It’s 4 PM on a Tuesday, and your CEO is in your DMs: “What if we delay hiring for Q2 and put that budget into customer acquisition instead? Need to know by EOD.”
You have exactly one hour. Your spreadsheet has 47 tabs, the hiring plan lives in tabs 12 through 19, cross-referenced with the revenue model in tabs 3 through 8, which pulls from the actuals tab that your accountant updated this morning, except she forgot to copy-paste the formulas down, so half your numbers are wrong. You know this because it’s happened before.
You could:
- Fix the broken formulas (15 minutes).
- Update the hiring tab to show the delayed hires (10 minutes).
- Watch the cascade of #REF! errors that will follow (5 minutes of panic).
- Manually trace through every downstream impact on cash, revenue, and burn (20 minutes if you're lucky).
- Screenshot everything into a deck (10 minutes).
- Pray you didn't miss anything.
Or you could open a tool that actually models your business, where “delay Q2 hiring” is a scenario you can test in 30 seconds, where every change flows through your P&L automatically, and where the CEO can see the answer herself without you becoming a human calculator.
This is the split. Finance teams live in the forecast. You model, remodel, and pressure-test plans while the business moves around you. You need answers fast. Not days from now, after a vendor updates your structure, and not even hours from now, after cleaning up spreadsheet formulas that broke when someone inserted a column.
You need control, because when you own the model, you own the timeline (and when you don’t, you’re a bottleneck).
This leads many teams to compare FP&A platforms, like Runway and Cube. Both platforms help you graduate from static spreadsheets, but they take fundamentally different paths. Runway gives model owners flexible, dimensional modeling for quick scenario analysis and real-time teamwork. Cube builds on your existing Excel or Google Sheets workflow and layers on governance.
Let’s break down the details, and see which approach gives you the speed and control you need when “what if?” strikes.
Runway vs. Cube: understanding the context
Runway is a modern modeling platform for fast-moving companies and lean finance teams. It swaps hard-to-trace spreadsheets with a structured platform. You write formulas in plain English, and every number traces back easily to its source. And it comes with 750+ integrations.
Runway’s core promise is simple:
- Say goodbye to static spreadsheets and slow manual work
- Build a single source of truth you trust
- Deliver clear, accurate forecasts every time
Cube takes another path: it lets you keep modeling in Excel or Google Sheets, but adds controls, driver-based planning, and automated updates. Cube connects to your ERP, HRIS, and CRM. You manage models in the interface you know. Cube gives you FP&A templates for:
- 12-month forecasts
- Three-statement models
- Headcount plans
It centralizes your data, so you don’t have to abandon spreadsheets.
The big difference is in approach:
- Runway lets model owners move beyond spreadsheets into a platform built for modeling
- Cube helps teams enhance spreadsheets with stronger data and control
If your finance group handles cross-functional planning, many revenue streams, or constant changes, that split matters.
Deep dive into Runway’s core strengths
Runway gives you flexibility and control. You write formulas in plain English instead of hunting for cryptic cell references, and anyone on your team can understand and change the model. You apply logic across dimensions like team, product, or region. This approach keeps your model transparent and manageable without outside help.
Dimensional structure lets you slice and dice data by department, customer type, location, or whatever matches your business. Drill down to see what drives any number. You move from top metrics to details without leaving the model. Build drivers that match real business logic and test new ideas instantly.
Runway’s scenario planning delivers speed. Scenarios act as parallel versions where you test assumptions without touching your main forecast. Changes stay local until you decide to keep them. Compare scenarios side by side to see downstream effects right away. You pressure-test every plan and answer every "what if?" without risking broken formulas.
Collaboration sits at the core. You get role-based permissions, custom views for every department, and full version history. You always know who changed what. Runway makes it easy to work together:
- Share models securely by anonymizing sensitive data like salaries.
- Invite department heads to create scenarios and propose changes.
- Make finance the common language of your company with plans everyone trusts.
Your model stays synced to live data via over 750+ integrations. Connect accounting, HRIS, CRM, and your data warehouse effortlessly. Gold integrations include NetSuite, Rippling, Stripe, Snowflake, Redshift, and Google BigQuery. You stop spending time on file imports and start analyzing immediately.
Turn your model into ready-to-share dashboards and interactive forecasts. Share custom views and embed live charts so stakeholders can explore without risk to your logic. AI variance analysis finds discrepancies quickly. You enter board meetings with clean reports built straight from your model rather than static exports.
Exploring Cube's approach and key features
Cube values continuity. You keep using Excel or Google Sheets, but you add controls, automation, and live connections. Cube pulls in actuals from your ERP, HRIS, and CRM. Finance builds driver-based plans in spreadsheets. Cube tracks versions, keeps audit trails, and gives real-time updates.
Cube gives you templates for:
- 12-month forecasts
- Three-statement models
- Headcount planning
- SaaS revenue modeling
You'll onboard faster using these templates if your needs fit. Cube supports unlimited dimensions and structured hierarchies, so you can split data by department, location, or cost center, right in your existing spreadsheets.
Collaboration covers Excel, Google Sheets, browser, Slack, and Teams. Cube uses role permissions and audit logs for governance. Change tracking is built in. Cube also brings cash-management tools and variance analysis that goes down to the transaction. That's useful when handling cash in many locations or across entities.
