# Microsoft Excel Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about Microsoft Excel Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Spreadsheet products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel --- # Microsoft Excel Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on March 15, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. Independent research methodology Capterra’s researchers use a mix of verified reviews, independent research and objective methodologies to bring you selection and ranking information you can trust. While we may earn a referral fee when you visit a provider through our links or speak to an advisor, this has no influence on our research or methodology. 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[Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-we-ensure-transparency/) [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Microsoft Excel ## What is Microsoft Excel? Microsoft Excel is a productivity tool for creating spreadsheets, and for performing statistics and analysis. It features over 100 functions and more than 235 built-in formulas, 1D and 2D charting, pivot tables for cross-tabulation analysis, multiple worksheets, mail merge capabilities and macros. Use Excel to analyze data and reports in order to discover patterns, trends and gain new insights. With a robust set of tools, you'll be able to create, format and share spreadsheets without difficulty. This application comes with a multitude of slots for storage and types of storage, including audio files and word processors. It also has many different functions, which allow the user to do a large range of tasks. ## What is Microsoft Excel used for? [Spreadsheet](https://www.capterra.com/spreadsheet-software/)[Productivity](https://www.capterra.com/productivity-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 19,431 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 98% Neutral 2% Negative 0% Pros & cons Flexible data tracking platform Comprehensive budgeting capabilities Frequent bugs and reliability problems High cost and subscription model Starting price $6 Per User, Per Month Free trial not available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Microsoft Excel?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=http://www.microsoft.com&name=Microsoft Excel) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Microsoft Excel 4.8 (19,431) VS. [4.6 (5,953)](https://www.capterra.com/p/147657/monday-com/reviews/) Starting Price $6 Per User, Per Month Starting Price $9 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.3 (19,344) Ease Of Use 4.5 (14,688) Value For Money 4.6 (13,003) Value For Money 4.3 (12,120) Customer Service 4.3 (11,280) Customer Service 4.4 (11,282) ## Microsoft Excel alternatives [4.4 (2,963)](https://www.capterra.com/p/76113/Wrike/reviews/) Starting price $10.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 89% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars Highest Rated [Google Workspace](https://www.capterra.com/p/247901/Google-Workspace/) [4.7 (17,533)](https://www.capterra.com/p/247901/Google-Workspace/reviews/) Starting price $7.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/247901/Google-Workspace/) [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) [4.7 (13,182)](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/reviews/) Starting price $6.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) [Microsoft 365](https://www.capterra.com/p/227157/Microsoft-365/) [4.6 (14,057)](https://www.capterra.com/p/227157/Microsoft-365/reviews/) Starting price $6.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/227157/Microsoft-365/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/alternatives/) ## Who uses Microsoft Excel? Based on Capterra reviews from the past year Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs ## Pros and Cons Flexible data tracking platform 97% positive reviews out of 838 Most reviewers report tracking as a major benefit, allowing easy monitoring of finances, projects, and performance metrics. Richelle H Proposal Project Manager, 10,001+ employees. "Microsoft Excel allows you to track information easily!" Frequent bugs and reliability problems 65% negative reviews out of 1387 Most users comment that bugs and issues cause crashes, confusing errors, and troubleshooting difficulties, especially with complex tasks. Nicholas D Project Manager, 11 - 50 employees. "Customer support, when needed, can also be very unhelpful. If there are bugs or issues that haven't been previously reported en masse, you might just not have a solution, and need to find a work-around, which may, or may not, be possible." Comprehensive budgeting capabilities 97% positive reviews out of 808 Most reviewers find budgeting in Excel flexible, supporting personal and business finances with automated calculations and templates. Adam S Accountant, 51 - 200 employees. "It allows us to create formulas and perform calculations across multiple cells, making it a valuable tool for financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting." High cost and subscription model 52% negative reviews out of 963 Some users say pricing is a drawback, citing expensive licenses, required subscriptions, and limited affordability for occasional use. Versatile information organization tool 98% positive reviews out of 796 Most reviewers describe organization as Excel’s core strength, enabling efficient management of lists, schedules, and data. Cassandra J Engineer, 2 - 10 employees. "What I like most about Microsoft Excel is that it's so easy and convenient to organize information also I like how it's color identified" Challenging file management with large data 62% negative reviews out of 891 Most users report file management issues, including slow performance, crashes, and difficulty handling large or shared files. Melissa C Manager, 501 - 1,000 employees. "it can crash in large formula design i have lost work previously when cells with large functions just stop working - if it gets to complex the file sizes get overwhelming, which can make multi workbook analysis problematic" ## Features Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically. Offline Access 4.7 (3,235) 60.19% of 3235 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With offline access, you can work on spreadsheets, analyze data, and