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Gnumeric vs LibreOffice Calc (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 12, 2026, Gnumeric and LibreOffice Calc share a 3.0 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on whether you care more about features, where Gnumeric grades higher, or platforms, where LibreOffice Calc does.

Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA

They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

Gnumeric

Free, open-source spreadsheet program

Free
Full detailsgnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org

LibreOffice Calc

Free, open-source spreadsheet for Windows, macOS and Linux

Free
Full detailslibreoffice.org

Which one is for you

Pick Gnumeric if

  • Fits if you run Linux and open large spreadsheets
  • Works for people who want a spreadsheet without a subscription or an account

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you use Windows, as the project does not release Windows binaries
  • Not for you if you use a Mac, phone or browser, since none is listed
  • Watch out: the newest Windows build the site links is 1.12.17, older than the current 1.12.62
  • Watch out: no cloud sharing is described

Pick LibreOffice Calc if

  • Fits if you want a full desktop spreadsheet without paying for one
  • Works for people moving between Windows, macOS and Linux who want the same app on each

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if several of you need to edit one sheet live, as shared mode only merges changes on save
  • Not for you if you want your spreadsheets in a browser, because there's no hosted version and none is planned
  • Too light for working on a phone, where all you get is an Android viewer with experimental editing
  • Watch out: some commands are unavailable while a sheet is shared, and the listing names no integrations or API
  • Watch out: the Mac App Store copy costs $8.99 and the Microsoft Store one is paid; the website download is free

How we grade them

3.0GPAGnumericVery good3.0GPALibreOffice CalcVery good
Value for money
AFree of charge, open source under the GPL. A program anyone can download and run counts as free and substantial.
AIt costs nothing from libreoffice.org, in a category whose middle plan is $9.99 a month and whose lowest quarter starts at $5.40. Only the app store copies carry a charge: the Mac App Store version is $8.99 and the Microsoft Store one is paid too.
Free plan and trial
ANo plan, no cap and no account: the whole program and its source are free.
AThe whole LibreOffice suite, Calc included, is a free download for Windows, macOS and Linux, with no cap and nothing held back for an upgrade, because there's no paid tier to upgrade to.
Features
BA full spreadsheet program with a manual and tested functions. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core job.
CAs a desktop spreadsheet it has statistical and banking functions with a Function Wizard, pivot tables, named scenarios, Multiple Operations for what-if sums and charts that update with the data. The listing names the gap, a big one now: no hosted version, and shared mode merges edits on save, not live.
Ease of use
BNo store rating on record. On Linux you install it from your distribution's packages and open it, with nothing to set up.
BNo rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: download it, install it, open your Excel files. The Function Wizard walks you through building a formula step by step.
Platforms and integrations
DLinux and BSD only. The project does not release Windows binaries, and no Mac, phone or browser version is listed.
CComputers only: Windows, macOS and Linux. On Android there's a viewer with experimental editing, and The Document Foundation points at Collabora's apps for editing on a phone. No web version, and the listing names no integrations and no API.
Best fora free spreadsheet on Linuxa full desktop spreadsheet that costs nothing

The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Gnumeric and LibreOffice Calc. How we grade

Price against what you get

Gnumeric has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. LibreOffice Calc has no paid plan and scores 2.3.

On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other spreadsheet and database tools on the chart, none scores higher than Gnumeric for less, and none scores higher than LibreOffice Calc for less.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$1$2$5$10$20$50$100$200$500$1k$2kMore for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessGnumericLibreOffice Calc

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of spreadsheet and database tools, and the best at every price

Where they differ

    In commonFree planLinuxOpen sourceSpreadsheets

    At a glance

    GnumericLibreOffice Calc
    PricingFreeFree
    Starts atFreeFree
    Free planNoneThe whole LibreOffice suite, Calc included, is a free download from libreoffice.org for Windows, macOS and Linux.
    Free trialNone listedNone listed
    macOS
    Windows
    Linux
    Made byGnumericThe Document Foundation
    Price read fromgnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.orglibreoffice.org
    CheckedNov 12, 2026Oct 5, 2026

    Worth knowing

    Gnumeric

    • The project does not release Windows binaries; the newest older build it links is 1.12.17.
    • On Linux and BSD the site recommends installing from your distribution's packages.
    • The site lists no macOS, mobile or browser versions.

    LibreOffice Calc

    • There is no hosted cloud version; The Document Foundation says it does not plan a service like those from Google and Microsoft.
    • Shared mode merges each user's edits when they save the file, and some commands are unavailable while a spreadsheet is shared.
    • On Android the foundation offers only a viewer with experimental editing, and it points to Collabora's apps for editing documents on mobile.
    • The Mac App Store version costs $8.99 and the Microsoft Store version also carries a charge; downloads from the website are free.

    Key features

    Gnumeric

    Open source
    The program and its source code are free of charge under GPL version 2 or version 3.
    Fast with large files
    The site says Gnumeric starts quickly and stays responsive with large spreadsheets.
    Accuracy of functions
    The site points to research that found its built-in functions accurate.
    Tested functions
    The project aims to test every sheet function, preferably in its automated test suite; coverage is not complete.
    User's manual
    A user's manual and FAQ are published alongside the download page.

    LibreOffice Calc

    Functions and the Function Wizard
    Built-in functions, including statistical and banking functions, are combined into formulas for complex calculations, and the Function Wizard helps assemble them step by step.
    Pivot tables
    A pivot table combines, compares and analyzes large amounts of data. Its fields can be rearranged to view different summaries of the same source data.
    Scenarios and what-if tools
    Named scenarios hold alternative sets of cell values that can be switched to compare results, and the Multiple Operations command calculates a formula across a range of inputs.
    Dynamic charts
    Spreadsheet data can be presented in charts that update automatically whenever the underlying data changes.
    Excel compatibility
    Imports and modifies Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, and filters open and save a variety of other formats in addition to the native OpenDocument format.
    Shared spreadsheets
    In shared mode several users can open the same spreadsheet file for writing at once. Changes merge when each person saves, with a dialog to settle conflicting edits.

    Plans

    Gnumeric

    • Free$0

      The full program and its source code, licensed under GPL version 2 or version 3.

    LibreOffice Calc

    • LibreOffice$0

      The full office suite, including Calc, downloaded free from libreoffice.org for Windows, macOS or Linux.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, Gnumeric or LibreOffice Calc?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, both Gnumeric and LibreOffice Calc are free to use.

    Which has a free plan, Gnumeric or LibreOffice Calc?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, both Gnumeric and LibreOffice Calc have a free plan.

    Which platforms do Gnumeric and LibreOffice Calc run on?

    As of Nov 12, 2026, only LibreOffice Calc lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.

    More comparisons

    How this page was made

    • The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
    • The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
    • Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
    • The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.
    How we review and grade