Excel is without doubt one of the world’s hottest spreadsheet packages, with an estimated 1.1 billion people utilizing it for information group, evaluation, and reporting.

Whereas it’s a commendable information system for groups inside a enterprise, it’s not free. A standalone copy of Excel costs $159.99, and a private Office subscription is $69.99 per year for one consumer.
Microsoft Excel is likely to be the large cheese of information evaluation and administration, nevertheless it’s not the one device on the town.
So, whether or not you’re on the lookout for a free different, a cloud-based answer, or a device with extra superior options, this text has one thing for you.
The Prime 15 Greatest Excel Options
- Google Sheets
- Airtable
- Zoho Sheets
- Smartsheet
- WPS Workplace
- LibreOffice Calc
- Numbers (Apple)
- Tableau
- Quip
- Calc (Apache OpenOffice)
- Gnumeric
- EtherCalc
- OnlyOffice
- ClickUp
- Hancom Workplace
1. Google Sheets
- Worth: Free for private use and small groups; paid plans begin at $6 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Groups already utilizing Google Drive.
- What we like: That is one of the best, free Excel different that provides real-time collaboration.
Dropped at you by the Google Drive suite of apps, Google Sheets is a top-tier alternative for anybody on the lookout for an Excel different.
This cloud-based spreadsheet app has most of the similar options as Excel (charts, formulation, and real-time collaboration), making it one of the best free Excel different.
That stated, should you don’t thoughts paying a charge, you will get extra storage and superior options with different instruments on this listing.
Professionals
- Free to make use of
- Simple collaboration
- Cloud-based and accessible from wherever
Cons
- Restricted options in comparison with Excel
- Could be slower than desktop purposes
- Might fit points with Microsoft Workplace information
2. Airtable
- Worth: Free for private use and small groups; paid plans begin at $12 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Groups that want a database answer.
- What we like: Airtable’s superior options mix spreadsheet and database parts.
Airtable is a cloud-based platform that mixes spreadsheet and database options. It is designed to be versatile and customizable and provides quite a lot of views, together with grid, calendar, and Kanban.
Professionals
- Combines spreadsheet and database options, providing a singular strategy to information administration
- Designed to be a collaborative answer for groups, together with real-time collaboration and commenting options
- Affords a variety of templates for various use instances, together with challenge administration and content material planning
- Integrates with a variety of different apps and platforms, together with Slack and Zapier
- Affords a free model, in addition to paid choices for companies that want extra storage or superior options
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different spreadsheet purposes
- Is probably not appropriate for giant datasets or advanced information evaluation
- Customization choices could also be restricted for some customers
3. Zoho Sheet
- Worth: Free for private use and small groups; paid plans begin at $5 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Companies that want a whole enterprise answer.
- What we like: Zoho Sheets scale back the time spent occupied with model management or tasks requiring a number of folks. Because it’s cloud-based, different crew members can see the doc in actual time.
Zoho Sheet is a cloud-based spreadsheet utility that is a part of the Zoho suite of apps. It provides most of the similar options as Excel, together with charts and formulation, and likewise integrates with different Zoho apps, corresponding to Zoho CRM and Zoho Initiatives.
Professionals
- Affords a variety of spreadsheet options, together with charts and formulation
- Helps Microsoft Workplace information
- Integrates with different Zoho apps, together with Zoho CRM and Zoho Initiatives
- Affords a free model, in addition to paid choices for companies that want extra storage or superior options
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different spreadsheet purposes
- Not as well-known as another alternate options, so assist choices could also be restricted
4. Smartsheet
- Worth: Affords a free trial, however paid plans begin at $14 a consumer per 30 days. It’s $25 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Groups that want a challenge administration answer.
- What we like: Smartsheet is your one-stop store for planning, monitoring, automating, and reporting on all of your tasks. You may hold everybody within the loop in order that nothing falls not on time.
Smartsheet is a cloud-based platform that is designed for challenge administration. It provides quite a lot of options, together with Gantt charts, useful resource administration, and collaboration instruments.
It additionally integrates with different apps, together with Microsoft Workplace and Google Drive. Smartsheet provides a free trial and paid choices for companies that want extra storage or superior options.
Professionals
- Combines spreadsheet and challenge administration options, providing a singular strategy to process and challenge administration
- Affords a variety of templates for various use instances, together with challenge monitoring and finances planning
- Integrates with a variety of different apps and platforms, together with Salesforce and Jira
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different spreadsheet purposes
- Is probably not appropriate for advanced information evaluation or monetary modeling
- Customization choices could also be restricted for some customers
5. WPS Office
- Worth: Free for private use and small groups, paid plans begin at $29.99 a 12 months for premium options.
- Greatest for: People and companies who want a full-featured workplace suite.
- What we like: WPS is the bomb should you want an all-in-one software program on your workplace duties. The options are easy and user-friendly, so you do not should be a tech guru to determine it out.
