Alternatives
Best Google Sheets alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best Google Sheets alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/google-sheets
3 direct alternatives to Google Sheets and 5 more tools in the same category, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Quick answer
- Microsoft Excel is the top alternative to Google Sheets on our list, followed by Smartsheet and Airtable.
- 5 of the 8 alternatives have a free plan, starting with Microsoft Excel.
- Highest rated: Rows, 4.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, Sep 2026.
- 8 alternatives
- 3 direct
- 5 with a free plan
Top 3 alternatives to Google Sheets
Microsoft Excel
#1 Top pickIndustry-standard spreadsheet software
Starting price
From $9.99 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.8 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 22,705 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Best overall
Smartsheet
#2Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
Starting price
From $9 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
4.1 /5 across G2, Capterra and SourceForge · 26,330 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Most affordable
Airtable
#3Build custom apps and automate workflows without code
Starting price
From $20 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
3.6 /5 across Trustpilot, TrustRadius and PeerSpot · 644 ratings, Aug 2026
Google Sheets vs 8 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Free plan | Rating | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: $6.8/mo | Free plan: Yes | 3.7 out of 5, from 997 ratings across Capterra and SourceForge (997) | |
| Price: $9.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.8 out of 5, from 22,705 ratings across G2 and Capterra (22,705) | Direct alternative |
| Price: $9/mo | Free plan: No | 4.1 out of 5, from 26,330 ratings across G2, Capterra and SourceForge (26,330) | Direct alternative |
| Price: $20/mo | Free plan: Yes | 3.6 out of 5, from 644 ratings across Trustpilot, TrustRadius and PeerSpot (644) | Direct alternative |
 | Price: Not published | Free plan: No | 4.8 out of 5, from 39 ratings on G2 (39) | Same category as Google Sheets |
 | Price: $15/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.9 out of 5, from 24 ratings on G2 (24) | Same category as Google Sheets |
 | Price: $10/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.9 out of 5, from 7 ratings on G2 (7) | Same category as Google Sheets |
 | Price: $24/mo | Free plan: No | n/a | Same category as Google Sheets |
 | Price: Free | Free plan: Yes | n/a | Same category as Google Sheets |
Why people consider alternatives to Google Sheets
Google Sheets is a free, web-based spreadsheet program that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real-time.
Here are the real cost and limitation gotchas that push teams to look elsewhere:
- Storage limits on free tier can be hit quickly.
- Higher storage tiers increase per-user cost significantly.
- No annual-only discounts mentioned, monthly billing implied.
The 3 direct alternatives below cover the same core job (spreadsheets) with different trade-offs. The 5 tools marked "Same category as Google Sheets" fit the category but replace Google Sheets less directly.
Google Sheets by the numbers
| Metric | Google Sheets | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | 56% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 10 tools | 2 | #19 of 143 (joint) |
| User rating | 3.7/5 (across the web, 997 ratings) | 4.5/5 | #54 of 57 tools with 20+ reviews |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 39 visits | 43 | #20 of 33 tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Listed as an alternative to: #18 on 2026-10-16 to #19 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 143 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Data Visualization 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, “Google Sheets by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
8 alternatives to Google Sheets
Direct alternatives come first, ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review. Tools marked "Same category as Google Sheets" follow, ranked the same way.
- 1
Microsoft Excel
Free plan Higher rated by usersIndustry-standard spreadsheet software
4.8 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 22,705 ratings, Sep 2026
From $9.99/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 2
Smartsheet
Paid Higher rated by usersSpreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
4.1 /5 across G2, Capterra and SourceForge · 26,330 ratings, Sep 2026
From $9/mo, billed monthly
- 3
Airtable
Free planBuild custom apps and automate workflows without code
3.6 /5 across Trustpilot, TrustRadius and PeerSpot · 644 ratings, Aug 2026
From $20/seat/mo, billed yearly; free plan available
- 4
Equals
Paid Higher rated by usersSurface the exact levers to grow faster with GTM analytics powered by live data.
4.8 /5 on G2 · 39 ratings, Mar 2026
Price not published
Same category as Google Sheets
- 5
Rows
Free plan Higher rated by usersThe spreadsheet where data comes to life, integrating with business tools and automating workflows.
4.9 /5 on G2 · 24 ratings, Sep 2026
From $15/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
Same category as Google Sheets
- 6
Grist
Free plan Higher rated by usersThe collaborative spreadsheet that minds its business, building relational data apps with open-source control.
4.9 /5 on G2 · 7 ratings, Sep 2026
From $10/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
Same category as Google Sheets
- 7
Smartsheet MCP
PaidOfficial Smartsheet MCP server for work management
From $24/member/mo, billed monthly
Same category as Google Sheets
- 8
Tiny Little Office
100% freeCreate documents in 10 tiny apps and share them as self-contained links
Free
Same category as Google Sheets
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Google Sheets?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to Google Sheets are Microsoft Excel, Smartsheet, Airtable. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Google Sheets?
Google Sheets is already 100% free (no paid upgrade path). Tiny Little Office is another fully free option listed here (Create documents in 10 tiny apps and share them as self-contained links). Freemium tools on this list have a free tier plus paid plans; they are not the same as 100% free.
Why do people look for Google Sheets alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Google Sheets even though it is free: missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in spreadsheets. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with a different feature set.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Google Sheets versus each alternative.
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