Microsoft Excel vs MyScript Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Microsoft Excel
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.
- 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
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Review files and run data analysis on the go. Customise tables the way you want with robust formatting tools and great features. Excel lets you build your spreadsheet to meet your specific needs. Get the power of AI with Copilot in your favourite apps when you sign in with your Microsoft 365 subscription. Create templates, edit spreadsheets, organise charts and share with ease when you download Microsoft Excel. Tables and Spreadsheets: Create, Calculate and Analyse • Jump-start your budget, task list, accounting or financial analysis with Excel’s modern templates. • Rich productivity features and formatting options make your workbook easier to read and use. Productivity App: Review, Edit and Work Anywhere • Refresh sheet data or update your task list from anywhere. • Spreadsheet features like sort and filter columns help focus your reviews. • Create, duplicate, hide and unhide sheets easily. Data Analysis: Discover Key Insights on the Go • Analyse data using charts and graphs. • Highlight key insights using chart labelling features. • Visualise data at a glance. Finance Budgeting and Accounting: Simplify Personal Finance • Use spreadsheets and charts to help manage budgets. • Familiar tools to help you drill down to your exact finance needs. • Calculate tax estimates, personal finances and more. Draw and Annotate with Ink: Capture Ideas on the Page • Make notes, highlight your worksheet, create shapes or write equations using the draw tab feature on devices with touch capabilities. Sharing Made Easy: Collaborate Anywhere • Share your files with a few taps to quickly invite others to edit, view or leave comments directly in your workbooks. • Copy the content of your worksheet in the body of an email message with its format intact or attach or copy a link to your workbook for other sharing options. • Send worksheet content in an email while preserving formatting or send a link to your workbook. AI Assistance with Copilot* • Summarise data and highlight trends quickly. • Generate charts and tables from raw data with simple prompts. • Get intelligent recommendations for budgeting and forecasting. REQUIREMENTS: 1 GB RAM or above To create or edit documents, sign in with a free Microsoft account on devices with a screen size smaller than 10.1 inches. *Unlock the full Microsoft 365 experience with a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription for your phone, tablet, PC and Mac. This app is provided by either Microsoft or a third-party app publisher and is subject to a separate privacy statement and terms and conditions. Data provided through the use of this store and this app may be accessible to Microsoft or the third-party app publisher, where applicable, and transferred to, stored and processed in the United States or any other country where Microsoft or the app publisher and their affiliates or service providers maintain facilities. Please refer to Microsoft's EULA for Terms of Service for Microsoft 365 on iOS. By installing the app, you agree to these terms and conditions: http://aka.ms/eula
MyScript Notes
Transform handwritten notes into editable text with advanced AI. Brainstorm on an infinite canvas, annotate PDFs, and create structured documents. Supports 66 languages and works across devices.
- AI handwriting recognition
- Infinite canvas for brainstorming
- PDF annotation
- Handwriting to typed text conversion
- Math equation recognition
- Multi-language support
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Create stunning notes and professional documents effortlessly by hand, brainstorm ideas on an infinite canvas, and annotate PDFs seamlessly. Powered by the world's leading AI handwriting recognition technology, MyScript Notes offers a dynamic platform where handwriting, text, drawings, diagrams, and images seamlessly coexist on an expandable canvas. Enhance your note-taking experience with intuitive pen gestures, effortlessly converting handwriting and shapes into typed text and precise forms. MyScript Notes understands every word you write in your choice of 66 languages, and works on mobile platforms — so you can access and search your notes from any compatible device. Enjoy 4 powerful experiences in one app: • Create unlimited notebooks and fixed-size pages for your daily notes. • Take freeform notes on boards — the world's most advanced endless canvas. • Handwrite responsive documents, adding math calculations and diagrams. • Import existing files as PDFs, ready to annotate. Start with a 7-day free trial to get the full experience — then choose to upgrade to keep all features, or continue with a free limited version. ———————— DIGITAL HANDWRITING • Write¹, type or dictate in the same page, sentence or even word. • Accurately convert handwriting and math to typed text, and drawn diagrams to perfect shapes. Diagrams stay editable when pasted into PowerPoint! • Write emoji and symbols with your pen. • Highlight ideas live with a glowing laser pointer — no marks left behind. • Draw straight lines with the ruler — drag, rotate and snap it into place to draw at any angle. EDIT WITH YOUR PEN • Use intuitive gestures to edit and format content without breaking your flow. • Use the marker to highlight or color, the lasso to select, and the eraser to delete entire strokes or precisely defined content. WRITE, TYPE AND DRAW FREELY ON A BOARD • Enjoy an infinite canvas, ideal for