Google Sheets vs. Microsoft Excel

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Google Sheets
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
Google Sheets is the spreadsheet app available on Google Workspace, or standalone, with a free plan for personal use and accessible via mobile apps for iOS and Android.N/A
Microsoft Excel
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application available as part of Microsoft 365 (Office 365), or standalone, in cloud-based and on-premise editions.
$6.99
per month
Pricing
Google SheetsMicrosoft Excel
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Excel with Microsoft 365
$6.99
per month
Excel for 1 PC or Mac
$139.99
perpetual license
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Google SheetsMicrosoft Excel
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Google SheetsMicrosoft Excel
Considered Both Products
Google Sheets
Chose Google Sheets
Google Sheets is better than smartsheets and excel when it comes to integrating into different applications for automation as well as for team collaboration. While excel is better for analysis and higher level formulas/Marcos when working in a team environment or involving …
Chose Google Sheets
I prefer the look of Google Sheets. I also love that it is easily shared.
Chose Google Sheets
My organization uses Google Sheets instead of Microsoft Excel because we are a Google shop. Sheets permissions are especially easy via existing Google Workspace groups. We're a very collaborative company that values easy browser-based simultaneous document editing and …
Chose Google Sheets
From my experience, Google sheets doesn't compare to excel. It suffices for basic spreadsheet needs but does not compare in terms of functionality. An organizational change led me to the opportunity to use Excel and I'm happy to have made the switch and have not looked back. …
Chose Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel is very similar, I don't have much to say in comparison. I have not tried using formulas in Google Sheets. OneDrive is also very similar but it autosaves so you don't have to worry about saving information or forgetting to save and losing data. It is also …
Chose Google Sheets
In my opinion, based on my own experience, I believe that Google Sheets stands in the second position in my list of spreadsheet software largely because of things such as ease to share and access data, multiple edits simultaneously and keep a track of the real-time changes, …
Chose Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel might be good for large-scale local work, but Google Sheets is so fast and clean. I have also used other systems like Air Table, and Excel online, but honestly Google Sheets is so ubiquitous and easy to use I always start there first. Other software products I …
Chose Google Sheets
Google Sheets is newest of all and is easy to understand. It has better UI or display then rest all. Minimal design helps to focus more on work. In built chat features is one that makes it stand out of league then rest of all. Unlike MS Excel and LibreOffice it is available …
Chose Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel is much more functional and has more functions/capabilities than Google Sheets. It is also faster compared to Google Sheets. On the other side, Google Sheets is better for collaboration and saves you a lot of time. As I usually do not work with big files I …
Chose Google Sheets
We selected it for it's nearly universal integration capabilities to pull data from all the programs in our tech stack for deeper analysis in Tableau. It integrates with Tableau, which is the number one reason we decided to use it. It's a lot more user friendly than Excel, even …
Chose Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel has more in-depth formulas you can use, but overall it can get quite confusing and overwhelming. Google Sheets is more approachable, and easier to learn and collaborate with.
Chose Google Sheets
clearly a win-win situation by using Google sheets, [especially] for remote work and teamwork! Microsoft Excel does not allow any of that unless you have a pay version of it.
Chose Google Sheets
I find Google Sheets much simpler and easier to use than Microsoft Excel. It is free which can make a huge difference if you are on a budget. It is also entirely web-based which makes sharing and collaborating much easier as well as ensuring that there is only one version of …
Chose Google Sheets
Google sheets has a clear advantage. It is more simple to use for daily applications, allows for easier collaboration, and has portability (offline working). It allows for easy sharing and integration with other Google online programs such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, …
Chose Google Sheets
I enjoy the ease of access and sharing information with anyone, google sheets is great for that. You can easily send a link in an email or text message which makes it easier than other programs because you have to purchase separately if their software doesn't come included at …
Chose Google Sheets
We originally selected Google Sheets for its easy to use interface and seamless connection throughout using Google for all of our business. We love how all the different google apps connect and make it easy to share things with the team.