WPS Office is a collection of workplace purposes that features a phrase processor, presentation software program, and spreadsheet utility. It provides most of the similar options as Excel, together with charts and formulation, and likewise helps Microsoft Workplace information.
Professionals
- Affords a full suite of workplace productiveness instruments, together with spreadsheet, doc modifying, and presentation software program
- Helps a variety of file codecs, together with Microsoft Workplace information
- Integrates with different WPS apps, together with WPS PDF and WPS Cloud
Cons
- Might fit points with Microsoft Workplace information
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different spreadsheet purposes
- Not as well-known as another alternate options, so assist choices could also be restricted
6. LibreOffice Calc
- Worth: Free and open-source.
- Greatest for: People and companies who want a full-featured spreadsheet utility free of charge.
- What we like: With LibreOffice, your papers will look slick and arranged, it doesn’t matter what they’re for. The key is in LibreOffice’s highly effective styling system and structuring instruments. These options do all of the heavy lifting in an effort to focus in your content material.
LibreOffice Calc is a free and open-source spreadsheet utility a part of the LibreOffice suite of apps. It provides most of the similar options as Excel, together with charts and formulation, and likewise helps Microsoft Workplace information.
LibreOffice Calc is very customizable and provides quite a lot of extensions.
Professionals
- Free and open-source
- Contains superior options
- Helps Microsoft Workplace information
Cons
- Not as user-friendly as different alternate options
- Restricted assist choices
7. Numbers (Apple)
Worth: Free for Mac/iOS customers.
Greatest for: People and companies that use Apple merchandise.
What we like: Nice for Apple customers, this device makes crunching numbers and getting into information straightforward. As a result of it is a part of the Apple ecosystem, you get top-notch safety to maintain all of your delicate information protected and sound.
Numbers is a spreadsheet utility that is a part of the Apple iWork suite of apps. It is designed particularly for Apple customers and provides most of the similar options as Excel, together with charts and formulation.
Numbers additionally integrates with different Apple apps, together with Keynote and Pages.
Professionals
- Free to make use of for Apple customers
- Integrates with different Apple apps
- Person-friendly interface
Cons
- Restricted collaboration options
- Restricted superior options in comparison with Excel
- Solely accessible on Apple units
8. Tableau
- Worth: Affords a free trial; paid plans begin at $12 a consumer per 30 days for people and $70 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Companies that want superior information visualization instruments.
- What we like: Nice for information visualization, Tableau is an actual champ with regards to crunching your information rapidly. It hooks up on to your Excel spreadsheets, so you do not have to ditch them. Plus, with Tableau, you get candy visualizations which might be straightforward on the eyes.
Tableau is a knowledge visualization device that enables customers to create interactive dashboards, reviews, and charts. It provides superior options for information evaluation, together with information mixing and mapping.
Tableau is a superb alternative for companies that want to visualise advanced information meaningfully.
Professionals
- Nice for information visualization
- Affords superior options for information evaluation
- Affords a free trial
Cons
- Costly for paid choices
- Steep studying curve for superior options
- Requires some data of information evaluation
9. Quip
- Worth: Free for private use; paid plans begin at $10 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Groups that want a collaborative answer that integrates communication instruments.
- What we like: Quip combines spreadsheet and communication options. This device is a game-changer when taking notes, modifying paperwork, and organizing process lists along with your crew and colleagues. It makes you a professional in any respect these duties very quickly!
Quip is a cloud-based platform that mixes spreadsheet and communication options. It is designed as a crew answer with real-time collaboration and chat options. Quip additionally integrates with different apps, together with Salesforce and Slack.
Professionals
- Combines spreadsheet and communication options
- Actual-time collaboration and chat options
- Integrates with different apps
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different alternate options
- Restricted formatting choices
- Restricted customization choices
10. Calc (Apache OpenOffice)
- Worth: Free and open-source.
- Greatest for: People and companies who want a full-featured spreadsheet utility free of charge.
- What we like: Open-source and customizable, Calc boasts the aptitude to effortlessly open and save spreadsheets within the Microsoft Excel file format. The software program provides many options that outclass Excel, corresponding to a system that mechanically creates a collection for graphing primarily based on the consumer’s information format.
Calc is a free and open-source spreadsheet utility that is a part of the Apache OpenOffice suite of apps.
It provides most of the similar options as Excel, together with charts and formulation, and likewise helps Microsoft Workplace information. Calc is very customizable and provides quite a lot of extensions.
Professionals
- Free and open-source
- Contains superior options
- Helps Microsoft Workplace information
Cons
- Might fit points with Microsoft Workplace information
- Not as user-friendly as different alternate options
- Restricted assist choices
11. Gnumeric
- Worth: Free and open-source.
- Greatest for: People who want a light-weight and free spreadsheet utility.
