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Excel vs Google Sheets: Which Spreadsheet Tool to Choose

August 23, 2021

Excel Vs Google Sheets: Choosing the Right Spreadsheet Tool for You

Looking for a cloud-based spreadsheet tool but can't decide between Excel and Google Sheets? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this post, we'll compare the pros and cons of each tool based on features, pricing, and reliability.

Features

When it comes to features, there's no doubt that Excel has been the go-to tool for many businesses for decades. However, Google Sheets has come a long way since its launch in 2006 and now offers many of the same features as Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, and charts.

Microsoft Excel does have some features that are not available in Google Sheets, such as Power Query, Power Pivot, and extensive macro support. However, for most users, the features available in Google Sheets are more than sufficient for their needs. In fact, many Google Sheets users appreciate its simplified interface, which makes it more accessible than Excel for basic spreadsheet tasks.

Pricing

For personal use, Google Sheets is the clear winner as it's completely free to use. Microsoft Excel, on the other hand, is part of the Microsoft Office suite and requires a subscription to use. However, if your business is already using Microsoft 365, then you may find that Excel is already included in your subscription.

For businesses, pricing is a bit more complicated. Google Sheets is part of the Google Workspace suite (formerly G Suite) which includes a variety of cloud-based productivity apps starting at $6 per month per user. On the other hand, Microsoft 365 Business Basic, which includes Excel alongside other Microsoft apps, starts at $5 per month per user. Microsoft 365 Business Standard, the next tier up which includes more features, starts at $12.50 per month per user.

Reliability

Both Excel and Google Sheets are cloud-based services, meaning that your work is saved to the cloud and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. In terms of reliability, both services have been known to experience occasional downtime. However, Google's infrastructure has been designed to automatically route traffic to other servers in the event of an outage, minimizing disruption to users.

Conclusion

So which spreadsheet tool is better: Excel or Google Sheets? As with most things, the answer is "it depends". If you're a heavy Excel user and require advanced features such as Power Query or if your business is already using Microsoft 365, then Excel may be the better choice. However, if you're looking for a simple, cloud-based spreadsheet tool that won't break the bank, then Google Sheets is an excellent choice. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and evaluating the features that matter most to you.

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