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Microsoft Excel

Spreadsheet app sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser

Free plan · from $9.99/moSpreadsheetsChecked Oct 5, 20264.7 on the App Store
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Our verdict

Second of our top three spreadsheet and database tools

For: People who need a full spreadsheet as a desktop app

Excel has Windows and Mac apps, which Google Sheets' listing does not, with PivotTables, Power Query for importing and reshaping outside data and, on eligible Microsoft 365 plans, Python formulas in the grid. It also runs on the web, iPhone and Android, where it is free for 1 person with sharing, real-time collaboration and 5 GB of cloud storage. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from about 1.5 million ratings. It is second because the desktop apps cost money: Microsoft 365 Personal is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and Office Home 2024 is $179.99 once for 1 PC or Mac. The web and mobile versions have many, but not all, desktop features, and macros do not run in a browser.

See all three and how we rank

What is Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application for organizing, calculating and charting data. A free version runs in the browser, while the Windows and Mac desktop apps come with a Microsoft 365 subscription or the one-time Office Home 2024 purchase. Paid subscriptions add Copilot, which edits formulas, tables and formatting on request.

Microsoft Excel has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal). See every plan

Good for

  • People who need a full desktop spreadsheet on Windows or Mac
  • Analysts working with PivotTables, Power Query and Python
  • Households: Microsoft 365 Family covers 1 to 6 people
  • Occasional users who only need the free browser version

Worth knowing

  • The Windows and Mac apps need a Microsoft 365 subscription or a one-time Office purchase; only the web and mobile versions are free.
  • Excel for the web and the mobile apps have many, but not all, desktop features; macro-enabled workbooks open in a browser but the macros do not run.
  • Copilot needs a paid subscription, has usage limits, and on shared plans works for the subscription owner only.
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($7.00 per user / month paid yearly, or $5.40 without Teams) includes only the web and mobile versions of Excel.

Key features

Copilot in Excel
Edits formulas, tables and formatting from a written request and suggests formulas for the data. It needs a Microsoft 365 subscription and a workbook saved to OneDrive with AutoSave on.
PivotTables and charts
PivotTables calculate, summarize and analyze data to show comparisons, patterns and trends, and work with PivotCharts, slicers and timeline controls.
Power Query
Imports or connects to external data from files, databases, the web and Azure, then reshapes it before loading. It is available in Excel for Windows, Mac and the web; support on Mac and the web is newer than on Windows.
Python in Excel
Python formulas run in the grid using Anaconda libraries such as pandas and Matplotlib. It comes with eligible Microsoft 365 plans; a $24 per user / month add-on gives faster premium compute.
Co-authoring
Several people can work in one workbook stored in OneDrive or SharePoint Online and see each other's changes within seconds. In the Windows and Mac apps this requires a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Templates
Microsoft offers free Excel templates in more than 40 categories as ready-made starting points for common spreadsheets.

Microsoft Excel pricing

Starts at
$9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal)
Free plan
Excel for the web is free for 1 person, with sharing, real-time collaboration and 5 GB of cloud storage. Microsoft lists the free plan as working on web, iOS and Android.
Free trial
1-month free trial of the Microsoft 365 home and business plans; business trials need a credit card.
Free$0Excel for the web for 1 person, with sharing and real-time collaboration and 5 GB of cloud storage. Works on web, iOS and Android.
Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99per month, or $99.99 per year1 person signed in on up to 5 devices, 1 TB of cloud storage, and the Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook desktop apps with Copilot.
Microsoft 365 Apps for business$10.00per user / month, paid yearlyDesktop versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook for up to 300 employees, with 1 TB of cloud storage per user.
Microsoft 365 Family$12.99per month, or $129.99 per yearEverything in Personal for 1 to 6 people, with 1 TB of storage per person. AI features are for the subscription owner only.
Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99per month, or $199.99 per yearEverything in Family, plus extensive Copilot usage and agentic AI features such as advanced research and analytics.
Office Home 2024$179.99one-time purchase for 1 PC or MacClassic 2024 desktop versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and OneNote, with no upgrade path to the next major release.

Read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Microsoft Excel before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Annual discountSave up to 17% by paying yearly

    Microsoft 365 Personal is $99.99 a year against $9.99 a month, Family $129.99 against $12.99 and Premium $199.99 against $19.99.