The spreadsheet-first approach can reach a limit. As your data grows or your models get more complex, spreadsheets start to feel restrictive. Cube's setup in Excel or Sheets can slow down big models and makes reporting less dynamic than dedicated FP&A platforms. If you need to handle complex "what if?" scenarios or multi-layer dependencies, spreadsheets can start to slow progress.
Cube also requires onboarding services (setup, data mapping, templates, and training). These come at an extra cost. Pricing starts around $32K per year, plus fees for onboarding. For teams watching their spend, the cost and time to get started are important to factor in.
Key comparison dimensions
Modeling approach: flexibility vs. familiarity
Runway is all about adaptability. You define drivers in structured tables and write formulas in plain English. Apply logic across dimensions without messy cell references. When the business shifts (new revenue, new entities, a new org structure) you update the model on the fly. No rebuilding or searching for broken links. You stay in control, without waiting for a vendor.
Cube is more about familiarity. You stay in spreadsheets. That's great for teams with complex Excel models they don't want to change. But it means working with cell references, and any new business logic requires manual updates across sheets.
If you're a model owner who wants to simulate quickly and adapt as you grow, Runway's dimensional engine gives you a real edge. If you want to stay in Excel and need stronger connectivity for now, Cube keeps you in your comfort zone.
Scenario planning & control: speed and depth
Runway shines in scenario analysis. Scenarios are built as parallel models, fully separate from your core forecast. You create a scenario, tweak any input, and instantly see changes flow through your P&L, cash, and headcount. Compare scenarios at a glance. Merge approved changes in one click. Your primary model stays untouched until you're ready. Drafts keep accidental edits out of your working plan.
Cube supports multiple scenarios by managing spreadsheet tabs or linked workbooks. It's manual, but it works well for simple best/base/worst scenarios. For more layered "what if?" analysis, with complex dependencies, such as linking hiring decisions to shifting revenue forecasts, Runway's scenario engine moves faster.
If you're asked "what if?" at a moment's notice or need to run constant simulations, Runway's scenario feature is built for you. If your scenario needs are simple and you want to manage them in existing spreadsheets, Cube covers you.
Reporting & collaboration: board-ready vs. spreadsheet-driven
Runway lets you tell the business story. Interactive dashboards pull live data straight from your model. Stakeholders can explore without risk. AI variance analysis spots changes so you can explain every number. You walk into a board meeting with a live, dynamic view, not a static PDF.
Cube keeps reporting closer to spreadsheets. Build and share custom dashboards in Excel, Google Sheets, or via browser. Drag-and-drop filters and real-time refresh make day-to-day checks easy. Variance analysis can drill right to the transaction. But board updates need a little more manual polish for visuals, most likely happening outside of the platform.
Collaboration in Runway lets you set role-based permissions and anonymize data. Share with teams, and keep control over final decisions. You invite department heads to try changes, but finance picks what sticks. Cube also manages permissions and audit logs, but it all happens in your spreadsheets, which takes a bit more coordination with non-finance teams.
If you value polished, interactive reports for leaders and want everyone involved, Runway leads here. If your team prefers spreadsheets and a hands-on format works, Cube keeps you moving.
Security & audit trails: governance without friction
Both platforms take security seriously.
Runway is SOC 2 Type II certified, uses TLS 1.3 encryption, and meets GDPR and CCPA. Over 100 security controls run behind the scenes. Single sign-on, full version histories, and audit logs help you see every change and user.
Cube is also SOC 2 Type II certified, supports GDPR, and offers encryption at rest and in transit. You get SSO, SCIM, plus networking for enterprise like VPC peering and AWS PrivateLink. Change logs and permission controls are standard.
The workflow makes the difference. Runway offers data anonymization and formal approval for changes using scenarios. Cube manages audit trails and permissions in spreadsheets, which might mean more manual checks for your process.
If you want clear approval for changes and need strong privacy controls, Runway delivers. If you want to manage permissions inside your spreadsheets, and need specific networking options, Cube fits those needs.
Scaling as business changes: adaptability vs. templates
Runway is for evolving businesses. When you add products, open new entities, or change your org, you change model drivers and dimensions in place. Flexible segmentation and dimensional modeling set you free from templates. Model complex business structures and roll with frequent changes, all without starting over.
Cube's templates make onboarding faster. As your model expands, you might need more custom spreadsheet logic. Some teams outgrow Cube when templates can't handle new complexity or scale.
If you build for constant growth and handle multiple entities, many revenue streams, or restructuring, Runway scales with you. If your planning fits standard templates and changes are rare, Cube will get you moving quickly.
Bringing everything together: empowering model owners
The Runway vs. Cube comparison shows one big thing. It comes down to how you want to work. Runway is for model owners who want flexible, dimensional modeling, scenario analysis, and real-time collaboration. You control the model, change with the business, and run side-by-side simulations. Non-finance teams get it too; formulas are readable, and reports are interactive.
Cube is for teams who want to keep spreadsheets and strengthen them. If you're deep into Excel or Google Sheets and want data connectivity, Cube can help. But when your model gets more complex or your scenario questions get bigger, the spreadsheet format can limit you.
If you want to forecast better, tell your story with dashboards, and answer every "what if?", all without waiting on vendors, Runway puts you in charge. You get dimensional modeling, clear, auditable logic, storytelling dashboards, and scenario planning that fits your real work.
Ready to stop firefighting and start leading your company's planning process? See Runway in action.