# Microsoft Word vs Google Sheets

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Sheets at none against Microsoft Word's 14. Google Sheets also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 37%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microsoft Word sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Google Sheets asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Microsoft Word against 4.8 for Google Sheets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3M and 1.9M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 37% of Microsoft Word's written reviews are positive against 56% of Google Sheets's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Word | Google Sheets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-word/id586447913/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-sheets/id842849113/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3M** | 1.9M |
| Positive reviews | 36.8% of reviews | **56.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | #16 |
| Size | 531 MB | 415 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-word/id586447913)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Grossing · Productivity, #17 Top Free · Productivity, #192 Top Grossing, #199 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and share documents on your mobile device. This powerful word processor offers templates, formatting tools, and collaborative features to help you write impactful text documents, resumes, and more. Your office moves with you, allowing for seamless editing and sharing from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Create and edit documents, Modern templates, Rich formatting and layout options, Reading view, Collaborate with comments, Version history, Simplified sharing

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Office 365 Personal | $5.99 | per month |
| Office 365 Personal | $6.99 | per month |
| Office 365 Home | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal Student | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Premium Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Microsoft Copilot Pro | $20.00 | per month |
| Office 365 Personal | $69.99 | per year |
| Office 365 Home | $99.99 | per year |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99 | per year |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $129.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless sync between devices
- 📝 Great for writing and editing
- 🔒 Secure document storage
- 💡 Helpful for school and work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and data loss
- ⏱️ Laggy and slow performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription required
- 🤔 Limited functionality compared to desktop

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent saving and syncing between devices
- Cursor positioning issues when editing text
- Formatting problems when importing documents
- Unreliable text selection and highlighting

**Requested features**

- Improved mouse/trackpad support
- Built-in citation and bibliography tools
- More customization options for formatting
- Ability to edit documents offline


### Google Sheets

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-sheets/id842849113)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Free · Productivity, #173 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets from anywhere, anytime. Work offline, format cells, insert formulas, and view charts. Seamlessly edit Excel files and enjoy automatic saving of your work.

**Highlights:** Create and edit spreadsheets, Real-time collaboration, Offline access, Format cells and insert formulas, View charts, Edit Excel files

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access
- 💡 Collaborative features
- 🔒 Secure cloud storage
- 📈 Useful for business/personal organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features
- 🖋️ Cumbersome editing experience on mobile
- 🗓️ Inconsistent date/time formatting

**Reported bugs**

- Spreadsheets not saving properly
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
- Formatting issues when printing or exporting
- Glitches when working with large or complex spreadsheets

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced formatting and editing options
- Improve search and navigation
- Allow offline editing and syncing
- Provide better integration with other Google apps
- Add password protection or biometric security


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Word free?

Microsoft Word is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Google Sheets free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft Word or Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is rated higher. Microsoft Word averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3M ratings, while Google Sheets averages 4.8 from 1.9M ratings.

### Do Microsoft Word or Google Sheets have ads?

Neither Microsoft Word nor Google Sheets shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft Word or Google Sheets?

Microsoft Word ships an update weekly, and Google Sheets weekly. Most recently, Microsoft Word was updated on October 25, 2026 and Google Sheets on October 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Microsoft Word or Google Sheets?

Microsoft Word currently peaks at #13 in the App Store charts, and Google Sheets at #16. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*