# Microsoft Excel vs Emerald

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Excel | Emerald |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-excel/id586683407/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emerald-screen-time-control/id6759439382/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5M** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 24.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 441 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Yeseul Hwang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871872047) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Excel

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

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Productivity, #37 Top Grossing · Productivity (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


### Emerald

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emerald-screen-time-control/id6759439382)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Emerald Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Emerald Pro Yearly | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*