Alternatives
Best Microsoft Excel alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best Microsoft Excel alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/microsoft-excel
3 direct alternatives to Microsoft Excel 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
- Smartsheet is the top alternative to Microsoft Excel on our list, followed by Google Sheets and Airtable.
- 5 of the 8 alternatives have a free plan, starting with Google Sheets.
- 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 Microsoft Excel
Smartsheet
#1 Top pickSpreadsheet-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
Best overall
Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.
Starting price
From $6.8 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 2026
3.7 /5 across Capterra and SourceForge · 997 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Best free tier
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
Microsoft Excel vs 8 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Free plan | Rating | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: $9.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.8 out of 5, from 22,705 ratings across G2 and Capterra (22,705) | |
| 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: $6.8/mo | Free plan: Yes | 3.7 out of 5, from 997 ratings across Capterra and SourceForge (997) | 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: Contact sales | Free plan: No | 4.8 out of 5, from 39 ratings on G2 (39) | Same category as Microsoft Excel |
 | Price: $15/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.9 out of 5, from 24 ratings on G2 (24) | Same category as Microsoft Excel |
 | Price: $10/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.9 out of 5, from 7 ratings on G2 (7) | Same category as Microsoft Excel |
 | Price: $24/mo | Free plan: No | n/a | Same category as Microsoft Excel |
 | Price: $10/mo | Free plan: Yes | n/a | Same category as Microsoft Excel |
Why people consider alternatives to Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is the world's most widely used spreadsheet application, part of Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). Excel offers powerful data analysis features including pivot tables, advanced formulas, charts, and macros (VBA).
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- Pricing at scale as usage or premium tiers add up.
- Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- A specific feature gap you have hit in spreadsheets.
The 3 direct alternatives below cover the same core job (spreadsheets) with different trade-offs. The 5 tools marked "Same category as Microsoft Excel" fit the category but replace Microsoft Excel less directly.
Microsoft Excel by the numbers
Toolradar data: Microsoft Excel's entry paid plan ($9.99/mo, billed monthly) ranks #26 of 146 (joint) for price among the Finance tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $27.50/mo. As of Nov 2026.
- #15 (joint) rated in Productivity, out of 683 tools with 20+ reviews in Productivity. Source: Toolradar data, Nov 2026.
- #8 (joint) rated in Finance, out of 302 tools with 20+ reviews in Finance. Source: Toolradar data, Nov 2026.
| Metric | Microsoft Excel | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $9.99/mo, billed monthly | $27.50/mo | #26 of 146 (joint) tools with no stated price unit, verified price |
| Free plan | Yes | 31% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 7 tools | 3 | #119 of 644 (joint) |
| User rating | 4.8/5 (across the web, 22,705 ratings) | 4.5/5 | #8 of 302 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 39 visits | 33 | #39 of 95 tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Listed as an alternative to: #102 on 2026-10-16 to #119 on 2026-11-03 (rank among 644 tools, 1 is best).
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. A lower entry price ranks higher; prices are read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. All Finance 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, “Microsoft Excel by the numbers”, Nov 2026.
8 alternatives to Microsoft Excel
Direct alternatives come first, ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review. Tools marked "Same category as Microsoft Excel" follow, ranked the same way.
- 1
Smartsheet
Paid Battle-tested at scaleSpreadsheet-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
- 2
Google Sheets
100% freeCreate, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.
3.7 /5 across Capterra and SourceForge · 997 ratings, Sep 2026
From €6.80/user/mo, billed yearly
- 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
PaidSurface 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 Microsoft Excel
- 5
Rows
Free planThe 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 Microsoft Excel
- 6
Grist
Free planThe 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 Microsoft Excel
- 7
Smartsheet MCP
PaidOfficial Smartsheet MCP server for work management
From $24/member/mo, billed monthly
Same category as Microsoft Excel
- 8
Octo AI Data Analyst for Google Sheets
Free planAsk your sheet questions, approve formulas, pivots, dashboards, and cleanup
From $10/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
Same category as Microsoft Excel
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Excel?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to Microsoft Excel are Smartsheet, Google Sheets, Airtable. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Excel?
Yes. Google Sheets is 100% free (no paid upgrade path) (Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free). Freemium tools on this list offer a free tier with paid upgrades; they are not the same as fully free.
Why do people look for Microsoft Excel alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from Microsoft Excel: pricing that scales aggressively, 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 different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for Microsoft Excel versus each alternative.
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