Chose Google Sheets
Google Sheets allows for all of the capabilities of Microsoft Excel, but with real-time edits that can create a collaborative experience across teams. By being able to access people's changes in real-time, it makes for an easier work experience, especially in the remote world …
Chose Google Sheets
Google Sheets is very good in performance and can be accessed from anywhere being a cloud application. That is the major differentiator for it. Sharing of documents is not a difficult task anymore and no need to use space from our personal devices. It is very simple to access …
Chose Google Sheets
On Microsoft, we can't edit the documents at the same time with our friends and co-workers, we need to save everything on the computer memory. I find Google Sheets to be a lot superior, by allowing us to save everything up in the cloud, to read, share and edit whatever document …
Chose Google Sheets
The biggest kicker here is that Google Sheets is free. On top of that, it is way easier to share the file with other users who are not within our company, with easy controls over how they can access and what exactly they can do with the file. Also, being able to see who all has …
Chose Google Sheets
I feel Google Sheets is better compared to the many available competitors thanks to its many features and also easy integration with Google products. It is also easy to use and is available online.
Chose Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel and Numbers on Mac. Used the first reiteration of the Windows 365 and was terrible.

It stacks up well against excel due to power of two other Google products 1) Google search and 2) YouTube. If you cannot find an article or video to help you might be …
Chose Google Sheets
The major reason I use Google Sheets over Microsoft Excel and Apple Numbers is for its ability to allow multiple users to access and work on the same spreadsheet at once. This is incredibly more efficient and effective than updating and sending copies upon copies of the same …
Microsoft Excel
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel It's the choice of professionals who delve into intricate financial models, statistical analyses, and other complex analysis. Its strength lies in its depth, offering a vast array of functions and features that can handle the most demanding tasks. Its pivot …
Chose Microsoft Excel
I find Microsoft Excel easier to use than either LibreOffice Calc or Google Docs because I use Excel regularly and know where to find the functions that I need. I find that other companies have an easier time opening Excel files than others.
Chose Microsoft Excel
My preference will always be Google Sheets, however, as the interface in Sheets is faster, smoother, and more aesthetically pleasing. Excel is part of the package with Outlook, and that tends to be the main reason why I’ve encountered companies who choose Excel over Sheets, but …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Excel is one of the tools I use for everyday work but fits alongside all the other programs I use. I keep Excel as a way of tracking projects from start to finish as well as document content strategy and audits. There are not many programs like Excel that I can think of other …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Lists allows for users to keep lists, but the functionality cannot be compared to Microsoft Excel. There are far more options for data manipulation, analysis, and creating outputs in Excel. Anything that can be done in Lists can be done easily in MS Excel. The key …
Chose Microsoft Excel
The integration Microsoft Excel has within the other Microsoft applications makes it top choice for me. I have worked in Google Sheets, however I prefer working in desktop version of software with full capabilities. Microsoft Excel provides this.
Chose Microsoft Excel
It isn't as collaborative or detail oriented as other platforms, or at least it doesn't market itself to be used that way. But it is still useful in its own ways
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel has its "niche" use cases, but it was the other way around. Its been many years since Microsoft Excel became the niche, while Google Sheets now is the mainstream data analysis application. I use Microsoft Excel today only because I am forced by my company to do …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Arcsight by OpenText, Google Sheets, Oracle Aconex, Oracle Analytics Cloud, Oracle BPM Suite, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Primavera Unifier, Primavera EXPRESS, PrimaveraReader, Oracle Primavera Submittal Exchange and Oracle Primavera Portfolio Management
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is superior to these as it has a wider range of functions and is used corporately
Chose Microsoft Excel
Like I've put in previous questions, Microsoft Excel seems more advanced. I'm always going to prefer using Microsoft Excel if it's just me working on a task. If I have to work with other then Google sheets is going to be preferred. The online version of Microsoft Excel seems to …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that is used for analyzing and organizing complex data. It offers advanced capabilities for data analysis, financial modelling and complex calculations. Excel can be used in offline form making it use flexible for users who want to use it …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Google Sheets sync nicely with Google Workspace and can be accessed easily online. But Google Sheets is clunky and no where near the gold standard which is Microsoft Excel.
