Google Sheets is convenient. It’s also a Google product that stores your data on Google’s servers, scans it for features, and requires a Google account. If you want spreadsheet-style data analysis without the Google dependency, PondPilot is an option.
Your Data, Not Google’s
When you put data in Google Sheets, it lives on Google’s infrastructure. Google’s privacy policy allows them to process your content for service features. For sensitive data — financials, customer lists, health records — that’s a non-starter for many people and organizations.
PondPilot processes data entirely in your browser. No server, no cloud storage, no Google account.
SQL Instead of Formulas
Google Sheets formulas get messy fast. PondPilot replaces them with SQL:
-- Instead of SUMIFS + pivot tables:
SELECT month, category, SUM(amount) as total
FROM expenses.csv
GROUP BY month, category
ORDER BY month, total DESC;
SQL is more readable, more powerful, and more reproducible than a spreadsheet full of =SUMPRODUCT(...) formulas.
Handles Larger Data
Google Sheets slows down around 50K rows and hard-caps at 10 million cells. PondPilot with DuckDB WASM handles hundreds of thousands of rows without breaking a sweat.
Works Offline
Google Sheets’ offline mode is limited and unreliable. PondPilot is a PWA that works fully offline — no feature degradation, no sync issues.
What PondPilot Doesn’t Do
PondPilot is not a spreadsheet. It doesn’t have cells, formatting, or real-time collaboration. It’s a SQL analytics tool for people who want to query data, not style it. If you need a collaborative spreadsheet, Google Sheets (or a self-hosted alternative like EtherCalc) is the right choice.
The Privacy Tradeoff
Google Sheets gives you collaboration and convenience. PondPilot gives you privacy and SQL power. If your data is sensitive and your analysis is personal, PondPilot is the better fit.
Try It
Open PondPilot. Export your Google Sheet as CSV and query it privately.