- What we like: Gnumeric is the last word device for preserving monitor of knowledge in lists, organizing numeric values in columns and rows, and executing advanced calculations simply. Its distinctive characteristic set allows you to outline every calculation step and modify particular steps later, providing you with full management over your work.
Gnumeric is a free and open-source spreadsheet utility designed to be light-weight and quick.
It provides most of the similar options as Excel, together with charts and formulation, and likewise helps Microsoft Workplace information. Gnumeric is a superb alternative for people who want a easy and free spreadsheet utility.
Professionals
- Free and open-source
- Light-weight and quick
- Helps Microsoft Workplace information
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with Excel
- Restricted assist choices
12. EtherCalc
- Worth: Free and open-source.
- Greatest for: People and companies who want a easy cloud-based spreadsheet utility.
- What we like: Cloud-based and open-source, Ethercalc is a flexible device for small to mid-sized companies in finance and healthcare. It has real-time information pulled from third-party apps and may work with CSV, Microsoft Excel, and JSON information.
EtherCalc is a cloud-based and open-source spreadsheet utility designed to be easy and light-weight. It provides fundamental options for creating and modifying spreadsheets and permits real-time collaboration.
Professionals
- Cloud-based and open-source
- Easy and light-weight
- Actual-time collaboration options
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different alternate options
- Restricted formatting choices
- Restricted customization choices
13. OnlyOffice
- Worth: Free for private use and small groups; paid plans begin at $5 a consumer per 30 days for enterprise groups.
- Greatest for: Companies that want a full-featured workplace suite.
- What we like: OnlyOffice provides a full suite of workplace purposes. It’s a free, open-source system that mixes doc, challenge, buyer relationship, and e-mail administration in a single place.
OnlyOffice is designed to be a whole enterprise answer, providing a variety of options for crew collaboration, together with doc sharing, real-time collaboration, and model management.
It additionally integrates with a variety of different apps and platforms, together with Nextcloud and ownCloud.
Professionals
- Full suite of enterprise instruments, together with spreadsheet, doc modifying, and presentation software program
- Affords superior collaboration options, together with real-time collaboration, doc sharing, and model management
- Integrates with a variety of different apps and platforms, together with Nextcloud and ownCloud
Cons
- Restricted superior options in comparison with different spreadsheet purposes
- Not as well-known as another alternate options, so assist choices could also be restricted
14. ClickUp
- Worth: Free; paid plans begin at $5 a consumer per 30 days.
- Greatest for: People or groups who need a one-stop-shop for all their productiveness wants.
- What we like: Since your Desk is instantly linked to your workflow in ClickUp, all your progress, updates, and process statuses are mechanically mirrored as you go. You may even pull real-time reporting for a high-level overview of your work anytime.
ClickUp is an all-in-one productiveness device that particular person customers and groups depend on to handle and arrange their tasks in a single place.
It provides lots of of customizable options and over 15 distinctive methods to visualise your work, together with a Desk view.
Like Excel, Desk view allows you to handle, edit, and arrange your duties into clear columns and rows. In contrast to Excel, you additionally acquire the advantages of a robust challenge administration software program to maneuver your work alongside.
You can too collaborate in actual time with crew members.
Professionals
- Nice for information visualization
- An all-in-one productiveness device so you may handle and arrange your tasks in a single place
- Your entire progress, updates, and process statuses are mechanically mirrored as you go
Cons
- Could be advanced and complicated for customers
- Cell app is restricted
15. Hancom Office
- Worth: Begins at $59 a consumer.
- What we like: Hancom Office provides 4 main options, that are suitable with workplace packages: Phrase, Cell, Present, and PDF.
- Greatest for: Groups who need a full suite of instruments and real-time collaboration with one another.
Hancom provides 4 main options, that are suitable with workplace packages: Phrase, Cell, PDF, and Present.
The Excel different, Cell, allows you to create spreadsheets and shows and supplies 1 GB of free on-line storage, and like Google Sheets, you may collaborate with colleagues on Hancom Workplace paperwork.
Most notably, Hancom lets you edit and consider your paperwork in your cell system, if you wish to change your spreadsheet away out of your pc. Hancom doesn’t require any Workplace set up.
Professionals
- Full suite of productiveness instruments
- Actual-time collaboration options
- Cell app lets you work from wherever
Cons
- Costly for paid choices
- Not many tutorials can be found, so the educational curve could also be steep
One thing For Everybody
Whereas Microsoft Excel stays probably the most extensively used spreadsheet software program, loads of wonderful alternate options can be found for customers on the lookout for a extra specialised or streamlined strategy to information administration.
Whether or not you want a collaborative answer for crew tasks, a extra complete suite of enterprise instruments, or a easy however efficient spreadsheet editor, there’s an alternate on the market that may meet your wants.
By contemplating the options and downsides of every possibility, you may select one of the best Excel different on your particular person necessities and work extra effectively and successfully along with your information.

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