Although Microsoft Excel is the most powerful spreadsheet software on the market, it is not always a viable solution. Excel is part of the Microsoft 365 package, which requires a monthly subscription. If you are not heavily invested in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem or do not need the advanced features of Excel, you may want to explore some free alternatives for your workflow.
There are plenty of free spreadsheet programs out there, each with its own strengths and capabilities. Among them, I've selected the best options to help you tackle your tasks, track budgets, and build databases like a pro. And as a huge Excel fan, I have high standards for spreadsheets, I can assure you.
All of the Excel alternatives mentioned below are compatible with your existing Excel files. You should not have any problems opening your Excel files with any of them.
5 Apple numbers
While Apple Numbers won't win any awards for features, Apple's spreadsheet solution is still a capable option for iCloud users. It's part of the iWork suite and tightly integrated with the company's devices like the iPhone, iPad and Mac.
It offers a decent collection of templates right from the start in various categories like Personal Finance, Personal, Business, and Education. One of the biggest advantages of Apple Numbers is its interface. It is aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly and doesn't overwhelm you with endless options. Anyone with basic spreadsheet skills can get started with Numbers.
As expected, it uses Apple's iCloud storage platform to store and collaborate on spreadsheets. While it's a great option for Apple users, if you use an Android phone or Windows desktop in your workflow, consider one of the following options.

4 Zoho Table
Source: Zoho
Zoho Sheet is part of the Zoho Office suite, which offers several productivity apps for personal and business use. Unlike Apple Numbers and LibreOffice (more on those later), Zoho Sheet is available on all major platforms, making it a viable Excel alternative for professionals who frequently switch between devices.
Like Excel, Zoho Sheet offers seamless collaboration with real-time updates and commenting features, smooth integration with Zoho apps, data analysis capabilities, and more.
Zoho Sheet offers a generous free plan. You should only opt for the subscription if you want to unlock advanced features and more cloud storage. Overall, Zoho Sheet offers a great free choice for spreadsheet users looking for a collaborative and cloud-based platform with a focus on automation and customization.

3 WPS Office Table
WPS Office is one of the overlooked productivity suites on the market. Like Microsoft Excel, it has a long list of templates to get you started. It also has a central home tab where you can access all your documents, presentations, PDFs, and spreadsheets.
One of the biggest advantages of WPS Office Spreadsheet is its similarity to Microsoft Excel. The interface is similar to Microsoft Excel, with a standard menu bar and all the familiar features at the top, and getting started shouldn't be difficult at all.
The spreadsheet functionality is quite extensive and the program does not skimp on essential add-ons such as formulas, charts, pivot tables, and advanced data analysis tools. The software's tabbed interface makes it quite easy to switch between different files and tables with a single click. The company offers a comprehensive free plan and reasonably priced subscription options to access additional features.

2 LibreOffice Calc
If you can look past LibreOffice Calc's outdated interface, it can be a handy, free alternative to Microsoft Excel. Thanks to its open source nature, LibreOffice has a vibrant community and you have the ultimate freedom to review, modify and distribute code.
LibreOffice Calc's comprehensive feature set includes advanced data analysis tools, charting options, custom toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, and more.
While LibreOffice is a cross-platform solution with native apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, the productivity suite lacks on mobile and tablet platforms. The company's vibrant community offers a wealth of resources, tutorials and forums to help you get started or overcome any obstacles when using Calc. This is another important reason to use LibreOffice instead of WPS Office.

1 Google Sheets
When we talk about the best Excel alternatives, you can't go wrong with Google Sheets. It tops our list for several reasons. Google Sheets is part of the Google Workspace suite and offers a long list of features that effortlessly rival Microsoft Excel.
Since Google Sheets is a web-based solution, it's accessible across all platforms. It's integrated with popular Google services so you can access your contacts, tasks, notes, and more with a single click. If you have a Google One AI Premium plan, you can explore the Gemini integration to automate tedious tasks like a pro.
Google Sheets has an extensive library of templates and third-party add-ons to extend its functionality. For example, you can download the Neptyne add-on to unlock Python in Sheets with a single click. It also supports Google Apps Script and macros to perform repetitive tasks in a snap.
Google Sheets excels in real-time collaboration. This is the main reason why you should choose Google's solution over other alternatives on the list. Thanks to the recent revamp of Material You on the web, you will have no trouble using Google Sheets' features either.

Free yourself from Excel
Whether you are a student, run a small business, or are simply looking for a personal finance tool, the Excel alternatives above will not disappoint. As you can see, each software is part of the respective company's productivity suite. You can choose one based on features, cross-platform availability, collaboration tools, template selection, and other relevant factors.
If you're still not sure whether to use Google Sheets, check out our top reasons why it's superior to Microsoft Excel.