    Stated on microsoft.com
  • EducationStudents save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal

    Verified college and university students get Microsoft 365 Personal at half price. Student status has to be re-verified each year to keep the discount.

    Stated on microsoft.com
  • EducationOffice 365 A1 free for eligible schools

    Educators and students with an eligible education email address get Office 365 A1 at no cost, which includes the web versions of Excel and the other core apps.

    Stated on microsoft.com
  • NonprofitNonprofit staff pricing on Microsoft 365 E3

    Eligible nonprofits can buy Microsoft 365 E3, with desktop, web and mobile versions of Excel, for $9.75 per user / month paid yearly.

    Stated on microsoft.com
  • Lifetime licenseOffice Home 2024 one-time purchase

    $179.99 buys the classic 2024 desktop versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and OneNote for 1 PC or Mac, with no subscription.

    Stated on microsoft.com

What people say about Microsoft Excel

4.7

out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app

  1. 5 stars87%
  2. 4 stars8%
  3. 3 stars2%
  4. 2 stars<1%
  5. 1 star3%

1,468,663 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 7, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing

Often praised

  • Commenters describe it as deeply rooted in business work and hard to replace, and two repeat the saying that everyone uses a small share of its features but never the same one. Hacker News 1, 2, 3

Often criticised

  • Reviewers of the iPad and iPhone app report losing work when it opened an older copy of a file and then saved over the newer one. App Store reviews
  • Reviewers say the iPad and iPhone versions lack features of the desktop one, with data validation and the statistics add-in among those they miss. App Store reviews
  • Commenters and a reviewer complain about how it handles dates, such as turning imported values into dates or changing dates that had already been typed. Hacker News 1, 2 · App Store reviews

Based on 10 App Store reviews of the iPad and iPhone app, four of them more than three years old, and about 15 Hacker News comments from March to September 2026, read Oct 7, 2026. These are themes summarised in our words, not our own verdict. Follow the links to read what was said.

Discussions worth reading

Microsoft Excel reviews, and where to read more

Works with

Microsoft Excel alternatives

All Microsoft Excel alternatives comparedAll spreadsheet and database tools

Common questions

Is Microsoft Excel free?

Microsoft Excel has a free plan. Excel for the web is free for 1 person, with sharing, real-time collaboration and 5 GB of cloud storage. Microsoft lists the free plan as working on web, iOS and Android. Paid plans start at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal).

How much does Microsoft Excel cost?

Microsoft Excel lists 6 plans. Free: $0. Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Apps for business: $10.00 per user / month, paid yearly. Microsoft 365 Family: $12.99 per month, or $129.99 per year. Microsoft 365 Premium: $19.99 per month, or $199.99 per year. Office Home 2024: $179.99 one-time purchase for 1 PC or Mac. Prices were read from microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does Microsoft Excel work on?

Microsoft Excel is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Does Microsoft Excel offer any discounts?

Microsoft Excel publicly lists the following: Save up to 17% by paying yearly; Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal; Office 365 A1 free for eligible schools; Nonprofit staff pricing on Microsoft 365 E3; Office Home 2024 one-time purchase.

How is Microsoft Excel rated?

Microsoft Excel's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1,468,663 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.

Is Microsoft Excel any good?

We have not tested Microsoft Excel, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Commenters describe it as deeply rooted in business work and hard to replace, and two repeat the saying that everyone uses a small share of its features but never the same one. Often criticised: Reviewers of the iPad and iPhone app report losing work when it opened an older copy of a file and then saved over the newer one. The reviews page has every theme with its sources.

Does Microsoft Excel have a Linux app?

No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Microsoft Excel is listed for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Is Microsoft Excel open source?

Microsoft Excel is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

Does Microsoft Excel work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

What does Microsoft Excel integrate with?

Microsoft Excel's listing names OneDrive, SharePoint, Power BI, Microsoft Copilot, SQL Server and Anaconda. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does Microsoft Excel have a student discount?

Students save 50% on Microsoft 365 Personal. Verified college and university students get Microsoft 365 Personal at half price. Student status has to be re-verified each year to keep the discount.

Does Microsoft Excel have a free trial?

Yes. 1-month free trial of the Microsoft 365 home and business plans; business trials need a credit card.

Who makes Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is made by Microsoft.

What are the alternatives to Microsoft Excel?

The closest alternatives to Microsoft Excel in our directory are Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, Numbers, Zoho Sheet and WPS Spreadsheet. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Microsoft Excel.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.