Frequently asked questions
Is WhichForecast an Excel Add-in or an add-on?
It is an Add-in (Office.js), the official Microsoft extensibility model.
Does Free require an account?
No. Free analysis works offline with no sign-in.
Is my data uploaded?
Not for Free analysis — your series stays in Excel and is never uploaded.
Which Excel versions are supported?
Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024 and Microsoft 365 (Windows & Mac), plus Excel on the web. Excel 2013 and 2010 are not supported.
How do I install it?
From the Microsoft Marketplace, or in Excel: Insert → Add-ins → search WhichForecast → Add. Sideload manifest.xml only if the store is blocked or you are on a perpetual Excel build — steps are on the download page.
Can I use WhichForecast in Google Sheets?
Not directly. Use it free in Excel on the web (excel.office.com) instead.
How do you choose the “best” method?
Rolling-origin MASE among candidates. We never claim the true model — “best supported among candidates on this series.”
Where can I learn what each method assumes?
Every method in the catalog has a public tutorial — assumptions, when to use or avoid it, a worked sketch, and a chart — at whichforecast.com/methods. The add-in’s More information link opens the matching page in your browser. Those pages use teaching sketches; Free analysis never uploads your series.
Can it do spare parts / zeros?
Yes. Croston, SBA, and TSB. MAPE is warned when zeros exist.
Can it do stocks?
As a time series, with a disclaimer. Not investment advice. Live fetch is Pro.
How do student/instructor discounts work?
50% off after verifying a .edu email — we email a one-time promotion code to paste at Pro checkout.
What does Pro cost?
$0.99/month, or $0.79/month billed yearly ($9.48/year); half price with a verified .edu email.
What can I export?
Free: JSON, Copy of the watermarked method note, and a summary WhichForecast_Results sheet. Pro: formatted Excel sheet (rankings, named tables, extra note sheet) and a client-side PDF of the report — still no raw-series upload. Educational analysis only, not investment advice.
Is this related to WhichDist?
Yes. WhichDist is the sister add-in for which distribution fits your data? Same owner (NCU Technology), same guided Excel pattern, different engine. WhichForecast does not fit probability distributions.