Comparison: xP&A vs. Excel Performance
Last updated on 2025-07-18
When comparing Excel and xP&A, performance differences become apparent when working with large, complex data models. In an internal test, a large Excel model containing 16,384,000 cells (16,384 columns and 1,000 rows) showed performance constraints under typical usage conditions:
The Excel file takes approximately 25 seconds to open on high-end hardware (November 2023 Apple M3 Pro with 36 GB RAM). Regular operations within the spreadsheet experience noticeable lag, and saving the file requires about 15 seconds. Additionally, the Excel process consumes approximately 3GB of RAM while in use.
In contrast, xP&A is designed to handle significantly larger data volumes efficiently. The platform currently supports hundreds of millions of cells, with future updates expected to expand this capacity further. A key advantage of xP&A is that calculations are executed on remote servers, making performance largely independent of local machine specifications.
Note: These results are based on specific test conditions and may vary depending on the data structure, hardware, and use case.