# Microsoft Excel vs Open as App

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Open as App at 78% against Microsoft Excel's 24%. Open as App also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 15) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 18.0). Microsoft Excel's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (1.5M vs 37). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microsoft Excel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Open as App asks for nothing beyond the download.

Microsoft Excel holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Excel has 1.5M ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of Microsoft Excel's written reviews are positive against 78% of Open as App's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, Open as App every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Excel | Open as App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-excel/id586683407/reviews)** | [4.3 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-as-app/id1084483622/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5M** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | 24.4% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 436 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Open as App GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1084483621) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Excel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-excel/id586683407)

**Currently charting:** #18 Top Free · Productivity, #35 Top Grossing · Productivity, #189 Top Free (US App Store)

This powerful productivity app allows you to create, view, and edit spreadsheets on the go. Manage data, perform calculations, and analyze information with robust formatting and charting tools. Share your work easily with others.

**Highlights:** Create, view, and edit spreadsheets, Data analysis with charts and graphs, Budgeting and accounting tools, Customizable tables and formatting, Share files with collaborators, Draw and annotate with ink

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Office 365 Personal | $5.99 | per month |
| Office 365 Personal | $6.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal Student | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 | per month |
| Office 365 Home | $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 |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99 | per year |
| Office 365 Home | $129.99 | per year |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $129.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Powerful and feature-rich
- 🔍 Useful for data management and analysis
- 🔧 Convenient for on-the-go work
- 🤝 Good integration with Microsoft ecosystem
- 🤩 Excellent for personal and professional use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 📱 Limited features compared to desktop version
- 🤔 Confusing user interface changes
- 🤯 Frustrating syncing and file management issues

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to open or edit files
- Unexpected app closures
- Syncing problems with OneDrive
- Formatting issues when copying and pasting
- Slow performance on high-end devices

**Requested features**

- Conditional formatting options
- Ability to open password-protected files
- Improved Apple Pencil and keyboard support
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Better compatibility with Dropbox and other cloud storage


### Open as App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-as-app/id1084483622)

Transform spreadsheets into powerful, customizable mobile and web apps for teams. Digitize processes, improve speed, and reduce errors with a no-code solution. Build and share apps instantly, working offline and in real-time across platforms.

**Highlights:** Spreadsheet to app conversion, No-code app builder, Offline app access, Real-time collaboration, Customizable app templates, Cross-platform compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Excel free?

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

### Is Open as App free?

Open as App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft Excel or Open as App?

Microsoft Excel is rated higher. Microsoft Excel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5M ratings, while Open as App averages 4.3 from 37 ratings.

### Do Microsoft Excel or Open as App have ads?

Neither Microsoft Excel nor Open as App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft Excel or Open as App?

Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, and Open as App every 5 weeks. Most recently, Microsoft Excel was updated on September 25, 2026 and Open as App on June 11, 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.*