# Microsoft Excel vs Forms

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.

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.

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.

Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, Forms every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Excel | Forms |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-excel/id586683407/reviews)** | [3.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forms-spreadsheet-integration/id1585552942/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5M** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **24.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 436 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Pratheesh Bennet](https://appshunter.io/developer/1548251165) |

## 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


### Forms

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forms-spreadsheet-integration/id1585552942)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Build Unlimited Forms & Fields | $1.99 | per month |
| One-time purchase for lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Export Features | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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 25, 2026 and Forms on June 5, 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.*