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Best Spreadsheets Tools in 2026

Spreadsheets and data grids

Key Takeaways
  • Google Sheets is our #1 pick for spreadsheets in 2026.
  • We analyzed 6 spreadsheets tools to create this ranking.
  • 4 tools offer free plans, perfect for getting started.

Spreadsheets have three main flavors in 2026: the incumbents (Excel, Google Sheets) for general use, the database-style spreadsheets (Airtable, Notion) for structured workflows, and the AI/analytics spreadsheets (Rows, Coefficient) for data-pull-and-analyze use cases. The category is reaching the right tool depending on your task type.

6 top spreadsheets tools compared

Starting price, average user rating, and our pick for each category.

ToolOur takeStarting priceRating
Google Sheets logo
Google Sheets
Best overallFree4.7
Microsoft Excel logo
Microsoft Excel
Community favoriteFree + paid4.7
Smartsheet logo
Smartsheet
Solid pickContact sales4.4
Equals logo
Equals
Solid pickContact sales4.8
Rows logo
Rows
Solid pickFree + paid4.7
Grist logo
Grist
Highest ratedFree + paid4.9

How the Top Spreadsheets Tools Compare

In 2026, Google Sheets leads the spreadsheets category with a 4.5/5 rating, narrowly edging out Microsoft Excel (4.8/5). Google Sheets - Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free..

Pricing varies significantly among the top picks: Google Sheets (free), Microsoft Excel (freemium (free tier available)) offer free access, while Smartsheet and Equals require a paid subscription. Teams on a budget should start with Google Sheets, which delivers strong value despite its free tier.

Computed from live tool ratings, review counts, and editorial scores.Editorial policy
01
Google Sheets logo

Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.

Free4.7/513,172 ratings

Google Sheets is a free, web-based spreadsheet program that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real-time. It's part of the Google Workspace suite of productivity tools and is accessible from any device with an internet connection. Sheets is ideal for individuals, teams, and businesses of all sizes who need a flexible and powerful tool for data organization, analysis, and visualization. Key benefits include seamless collaboration, automatic saving, version history, and integration with other Google products like Google Forms and Google Data Studio. Users can import and export various file formats, including Microsoft Excel, and utilize a wide range of functions, charts, and pivot tables to analyze their data effectively. Its accessibility and collaborative features make it a popular choice for shared projects and remote work.

02
Microsoft Excel logo

Industry-standard spreadsheet software

Freemium4.7/53,043 ratings

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). Used by businesses worldwide for financial modeling, data analysis, reporting, and automation. Excel's formula language and features have become the industry standard that competitors try to match. Available as desktop app, web app, and mobile app with real-time collaboration.

03
Smartsheet logo

Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows

Paid4.4/527,013 ratings

Smartsheet manages work with spreadsheet familiarity. Work management that feels like spreadsheets-project tools for spreadsheet users. The interface is familiar. The features are comprehensive. The enterprise use is strong. Teams wanting spreadsheet-like project management use Smartsheet for familiar work tools.

04
Equals logo

Surface the exact levers to grow faster with GTM analytics powered by live data.

Paid4.8/539 ratings

Equals is a GTM analytics platform that transforms raw data from various business systems into actionable insights within a spreadsheet interface. It connects directly to sources like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Stripe, providing real-time data for Go-To-Market (GTM) teams, founders, and finance professionals. The platform aims to provide clarity on pipeline, funnel conversion, and overall business performance. The core of Equals is its BI Spreadsheet, which functions like a traditional spreadsheet but is directly connected to live data. It includes an AI-powered 'Analyst' feature that can answer GTM questions and build spreadsheet models without hallucinating, as it only pulls data and writes formulas. This enables users to forecast pipeline, analyze historical win rates, and generate board-ready reports, fundamentally changing how teams operate by providing real-time revenue insights.

Equals UI screenshot
05
Rows logo

The spreadsheet where data comes to life, integrating with business tools and automating workflows.

Freemium4.7/525 ratings

Rows is a modern spreadsheet platform designed to connect directly with various business tools and automate data workflows. It allows users to import data from popular platforms like Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, and Salesforce directly into their spreadsheets without complex integrations or coding. This enables real-time data analysis and reporting within a familiar spreadsheet interface. The platform is ideal for data analysts, marketers, sales teams, and anyone who needs to consolidate and analyze data from multiple sources. Rows helps users automate routine tasks, create interactive dashboards, and share insights easily, transforming static spreadsheets into dynamic data applications. Its focus on connectivity and automation streamlines data operations, making data more accessible and actionable for decision-making.

06
Grist logo

The collaborative spreadsheet that minds its business, building relational data apps with open-source control.

