Comparison

Microsoft Excel vs Google Sheets

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

Google Sheets

Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets from anywhere, anytime. Work offline, format cells, insert formulas, and view charts. Seamlessly edit Excel files and enjoy automatic saving of your work.

Highlights
  • Create and edit spreadsheets
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Offline access
  • Format cells and insert formulas
  • View charts
  • Edit Excel files
Read full description

Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets with the Google Sheets app. With Sheets you can: * Create new spreadsheets or edit existing ones * Share spreadsheets and collaborate with others in the same spreadsheet at the same time * Work anywhere, anytime - even offline * Format cells, enter/sort data, view charts, insert formulas, use find/replace, and more * Never worry about losing your work -- everything is automatically saved as you type * Open, edit, and save Excel files Google Sheets is part of Google Workspace: where teams of any size can chat, create, and collaborate. Google Workspace subscribers have access to additional Google Sheets features, including: * Easily add collaborators to projects, see changes as they occur, receive notifications for edits that happen while you’re away, and chat with colleagues in the same spreadsheet. All changes are automatically saved as you make them. And with offline access, you can create, view, and edit files wherever and whenever * Get insights fast, powered by Google AI * Work seamlessly across Sheets and Excel * Maintain control with enterprise-grade security * Analyze data from other business-critical tools * Build custom solutions

Screenshots

Microsoft Excel4 screens
Google Sheets3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Google Sheets at none against Microsoft Excel's 15. Google Sheets also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 24%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Google Sheets asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Microsoft Excel against 4.8 for Google Sheets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5M and 1.8M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Microsoft Excel's written reviews are positive against 54% of Google Sheets's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Microsoft Excel versus Google Sheets: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft ExcelGoogle Sheets
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.5M ratings)4.8 (1.8M ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.4% of reviews54.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5M1.8M — better
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#20#13 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size436 MB422 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationGoogle

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%

Google Sheets

All ratings1,847,054 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews2,065 reviews
Positive54.3%
Neutral9.2%
Negative36.4%

User reviews

Microsoft Excel

From 1.5M App Store ratings

What 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

Google Sheets

From 1.8M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Convenient mobile access
  • 💡 Collaborative features
  • 🔒 Secure cloud storage
  • 📈 Useful for business/personal organization

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 📱 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find features
  • 🖋️ Cumbersome editing experience on mobile
  • 🗓️ Inconsistent date/time formatting

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

Google Sheets

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Spreadsheets not saving properly
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between devices
  • Formatting issues when printing or exporting
  • Glitches when working with large or complex spreadsheets

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more advanced formatting and editing options
  • Improve search and navigation
  • Allow offline editing and syncing
  • Provide better integration with other Google apps
  • Add password protection or biometric security

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
None

Google Sheets

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Microsoft Excel free?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Google Sheets free?
Google Sheets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets?
Google Sheets is rated higher. Microsoft Excel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5M ratings, while Google Sheets averages 4.8 from 1.8M ratings.
Do Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets have ads?
Neither Microsoft Excel nor Google Sheets shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets?
Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, and Google Sheets weekly. Most recently, Microsoft Excel was updated on September 24, 2026 and Google Sheets on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets?
Microsoft Excel currently peaks at #20 in the App Store charts, and Google Sheets at #13. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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