Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet most professionals trust, but the mobile app is gated. Free editing only works on devices smaller than 10.1 inches with a personal Microsoft account; everything beyond that needs a Microsoft 365 subscription. Copilot AI features cost extra. Files saved to OneDrive feel mandatory, the app is heavy on memory, and pivot tables on mobile rarely render the same as on desktop.
If you want Microsoft Excel alternatives that handle .xlsx without paying, run lighter on Android, or replace the spreadsheet with a relational database, the field has matured. We tested seven and ranked them on file fidelity, function coverage, and what they actually cost.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Sheets | Free cloud collaboration | Yes, generous | $6/mo Workspace | Real-time co-editing without Microsoft |
| WPS Office | Free editing without subscription | Yes, ad-supported | $35.99/yr Premium | Pivot tables on mobile without paying |
| OnlyOffice | Open-source .xlsx fidelity | Yes, full features | Free for personal | Best round-trip with Excel |
| Collabora Office | LibreOffice on mobile | Yes, full features | Free | True ODF, no account, no ads |
| Zoho Sheet | Free collaboration without Google | Yes, generous | $4/mo Standard | Real-time co-editing, Zia AI |
| Airtable | Database-style spreadsheets | Yes, with row caps | $20/mo Team | Linked records and multiple views |
| Smartsheet | Project management spreadsheets | 30-day trial | $9/mo Pro | Gantt and dependency tracking |
Why people leave Microsoft Excel
Subscription gates full mobile editing. Free Excel on Android only edits on devices smaller than 10.1 inches with a personal Microsoft account. Tablet users and business accounts hit a paywall on save.
Heavy on memory. The mobile app is one of the largest in the Productivity category and stutters on entry-level Android phones with 3GB RAM or less.
OneDrive nag. Every save offers OneDrive first; local saves take an extra tap. Users who do not want OneDrive sync find it tiresome.
Copilot AI is a separate subscription. Excel’s AI summarisation and chart suggestions require Copilot Pro at $20 a month on top of Microsoft 365. Free and Personal users see the prompts but cannot use them.
The best Microsoft Excel alternatives
Google Sheets, best free cloud collaboration
Google Sheets is the closest free competitor. Real-time co-editing works at any workbook size, the function library covers most Excel functions, and the mobile app is lighter than Excel on the same hardware.
Sheets vs Excel on a shared workbook is one-sided. Multiple editors see updates instantly without a save step; Excel’s co-authoring on mobile is functional but not as smooth.
Where it falls short: Complex .xlsx files with conditional formatting or VBA can lose features on import. Mobile pivot tables render but rarely edit cleanly. Requires a Google account.
Pricing:
- Free: Personal use, 15GB shared with Drive and Photos
- Workspace Business Starter: $6 a month per user for 30GB and custom email
- vs Excel: Free for personal use, no subscription required
Migrating from Excel: Upload .xlsx to Drive and open in Sheets. Convert to Google’s native format for full co-editing; keep .xlsx for round-trip with Excel users.
Bottom line: The default free pick if you collaborate in real time and accept Google as the cloud.
WPS Office, best free editing without a subscription
WPS Office is the most capable free spreadsheet on Android. The Spreadsheets module reads .xlsx natively, the formula library covers most Excel functions, and pivot tables work on mobile without paying.
WPS vs Excel on free-tier editing is one-sided. WPS edits any workbook for free; Excel locks full editing behind Microsoft 365.
Where it falls short: Free tier shows ads inside the app and pushes a Premium upgrade. WPS Cloud routes through Kingsoft servers in China. Some advanced .xlsx features rewrite on save.
Pricing:
- Free: Full edit, ad-supported, basic cloud sync
- WPS Premium: $35.99 a year for ad removal and PDF tools
- vs Excel: Free vs Microsoft 365’s $9.99 a month minimum
Migrating from Excel: Open .xlsx files in WPS Spreadsheets via the file picker. Most formatting and formulas transfer; some conditional formatting can shift.
Bottom line: The pick if you want full free editing on mobile with pivot tables included.
OnlyOffice, best open-source Excel fidelity
OnlyOffice Documents ships an open-source engine that reads .xlsx more faithfully than any other free alternative. The mobile app handles formulas, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and macros at near-Excel fidelity.
OnlyOffice vs Excel on round-trip work is the closest match. Files move between OnlyOffice and Excel with formulas and formatting intact.
Where it falls short: Mobile UI is dense for casual users. Cloud sync requires DocSpace or a third-party connector. Free DocSpace tier limits active users.
Pricing:
- Free: Full personal use with local files
- DocSpace: Free up to 12 active users; paid plans from $20 a month for teams
- vs Excel: Free with no subscription required
Migrating from Excel: Open .xlsx files via the file picker. OnlyOffice handles them at near-perfect fidelity.
Bottom line: The pick if you want open-source .xlsx compatibility without ads.
Collabora Office, best LibreOffice on mobile
Collabora Office is the official LibreOffice mobile app. The Calc module covers .xlsx and .ods, runs offline, and uses no account. No ads, no upsell.
Collabora vs Excel on a privacy-conscious workflow is one-sided. Collabora is open-source, runs offline, and never sends a workbook anywhere unless you choose to.
