Cast

Cast is a financial modeling tool for investment and finance teams, particularly those who need to examine multiple scenarios and bring accounting data into a model. It is a stronger fit for desktop users who need covenant checks, sensitivity analysis, or stakeholder sharing than for anyone looking for mobile access or a generous free tier.

Overview

Cast combines valuation models and scenario analysis with covenant checks and accounting imports. Each covenant rule returns a pass-or-fail result with its margin for every case, so teams can see how close a scenario comes to a breach rather than just whether it passes. Color-coded sensitivity grids help users compare assumptions, and any cell can be loaded as a scenario.

For broader context, Cast compares assumptions against NYU Stern Damodaran industry data adjusted to deal EBITDA. Its Monte Carlo analysis runs 10,000 trials and presents P10, P50, and P90 outcomes. These tools make Cast useful when a single forecast is not enough; teams that need only a basic forecast may not need this depth.

Key features

Cast can create models from natural-language descriptions, edit existing models, and validate AI-generated code before showing results. Code validation is a meaningful check, but it does not replace review of a model’s assumptions and outputs. The Free plan’s 60 AI credits per month may also constrain frequent model generation or editing.

Exports to .xlsx retain live formulas, sections, scenarios, and formatting, which makes it practical to continue work in Excel without reducing the model to static values. Cast also imports invoices, contacts, transactions, and payments from QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks through OAuth.

For other data sources, Cast can create connectors for public REST APIs, including sources for crypto, foreign exchange, commodities, and weather data. External requests go through a server-side proxy with SSRF protection, HTTPS enforcement, size limits, and timeouts; API keys do not touch the browser. That offers a way to bring in specialized data without exposing keys to the client.

Shared stakeholders can change inputs in the Results pane while formulas remain untouched. This keeps scenario exploration accessible without giving collaborators the ability to alter the underlying formulas. Plan choice matters: Free share links expire after seven days and show model code, while Pro provides permanent links and Teams adds snapshot links.

Pricing

Cast has a free plan and two paid plans, with subscriptions cancellable at any time and models remaining the customer’s property. There is no free trial.

• Free — free: 60 AI credits per month, three saved models, and share links that expire after seven days and show model code. It suits occasional evaluation or light use, but the model cap and short-lived, code-visible links make it a poor fit for ongoing work or sensitive stakeholder sharing.
• Pro — $15 a month: 1,000 AI credits per month, unlimited saved models, permanent share links, and priority support. This is the practical step up for an individual who builds regularly or needs links to remain available. It does not include the shared live models, version history, or snapshot links offered by Teams.
• Teams — $40 a month: shared live models, version history, snapshot links, and 1,000 AI credits per seat per month. It is aimed at teams that need collaborative models and a record of changes; the per-seat credit allowance makes usage scale with seats.

Platforms

Cast runs on the web and is desktop-only, working best in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. That suits office-based modeling but rules it out for users who need to work from a phone or tablet.

Who it's for

Cast is best suited to private equity, credit, FP&A, and other finance teams that need valuation models, scenario comparison, covenant analysis, or accounting-data imports in one workflow. Its API connectors and Excel exports also suit teams that need to combine tailored data with spreadsheet-based work. It is less suitable for mobile-first users, casual modelers who can stay within basic forecasting, or anyone unwilling to pay for higher saved-model and sharing limits.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Covenant results include margins for each case, giving more context than a simple pass or fail.
• Pros: Sensitivity cells can become scenarios, and Monte Carlo results include P10, P50, and P90 outcomes for comparing uncertainty.
• Pros: Accounting imports, public REST API connectors, and formula-preserving Excel exports support a flexible modeling workflow.
• Cons: Free is capped at three saved models and 60 AI credits per month; its share links expire after seven days and show model code.
• Cons: Cast is desktop-only, so it is not an option for mobile modeling.
• Cons: Shared users can change inputs, but the Free and Pro plans do not include Teams’ shared live models, version history, and snapshot links.

Alternatives

Browse Financial Modeling Software for more options. Choose Uniflow if mobile access matters: it supports web, iOS, and Android, and its free plan includes one revenue stream, one scenario, and a six-month forecast. Adlega is another free-plan option, with one financial model, core forecasts, MRR and runway, 15 monthly tokens, and a read-only share link.

Financial Modelling Pro may suit a solo user who wants a free project with browser-local saving, 17 sector templates, watermarked PDF export, and 20 monthly Sammy messages. For a broader range of device support, LivePlan runs on mobile, desktop, and the web; its Standard plan covers one active company, five contributors, and unlimited guests for $20 a month, but it has no free plan or free trial.

Valutico is worth considering for a free data room or Diligence access, and also offers a free trial. Workday Adaptive Planning is an alternative with a 30-day free trial and support for web, mobile, desktop, and API platforms. Causal is another paid web option. Cube is a paid web and API option with a Bronze plan that includes full platform access, custom roles, unlimited dimensions and users, and unlimited dashboards.

Verdict

Choose Cast if your finance team needs scenario-rich models, covenant margins, accounting imports, and a path to share inputs without exposing formulas. Pro removes the free plan’s tight model and link limits for an individual, while Teams is the relevant choice for shared live models and version history. Look elsewhere if desktop-only access is a deal-breaker or you need those collaboration features without a paid plan.