Chose Microsoft Excel
I think it stacks up very well, Clickup ha a better user interface however Microsoft Excel has a more sophisticated back end and formula approach. In my opinion, Clickup however does provide less of a need to 'learn' formulas as there is more of a click application approach …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Excel stands out from Google Sheets and Apple Numbers with its extensive range of advanced functions, including financial, statistical, and data analysis tools, surpassing the capabilities of its competitors. As the universally recognized industry standard, Excel offers better …
Chose Microsoft Excel
No any comparison, Excel are far better.
Chose Microsoft Excel
PowerPoint is excellent for displaying information in a far more visually engaging, relatable manner. However, where it is lacking is the ability to get to that point in analyzing competing deal information, building formulas around it, things of that nature.

Apple has its own …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Compatibility is the main issue. It is frustrating to send an Excel workbook to someone who can't open it. Also, user interfaces are not as slick and intuitive.
Chose Microsoft Excel
i have used many Microsoft products like Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, Windows, Yammer etc., but I can say that every product is different from each other and each product solves different professional day-to-day work problems quite efficiently, although I …
Chose Microsoft Excel
I find that Microsoft Excel ranks higher than Microsoft Powerpoint because of it's ability to handle large amounts of data the fact that it has keys tools to helps streamline information. It does however not have the same capabilities as Microsoft Powerpoint when it comes to …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is much easier to use, but CloudDrive is much safer from hackers. Sometimes I create a spreadsheet in Excel and then upload it to CloudDrive.
Chose Microsoft Excel
Much easier to edit the data that is imported for a report. Adobe has limited choices for font and styling.
Chose Microsoft Excel
Google Sheets is a comparable product to Microsoft Excel and it's more flexible when it comes to sharing because it can be shared with anyone who has the link or Google Drive access to it. However, Google Sheets does not have all the functions, especially when it comes to …
Chose Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel stands out amongst its peers for the service they provide and with every latest update, they tend to ensure that even the minor issues impacting their users are managed to make the software efficient for people like me to use. The software's user-friendly …
Best Alternatives
Google SheetsMicrosoft Excel
Small Businesses
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Score 9.0 out of 10
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Score 9.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Microsoft Excel
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Score 8.7 out of 10
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Score 9.0 out of 10
Enterprises
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Score 8.7 out of 10
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User Ratings
Google SheetsMicrosoft Excel
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.5
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Availability
8.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Configurability
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Google SheetsMicrosoft Excel
Likelihood to Recommend
Google Sheets is a great tool mostly for people in the finance department such as accountants who have to analyze hundreds of transactions. The software makes it easy to organize data and handle some analysis. Also, when it comes to data presentation, Google Sheets offers some of the best features. However, this is not to sat people outside the finance docket cannot benefit from this software. It is a great tool to have when handling data.
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I find it easier to use than Google Sheets , though it's easier to collaborate with other teams using Google Sheets. I also feel like Microsoft Excel is more suited to deal with complex formulas. The best way to put it, if I have a project that I'm solely working on, I'm going to use Microsoft Excel. If it's going to be shared, then I'm using Google Sheets.
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Pros
  • It is a cloud-based platform.
  • You can work in the same file simultaneously with your colleagues.
  • It allows you to share files much faster.
  • It allows you to access your Google Sheet files whenever you like and wherever you like if you have stable internet connection.
  • It has great integration with other Google software.
  • Google Sheets is very user-friendly and very intuitive to use.
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  • Excel is the most fully featured spreadsheet software you are likely to find.
  • The software is compatible with a large number of file formats so using data from nearly any source is possible.
  • It can handle large data sets.
  • It can save your files in a variety of file formats.
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Cons
  • Shifting to Sheets after years and years of Excel is like learning to crawl after I've been running for years. Some sort of translator document. Such as if you use XYZ in Excel, the same function can be found here in Sheets
  • Functionality shuts down after 5K or so lines are used. I work in finance. We have hundreds of thousands of transactions we need to analyze.
  • If Big Query is the answer to large amounts of data, it needs to be as easy to use as Sheets is.
