Ability for users to download their files in different formats, including.Version history feature, which lets you see all the changes you and others have made to the spreadsheet or revert to previous versions.On the plus side, scripting is still available in Google Sheets, though it’s JavaScript based and not Visual Basic for Applications. There have also been reported issues of formulas in Excel spreadsheets breaking when they’re uploaded to Google Sheets, so be aware that you could run into issues moving. Users can see the cursor position of other people in the document, see what they’re doing as they’re doing it and chat right in the document window.Īdvanced features that some Excel users need are missing, though, so if you’re an Excel power user, it’s a good idea to find out if the features you need are available before migrating. As with Google’s other office tools, Sheets features real-time collaboration that allows multiple users to edit a document at the same time ( Figure A). You never have to worry about losing a single calculation, either - Google Sheets saves everything in Google Drive, making a crashed computer of no concern to your important data. It’s also hosted in the cloud and runs in a web browser, so it’s platform independent and can be run on Windows, macOS and Linux systems. Google Sheets is Google’s cloud-based answer to Microsoft Excel, and it’s capable of doing the vast majority of what the average Excel user needs. Google Sheets: Best for offline editing and collaboration Users can download and install it on their system No users have to download it on their system manually Users who prefer the traditional Excel desktop interface Top free Microsoft Excel alternatives comparison Software Choosing a free alternative to Microsoft Excel.Top free Microsoft Excel alternatives comparison.Best of all, these alternatives to Excel are free. If you don’t have that kind of money, don’t need all of Excel’s features or simply want to save cash, there are plenty of viable alternatives to Microsoft Excel available in the cloud to be installed on your computer. SEE: Explore these free alternatives to Microsoft Word. You’re looking at paying at least $6 per month for one business license, paid in full for a year upfront $6.99 a month for home use or $149.99 for an Office Home and Student 2021 license. Must-read big data coverageīest practices to follow for data migrationĭata warehouse services: What to consider before choosing a vendorįor those of us who aren’t accountants crunching numbers daily, Microsoft Office, including Excel, can be prohibitively expensive.

The kinds of features you need from your spreadsheet application can vary, though, with many users never coming close to needing the robust features of Microsoft Office’s Excel. Spreadsheets are part of the modern business world, meaning someday you’ll have to look at one.

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