-on adds full SheetXAI support inside Microsoft Excel so you can use AI there too (formulas, data cleanup, analysis, etc.) without switching to Sheets.
Is it refundable?
No. You can try it for free before buying: go to sheetxai.com, click Try for Free, and select Excel to install from AppSource and test with trial credits.
How do I try it before buying?
Go to sheetxai.com → Try for Free → select Excel. The add-in installs from Microsoft AppSource and you get a free trial (including trial credits) to test everything.
Does it work with Mac, Office 365, and desktop Excel?
Yes. It works with Excel Online, Excel Desktop (Windows and Mac), and Office 365. If your Excel allows installing add-ins, SheetXAI will work.
Do I need to buy it for each license or just once?
Once. One Excel add-on purchase covers all your seats. For example, on Tier 4 (25 licenses), a single $29 Excel add-on gives all 25 people Excel access.
Google Sheets vs Excel
What features are in Google Sheets but not Excel?
Google Sheets has all integrations: WordPress, lead gen, email verification, and other external tools. Excel is focused on core AI operations (chatbot, formulas, data work) and does not include image/video generation or those integrations.
Why aren’t integrations in Excel?
Excel users asked for a streamlined experience. Integrations in Excel were felt to be distracting for serious spreadsheet work, so they’re only in Google Sheets.
Which should I use?
Use Google Sheets for full features plus all integrations. Use Excel for core AI operations and document-heavy work. If you use Excel a lot, adding the Excel add-on is recommended; you still keep Google Sheets access either way.
Feature Capabilities
Can it handle large datasets?
Yes. Rows can be unlimited. For columns, staying under about 20 is best for reliable AI performance; once you get into many columns (e.g. 50–100+), the AI receives more tokens per request and errors become more likely. We support higher column counts, but simplifying or splitting data helps.
Can it work with PDFs?
Yes. You can upload PDFs or paste PDF links and extract data into spreadsheet cells. You can build tables and do row-by-row extraction from PDFs. More advanced PDF input options are planned.
Can it scrape websites?
Yes, via the EXA integration (about $1 per 1,000 scrapes). EXA also supports scraping LinkedIn profiles. If you only need information from a URL (not full scraping), Perplexity Sonar (available through OpenRouter) is a good option.
Can it generate images, videos, and audio?
Yes. SheetXAI supports 100+ LLMs for bulk image, video, and audio generation directly in cells via SAI commands. Inputs for audio, video, and images are also being added for full multimodal use.
Can it work across multiple sheets and files?
Google Sheets: Yes — across multiple sheets in the same file and across different Google Sheets files. Excel: Across multiple sheets in the same workbook only; cross-file access would require access to your machine, which Excel add-ins don’t have.
Can it do complex formulas without me knowing the formula?
Yes. Describe the result you want in plain language and SheetXAI will choose and write the right function. You can also ask how it works to learn.
Automation & Async
Does the sheet need to be open for it to work?
Currently, yes. Neither Google nor Microsoft gives us access to your sheet when it’s closed. A Chrome extension and API (planned for Q1 2026) will enable async operations so SheetXAI can run with the sheet closed.
Can it run automatically when new data is added?
Not fully async yet. You can use Custom Commands as a workaround (e.g. they run when you open the sheet). Full automation (webhooks, triggers on new data) is planned with the Chrome extension and API in Q1 2026.
When is the Chrome extension/API coming?
Target is Q1 2026 (e.g. late January into early February). Once live, it will support autonomous automation, webhooks, and async operations.
Can it integrate with Make.com and Zapier?
Yes, once our API is available. Those platforms already integrate with the Google Sheets API; our API will let you trigger SheetXAI operations from Make, Zapier, and similar tools.
Tier Differences
What’s the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2?
Tier 1 includes the AI chatbot only: cleaning data, formatting, pivot tables, and similar sheet operations. Tier 2 and above add SAI commands: bulk content generation, scraping, image analysis, media creation, and other cell-by-cell AI operations.
What are SAI commands?
SAI commands are cell-by-cell AI operations. You use #SAI in cells to generate content, analyze images, scrape data, and more, row by row. They’re required for any bulk or per-cell AI generation beyond the chatbot.
Why do I need Tier 2 for bulk operations?
Bulk content generation, image/video work, scraping, and similar tasks use SAI commands, which are only available on Tier 2+. If you only need the chatbot for editing and organizing data, Tier 1 is enough.
Language Support
Does it work in other languages?
Yes. The AI works in all languages (e.g. Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese) because it uses standard LLMs. The SheetXAI interface is currently in English; localization is planned.
Does it work with non-English Excel?
Yes. The formula builder (ƒ button) and related behavior handle different regional settings. Separator and locale handling is automatic; you don’t need to toggle EN/EU manually.
Credits Purchasing
How do I buy more credits after purchase?
Go to appsumo.com/account/products → click SheetXAI → open Available Add-ons → purchase 5k credit packs as needed. Credit purchases on the SheetXAI website may also be available later.
Are credits available after the AppSumo deal ends?
Credit packs are expected to remain available for the duration of the AppSumo campaign and possibly longer. BYOK is always available regardless of credits.
What’s the price per credit?
5,000 credits = $59 (one-time). Cost per operation depends on the model (e.g. GPT-4o mini ~2 credits, Claude Sonnet ~14 credits per operation). Exact costs are visible in the app.
Integrations
Does it work with Straico?
Yes. Straico is one of our best-supported BYOK providers, especially if you have the Straico LTD.
Does it support specific API providers?
Yes. Supported providers include OpenRouter, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Straico, Fal AI, Ideogram, Recraft, and others. OpenRouter is recommended for text; Fal AI for images/video.
Can it integrate with WordPress and WooCommerce?
Yes. WordPress: native integration for importing/exporting posts, SEO, and meta descriptions. WooCommerce: full WooCommerce integration is available.
Does it work with Apify, DataForSEO, and other tools?
Yes. We have Apify, EXA, DataForSEO (LTD exclusive at the moment), and many lead gen and verification tools. More integrations are being added.
Need more help?
- AppSumo LTD Setup Guide — from purchase to first use
- How to set your API keys — BYOK setup
- What is SAI? — SAI commands explained
If you have issues or questions, reach out to support; we’re here to help.