brainstorming, mind mapping and freeform note-taking. • Pan around and zoom in or out for a fresh perspective. • Use the lasso to select, move, copy, delete or resize content — and to convert handwriting to typed text. SWITCH TO A DOCUMENT FOR A RESPONSIVE EXPERIENCE • Create and edit structured notes — your handwriting will automatically reflow as needed. • Make edits, adjust layout, rotate your device or split your screen without worrying about readability. ENRICH YOUR NOTES • Personalize content using a range of pen types and page backgrounds. • Add photos, sketches and smart objects like math and diagrams. • Handwrite math equations and matrices across several lines, solve simple calculations and copy math as LaTeX or image. ———————— MyScript Notes respects your privacy and never stores content on our servers without your explicit consent. For help or feature requests, create a ticket at https://myscri.pt/support Check out MyScript Notes' webpage for more information about cross-platform: https://www.myscript.com/notes ———————— ¹You can use any compatible active or passive pen, including Apple Pencil, to write in MyScript Notes. Check minimum and recommended requirements for MyScript Notes: https://myscri.pt/notes-devices
Screenshots
Verdict
Microsoft Excel and MyScript Notes both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of MyScript Notes's written reviews are positive against 24% of Microsoft Excel's. Microsoft Excel's advantage is ratings volume (1.5M vs 39K) and chart position (#20 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Microsoft Excel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and MyScript Notes sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Microsoft Excel against 4.7 for MyScript Notes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Excel has 1.5M ratings behind it against 39K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Microsoft Excel's written reviews are positive against 66% of MyScript Notes's.
Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, MyScript Notes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Microsoft Excel | MyScript Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.5M ratings) | 4.7 (39K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 24.1% of reviews | 66.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.5M — better | 39K |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #20 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 439 MB | 266 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation | MyScript |
Customer experience
Microsoft Excel
MyScript Notes
User reviews
Microsoft Excel
From 1.5M App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💻 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
Room to improve
- 🔒 Subscription required for full functionality
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 📱 Limited features compared to desktop version
- 🤔 Confusing user interface changes
- 🤯 Frustrating syncing and file management issues
MyScript Notes
From 39K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent handwriting recognition
- 👍 Intuitive and responsive interface
- 💡 Useful gestures and shortcuts
- 🚀 Fast conversion of handwriting to text
- 👍 Ability to organize notes in notebooks and collections
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Issues with syncing and data loss
- 🐛 Inconsistent behavior with formatting and editing
- 💡 Lack of keyboard support and text editing features
- 💡 Limited customization options for paper styles and fonts
Bugs and requests
Microsoft Excel
Reported bugs
5 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
MyScript Notes
Reported bugs
5 issues- App crashes when importing large documents
- Handwriting recognition fails for certain symbols and abbreviations
- Formatting issues when converting handwritten notes to text
- Sync issues leading to data loss across devices
- Inability to move or rearrange pages within notebooks
Requested features
6 requests- Add support for keyboard input and text editing
- Improve syncing and backup functionality
- Introduce more customization options for paper styles and fonts
- Enhance diagram and equation handling capabilities
- Implement better collaboration and sharing features
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- Add support for dark mode and night-friendly themes
In-app purchases
Microsoft Excel
- Office 365 Personal1 Month trial$5.991 Month
- Office 365 Personal1 Month trial$6.991 Month
- Microsoft 365 Personal Student1 Month trial$9.991 Month
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- Microsoft 365 Personal1 Month trial$9.991 Month
- Microsoft 365 Family1 Month trial2 variants$12.991 Month
- Office 365 Home1 Month trial$12.991 Month
- Microsoft 365 Premium Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
- Microsoft Copilot Pro$20.001 Month
- Office 365 Personal$69.991 Year
- Microsoft 365 Personal1 Month trial$99.991 Year
- Office 365 Home$129.991 Year
- Microsoft 365 Family1 Month trial$129.991 Year
MyScript Notes
- MyScript Notes – Full Access$1.991 Month
- MyScript Notes – Full Access$7.991 Year
- PDF Pack2 variants$4.99
- Connect Pack$4.99
- Essentials Pack$4.99
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Full version$9.99
- Nebo Pro$9.99
- Full version$14.99
- MyScript Notes – Full Access$29.99
Questions
Is Microsoft Excel free?
Is MyScript Notes free?
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Excel or MyScript Notes?
Do Microsoft Excel or MyScript Notes have ads?
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Excel or MyScript Notes?
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