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  • Excel offers collaboration features that allow multiple users to work on the same spreadsheet, but managing changes made by different users can be challenging. Excel could improve its features by offering more granular control, better tracking of changes, and more robust conflict resolution tools.
  • Itcan be a barrier to productivity when importing and exporting data from other applications or file formats. To improve its features, it should offer better support for standard file formats and more robust error handling and reporting tools.
  • Excel can be challenging for finance students and working professionals, but it can be improved by offering more robust tutorials, better documentation, and more user communities and support forums.
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Likelihood to Renew
I am not involved in the purchase/selection process, but my organization is a Google shop, and Sheets meets most of our spreadsheet needs and works seamlessly with our other tools. I don't anticipate our switching anytime soon.
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Excel remains the industry standard for spreadsheets and has maintained simple and straight-forward formula writing methods. Although there is a learning curve to do more complex calculations, there are countless help sites and videos on the Internet for almost any need.
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Usability
Overall the formula functions could improve but there's workarounds for them. Utilzing different formulas or approaches for building out accounting schedules. While collebrating with multiple team members and different departments being able to go in and see where others are on the sheets is helpful. Google Sheets overall is a great product
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Overall I think the usuability is great and offers everything it should. I have never not be able to use it for what I wanted it for. However, it is so detailed and offers so much it can be difficult to use. Better descriptions or explanation to all the information could be helpful
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Reliability and Availability
Like most Google products, Google Sheets rarely has outages or slowness, and when it does, connection is always momentarily restored. I can't recall a time when I've been unable to access Google Sheets but able to access other sites just fine. That said, errors aren't uncommon when handling large data volume. You know what they say about using spreadsheets as databases, but sometimes it's just the most convenient option, especially for smaller or one-off projects, and not being able to store large amounts of data hampers our ability to move quickly with scrappy prototypes or full solutions. It would be great if we could better integrate our data manipulation (Apps Script) with big data in the sheet.
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I have rarely, if ever, had issues with its availability.
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Performance
Again, Google Sheets is no exception to Google's general high speed and reliability, but load times can be slow for larger amounts of data. I've used Sheets with Zapier and have used the Python API, and speed has never been an issue.
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Excel load and performs calculations immediately. It integrate well with all Microsoft Office applications and does not slow them down.
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Support Rating
I have never contacted Google Sheets support, but Google Sheets makes it very easy to report an issue or suggest a feature from Sheets itself (Help > Help Sheets improve), and I've had mostly good experiences with support for other Google products.
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I have not had to use it often, but it is good.
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Alternatives Considered
Microsoft Excel and Numbers on Mac. Used the first reiteration of the Windows 365 and was terrible. It stacks up well against excel due to power of two other Google products 1) Google search and 2) YouTube. If you cannot find an article or video to help you might be disappointed but keep looking.
Read full review
Excel is one of the tools I use for everyday work but fits alongside all the other programs I use. I keep Excel as a way of tracking projects from start to finish as well as document content strategy and audits. There are not many programs like Excel that I can think of other than Google Sheets and I find Excel is far better.
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Scalability
Google Sheets works very well with multiple users. It's convenient to see in real-time who is collaborating in a sheet, down to the specific cell that they're viewing/editing. Linking Sheets across departments is convenient with the IMPORTRANGE function.
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Each user can use it to whatever level of expertise they have. It remains the same so users can contribute to another's work regardless of whether they have more or less expertise
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Return on Investment
  • We've used it to prepare quick budgets, presentations for funds that have helped raise money
  • It has helped us quickly analyze raw data, collaboratively.
  • it has helped us work more efficiently by making it easier to work from one sheet and not lose track of versions by passing around attached documents
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  • It helps to me gather my thoughts, organize my research, and most importantly prioritize information in an easy to digest manner depending on what I am most interested to see at that time.
  • It helps me quite a bit to talk my clients through the financial implications of various office leasing transactions under consideration and coach them in a way that is very unbiased and fact-driven which I like.
  • It helps me to be more thoughtful as well when thinking about the various different situations in which I use Excel. And because it ultimately results in my clients getting comfortable ultimately pulling the trigger on a given deal, it directly leads to more commission in my pocket which I love!
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