Why SolveSheet?

Start from your sheet, a template, or Excel

Setup keeps your existing cells intact. Model Check then checks the selected cells and recommends a solving method. Free includes 2 AI setups a month, Pro 50, and Business 100. The 7-day Pro trial includes 2 AI setups.

From spreadsheet to optimal solution in 3 steps

If you’ve used Excel’s Solver, these steps will look familiar. For an existing workbook, Set up this model can suggest steps 1 and 2 for you to review.

1. Set your objective. Pick the cell to maximize, minimize, or drive to a target value.
2. Define variables and constraints. Choose decision variable cells and add constraints (≤, ≥, =, integer, binary, AllDifferent).
3. Click Solve. SolveSheet writes the result to your sheet and reports whether optimality was established.

Each solve can also write an Answer Report to a new sheet, laid out like Excel’s: the original and final value of every cell, and whether each constraint is binding and by how much.

Pro adds Parameter Sweep: one-way and two-way sensitivity tables that re-solve your model across a range of any cost, limit, or target. They show the objective’s change per unit and the cells you choose to report, with charts, like the Solver Sensitivity add-in textbooks use with Excel.

Solving methods built in

• Simplex LP — local solver for linear problems. Free tier.
• Mixed-Integer Linear (MILP) — linear models with integer or binary decisions. Pro and Business.
• Cloud Nonlinear (NLP) — smooth nonlinear objectives and constraints via cloud-powered IPOPT. Pro and Business; Free includes 3 cloud solves a month.
• Cloud MINLP — nonlinear models with integer variables, via Bonmin. Business only.
• Evolutionary — genetic algorithm for non-smooth, non-convex, or combinatorial problems (TSP, assignment, AllDifferent puzzles). Business only.

Reads the formulas real models use: SUMPRODUCT, SUMIF and SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, MMULT, LN, EXP, SQRT, NORM.INV, LET, IFS, LARGE/SMALL, MAX/MIN/ABS, and IF conditions on the decision variables — so portfolio, risk, scheduling, and finance models work as written.

Tools for optimization coursework

• Familiar Objective / Variable cells / Constraints fields.
• Answer Reports, plus Pro Sensitivity and Limits Reports for eligible models.
• Parameter Sweep for one-way and two-way what-if tables.
• Model Check and concise explanations beside the result.

Who uses SolveSheet

• Operations Research / Management Science students — Ragsdale’s Spreadsheet Modeling and Decision Analysis, Baker’s Optimization Modeling with Spreadsheets, Winston, Hillier, Anderson. Free supports small models with up to 10 variables and 5 constraint rows; Pro supports larger coursework models.
• Business analysts — product mix, resource allocation, transportation/assignment, workforce scheduling, capital budgeting.
• Finance teams — portfolio optimization, asset allocation, risk parity, blended-cost minimization.
• Operations teams — production planning, inventory optimization, supply chain, facility location.
• Marketing — media-mix modeling, budget allocation across channels.
• Small business owners — supplier choice, staffing, and order planning.

Video Tutorial

Plans & pricing

Use your Google account email at checkout so your license activates correctly.
Team discounts: volume pricing for 2+ seats — contact us for a quote.

Compare all features

	Free	Pro	Business
Variables	10	200	Unlimited
Constraints	5	100	Unlimited
Linear (LP)	✓	✓	✓
Mixed-Integer Linear (MILP)	—	✓	✓
Cloud Nonlinear (NLP)	3 solves/month	✓	✓
Cloud MINLP	—	—	✓
Evolutionary solver	—	—	✓
Cloud solves / month	3	100	400
AI setups / month	2	50	100
Answer Report	✓	✓	✓
Sensitivity Report	—	✓	✓
Limits Report	—	✓	✓
Parameter Sweep (one-way and two-way tables)	—	✓	✓
Feasibility Chart (2-variable LP)	—	✓	✓
Save & Load Models	—	✓	✓
Support	Community	Email	Email, same-business-day
Deployment	Per-user	Per-user	Per-user or admin-managed Workspace

FAQ

What kinds of optimization problems can SolveSheet handle?

