# Microsoft Excel Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Microsoft Excel the right Spreadsheet solution for you? Explore 19431 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/reviews --- Microsoft Excel 4.8 (19431) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 15th, 2026 # Reviews of Microsoft Excel Ease of use 4.3 Customer Service 4.3 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews CR Camila R Financial AdvisorFinancial Services, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Microsoft Excel remained indispensable; flexible formulae and pivot tables allowed her team to model scenarios, track their clients’ portfolios, and present clear financial summaries.“ December 3, 2025 jw josh w Graphic DesignerGraphic Design, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “It can become slow and unstable with very large datasets, is prone to human error due to manual inputs and complex formulas, and lacks strong version control for team collaboration compared to more modern data tools.“ January 5, 2026 CP Candice P Accounts officerTransportation/Trucking/Railroad, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “You can track trends, compare numbers, spot inconsistencies, and build little systems that make life easier whether it’s budgeting, planning tenancy timelines, analysing fitness or wellness routines, or organising household data.“ January 4, 2026 BG Brandon G ConsultantInsurance, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “What I like least about Microsoft Excel is how easy it is for spreadsheets to become overly complex and difficult to manage. As files grow with more formulas, sheets, and data, they can quickly turn confusing, error-prone, and hard to navigate—especially without clear organization or documentation.“ April 6, 2026 LD Leo D Embedded software engineerMarketing and Advertising, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Over time, I’ve become more comfortable using different features such as formulas, charts and data organisation tools, which has made working with data much more efficient. While there can sometimes be challenges with complex spreadsheets, overall Excel is a very useful application that helps improve productivity and accuracy.“ March 16, 2026 SR Samm R Office Finance ManagerInsurance, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Unfortunately Excel is not always user friendly and therefore requires an advanced user to generate worksheets for others as well as fix them if something is broken or written over. Because of this, there is a higher likelihood of errors for users at a beginner level.“ April 13, 2026 Jerguz A Project ManagerInformation Technology and Services, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “From financial sheets, list building, lead management and one of my colleagues created an excelsheet from where we could launch and play counterstrike and minecrat even without having the actual game installed on our computers“ April 2, 2026 BG Brandon G ConsultantInsurance, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “However, when it comes to more advanced features—like complex formulas, pivot tables, or data analysis tools—it can feel overwhelming and less intuitive without regular use.“ April 6, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 19431 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Aaron G. Membership and Development Director Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good product, needs updates" March 27, 2026 3.0 Pros Excel is a program that I am familiar with and is easy to use, this is mostly due to it's longevity within the data world. I really appreciate how easy the navigation bars are to use. They are laid out in categories that make sense. Cons I feel Excel has not changed much or added actual product enhancements for a while. This has made it hard for Excel to keep up with other products like sheets. Alternatives considered [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) Reason for choosing Microsoft Excel The native and free mail merge is huge as I send upwards of 3,000 piece mailings and having the ability to pull from Excel is huge. Review Source RM Rebecca M. Project Engineer and CAD Specialist Civil Engineering Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An Industry Essential" March 9, 2026 5.0 The positives to Excel far outweigh any of the negatives. It is a product that branches across generations in the workplace because it has remained vital in so many base functions for most companies. I genuinely and wholeheartedly cannot imagine anything being able to take the place of this software. Pros Excel has remained a dominant software across almost all professions for a reason. The simplicity of its design works in a way where it can be applied in thousands of formats. The constant, updated, integration with other products is unbeatable. And the length of its relevance means that there is always a tried-and-true solution to any issue you are trying to resolve. Cons The biggest downside to Excel is the inability to smoothly collaborate with others. The online functionality of the product falls behind that of competitors, and the downloaded software admittedly works better than anything that is constantly accessible. Switched from [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) AI integration with Google Sheets has caused a