prepare presentations anywhere, even without internet. Reviewers appreciate being able to edit, save, and sync files later, which boosts productivity, especially in areas with unreliable connectivity. Collaboration Tools 4.3 (2,938) 54.22% of 2938 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important With Excel’s collaboration tools, you can co-edit files, share via OneDrive, and integrate with Teams and SharePoint. Reviewers appreciate real-time updates, remote teamwork, and file sharing, though some mention smoother experiences with Google Sheets for live syncing. Data Import/Export 4.7 (2,103) 62.91% of 2103 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Excel gives you flexible ways to import and export data in many formats, including CSV, PDF, and JSON. Users think it saves time, integrates well with other software like Revit and MySQL, and makes handling large datasets and sharing results efficient. Search/Filter 4.6 (1,754) 60.43% of 1754 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important You can quickly find, filter, and sort data using Excel’s search and filter tools. Reviewers indicate these capabilities save time, simplify working with large datasets, and support advanced analysis, with options like autofilter, advanced filter, and Power Query. Data Visualization 4.6 (1,596) 58.08% of 1596 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Excel helps you turn raw data into charts, graphs, and dashboards for clear analysis and presentations. Some reviewers find the variety of customizable visuals—like pivot tables, pie charts, and conditional formatting—makes it easier to spot trends and communicate insights. Document Management 4.6 (1,653) 54.69% of 1653 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location Microsoft Excel 25 features Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases Manage patient documentation describing all clinical interactions, diagnoses, procedures, medications, etc. With Excel’s collaboration tools, you can co-edit files, share via OneDrive, and integrate with Teams and SharePoint. Reviewers appreciate real-time updates, remote teamwork, and file sharing, though some mention smoother experiences with Google Sheets for live syncing. Leave comments and notes on documents for others to view Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Excel gives you flexible ways to import and export data in many formats, including CSV, PDF, and JSON. Users think it saves time, integrates well with other software like Revit and MySQL, and makes handling large datasets and sharing results efficient. Excel helps you turn raw data into charts, graphs, and dashboards for clear analysis and presentations. Some reviewers find the variety of customizable visuals—like pivot tables, pie charts, and conditional formatting—makes it easier to spot trends and communicate insights. Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components Public or private sharing of digital files such as documents, audio/video, images, and more Ability to handle several projects simultaneously Allow users to create, edit, and sort multiple notes A collection of tools to be used for routine tasks within an organization such as word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. With offline access, you can work on spreadsheets, analyze data, and prepare presentations anywhere, even without internet. Reviewers appreciate being able to edit, save, and sync files later, which boosts productivity, especially in areas with unreliable connectivity. Tools to facilitate the production of information and promote efficiency Plan and coordinate all the resources, costs and time needed to execute assignments Receive data and information in real time Receive system updates as soon as any changes are made You can quickly find, filter, and sort data using Excel’s search and filter tools. Reviewers indicate these capabilities save time, simplify working with large datasets, and support advanced analysis, with options like autofilter, advanced filter, and Power Query. Create, manage and track all task activities and progression Allow multiple team members to edit and work on the same document Sample files or documents that could be customized as needed or used as is A digital list of items that need to be completed Track revisions and updates made to files and navigate between different versions Provides varying estimates based on different scenarios Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.7 (19,335) 4.7 Based on 19,335 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.6 (13003) Free Version [View pricing plan details](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/pricing/) Microsoft 365 Business Basic $6.00 Per User,Per Month It includes: - File sharing - Collaboration Microsoft 365 Apps for business $8.25 Per User,Per Month Microsoft 365 Business Standard $12.50 Per User,Per Month Microsoft 365 Business Premium $22.00 Per User,Per Month Value for money 4.6 (13,003) 4.6 Based on 13,003 reviews ## Integrations [ Google Docs](https://www.capterra.com/p/160756/Google-Docs/)[ Google Drive](https://www.capterra.com/p/161425/Drive/)[ PayPal](https://www.capterra.com/p/207944/PayPal/)[ Slack](https://www.capterra.com/p/135003/Slack/)[ Trello](https://www.capterra.com/p/211559/Trello/)[ Dropbox Business](https://www.capterra.com/p/143068/Dropbox-Business/)[ Microsoft PowerPoint](https://www.capterra.com/p/141633/PowerPoint/)[ Mailchimp](https://www.capterra.com/p/110228/MailChimp/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (11280) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (11,280) 4.3 Based on 11,280 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.8 Based on 19,431 reviews Filter by rating 5(15474) 4(3581) 3(335) 2(30) 1(11) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent AL Aurora L. Chef de projet e-santé Information Technology and Services ### "La référence absolue pour l'analyse et la structuration des données." 