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Microsoft Excel

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Industry-standard spreadsheet software

From $9.99/mo, billed monthly (free plan available)

Positions Microsoft Excel holds among the tools of each category it belongs to (Toolradar data, Oct 2026):

Freemium Spreadsheets Productivity Finance Analytics
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Coverage from Forbes TechRadar
22,705 reviews tracked 41 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Price
From $9.99/mo, billed monthly (free plan available). Compare plans

Key facts

  • Industry-standard spreadsheet
  • Most powerful analysis features
  • Part of Microsoft 365 subscription

Pros

  • Industry standard
  • Most powerful features
  • Excellent for complex analysis
  • VBA automation
  • Universal compatibility

Cons

  • Requires Microsoft 365 subscription
  • Can be complex for beginners
  • Large file sizes
  • Performance with big datasets

What is Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is the world's most widely used spreadsheet application, part of Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). Excel offers powerful data analysis features including pivot tables, advanced formulas, charts, and macros (VBA). Used by businesses worldwide for financial modeling, data analysis, reporting, and automation. Excel's formula language and features have become the industry standard that competitors try to match. Available as desktop app, web app, and mobile app with real-time collaboration.
Data compiled by Toolradar Pricing checked · How we evaluate
Source microsoft.com

Ratings Across the Web

4.8 (22,705 reviews)

Microsoft Excel holds an aggregate rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 22,705 reviews across G2 and Capterra, last checked September 17, 2026.

G2 3,189 reviews
4.7/5
Capterra 19,516 reviews
4.8/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Advanced formulas and functions
  • Pivot tables
  • Charts and visualizations
  • Macros (VBA)
  • Power Query
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Desktop and web apps
  • Mobile apps

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 15, 2026. Source: microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-a…, read Oct 15, 2026

Microsoft Excel plans and prices, checked October 2026
Plan Price Details
Excel for the web

$0

Free with a Microsoft account

  • Real-time collaboration requires files saved in and shared from OneDrive
Microsoft 365 Personal Popular

$9.99/month, billed monthly

For 1 person, 1 TB OneDrive, desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with Copilot

  • $99.99 per year billed yearly
  • Try free for 1 month
Microsoft 365 Family

$12.99/month, billed monthly

For 1 to 6 people, 2 TB shared OneDrive (AI for the subscription owner only)

  • $129.99 per year billed yearly
  • Try free for 1 month
Microsoft 365 Premium

$19.99/month, billed monthly

Everything in Family plus extensive Copilot usage and agentic AI, for 1 to 6 people, 2 TB

  • $199.99 per year billed yearly
  • Try free for 1 month
Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is Microsoft Excel worth the price?

Good value

Microsoft Excel's pricing is fair, offering a generous free online version and affordable subscription options.

It's best for individuals and families who need robust spreadsheet capabilities and cloud storage.

Full Microsoft Excel pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Microsoft Excel's pricing compares

Microsoft Excel starts at $9.99/mo, billed monthly. Its direct competitors are priced on a different basis (per user, or in another currency), so each entry price below is shown with its own unit and currency and is not ranked against the others.

Microsoft Excel
$9.99/mo, billed monthly
Smartsheet
$9/mo, billed monthly
Google Sheets
€6.80/user/mo, billed yearly
Airtable
$20/seat/mo, billed yearly

Entry paid plan, monthly price (billing term shown per row), in each tool's own currency. Pricing checked Oct 15, 2026.

Email me when Microsoft Excel changes its price

One email per change, found on the vendor's own pricing page. Unsubscribe any time.

Recent pricing updates

Changes we detected on the Microsoft Excel pricing page.

  • Microsoft 365 plans read on the US compare page and the free Office for the web page, 2026-10-15 (USD). Entry Microsoft 365 Personal 6.99/mo (monthly) -> Microsoft 365 Personal 9.99/mo (monthly). See docs/toolradar-fixes-2026-10-15.

Microsoft Excel by the numbers

Toolradar data: Microsoft Excel's entry paid plan ($9.99/mo, billed monthly) ranks #26 of 155 (joint) for price among the Finance tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $30/mo. As of Oct 2026.

Microsoft Excel compared with 632 Finance tools on Toolradar, as of Oct 2026
Metric Microsoft Excel Peer median Position (1 is best)
Entry paid plan $9.99/mo, billed monthly $30/mo #26 of 155 (joint) tools with no stated price unit, verified price
Free plan Yes 31% have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 8 tools 3 #102 of 632 (joint)
User rating 4.8/5 (across the web, 22,705 ratings) 4.5/5 #8 of 298 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews
Media mentions, last 30 days 2 articles 2 #6 of 13 (joint) tools mentioned in the last 30 days
Compare-page visits, last 30 days 36 visits 32 #22 of 54 tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Visitors most often compare Microsoft Excel with Smartsheet and Google Sheets (last 30 days, Oct 2026).

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. A lower entry price ranks higher; prices are read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. All Finance data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “Microsoft Excel by the numbers”, Oct 2026.

Reviews

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4.8/5

Across 22,705 verified user reviews on Capterra, G2

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Best Microsoft Excel Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Smartsheet logo
Smartsheet Paid

Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows

4.1
Google Sheets logo
Google Sheets Free

Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.

3.7
Airtable logo
Airtable Freemium

Build custom apps and automate workflows without code

3.6
See all spreadsheets tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Microsoft Excel vs Smartsheet Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Microsoft Excel vs Google Sheets Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Microsoft Excel vs Airtable Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

Explore More

Microsoft Excel FAQ

How does Microsoft Excel support advanced data analysis?

Microsoft Excel offers powerful data analysis features such as pivot tables, advanced formulas, and charts. It is widely used for financial modeling, data analysis, and reporting due to its comprehensive capabilities.

Which teams benefit most from using Microsoft Excel?

Teams involved in finance, data analysis, and reporting benefit significantly from Microsoft Excel. Its robust features and automation capabilities make it suitable for complex analytical tasks across various business functions.

How does Microsoft Excel compare to Google Sheets?

Microsoft Excel is generally considered to have more powerful features for complex analysis compared to Google Sheets, and its formula language is an industry standard. Excel also offers VBA for automation, which is a key differentiator.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of when working with Microsoft Excel?

Users should be aware that Microsoft Excel can be complex for beginners and may experience performance issues with very large datasets. Additionally, it typically requires a Microsoft 365 subscription for full functionality.

Does Microsoft Excel include a free tier?

Yes, Microsoft Excel is available on a free tier, with paid plans offering more extensive usage and additional features. This allows users to start with basic functionality and upgrade as needed.

Can Microsoft Excel automate repetitive tasks?

Yes, Microsoft Excel can automate repetitive tasks through the use of macros, which are built using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). This feature allows users to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

How does Microsoft Excel pricing compare with other Finance tools?

Microsoft Excel's entry paid plan ($9.99/mo, billed monthly) ranks #26 of 155 (joint) for price among the Finance tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $30/mo. Prices are read on each vendor's own pricing page and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. Source: Toolradar, Oct 2026.

Source: microsoft.com

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