6 Best Free Spreadsheet Programs

Google Sheets is the best online option. Here are other Microsoft Excel alternatives we love

There are several free spreadsheet programs that have the capabilities of Microsoft Excel without the price tag. These apps have all the spreadsheet functions you'd expect as well as features such as Excel file compatibility, clean interfaces, automatic spell check, macro creation, and auto-saving.

01
of 06

Google Sheets

Google Sheets MROUND result
What We Like
  • Offers functions and a design similar to Excel.

  • Work is saved to the cloud.

  • Includes helpful and free-to-use templates.

What We Don't Like
  • Google's lack of privacy.

  • Its cloud-first design means taking extra steps to keep local copies of content.

Although it's not a desktop application like the others listed here, Google Sheets is a popular alternative to Microsoft Excel—in both its online and offline variants. It also works through a mobile app.

Sheets works like any other spreadsheet. However, because it's a cloud-based service, by default, it saves your work in near-real-time and stores your files in your Google Drive. You must log in with a Google account to create new spreadsheets, but once logged in, the tool is free to use and has robust enough features that I use it for all my spreadsheet needs.

Sheets is a cloud-based service that supports real-time collaboration and document sharing features that desktop-based solutions generally cannot match.

02
of 06

WPS Office Spreadsheet

A blank document open in WPS Office Spreadsheet
What We Like
  • Works on all the popular desktop and mobile platforms.

  • Smaller install footprint.

  • Simple interface.

  • Unique features like a batch file renamer and a thesaurus.

What We Don't Like
  • Lacks spell check.

  • Only the paid version has a full suite of features.

  • Must download the full suite.

  • Several prompts to upgrade.

WPS Office is a suite like MS Office that includes a program called Spreadsheet. Its beautiful, intuitive interface is simple to use, and it supports lots of awesome features.

It works with the same file types as nearly every version of Microsoft Excel, including the XLSX, XLS, and CSV formats. You can open these common file types and save to them.

This software supports more than a hundred formulas for working with data. I also like the handful of tools you don't typically see in spreadsheet apps, like Auto Backup to save files online, Invoice Maker, File Collect for accepting documents from others, and Screen Recorder.

03
of 06

OpenOffice Calc

OpenOffice Calc in Windows 8
What We Like
  • Works with most spreadsheet file formats.

  • Extra extensions and templates are available.

What We Don't Like
  • The Help section isn't very extensive.

  • An overly simplistic interface.

OpenOffice Calc has many of the same features as WPS Office's app, including support for common file formats. Although it isn't as easy to use, it does offer unique advantages like support for creating macros and automatic spell check.

Also, OpenOffice Calc allows different toolsets to be detached from the main program window to provide more space for working while providing tons of useful features.

The Extension Manager lets you add features to Calc that aren't included in the default program, which is another way to customize the program to your liking.

04
of 06

Spread32

Spread32 in Windows 8
What We Like
  • Hundreds of functions.

  • Stores a lot of data.

What We Don't Like
  • Only available for Windows.

  • Doesn't open Excel files.

Like all these spreadsheet programs, Spread32 supports hundreds of functions and all the regular formatting tools. The program interface is easy to use and provides a clean working space.

Files save to your computer in many formats, including XLS, XLT, PXT, CSV, and BMP.

Spread32 is portable, which means you don't have to install it to use it. Also, it can run from portable media like a flash drive. It takes up less space than the other programs in this list; the size is under a few megabytes.

05
of 06

Gnumeric

Gnumeric in Windows 8
What We Like
  • Simple and easy to use interface.

  • Quick and responsive.

What We Don't Like
  • Doesn't include all the functions available in Excel.

  • Graphs and charts lack style.

  • Designed for Linux only.

  • Infrequent updates.

Gnumeric is an advanced spreadsheet program. There are numerous tools you won't find in some of the other software from this list. Though there are advanced features like auto-saving workbooks, it also supports the common ones you'd expect to find in a spreadsheet program.

Microsoft Excel 2003 and 2007 formats are supported, and data can be imported from a text file and then filtered in Gnumeric. Windows binaries aren't available, so this is only useful for Linux users.

06
of 06

SSuite Accel

SSuite Accel
What We Like
  • Has an effective formula search utility.

  • It's easy to connect data sources.

What We Don't Like
  • Installs extra utilities automatically.

  • Cluttered toolbars.

  • Supports limited file formats.

SSuite Accel doesn't look nearly as nice as the other programs from this list, but it's a working spreadsheet program that performs many of the same functions.

Files save to formats like XLS and CSV, but also to some Accel-specific ones like VTS and ATP.

SSuite Accel connects to external database files and supports opening files directly from Dropbox and other online storage services.

Was this page helpful?