Shortcut · Product DocumentationUpdated August 26, 2026
https://shortcut.ai/docs

Which Shortcut should you use?

Shortcut comes in four forms. They share the same agent, but they run in different places, and where a product runs determines what it can reach.

More local and native accessEasier cloud automation
CLI & Desktop App→Excel add-in→Web app→Platform API

None of these is the “best” Shortcut. Products toward the left run close to your desktop and can work with what's already there: Excel itself, your files, your network. Products toward the right depend less on your computer, so files and connections are provided to them instead of found on your machine.

You don't have to pick just one. They all work with the same Shortcut account, and many teams use two or three together.

Choose Quickly

CLI & Desktop App

Best fit: Workflows that need desktop Excel, local files, synced drives, local tools, or the broadest integration surface.

Main limitation: The deepest Excel and Office capabilities require a Windows machine with desktop Office available.

Read the CLI & Desktop App guide →

Excel add-in

Best fit: Interactive work in the workbook already open in Excel.

Main limitation: It can use only the features Microsoft makes available to Excel add-ins; it cannot generally access the computer or control every desktop Excel feature.

Read the Excel add-in guide →

Web app

Best fit: Interactive spreadsheet work from a browser, with no Excel installation required.

Main limitation: It does not run inside Microsoft Excel or have general access to your desktop or synced folders.

Read the Web app guide →

Platform API

Best fit: Server-side, asynchronous, or batch spreadsheet workflows called from another application.

Main limitation: It runs in an isolated cloud environment, not in the caller’s Excel or desktop environment. Inputs and integrations must be provided through the API workflow.

Read the Platform API guide →

Compare the Details

CLI & Desktop App

Where does it run?
On your computer.
Does it work inside Microsoft Excel?
Yes, in desktop Excel mode on Windows.
Does it need Excel installed?
Only for desktop Excel mode. Accounts with the in-house engine enabled can work without Excel.
Can it use VBA, macros, and Excel-only features?
Yes, in desktop Excel mode. This is the best option for those workflows.
Can it open files on my computer?
Yes, with your permission for each location.
How does it work with files in cloud storage?
Through the folders those services sync to your computer (OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box).
Can it use MCP connectors?
Yes: connectors running on your computer and hosted ones.
Can it pull data from databases and APIs that only work on my company’s network?
Yes, if your computer can reach them, including VPN-only databases and internal APIs.
How does it work with enterprise controls like SSO and the Private LLM Gateway?
SSO sign-in works. A private gateway is set up as a custom model provider in your CLI configuration rather than by organization policy.
Can it run without a person present?
Possible on a machine you manage, though desktop Office workflows depend on that machine.
Where do the results end up?
On your computer: edited workbooks, Word and PowerPoint documents, and any other files the agent creates.

Excel add-in

Where does it run?
In a panel inside Excel.
Does it work inside Microsoft Excel?
Yes. It works on the workbook you have open.
Does it need Excel installed?
Yes, a supported Excel version.
Can it use VBA, macros, and Excel-only features?
Partially. The add-in cannot run VBA. The file keeps its macros in Excel; copies exported for processing are macro-free .xlsx.
Can it open files on my computer?
Only the open workbook and files you attach.
How does it work with files in cloud storage?
It edits the open workbook, including one opened from cloud storage.
Can it use MCP connectors?
Hosted or browser-reachable connectors, subject to connector access and organization policy.
Can it pull data from databases and APIs that only work on my company’s network?
Through an MCP connector the add-in can reach, if browser requests and organization policy allow it.
How does it work with enterprise controls like SSO and the Private LLM Gateway?
SSO sign-in works. With a gateway configured for your organization, the add-in sends AI requests directly to it.
Can it run without a person present?
No. Designed for interactive use.
Where do the results end up?
Edits land in the open workbook; other outputs, like documents, presentations, and analysis, are downloadable from the chat.

Web app

Where does it run?
In your browser.
Does it work inside Microsoft Excel?
No. Files open in the web workspace instead.
Does it need Excel installed?
No.
Can it use VBA, macros, and Excel-only features?
No. It edits .xlsx files without running macros.
Can it open files on my computer?
Only files you upload.
How does it work with files in cloud storage?
You upload the files, or connect a supported cloud service.
Can it use MCP connectors?
Hosted or browser-reachable connectors, subject to connector access and organization policy.
Can it pull data from databases and APIs that only work on my company’s network?
Through an MCP connector your browser can reach, if browser requests and organization policy allow it.
How does it work with enterprise controls like SSO and the Private LLM Gateway?
SSO sign-in works. With a gateway configured for your organization, the browser sends AI requests directly to it.
Can it run without a person present?
No. Designed for interactive use.
Where do the results end up?
In your workspace: the workbook plus any documents, presentations, or other files the agent creates, all downloadable.

Platform API

Where does it run?
In Shortcut’s cloud, in an isolated environment.
Does it work inside Microsoft Excel?
No. Jobs work on files you send to the cloud.
Does it need Excel installed?
No.
Can it use VBA, macros, and Excel-only features?
No. It edits .xlsx files without running macros.
Can it open files on my computer?
No. Your application sends files with each job, or mounts an authorized Shortcut project read-only.
How does it work with files in cloud storage?
Your application downloads the files and sends them with the job.
Can it use MCP connectors?
Not currently available in the public API.
Can it pull data from databases and APIs that only work on my company’s network?
Not by itself. Your application queries the internal system and sends the data with the job.
How does it work with enterprise controls like SSO and the Private LLM Gateway?
It accepts API keys and OAuth user sessions; SSO governs those accounts. Cloud jobs do not route AI requests through a private gateway.
Can it run without a person present?
Yes. Jobs run unattended in the background.
Where do the results end up?
Returned by the API: an .xlsx result or a written analysis, plus any additional output files the job produced.

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard way for AI products to connect to external tools and data sources. A connector may run on your computer or on a hosted server.

Integration Guides

For teams connecting Shortcut to software they already have.

Run Shortcut from Your Own Agent

Hand spreadsheet work to Shortcut from your own assistant: one sign-in, one command, and a choice between cloud runs and the user's live Excel session.

Read the guide →

Claude Code & Codex Plugin

Install ShortcutXL as a plugin so your coding agent can call Shortcut itself, sessions included.

View on GitHub →

Enterprise & Setup Guides

These guides configure your organization's Shortcut deployment. They apply across products rather than being products themselves.

SCIM Provisioning

Set up directory-managed membership, token rotation, and access removal for contract organizations.

View guides →

SSO Setup Guides

Step-by-step instructions for configuring SSO with Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace, and more.

View guides →

BYOK Setup Guides

Bring Your Own Key guides for AWS and Azure. Configure your own encryption keys for enhanced security and control.

View guides →

Private LLM Gateway

Configure Shortcut to use an organization-controlled LLM gateway for AI requests.

View guides →

Bring Your Own LLM Key

Route AI requests through your own Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini, or OpenAI-compatible credentials.

View guides →

Bring Your Own Storage

Keep your organization’s Shortcut files in a GCS or S3 bucket you own, with revocation in your hands.

View guides →
Shortcut · Product Documentation · https://shortcut.ai/docs · Updated August 26, 2026 · Capabilities and limits can change; the website is the current version of this document.