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 28, 2026 Excel reste la solution la plus puissante et polyvalente du marché pour l'analyse de données, malgré une complexité croissante avec l'ajout de nouvelles fonctionnalités. Pros Un outil incontournable pour la manipulation de données complexes grâce aux tableaux croisés dynamiques, aux formules avancées et à son intégration parfaite avec l'écosystème Microsoft. Cons L'interface peut devenir intimidante pour les débutants, et certaines fonctionnalités très avancées nécessitent un temps d'apprentissage significatif pour être pleinement maîtrisées. Switched from [LibreOffice](https://www.capterra.com/p/158981/LibreOffice/) [Google Sheets](https://www.capterra.com/p/169718/Google-Sheets/) Plus puissant dans les fonctionnalités avancées. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. ET Edward T. Founder and Marketing Strategist Marketing and Advertising ### "The spreadsheet tool which a marketing founder depends on the most than any other software in the stack." 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 28, 2026 Excel is at the back of nearly all my financial and performance reports. Templates accelerate the repetitive effort and the worthiness in our current Microsoft platform renders it difficult to substitute with anything lighter. Pros I have never found another tool that can build custom campaign trackers, budget models and client reporting sheets to the same degree of reliability and depth than this one. Cons Mobile experience is actually painful when I have to call a sheet between meetings with the clients. Navigation has been implemented on smaller screens as an afterthought and not designed to be used as a real use case. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. YZ Yev Z. WMS Administrator Apparel & Fashion ### "Powerful tool, as useful as ever. " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 27, 2026 Overall, I consider this an important tool that currently does not have an equivalent replacement. The online/cloud version is useful for sharing, but still lacks some features and ease of use. Pros Powerful tool to leverage for analytics and projects. I primarily use it to compile quick charts and tables for data analysis and for proposals. Templates are also very useful for various financing and accounting tasks. Cons The switch from desktop to the online version is still not very seamless. Navigation can be tricky, as well. For instance, when researching online how to perform a specific task within Excel, you may often find that a toolbar looks different on your version than what the instructions appear to show. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AM Amber M. HR Advisor Insurance ### "Great product" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 April 26, 2026 I think that Microsoft Excel is great, I have used the product for years both personally and professionally. Pros The thing I like most about Microsoft Excel is the flexibility of the system with so many different functions. Cons The thing I like least about Microsoft Excel is that it is complicated to use and takes a lot of learning. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Kerry G. Account Receivable Specialist Hospital & Health Care ### "Excel at your reporting " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 25, 2026 Pleasant, easy to use. Great for running daily to monthly reports. Creating many different tables. It has been a pleasant experience. Pros I truly love using excel. Microsoft has a wonderful customer support process. Excel Is very easy to use. The premade templates help tremendously. The software is very easy to navigate through. I find that Excel is compatible with many different softwares for many different reporting reasons. Cons I can honestly say I have not found anything I dislike about Microsoft Excel. If you know how to use excel, problems shouldn’t arise. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. KW Kate W. Office Manager Sports ### "It's the standard!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 25, 2026 It's the OG and you've got to respect it. Life would be much, much more difficult without it and it's used internationally without issue. Pleased with it's features and usefulness. Pros It's the standard. Everyone uses Excel to some extent, it's simple in format but you can get very detailed and for less savvy users there are great templates and tutorials out there. Cons It can be expensive for a small business when needing to use Excel and other Microsoft products but it's not outrageously so. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AU Anonymous User Compliance Manager Financial Services ### "The Everyday Professional" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 23, 2026 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 Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TS Tiana S. Lawyer Law Practice ### "Excel - Support calculation must have" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 23, 2026 Pros There are many great features, one of which the automatic calculations - with complex financial matters in family law, this is quite important. Cons It is not always the most user friendly system and often times a simple miss click can badly arrange a calculation. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Darren S. CFO Mechanical or Industrial Engineering ### "Most widely used software" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 22, 2026 My overall experience with excel is that I basically use it daily for my work. It has so many uses for various work needs. Pros Its simplicity to maneuver around data with such ease. And the ability to construct all date is simply top notch. Cons There is not many cons I can think of, but maybe the fact that there are so many different ways to do the same task. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. NB Nicholas B. Actuary Financial Services ### "Broad uses, always improving" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 21, 2026 I use it daily. it is integral to my professional life and a vital tool in the financial universe. I am grateful for its vast capabilities! Pros exceptionally easy to automate routines, especially with macros and vba integration. language is extremely user friendly and easy to pick up. good for both technical analysis and presentation support, suitable for a wide variety of audiences. Cons processing power may be a bit weak- iterative processes take longer than they will with other products such as python or R Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/176574/Excel/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. 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