Where it falls short: Mobile UI lags Excel in polish. Co-editing requires self-hosting Collabora Online. Some Excel-only features render but do not edit cleanly.
Pricing:
- Free: Full mobile editing for personal use
- Collabora Online: Self-host or paid subscription for collaboration
- vs Excel: Free, open-source, no subscription
Migrating from Excel: Open .xlsx via the file picker. Switch to .ods for the best long-term open format.
Bottom line: The pick if open-source and offline use are priorities.
Zoho Sheet, best free collaboration without Google
Zoho Sheet is the cloud spreadsheet that competes with Sheets and Excel directly. Real-time co-editing, comments, version history, and a generous free tier match the big two without Google or Microsoft.
Zoho vs Excel on real-time editing is closer than expected. Zoho updates cells live and shows collaborators in the cell, with Workspace integration via Zoho Mail and CRM.
Where it falls short: Mobile app is functional but less polished than Excel. Some advanced functions need the Pro plan. Importing complex .xlsx can lose formatting.
Pricing:
- Free: Generous, full cloud sync, real-time co-editing
- Standard: $4 a month per user as part of Zoho Workplace
- vs Excel: Free with comparable collaboration
Migrating from Excel: Upload .xlsx to Zoho WorkDrive and open in Sheet. Formulas and formatting transfer; charts may need a refresh.
Bottom line: The pick if you want cloud collaboration without Google or Microsoft.
Airtable, best database-style spreadsheets
Airtable is the spreadsheet replacement when rows and columns are not enough. Each base behaves like a relational database with field types (attachments, links, formulas, lookups), multiple views (grid, calendar, kanban, gallery), and references between tables.
Airtable vs Excel on a structured tracker is one-sided. Excel stops being a spreadsheet and becomes a workflow tool the moment you need linked records, attachment fields, or kanban views.
Where it falls short: Free tier caps records at 1,000 per base. Advanced automations and large datasets need paid plans. Mobile is for editing existing bases, not building complex new ones.
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 1,000 records per base, basic views
- Team: $20 a month per user for 50,000 records and full views
- Business: $45 a month per user for advanced features
- vs Excel: Pricier, but it replaces a spreadsheet plus a database plus a project tool
Migrating from Excel: Use Airtable’s CSV importer. Each Excel sheet becomes an Airtable table; relationships rebuild with linked record fields.
Bottom line: The pick if your Excel file has become a database in disguise.
Smartsheet, best project-management spreadsheets
Smartsheet is the spreadsheet built around project management. Sheets, reports, dashboards, and Gantt charts share a common data model, and dependencies recalculate automatically when dates shift.
Smartsheet vs Excel on a project plan is one-sided. Excel gives you a grid; Smartsheet gives you a Gantt with dependencies, automated alerts, and proofing workflows.
Where it falls short: No free tier beyond the trial. Interface assumes project-management literacy. Heavy on configuration before you see value.
Pricing:
- Free trial: 30 days, full features
- Pro: $9 a month per user for individuals and small teams
- Business: $19 a month per user for advanced collaboration
- vs Excel: Paid only; Excel is cheaper for the same basic use case
Migrating from Excel: Export tabs as .xlsx and use Smartsheet’s import. The grid view lands intact; rebuild dependencies and Gantt views from project columns.
Bottom line: The pick if your spreadsheet is really a project plan with dependencies.
How to choose
Pick Google Sheets if you collaborate in real time and accept Google as the cloud.
Pick WPS Office if you want free editing on mobile with pivot tables included.
Pick OnlyOffice if you want open-source .xlsx fidelity without ads.
Pick Collabora Office if open-source and offline use are priorities.
Pick Zoho Sheet if you want cloud collaboration without Google or Microsoft.
Pick Airtable if your spreadsheet has grown into a database with linked records.
Pick Smartsheet if you build project plans with dependencies.
Stay on Microsoft Excel if you exchange .xlsx files with Excel-heavy teams, you build complex pivot tables, and you already pay for Microsoft 365. The fidelity and feature depth are unmatched, but only if you pay.
FAQ
Is Google Sheets better than Microsoft Excel?
For free real-time collaboration, yes. For raw spreadsheet power, complex pivot tables, and .xlsx fidelity, Excel still leads. The right answer depends on whether you collaborate live or exchange files with Excel users.
Can I open Excel files in another app?
Yes. Every alternative on this list reads .xlsx files. Most preserve formulas and basic formatting; advanced features like VBA macros, slicers, and complex conditional formatting may not transfer.
What is the cheapest Microsoft Excel alternative?
Google Sheets, WPS Office, OnlyOffice, and Collabora Office are fully free for personal use. Zoho Sheet is also free for individuals.
Is there a free spreadsheet without ads?
Google Sheets, OnlyOffice, Collabora Office, and Zoho Sheet are free and ad-free. Microsoft Excel free is also ad-free but locks features behind Microsoft 365.
What do people use instead of Excel for big data?
Google Sheets handles up to 10 million cells and works for most general analysis. For larger datasets, users move to Airtable, BigQuery, or proper database tools. Excel still leads for offline analysis up to a few million rows.
Which Microsoft Excel alternative has the best mobile pivot tables?
WPS Office and OnlyOffice both edit pivot tables natively on mobile. Sheets renders them but requires desktop for serious pivot work. Excel handles them best on tablet with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
