Runway vs Drivetrain: Consolidation isn't the same as planning
Getting your data in one place is only the start. The modeling layer where your team actually plans shouldn't require a data engineer to make it work.
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The core difference
Both Runway and Drivetrain give you data integration, reporting, and collaborative workflows. The main differences are how your formulas are written, whether you can explore what-ifs, and how quickly your team can own the model without outside help.
Formula language
Runway lets you write in plain language with built-in tags, filters, and drivers so you don't have to memorize any syntax.
Drivetrain is built on DAX, Microsoft's Power BI formula language. Despite claims of being "Excel-like," it has a steep learning curve and takes months to master.
Assumption exploration
Runway lets you create a draft scenario, drag a hiring date or funding round on a timeline, and see every metric update instantly.
Drivetrain is optimized for scheduled reports and budget collection workflows—not real-time scenario exploration.
Self-service ownership
Runway's ~6 week implementation puts your finance team in the driver's seat. Model changes are quick edits, not projects.
Drivetrain's collaborative implementation means 50% of the work falls on your team, and model changes require DAX expertise.
Simulate business decisions in real time
See how Runway works for teams that want to plan, not just consolidate. Faster decisions, fewer bottlenecks, and a model your whole team can understand.
Platform breakdown
A side-by-side comparison
| Features | Runway | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
| Human-readable formulas | Included | Not included |
| No programming required | Included | Not included |
| ~6 week implementation | Included | Not included |
| Real-time scenario simulation | Included | Not included |
| Drag-and-drop timing changes | Included | Not included |
| 750+ integrations | Included | Included |
| Collaborative budget workflows | Included | Included |
| Version control | Included | Not included |
Honest reviews—The good and the bad
“Onboarding is awesome”
A real customer named Vivian
Will Simon
CFO at Mainspring
“Runway is what Excel should have always been”
Ben P.
Director of FP&A
”Runway has allowed me to immediately reference any part of our model with ease, and to segment in any way I can imagine. We can now get down to vendor level BvA analysis.”
Derek Ou-Ponticelli
CFO at AngelList
“Runway makes complex modeling a lot easier. It's just better and easier than an Excel spreadsheet.”
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Runway and Drivetrain?
Runway and Drivetrain both connect your data and enable financial planning, but the core difference is the modeling language.
Runway uses human-readable formulas that anyone on the finance team can understand and modify. Drivetrain is built on DAX, Microsoft's formula language for Power BI, which has a steeper learning curve than standard spreadsheet formulas.
Runway lets you explore what-ifs in real time. Drivetrain is optimized for scheduled reports and budget collection.
Runway's ~6 week implementation puts your team in the driver's seat. Drivetrain's implementation requires your team to do 50% of the work while learning DAX.
Does Runway replace spreadsheets completely, or can we still use Excel/Sheets?
Runway becomes your primary planning surface. You don't have to abandon spreadsheets entirely. Teams often keep lightweight Excel or Sheets files for ad-hoc analysis. Runway acts as the source of truth for forecasts and reporting.
What does onboarding look like across Runway and Drivetrain?
Runway's average implementation is about 6 weeks. The long pole is usually data access — waiting for IT to grant API credentials. Once connected, your finance team owns the model from day one with human-readable formulas.
Drivetrain uses a "collaborative" implementation model where 50% of the work falls on your team. Because the platform is built on DAX, your team needs to learn a new formula language before they can make structural model changes independently.