Comparison

Microsoft Excel vs Forms

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

Forms

Instantly create smart forms with AI or design your own. Customize templates, scan paper forms, and export data to Google Sheets, Excel, or PDFs. Offers offline use and professional branding options.

Highlights
  • AI-powered form creation
  • Customizable form templates
  • Scan and digitize paper forms
  • Export data to Google Sheets, Excel, PDF
  • Offline form building and filling
  • Add branding elements to PDFs
Features
Read full description

Benefits of Falcon Forms: AI-Powered Form Creation: Instantly generate ready-to-use forms with the built-in AI Form Builder, designed for Google Sheets and Excel workflows. Build and Customize Forms: Create unlimited templates and export data directly to Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or PDFs with seamless spreadsheet integration. Multiple Export Options: Send responses to Google Sheets, Excel, or generate professional PDFs. Ideal for users looking for apps with Google Sheets integration. Digitize Paper Forms: Scan and convert paper forms into digital data and export to Google Sheets, Excel, or PDFs. No Account Required: Build, fill, and export forms offline with full control over your data. User Friendly: Simple interface for fast form creation and easy data entry built for spreadsheet users. Boost Brand Value: Add letterheads, watermarks, and logos to your PDF exports. Core Features: AI Form Builder: Create forms instantly and connect data to Google Sheets and Excel. Custom Templates: 15+ input types designed for spreadsheet integration and export. Real Time Sharing: Share via email or cloud services and sync with Google Sheets. Secure PDFs: Add signatures and password protection to exported documents. Who Can Use Falcon Forms? Personal and Business: Manage tasks, inspections, and reports with easy export to Google Sheets, Excel, or PDFs. Business Documents: Create branded forms and simplify Google Sheets and Excel workflows. Suggestions or Feedback Reach out through the Contact Us section in the app. We are continuously improving Google Sheets integration, Excel support, and PDF features. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Special Attribution: Icons created by Freepik - Flaticon

Screenshots

Microsoft Excel4 screens
Forms4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Microsoft Excel at 4.7 against Forms's 3.8. Microsoft Excel also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.5M vs 8). Forms's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Microsoft Excel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Forms sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Microsoft Excel holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Excel has 1.5M ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Microsoft Excel's written reviews are positive against 0% of Forms's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, Forms every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Microsoft Excel versus Forms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft ExcelForms
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.5M ratings) — better3.8 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews24.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5M — better8
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#20 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size436 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationPratheesh Bennet

Customer experience

Microsoft Excel

All ratings1,460,557 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews3,588 reviews
Positive24.4%
Neutral6.4%
Negative69.2%

Forms

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Forms

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Microsoft Excel

Subscriptions12
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • 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
3 purchases

Forms

Subscriptions1
  • Build Unlimited Forms & Fields$1.991 Month
One-time2
  • One-time purchase for lifetime$4.99
  • Unlock Export Features$19.99

Questions

Is Microsoft Excel free?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Forms free?
Forms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Excel or Forms?
Microsoft Excel is rated higher. Microsoft Excel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5M ratings, while Forms averages 3.8 from 8 ratings.
Do Microsoft Excel or Forms have ads?
Forms shows ads; Microsoft Excel does not.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Excel or Forms?
Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, and Forms every 3 days. Most recently, Microsoft Excel was updated on September 24, 2026 and Forms on June 5, 2026.

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