severe issue with the reliability of the output. In some instances, I had cells with simple summations that were being calculated entirely incorrectly, which could have had detrimental effects if not found out in time. Review Source SK Sam K. Projects manager Food Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "It just makes sense." February 13, 2026 5.0 Having used it for equations, tables, databases etc I would struggle to use an alternative. I can think of three completely separate things that I use this program for everyday. I do not believe I could do that with another program. Pros I like that is just makes sense. I use it everyday in work and have not found it's apple alternative ' numbers' anywhere near as user friendly. It is part of the Microsoft 365 package and due to that is inexpensive. Although I have used a m0bile version and had no issue with it, I tend to use it on the computer due to the larger screen size. There has never been any issue a short youtube video has not helped me overcome. As I mentioned, it just makes sense. Cons Having had to use the alternative (numbers) for a time I honestly cannot quibble. I would say the one minor gripe is that if I have an excel doc open and open another it sometimes replaces my already opened doc instead of opening two? I have figured out the way around this and it may be a limitation of the hardware I use as opposed to Excel itself. Switched from [Numbers](https://www.capterra.com/p/170166/Numbers/) Excel was just the superior option in my eyes. Review Source SR Samm R. Office Finance Manager Insurance Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excel: From Day-to-Day to Accounting" April 13, 2026 5.0 Overall, Excel is a product that we use in our business day-to-day and in many different capacities. It is fundamental for our accounting but is also important for tracking in other roles. While getting the most use of the functions requires a high level of Excel knowledge, it is still a must-have! Pros Excel is an incredibly powerful and flexible tool that allows us to bridge the gap between our Client Management System and true accounting. Our CMS is not designed with accounting in mind therefore there are a lot of inconsistencies however Excel allows us the freedom and flexibility to maintain clear detailed records. The ability to customize and build almost anything makes Excel a must-have in our business. From building reconciliations, trackers and forecasting to then having the ability to analyze that data. Many users in our business who are at a beginner level of Excel enjoy the templates that are available. Cons While Excel is paramount to our business, specifically accounting, the largest flaw would be the knowledge dependency. Unfortunately Excel is not always user friendly and therefore requires an advanced user to generate worksheets for others as well as fix them if something is broken or written over. Because of this, there is a higher likelihood of errors for users at a beginner level. The other flaw would be that as data grows, the files do become slow and harder to maintain. Switched from [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) The switch was ultimately made because Excel is more well known and more universally used in our industry. Review Source TL Tyler L. Owner Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excel is the backbone of our team's efficiency" April 6, 2026 5.0 Overall our experience is good. We depend on Excel for a variety of functions and most outside tools that we use are required to interface well with Excel. Pros Excel is universal at this point, but in my view, for good reason. It is powerful and information on how to improve usability and your personal skills is readily available. From dashboards to simple and complex data analysis, our team lives and dies by our ability to operate and manage within Excel. Additionally, it is cost effective. Finally, as opposed to tools like Sheets, we really like the user interface finding it simple to navigate its various features. Cons Most of what I don't like about Excel could likely be remedied by improving my own skill base. That being said, I wish the pivot table functionality could lean better on AI like some other competitors are able to do. Of possibly if there was a way that AI could assist in creating, analyzing or improving formulas. Alternatives considered [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) Reason for choosing Microsoft Excel More software providers export or interact better with Excel than with Google Sheets. Review Source AZ Andrew Z. Operations Manager Furniture Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Still the best spreadsheet tool" March 16, 2026 4.0 Microsoft still offers the most feature rich and stable spreadsheet tool on the market. If they could return to allowing their customers to simply purchase software they could recapture a dwindling market share. Pros As a long time user of Excel I can personally say that it is and always has been the best spreadsheet tool for a variety of applications. Whether it be templates, data analysis, pivot tables, flyers or nearly anything else, Excel has the easiest navigation and compatibility for desktop and mobile users. Cons Subscription pricing is a big let let down. Unless you get some kind of promotional deal the value for the cost may drive you to a competitor that allows you to own your copy of the software. For bugs and other issues, Microsoft's support fall a bit short. The open community is far more helpful. Alternatives considered [LibreOffice](https://www.capterra.com/p/158981/LibreOffice/) Reason for choosing Microsoft Excel Excel has the best stability and open community support. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Technical Writer Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Essential Data Organization Tool" April 9, 2026 5.0 Pros Microsoft is a very useful tool and has become the industry standard across different organizations I have worked for. Because it is set up like other Microsoft products (Word, PowerPoint, etc.), it is easy to start using. Overall, Excel is a great tool for data collection, comparisons, and visualization. It really is beneficial for most work environments. Cons Excel is complex and can take some time to learn beyond the basics. Luckily, there are lots of help tools oit there. Switched from [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) Excel has more features and capabilities. It is also more secure. Review Source Melissa B. Board President Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great for work, school and home use" April 3, 2026 5.0 I use Microsoft Word for a varity of tasks because of its ease of use. It is good for everything from personal and professional budgeting to research. Pros I love the ability to use templates, its mobile device compatibility, and built in formulas. It is an extremely diverse tool. Cons It can be cost prohibitive if you don't have a 365 subscription through work or school. I still believe is a a good investment. Switched from [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) Microsoft is can be encrypted and has pivot tables. Review Source CM Ciara M. Project Coordinator Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Easy way to improve workflow" March 24, 2026 4.0 Overall I find it good for coordinating projects, using forms and when the formulas are set up correctly and I have templates created it really improved my work flow. Pros Excel is a powerful tool, it has an ease of use that it suitable for everyone but also holds complexity for those that require more sophisticated systems. It's navigation is pretty simple but there are some bugs and issues especially in terms of syncing within teams files. Cons The syncing issues that can happen within a project that is set up with teams. It's not quite as conducive to collaborative working as they let on. Switched from [Numbers](https://www.capterra.com/p/170166/Numbers/) Due to file sharing and workflow options with PC users in the office. Review Source CJ Cody J. Customer Service Representative Logistics and Supply Chain Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Microsoft Excel review" April 5, 2026 5.0 My experience with Microsoft Office 365 period has ALWAYS been absolutely amazing and I have always loved using their products. Pros I like how easy it is to create and use and how it's totally versatile and able to share and collaborate with the team through the teams app. Cons I haven't found anything yet that I dislike about it! I think it is absolutely perfect! Microsoft Office 365 products are the best Switched from [Google Docs](https://www.capterra.com/p/160756/Google-Docs/) Needed a better program that offered more than Google Docs services Review Source Greg R. Customer Success Manager Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excel is cumbersome, but effective" July 8, 2025 4.0 Overall Excel isn't bad, but it's not my favorite spreadsheet product. I would choose to use Google Sheets over Excel any time that I can. Excel can get it done, but it's usually more cumbersome than I'd like it to be. Pros Excel can do so many incredible things from forecasting and budgeting to functions and calculations. I use it for all kinds of projects that require prioritization, sorting, and data cleanup. Excel is fantastic for these projects. I also use some more advanced functions for a calculus class that I'm in which also provides fascinating solutions Cons Excel has some features that are highly illogical (at least on a Mac). The desktop version has all the functions while the web app is missing a lot of them. Doing simple things like moving columns and deleting rows can be such a hassle compared to Google Sheets. Switched from [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) I'm new to the company so as I understand it they switched to all Microsoft products for security and probably to save money. Review Source Gabriela C. Customer Service Air Import Logistics and Supply Chain Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Microsoft Excel, the perfect complementary tool" February 11, 2026 4.0 I use Excel daily to organize import manifests and create tracking reports for our clients. It’s the perfect companion to CargoWise Pros It's Indispensable for data analysis and reporting. The ability to use Pivot Tables to cross-reference shipping data from our ERP is key Cons Handling very large datasets can sometimes slow down the performance, and the learning curve for advanced macros is steep Review Source Osvaldo B. Cinema Operator Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excellent software by Microsoft" February 8, 2026 5.0 My overall experience is excellent. Excel is an high quality