Linear programming (LP), integer and mixed-integer programming (IP / MILP), smooth nonlinear (NLP), MINLP, and combinatorial problems via the Evolutionary solver. Common applications: product mix, transportation, assignment, blending, scheduling, capital budgeting, portfolio optimization, curve-fitting.

Can AI help set up my model?

Yes, in Beta. Click Set up this model in Shortcuts. SolveSheet suggests the objective, decision cells, and constraints from your existing tab. Review the suggested settings, then click Apply to sidebar. Setup does not create data or formulas. Starting from nothing? Open Templates for a ready-made model.

What does the AI do with my data?

Model setup sends your optional note and the labels, numbers, and formulas on the selected tab to Google’s Gemini on Vertex AI to suggest a model. Nothing is sent unless you click Set up, and your cells are never edited. See our Privacy Policy.

Is SolveSheet a replacement for Excel’s Solver?

For users who work in Google Sheets, yes. Same Set Objective / Variable Cells / Constraints workflow. Same problem classes — LP, MILP, smooth NLP. Models built for Excel’s Solver reproduce in SolveSheet using the same logic, and when you open an Excel workbook in Google Sheets, SolveSheet offers to load the Solver model saved in it.

Will SolveSheet work for my Operations Research / Management Science class?

Yes. If your class uses Excel Solver and you’d rather work in Google Sheets, SolveSheet is designed to give matching results. Free supports up to 10 variables and 5 constraint rows. Check your assignment’s size, required method, and report requirements against the available plans.

Does SolveSheet do what the Solver Sensitivity add-in does?

Yes, on Pro and Business. After a solve, click Parameter Sweep under Reports, then choose One-Way Table or Two-Way Table. You pick the cell to vary and its range, and SolveSheet re-solves at each value. One-way tables show the objective’s change per unit and the cells you choose to report, with charts. It works on Simplex LP and Cloud Nonlinear solves, but not on models with integer or binary cells.

Is there a free version?

Yes — a permanent free tier. No credit card, no expiration. When you need more, you can try Pro free for 7 days from inside the add-on.

What are the limits on the Free plan?

Up to 10 decision variables and 5 constraints, Simplex LP, Answer Report, 3 Cloud Nonlinear solves a month, and 2 AI setups a month. Pro raises caps to 200 / 100 and unlocks MILP, Cloud Nonlinear, all reports, Parameter Sweep, Save & Load, the feasibility chart, and 50 AI setups a month. Business removes all variable / constraint caps and adds MINLP and Evolutionary solvers.

Can I cancel or get a refund?

Cancel anytime from the Subscriber Portal; you keep access through the end of your billing period. We offer a full refund within 14 days of your first paid charge — just email us.

Does SolveSheet work on iPad or mobile?

SolveSheet runs in the Google Sheets sidebar, which works best on desktop browsers. On iPad, open your sheet in Safari with “Request desktop website” enabled for the full sidebar experience.

Can I save and reuse my optimization models?

Yes — Save & Load is included on Pro and Business. Save your objective, variables, and constraints with the spreadsheet and rerun any time without re-entering.

Can I visualize the feasible region for 2-variable problems?

Yes. Pro and Business include a native Google Sheets feasible-region chart for 2-variable LPs — useful for teaching, learning, or sanity-checking before scaling up.

SolveSheet won’t open, or says it needs permission. What do I do?

When SolveSheet was installed, one of the permission boxes on Google’s consent screen was left unticked. Until it’s granted, SolveSheet can’t show its sidebar, or can’t read your plan and shows Free limits. It takes one click to fix: grant SolveSheet the permission. Google first asks you to confirm your account: click Continue. Then it lists the permissions: tick every box and click Allow. Go back to your spreadsheet and open Extensions ▸ SolveSheet ▸ Start SolveSheet. If nothing was missing, the page simply closes itself after Continue.

Google Sheets and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC. SolveSheet is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. Microsoft Excel is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Subscriber Portal | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Contact