# Numbers vs Google Docs

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Numbers at none against Google Docs's 1. Google Docs's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (70% vs 50%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Google Docs sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $199.99 per year. Numbers asks for nothing beyond the download.

Google Docs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Docs has 3.2M ratings behind it against 215K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Numbers's written reviews are positive against 70% of Google Docs's.

Numbers ships an update every 3 months, Google Docs weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Numbers | Google Docs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (215K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/numbers-make-spreadsheets/id361304891/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 215K | **3.2M** |
| Positive reviews | 50.1% of reviews | **69.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#9** |
| Size | 620 MB | 348 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Numbers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/numbers-make-spreadsheets/id361304891)

Design impressive spreadsheets with a flexible canvas, interactive charts, and powerful functions. Collaborate with others and access your work across devices. Includes tools for data analysis and text composition.

**Highlights:** Apple-designed templates, Flexible canvas for layout, Interactive charts and pivot tables, Hundreds of powerful functions, Cross-device compatibility via iCloud, Collaboration and real-time editing, Import/export Excel and CSV files

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
- 🚀 Great for basic spreadsheet needs
- 🚀 Visually appealing charts and formatting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems with Excel files
- 🐛 Limited functionality compared to Excel
- 🐛 Frustrating editing experience on mobile
- 🐛 Disappearing spreadsheets after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Frozen headers issue
- Keyboard and text editing problems
- Spreadsheet data loss after updates
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Slow performance and loading times

**Requested features**

- Ability to lock individual cells
- More advanced formula and function support
- Improved collaboration and sharing options
- Better mobile interface and keyboard integration
- Customizable templates and formatting options


### Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Productivity, #57 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on documents online in real time. Work together seamlessly with your team, even offline, and access a variety of file types. AI-powered features can help draft and refine content.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaboration, Offline editing, Template library, Multiple file type support, AI-powered drafting, Commenting and action items

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and accessible
- 👍 Seamless collaboration
- 🔒 Automatic saving
- 💡 Offline functionality
- 👍 Versatile for various uses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Laggy performance and input delays
- 👎 Limited formatting and customization options
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and navigate documents
- 👎 Compatibility issues with other platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected crashes and document loss
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Issues with image insertion and manipulation

**Requested features**

- Improved document organization with folders
- Expanded font and formatting options
- Better integration with Microsoft Office
- Smoother scrolling and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Numbers free?

Numbers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Google Docs free?

Google Docs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Numbers or Google Docs?

Google Docs is rated higher. Numbers averages 4.6 out of 5 from 215K ratings, while Google Docs averages 4.8 from 3.2M ratings.

### Do Numbers or Google Docs have ads?

Neither Numbers nor Google Docs shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Numbers or Google Docs?

Numbers ships an update every 3 months, and Google Docs weekly. Most recently, Numbers was updated on September 25, 2026 and Google Docs on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*