software. Easy to use to prepare tabs for every necessity. Pros Microsoft Excel is part of the suite Microsoft 365, as well as Word. It's an easy to use software, simple to navigate and with nice templates. It's compatible with mobile devices and I never had troubles with bugs or issues of any kind. The customer support is active and ready to help. The cost of this software anyway is a little high. Cons The only con I can find is related to the cost. There are similar products that work pretty well for free. I think Microsoft should consider to make some offer related to their software. Review Source KR Katrice R. Office Manager and League Administrator Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excel - My Personal Favorite Spreadsheet Program" November 17, 2025 5.0 I have been using Excel for over twenty years now and have created some massive functions to help streamline financial statement preparations. After using Lotus, Excel is a much better and advanced product. I've seen demos off other spreadsheet products but think I will always prefer Excel. Pros Having started my spreadsheet experience on Lotus, I find Excel to have great functionality, it is easy to use and navigate and the Help function is solid. Cons I sometimes get lost in creating functions. My logic does not always translate to the logic in Excel. Review Source WR Will R. SR HR Operations Specialist Food Production Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excel Review" April 20, 2026 4.0 Overall, Excel is really useful and dependable for everyday work. I use it on daily basis, and it is a very helpful tool. Pros I like how flexible Excel is. It’s easy to organize data, do quick calculations, and build charts or tables without needing anything complicated. It’s also nice that most people already know how to use it, so sharing files is simple. Cons Sometimes the files get too big and run very slowly. This is very frustrating since it wastes my time by causing delays. Review Source NO Niamh O. Researcher E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Amazing product have used it for years and would not change to anything else " March 4, 2026 5.0 Overall really great I have used it for years and it is the best product for doing data analysis, creating graphs and handling large amounts of data. Great for preparing datasets to use in other software like csv and txt files Pros This is a classic product that I have used through my years of university and work. Great for statistical analysis, creating diagrams and analysing data Cons It can be confusing to try and do some of the equations to make calculations between columns. If you make a mistake it can change all of the data Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Compliance Manager Financial Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The Everyday Professional" April 23, 2026 4.0 Excel remains my primary tool for financial modeling and reporting. I keep learning daily (you never finish learning it). Pros Features like Power Query, and PivotTables, and the integration of Copilot has also made writing complex nested formulas a thing of the past. Cons The learning curve for anything beyond basic sums is steep. The error messages (like #REF! or #VALUE!) can be cryptic for casual users, making troubleshooting a headache without a search engine's help Review Source AS Amber S. Business Administrator Business Supplies and Equipment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Microsoft Excel Use" August 27, 2025 5.0 Despite my experience with the VBA coding, I have to say my overall experience with Microsoft Excel is great. It is a tool I use daily for reporting purposes, as well as running macros I have set up, which organize my data in certain columns to produce text files for my job. I have created many different macros over the years, which have helped to save me a lot of time on tedious workflows. Pros I have utilized Microsoft Excel for many years now on multiple different projects I have been involved in. It is a great tool for reviewing and comparing data, implementing formulas as needed, and also creating macros. The tabs along the top are very straight forward too, which make the tool easy to navigate. Cons My least favorite thing about Microsoft Excel is the VBA coding. I have struggled with trying to save my codes and not being able to figure out what is wrong within the formulas. I wish there was more assistance in helping to explain the errors. Review Source Maria M. Accountant Furniture Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Accountant Loving Excel" November 10, 2025 5.0 I love Excel. I use it every day, all day long. As an accountant I can use it simply as an adding machine or in complex reports. Pros They have many templates to choose from. It is very easy to pick up on the formula's being used. There are so many applications that you can use excel in. I would be extremely limited if I didn't have the use of excel. Cons Sometime the help isn't specific enough. With new AI aps though, you can very easily find the help you are looking for. