Tabulate vs Excel: A Data Prep Speed Run

We all know Excel - it's the Swiss Army knife of data tools. But when it comes to heavy-duty data prep, sometimes you need a specialized tool. Enter Tabulate, designed to make data preparation a breeze. Don't believe us? See for yourself!

The Data Prep Challenge

We put Tabulate head-to-head with Microsoft Excel in a data prep speed run. Watch how they compare:

Intrigued? Let's break down what you just saw.

The Task: Transform and Aggregate

Our challenge: Import two CSV files, filter data, aggregate results, join datasets, and clean the output. Here's how it went down:

1. CSV Import

   • Excel: Reliable, but takes its time with our 53MB, 490,000-row file.
   • Tabulate: Zips through the import in seconds.

2. Filtering

   • Excel: Requires table creation before filtering.
   • Tabulate: One-click filtering, ready to go.

3. Data Aggregation

   • Excel: Pivot tables get the job done.
   • Tabulate: Streamlined aggregation feature.

4. Joining Datasets

   • Excel: VLOOKUP - powerful, but requires some formula crafting.
   • Tabulate: "Column from another table" feature simplifies the process.

5. Final Cleanup

   • Excel: Copy, paste, arrange in a new sheet.
   • Tabulate: Quick reorder, delete, and rename operations.

The Results

🏁 Tabulate: 1 minute 40 seconds

🏁 Excel: 3 minutes 5 seconds

While Excel remains a versatile tool for various data tasks, Tabulate's specialized features shine in data preparation, nearly halving the time needed.

Why the Difference?

Excel is a jack-of-all-trades, excellent for a wide range of tasks. But Tabulate is built specifically for data prep, with features designed to streamline these processes. It's like comparing a multi-tool to a chef's knife - both are useful, but for chopping vegetables, the chef's knife wins every time.

Want to read more why Tabulate outperforms Excel for data transformation? Check out our blog post!

Ready to speed up your data prep? Try Tabulate today and experience the difference yourself!