Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Excel Online VS Google Sheets

Compare Excel Online VS Google Sheets and see what are their differences

Excel Online logo Excel Online

Excel Online, part of Office Online, is the online version of Microsoft Excel.

Google Sheets logo Google Sheets

Synchronizing, online-based word processor, part of Google Drive.
  • Excel Online Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-10
  • Google Sheets Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-17

Excel Online features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Excel Online can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and a web browser, allowing for flexibility and mobility in using spreadsheets.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can simultaneously edit and view spreadsheets, facilitating real-time collaboration and teamwork.
  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office online applications and services, enhancing productivity through interoperability.
  • Cost
    Excel Online is free to use with a Microsoft account, offering a budget-friendly option compared to the full desktop version.
  • Cloud Storage
    Files are saved and backed up on OneDrive, ensuring that data is secure and recoverable, and freeing up local storage space.

Possible disadvantages of Excel Online

  • Limited Features
    Excel Online has fewer features and functionalities compared to the desktop version, potentially limiting more complex analysis and tasks.
  • Performance
    The online version might experience slower performance depending on internet speed and the complexity of the spreadsheet.
  • Advanced Functionality
    Advanced users may find the lack of support for macros and certain specialized functions limiting for their workflow.
  • File Compatibility
    Some file types and advanced Excel features might not be fully compatible or supported, which can cause issues when opening complex spreadsheets.
  • Offline Access
    Requires an internet connection to use, which can be a limitation in environments without reliable connectivity.

Google Sheets features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Google Sheets is cloud-based, allowing users to access their documents from anywhere with an internet connection, on any device.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously, with real-time updates and the ability to see each other's changes.
  • Integrations
    Easily integrates with other Google Workspace apps like Google Drive, Docs, and Forms, as well as third-party services.
  • Cost
    Basic features are available for free, with additional advanced features accessible through affordable Google Workspace subscriptions.
  • Functionality
    Offers a wide range of built-in functions and formulas, supporting complex calculations and data analysis.
  • Version History
    Keeps a detailed version history of every change made, allowing users to revert to previous versions as needed.

Possible disadvantages of Google Sheets

  • Feature Limitations
    Lacks some advanced features found in more robust spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel, such as certain data visualization and pivot table capabilities.
  • Data Limitations
    Less efficient at handling very large datasets, which can slow down user experience and affect performance.
  • Internet Dependence
    Requires a stable internet connection for optimal use, though offline capabilities are available but limited.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Storing sensitive data on cloud-based services can raise privacy and security concerns for some users.
  • Customization
    Limited customization options compared to some other spreadsheet software, particularly in terms of advanced scripting and macro functions.

Excel Online videos

Excel Online vs. Google Sheets

More videos:

  • Review - Excel 2016 vs. Excel Online

Google Sheets videos

Excel Online vs. Google Sheets

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Google Sheets Quickstart - Easy Tutorial 2018
  • Review - Airtable vs. Google Sheets

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Excel Online and Google Sheets)
Office Suites
20 20%
80% 80
Project Management
11 11%
89% 89
Spreadsheets
12 12%
88% 88
No Code
11 11%
89% 89

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Excel Online and Google Sheets

Excel Online Reviews

We have no reviews of Excel Online yet.
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Google Sheets Reviews

HIGHLIGHTING DUPLICATES: GOOGLE SHEETS VS FLOOKUP
Highlighting your data is a very good way to get an overview of what your data looks like before performing destructive operations like removing duplicates or using that data for any other purpose. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, Google Sheets does not provide a predefined way of highlighting duplicates. However, with custom formulas and conditional...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Excel Online seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Excel Online mentions (1)

  • Windows 10
    Not exactly true. You can use macbook or excel online https://office.live.com/start/excel.aspx. Source: over 3 years ago

Google Sheets mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Google Sheets yet. Tracking of Google Sheets recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Excel Online and Google Sheets, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft Office Excel - Microsoft Office Excel is a commercial spreadsheet application.

Gnumeric - Gnumeric

LibreOffice - Calc - LibreOffice Calc is the spreadsheet program you've always needed. A fork of OpenOffice.

Airtable - Airtable works like a spreadsheet but gives you the power of a database to organize anything. Sign up for free.

Calligra Sheets - Calligra Sheets (formerly KSpread) is a fully-featured calculation and spreadsheet tool.

Apple Numbers - Numbers lets you build beautiful spreadsheets on a Mac, iPad, or iPhone — or on a PC using iWork for iCloud. And it’s compatible with Apple Pencil.