Freemium4.9/56 ratings

Grist is an open-source, collaborative spreadsheet software designed to transform chaotic data into structured, relational applications. It combines the familiar interface of a spreadsheet with the power of a database, allowing users to build custom data tools without extensive coding. It caters to a wide range of users, from IT departments seeking to eliminate spreadsheet sprawl and control access, to research labs managing sensitive data, nonprofits needing affordable CRM, and developers looking for a self-hostable spreadsheet with database capabilities. Grist emphasizes data ownership, security, and flexibility, enabling users to create tailored solutions for their specific workflows. Key functionalities include an AI assistant for data analysis and formula generation, form and survey builders, flexible drag-and-drop layouts, granular access rules for collaboration, and dynamic data visualizations. It supports Python in formulas, offers extensive APIs and integrations, and can be self-managed for compliance or intranet operations, using a portable SQLite format.

In-depth: why these tools made the cut

Google Sheets logo

Google Sheets pioneered real-time collaborative spreadsheet editing and remains the best at it. The sharing model, comment threads, version history, and integration with the rest of Google Workspace make it the default for most teams that don't have an Excel mandate. For multi-user analysis, no other spreadsheet feels as friction-free.

Google Sheets lags Excel on heavy-duty analysis (complex models, large datasets, advanced statistical functions). For most business use cases — pipeline tracking, KPI dashboards, budget models — Sheets is sufficient and the collaboration win outweighs the analysis gap. For finance teams or quantitative work, Excel may still be the right secondary tool.

Microsoft Excel logo

Excel is the deepest spreadsheet ever built — 30+ years of accumulated capability across formulas, pivot tables, Power Query, add-ins, and VBA. For finance, accounting, scientific work, and any task requiring sophisticated modeling, Excel remains the standard. Microsoft 365 Copilot integration has been a recent significant upgrade.

Excel's collaborative editing in Web Excel is competent but not Google Sheets-class. Many teams use Excel for desktop analysis and Google Sheets for shared dashboards — different tools for different use cases. For pure power, Excel; for pure collaboration, Sheets.

How to choose spreadsheets software

Most spreadsheet failures happen when users push general-purpose Excel into structured workflows (CRM, project tracking) that a database-style tool would handle better. Recognize when a spreadsheet is the wrong tool, not just the slow tool.

  1. Decide if you actually need a spreadsheet

    If multiple users update the data, the data has relationships, or you need views (Kanban, Gantt, calendar), an Airtable/Notion database is better than a spreadsheet. Use spreadsheets for analysis and modeling; use databases for structured operational data.

  2. Pick collaboration tier

    Real-time multi-user editing: Google Sheets is the gold standard. Excel Web works but has more friction. Async with strong version history: any of them. If most spreadsheet work is collaborative, Google Sheets is usually the right default.

  3. Plan for advanced analysis

    If you're doing serious modeling, Excel still leads on formula depth (LET, LAMBDA, dynamic arrays) and add-ins (Solver, Power Query). Google Sheets has closed the gap on basics but lags on heavy analysis. Power users sometimes use both — Google Sheets for collaboration, Excel for serious modeling.

  4. Audit external data integration

    If you're pulling data from APIs, databases, or SaaS tools, integration support varies. Google Sheets has many connectors; Excel has Power Query; specialized tools (Coefficient, Rows) are purpose-built for live data feeds. Pick based on where your data lives.

Best Spreadsheets for

How we ranked these spreadsheets tools

We rank by real-world signal: verified user ratings aggregated from G2, Capterra, and our own community, the volume and recency of media coverage, and hands-on editorial review for the tools we cover in depth. Pricing is re-checked and the ranking refreshed monthly. We do not sell placement in this list.

Tools reviewed
6
With free tier
67%
Last updated
June 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best spreadsheets tool in 2026?

Based on our analysis of 6 spreadsheets tools, Google Sheets ranks #1 on Toolradar's assessment. The runners-up are Microsoft Excel, Smartsheet, Equals. Our rankings are based on features, pricing, user reviews, and real-world testing across 6 products.

What are the top 3 spreadsheets tools?

The top 3 spreadsheets tools in 2026, ranked by Toolradar, are: 1) Google Sheets, Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.. 2) Microsoft Excel, Industry-standard spreadsheet software. 3) Smartsheet, Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows.

Are there free spreadsheets tools?

Yes: 4 out of our top 6 spreadsheets tools offer free or freemium plans. The top free options are Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Rows. Free plans typically include core features with usage limits.

How do I choose the right spreadsheets tool?

Start by defining your team size, budget, and must-have features. Google Sheets is the top-rated option overall. For budget-conscious teams, Google Sheets offers strong value. Compare all 6 options side-by-side on Toolradar, where we evaluate features, pricing, ease of use, and user reviews.

For spreadsheets vendors

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