Comparison

Microsoft Excel vs Emerald

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

Emerald

This app helps you understand your screen time habits and create a plan to reduce distractions. It allows you to set focus blocks and build better habits without unnecessary notifications.

Highlights
  • Screen time pattern analysis
  • Customizable focus blocks
  • Distraction reduction
  • Habit building tools
  • Cross-device synchronization
Features
Read full description

Take control of your Screen Time and protect your focus. Emerald helps you spot the patterns behind your scrolling, then turn them into a simple plan you can actually follow. Connect Screen Time, choose the moments you want to protect, and use focus blocks to reduce distractions and build better habits—without the noise. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Microsoft Excel4 screens
Emerald2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Microsoft Excel at 4.7 against Emerald's 4.0. Microsoft Excel also leads on ratings volume (1.5M vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Emerald sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Excel has 1.5M ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, Emerald every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Microsoft Excel versus Emerald: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft ExcelEmerald
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.5M ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews24.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.5M — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#21 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size441 MB16 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationYeseul Hwang

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

Emerald

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
2 purchases

Emerald

Subscriptions2
  • Emerald Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Emerald Pro Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Microsoft Excel free?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Emerald free?
Emerald is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Excel or Emerald?
Microsoft Excel is rated higher. Microsoft Excel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5M ratings, while Emerald averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Microsoft Excel or Emerald have ads?
Neither Microsoft Excel nor Emerald shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Excel or Emerald?
Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, and Emerald every 2 weeks. Most recently, Microsoft Excel was updated on October 24, 2026 and Emerald on October 23, 2026.

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