

Google Sheets (Free) has become as well-known as Microsoft Excel. However, it’s nice to know that those features are there when and if you need them.īest Cloud-Based Alternative: Google Sheets Google Advanced Features: Most people probably won’t ever bother with the advanced features found in most spreadsheet software like custom macros, filters, pivot tables, conditional formatting, or the ability to compute and analyze large data sets.Good Microsoft Excel alternatives support dynamic charts and graphs that update in real-time as your data does, and should allow for extensive customization so you can make your visuals look and work exactly how you need them to. Visuals let you see data at a glance and are a must-have item for presentations. Dynamic Visuals: Not that looking at thousands of cells of text and numbers isn’t a ton of fun, but charts and graphs are a little easier on the eyes.Basic options for simple math are a given, but if you need something more advanced like statistical or logical functions, or the ability to create a custom function, the software should be able to handle those as well. Powerful Functions and Formulas: Whether you’re tracking warehouse inventory, handling accounting for your department, or creating charts from data for an upcoming presentation, your spreadsheet software has to have a wide variety of formulas at the ready.

It should also let you set the spreadsheet as read-only and enable other permissions for users. Likewise, the program should also be able to track who makes what change when, and to allow you to lock down individual cells (or the whole document) so no unwanted changes can be made.


What to Look for in a Microsoft Excel Alternativeīest Cloud-Based Alternative: Google Sheetsīest for Apple Users: Apple iWork Numbersīest Open-Source Alternative: LibreOffice CalcĬlosest to Microsoft Excel: WPS Office Spreadsheetsīest for Serious Data Analysis: Zoho Office Sheetįree spreadsheet software should be just as powerful as paid options and come stocked with all the tools you need to spreadsheet your heart out.
