Comparison

Microsoft Excel vs Airtable

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

Airtable

Build custom apps and organize your life with a flexible database solution. Create checklists, manage contacts, catalog collections, and track projects with customizable templates or from scratch. Collaborate in real-time with others on your iOS device.

Highlights
  • Create custom apps
  • Flexible checklists
  • Organize collections
  • Manage contacts
  • Project management
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Template library
Features
Read full description

Airtable is the easy way to create your own connected apps. From indie filmmakers to cattle farmers, creators and creatives around the world are using Airtable to organize their lives, their way. Use Airtable to create flexible checklists, organize collections or ideas, and manage customers or contacts — all in one place. Get started instantly with a variety of templates ranging from home improvement to store inventory, or easily piece together your own layout from scratch. With Airtable, your iOS device suddenly becomes a database creation powerhouse — designed to let you easily swipe and tap your way to fully custom databases. It’s collaborative in real-time, so you can share with friends and teammates and always see their latest changes. Here are some ways that Airtable is being used today: ▸ Organizing People and Customers * Sales and customers * Recruiting * Public relations and media lists * Business development * Personal CRM * Volunteer management * Sports clubs * Boy or Girl Scouts ▸ Cataloging Collections, Ideas, and Inventory * Store or restaurant inventory * Product catalogs * Personal clothing collections * Pet medical history * Cattle and farm inventory * Frequent flyer accounts * Camping supplies ▸ Managing Projects and Tasks * Team project management * Events and conferences * Blog editorial calendars * Wedding planning * Building inspection checklists * Planning out novels * Study guides * Film production Organize anything you can imagine with Airtable!

Screenshots

Microsoft Excel4 screens
Airtable4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Airtable at none against Microsoft Excel's 15. Airtable also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 24%). Microsoft Excel's advantage is ratings volume (1.5M vs 25K) and chart position (#18 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. Airtable 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 Airtable. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Excel has 1.5M ratings behind it against 25K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Microsoft Excel's written reviews are positive against 59% of Airtable's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, Airtable fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Microsoft Excel versus Airtable: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicrosoft ExcelAirtable
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.5M ratings)4.8 (25K ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.4% of reviews58.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5M — better25K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#18 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size436 MB134 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMicrosoft CorporationFormagrid

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%

Airtable

All ratings24,986 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews840 reviews
Positive58.7%
Neutral10.5%
Negative30.8%

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

Airtable

From 25K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Powerful and flexible
  • 💡 Versatile for many use cases
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 👍 Great organizational tool

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Limited mobile functionality
  • 🔒 Lack of offline access
  • 🔒 Missing key features on mobile
  • 🔒 Unstable performance on mobile

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

Airtable

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when opening templates
  • Issues with uploading and viewing images
  • Unreliable syncing between devices
  • Unexpected data loss or reset when using the app

Requested features

6 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Offline access and caching
  • Improved mobile views and functionality
  • Ability to edit formulas and create new field types on mobile
  • Keyboard shortcuts and power-user features
Show 1 more
  • Better integration between desktop and mobile apps

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

Airtable

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Microsoft Excel free?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Airtable free?
Airtable is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Microsoft Excel or Airtable?
Airtable is rated higher. Microsoft Excel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5M ratings, while Airtable averages 4.8 from 25K ratings.
Do Microsoft Excel or Airtable have ads?
Neither Microsoft Excel nor Airtable shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Microsoft Excel or Airtable?
Microsoft Excel ships an update weekly, and Airtable fortnightly. Most recently, Microsoft Excel was updated on September 25, 2026 and Airtable on September 24, 2026.

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