Excel Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Excel is brilliant, but it isn't the only way to wrangle a list, a rota or a client tracker. Maybe you're tired of emailing files back and forth, you work on a Mac or a tablet, or you simply don't need a full desktop suite just to keep a record of enquiries.

Here are ten Excel alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller, newer tools with a few familiar names, and every description comes from each tool's own website and directory listings rather than guesswork. If you're weighing up a browser-based sheet, my notes on running spreadsheets in your browser on a PC are a good companion read.

Excel alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site says there's a permanent free plan, a free account, or free open source software. Trial only means you can try it free for a limited time but there's no ongoing free option. Free versions often have limits on storage, sharing or advanced features, so read the details on the tool's own site.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Apple Numbers	Spreadsheet app	Mac, iPad and iPhone users who like clean layouts	Yes
Baserow	Database and spreadsheet hybrid	Turning messy sheets into a shared database	Yes
Google Sheets	Online spreadsheet	Sharing and editing together in a browser	Yes
Grist	Relational spreadsheet	Sheets that behave like small business apps	Yes
LibreOffice Calc	Desktop spreadsheet	A free, open source desktop alternative	Yes
ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet Editor	Online and desktop spreadsheet	Keeping .xlsx files looking the same	Yes
Quadratic	AI spreadsheet	Analysis with code cells and plain-English prompts	Yes
Rows	AI spreadsheet	Pulling in business data and building reports	Yes
WPS Spreadsheet	Office suite spreadsheet	A familiar layout across many devices	Yes
Zoho Sheet	Online spreadsheet	Collaboration inside a wider business suite	Yes

Ten spreadsheet apps to try instead of Excel

Apple Numbers

Best for: People who live on Apple devices and want tidy, good-looking spreadsheets that open on the Mac, iPad, iPhone or a browser.

Baserow

Best for: Teams outgrowing a spreadsheet who want linked records, forms and different views of the same data, with a self-hosting option.

Google Sheets

Best for: Anyone who wants to share a sheet by link, edit with colleagues at the same time and still open Excel files.

Grist

Best for: Small teams who want spreadsheet formulas on top of linked tables, with the option to self-host the software.

LibreOffice Calc

Best for: Anyone who wants a traditional desktop spreadsheet that's open source and doesn't need an online account.

ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet Editor

Best for: Teams who swap Excel files with clients and want an editor built around the .xlsx format.

Quadratic

Best for: People comfortable with data who want to ask questions in plain English and check the formulas or code behind each answer.

Rows

Best for: Owners who want live data from their other tools in one sheet, plus shareable reports without writing code.

WPS Spreadsheet

Best for: People who want something that looks like Excel and runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, phones and the web.

Zoho Sheet

Best for: Businesses already using other Zoho tools who want spreadsheets that sit alongside their email and customer records.

What to look for in an Excel alternative

Almost every spreadsheet adds up a column, so the differences sit elsewhere. These are the points that decide whether a switch feels easy or turns into a headache.

• File compatibility. If clients or colleagues send you .xlsx files, open a few real ones in the new tool and check that formulas, formatting and charts survive the trip.
• Sharing and teamwork. Decide whether you need several people editing at once, comment threads, or simply a read-only link you can send to a client.
• Where your data lives. Some tools run in your browser, some on your computer, and some can be installed on your own server. Pick the setup that matches how careful you need to be with customer information.
• Formulas and functions. If your files lean on complex formulas, pivot-style summaries or macros, test those first, because they're the most likely things to behave differently.
• Devices. Check the tool works on the computer, tablet and phone you use during the working day.
• Growth. A simple sheet is fine today, but ask whether the tool can turn into a shared database or a small app when your records multiply.

Questions to ask before you move your spreadsheets

• Which of my files do other people open, and what do they use to open them?
• Do I use macros, add-ins or very heavy formulas that might not carry across?
• Do I need to work offline on trains, planes or in places with poor signal?
• Who else needs access, and should they be able to edit or only look?
• Is any of the data sensitive enough that I want to know exactly where it's stored?
• Would a database-style tool suit this job better than a traditional sheet?

Spreadsheet styles and the small businesses they suit

• Online spreadsheets suit teams that share files constantly and want everyone looking at the latest version without emailing attachments.
• Desktop spreadsheets suit people who prefer to keep files on their own computer and work offline.
• Office suite spreadsheets suit anyone who wants a familiar Excel-style layout and the rest of a word processor and presentation tool alongside it.
• Spreadsheet-database hybrids suit client trackers, stock lists and project logs where the same information needs linking across several tables.
• AI spreadsheets suit people who'd rather describe what they want in plain English and then check the result.

If your main job is tracking customers, you might like my guide to running a simple client tracker from a spreadsheet, and if you report on marketing results, my marketing dashboard template shows how a tidy sheet can feed a clear overview.

Moving Excel files across to a new tool safely

• Keep a copy of every original file in a separate folder before you change anything.
• Start with one low-stakes file, such as an enquiry list, and use it for a normal week.
• Check dates, number formats, conditional formatting and charts after you import a file, since they're the usual casualties.
• Rebuild macros or automations by hand in the new tool's own way of doing things, or decide you no longer need them.
• Agree a file format with clients and colleagues so nobody ends up with two conflicting versions.
• Keep the old tool available for a short overlap until you're confident nothing is missing.

Excel replacement slip-ups worth dodging

• Choosing a tool because it looks pretty, then discovering clients can't open what you send them.
• Keeping customer details in a file that's shared with anyone who has the link.
• Letting one sheet grow into a business-critical system that only one person understands.
• Copying data between several tools by hand when an import or integration would do it for you.
• Skipping a backup because the tool saves automatically. Automatic saving isn't the same as a backup.

The case for newer, independent spreadsheet tools

Newer and independent spreadsheet tools often focus on one idea, whether that's connecting to your business data, working like a small database, or letting you ask questions in plain English. That focus can save you hours compared with bending a general-purpose file to do something it wasn't designed for.

Before you rely on one, check the maker is still updating it, that it exports to a format you can open elsewhere, and that its free plan or trial terms are clear on its own site. A tool you can always export from is a tool you can always leave.

Do you make a spreadsheet or data tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Settling on your Excel replacement

Shortlist two tools that match how you work, whether that's sharing online, working offline or building small databases. Move one real file into each, check it with the people who'll open it, and keep whichever one you reach for without thinking.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest thing to Excel?

A desktop or office-suite spreadsheet with a familiar layout and strong support for .xlsx files is the closest match. Open a few of your own files in any tool you're considering and check formulas and formatting before you commit.

Is there a free alternative to Excel?

Yes. Several tools on this page offer a free plan, a free account or free open source software. Limits vary, so check each tool's own site for what the free version includes.

Can I open Excel files in other spreadsheet tools?

Usually, yes. Most alternatives can import and export .xlsx files, but complex formulas, macros and some formatting may behave differently, so test a few real files first.

Which spreadsheet tool is best for sharing with a team?

Online spreadsheets are built for this, because everyone edits the same live file rather than passing attachments around. Look for comment tools, clear sharing controls and a version history.

When should I use a database instead of a spreadsheet?

If you're linking the same information across several lists, such as clients, projects and invoices, a database-style tool can be easier to keep accurate than one very large sheet.