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Project Engineer, Team Lead Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great and Highly versitile software with a low barrier to entry and high skill ceiling" March 16, 2026 5.0 great software that is quick, versitile, allows for 1000s of different uses and can plug unto other programs like solidworks when needed Pros It is a very versatile software that I can use to balance budgets, manage rental payment dates, and conditionally format cells to show what I need Cons There is a high skill ceiling for some tools in excel. There is so much to learn about this powerful software that it is almost a benefit. Review Source CF Coy F. Senior Analyst Financial Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Massive Capabilities" April 19, 2026 4.0 Overall, I love Microsoft Excel. Through some research into the know-how of how to do various things it unlocks capabilities that you wouldn't even know could be done in it. I would highly recommend the software. Pros I have been using excel to create complex financial reporting models. The biggest pro I have found is that through research I can make pretty much anything happen using various methods of formatting & such. VBA Macros are another piece that can be pivotal once you get the hang of the coding. The layout of everything is done very well to be user friendly in terms of navigation. Occasionally I need to view a file on my phone so the ability to pull something up on my mobile device is very helpful as well. Cons My biggest con is that I run into file size issues or occasionally I have random crashes of the application. I have found that using Excel in tandem with research into how to do various things with it is when you can really unlock it's potential. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Proposal Content Specialist - Former Civil Engineering Used the software for: 2+ years ### "MS Excel - \[sensitive content hidden\]'s Take" July 7, 2025 5.0 I enjoyed building a dashboard using data imported from multiple oData andother sources. The ability to automate the data exchange process took the experience to another level. Pros The advanced data import and management features, especially the tables and name management feature make simple to moderatively complex data analysis simple and effective Cons The current versions are quite demanding on the computer's resources, and does not perform well on non-SSD equipped computers. Review Source DY David Y. Associate Director of Operations Mental Health Care Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Functions galore!" November 5, 2025 5.0 I have used Excel for over 30 years and developed my knowledge and experience along the way, with all the upgrades and developmental changes made by Microsoft. I consider myself as an intermediate user but even then the functionality is fantastic. I only wish I had spent more time training on the different functions as it really does make life/work a lot easier. Pros Excellent functionality with ready-to-go templates and easy-to-use guides all to hand if and when you need them. Navigating your way through Excel can be as easy as ABC, but can get complicated if you don't spend the time learning. The most common spreadsheet tool used across a high number of industries, with functions that make its use easier to create and manage multiple calculations. Compatible across various devices and mobile, whenever you need it. Conditional Formatting is a great tool when producing analytical data. Cons Functions need to be coded/written correctly and this takes time to learn before you become proficient. The online help and support is great, but aimed at a level of knowledge above 'basic'. Review Source DA Dina A. Financial Accountant Accounting Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excel Makes Complex Tasks Easier" June 12, 2025 4.0 My overall experience with Microsoft Excel has been very good. It’s a powerful tool that helps me manage and understand data in an organized way. Even though some advanced features take time to learn, the benefits are worth it. I use it regularly for budgeting, planning, and reports, and I consider it one of the most useful programs I’ve worked with. Pros I like how flexible Excel is. I can use it for simple things like budgets, or more advanced tasks like analyzing data with charts and formulas. It helps me organize information clearly, and I really like the automatic calculations and visual tools like conditional formatting and graphs. Cons Sometimes Excel feels a bit complicated when I try to use advanced formulas or features. It takes time to learn, and I wish it had easier tutorials or suggestions to help with that. Review Source MG Milagros G. Content creator and Social Media Manager Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A useful everyday tool over time" April 19, 2026 5.0 I use Excel pretty often, and it’s honestly one of those programs that does way more than you expect. I like how you can go from simple lists to more detailed reports all in one place. It does take some time to learn the advanced stuff, but even the basics are super useful. Pros I really like excel, is a very versatile program that you can use from your computer or your cellphone or tablet/ipad. Is pretty easy to use, cheap and also you can have many templates with differents ideas like tracking your incomes/expenses, organize travel ideas, shopping list, class list and more Cons Can feel overwhelming at first, especially for beginners, but as soon as you get familiar with it you will use it for anything in your daily basic or profesional life. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.