Yes, there's a free version of Excel. Microsoft gives anyone with a Microsoft account the free web version of Excel in a browser, plus 5 GB of OneDrive storage. The Excel mobile app is also free to create and edit on phones and tablets with a screen of 10.1 inches or smaller. The full desktop app needs a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Most people asking whether Excel is free have one of three situations in mind: they need to open a spreadsheet someone sent them, they want to build a simple budget or tracker, or they're setting up a small business and wondering if they have to sign up for Microsoft 365 straight away. The good news is that the free versions cover a lot of that. The catch is knowing exactly where they stop, so you don't build something important in a version that can't run it.
The three ways to use Excel, and which are free
| Version | Free? | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Excel for the web | Yes | A free Microsoft account and a browser |
| Excel mobile app | Yes, on screens of 10.1 inches or smaller | A phone or small tablet |
| Excel mobile app on larger tablets | View only | A qualifying subscription to create and edit |
| Excel desktop app (Windows or Mac) | No | A Microsoft 365 subscription |
Microsoft's own support article spells out the split. If you sign in at Microsoft365.com and see a Free badge, you don't have a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription, but you do have the free web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. A Subscribed badge means you've got the desktop apps you can install on a PC or Mac.
What free Excel for the web gives you
Excel for the web runs in your browser, so there's nothing to install. Sign in with a Microsoft account (you can create one with any email address), open the app launcher and choose Excel. Microsoft says free users also get 5 GB of OneDrive cloud storage, and anything you create in the free web apps is saved to OneDrive automatically.
For everyday spreadsheet work it's more capable than people expect. Microsoft's comparison article notes that most Excel functions work in a browser the same way they do in the desktop app, and PivotTable field lists behave much like they do on the desktop. Changes save automatically, and you can share a workbook and edit it with other people at the same time.
If you already live in Google's tools, it's worth comparing the two before you commit. My guide to Excel and Google Sheets covers where each one is stronger.
Where free Excel stops
This is the part to read before you build anything you rely on. Microsoft lists a set of differences between a workbook in the browser and the same workbook in the desktop app:
- Macros don't run in a browser window. A workbook saved with macros can be opened, but the macros won't work.
- Workbooks with legacy macro features, such as old Excel 4.0 macro functions, can't be displayed in a browser at all.
- Some functions behave differently. Microsoft gives the example that NOW and TODAY return the server's time rather than your computer's.
- Workbooks protected with Information Rights Management settings at the workbook level can't be viewed in a browser.
- Some kinds of data connections can stop a workbook from opening in the browser, depending on how they're set up.
None of that matters if you're tracking expenses or planning content. It matters a lot if someone sends you a finance model full of macros, or your accountant expects you to run a workbook that refreshes data from another system.
The mobile app rule most people miss
Microsoft's listing for the Excel mobile app says it's built for phones and tablets with a screen size of 10.1 inches or smaller, and that on those devices you can view, create and edit spreadsheets for free. On desktops, laptops and larger tablets you need a qualifying subscription to create and edit.
So the same app can be free on your phone and view-only on a bigger tablet. If you've ever opened a spreadsheet on a large iPad and found the editing tools greyed out, that's why. Advanced features in the app also need a subscription, even on a small screen.
How to start using Excel for free
- Go to Microsoft365.com and sign in, or create a free Microsoft account with your email address.
- Open the app launcher and choose Excel.
- Start a blank workbook or a template, or upload an existing file to OneDrive and open it.
- Share the workbook from the Share button if you want others to edit with you.
- On your phone, install the Excel app and sign in with the same account to pick up the same files.
If your spreadsheets are turning into dashboards, read when Power BI beats Excel.
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When the paid version is worth it
Microsoft says a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription includes the desktop versions of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook, plus more cloud storage and AI features such as Copilot in Excel. If you need macros, heavy data work, or you hit the 5 GB storage ceiling, that's the point to look at a subscription. My page on whether Microsoft 365 is free explains the plans side by side.
Not ready to commit? Microsoft also runs a trial, and my guide to the Microsoft 365 free trial covers who qualifies and how to cancel before it renews.
My verdict
Excel is free for most small business tasks if you're happy to work in a browser or on your phone. Start with Excel for the web, keep your files in OneDrive, and only pay for the desktop app when you need macros or the storage runs out. Check the workbook before you promise a client you can run it, because that's where the free version trips people up.
For finance teams outgrowing workbooks, there are financial reporting tools that go beyond spreadsheets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Excel free on a Windows laptop?
The desktop app isn't free. You can use Excel for the web free in any browser on a laptop with a Microsoft account, but installing the desktop app needs a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Is the Excel app free on iPhone and Android?
Yes, on phones and tablets with a screen of 10.1 inches or smaller you can view, create and edit spreadsheets for free. Advanced features need a qualifying subscription.
Do macros work in free Excel?
No. Microsoft says macros don't run in a browser window, so a macro workbook opens in Excel for the web but its macros won't work.
How much storage do free Excel users get?
Microsoft says free users get 5 GB of OneDrive cloud storage, and files created in the free web apps save there automatically.
Do I need a Microsoft account to use Excel for free?
Yes. You sign in at Microsoft365.com with a Microsoft account, which you can create with a new or existing email address.
