Excel and Google Sheets can do most of the same everyday work. The difference shows when files get large, when many people edit at once, or when an AI helper writes the formulas. This guide compares them using the vendors’ own pages and a test you can run on a real file.
Short version: Excel is the deeper tool for analysis and big workbooks. Google Sheets is the easier tool for shared editing in the browser. Facts are from vendor pages read on Oct 15, 2026.
At a glance: Excel vs Google Sheets
| Area | Excel | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Depth of analysis and desktop features | Collaboration and sharing in the browser |
| AI helper | Copilot | Gemini |
| Free online | Yes, Excel for the web | Part of Workspace, see Google |
| Best for | Models, large workbooks, pivots | Shared lists, team sheets, light analysis |
| Buying model | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
What each tool is built for
Excel is Microsoft’s spreadsheet. The page highlights free online use and Copilot features for formulas, formatting and analysis, plus apps for web, iOS and Android.
Google Sheets is Google’s collaborative spreadsheet in Workspace. The page highlights Gemini features and the ability to import Excel files.
Compatibility is the real cost of switching. Before you move a team, collect the five most-used files and open each in the other tool. If more than one breaks, the move needs a plan. PDF editor apps and PandaDoc alternatives matter when files leave the team.
Pricing and plan limits as listed on Oct 14, 2026
Microsoft Excel for the web is free to use online, according to the Excel page. Desktop Excel comes with Microsoft 365 plans, and Microsoft 365 Personal is shown as including the desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote apps with Copilot. See the Microsoft 365 plan comparison for prices in your country.
Google Sheets is sold through Google Workspace. The Workspace pricing page lists Business Starter, Standard and Plus plans billed per user, with pooled storage of 30 GB, 2 TB and 5 TB per user and a cap of 300 users on those three plans. Prices on the page we read were in Canadian dollars, so we do not quote them here. Check the Google Workspace pricing page for your currency.
A same-task test you can run in one afternoon
Run one real workbook through both. This is a suggested test, not a result we measured.
Step 1. Take a workbook with a pivot table, a chart and a few lookup formulas. Step 2. Open it in Excel for the web and in Google Sheets (Google says you can import Excel files without making a copy). Step 3. Note what breaks: formulas, formatting, charts, pivot tables. Step 4. Have two people edit the same file at once and see how each tool handles comments, history and permissions. Step 5. Ask each AI assistant, Copilot in Excel and Gemini in Sheets, to write one formula and explain one error.
If the numbers end up in reports, see Databox alternatives, the Google Analytics 4 guide and the best AI tools for small business.
Limits matrix: what to confirm before you commit
| Question | Excel | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Free route | Excel for the web | Check Google for personal access, business via Workspace |
| Paid route | Microsoft 365 plans | Workspace Business plans, per user |
| AI | Copilot in Excel | Gemini in Sheets |
| File compatibility | Native Excel files | Imports Excel files |
| Collaboration | Online collaboration in Microsoft 365 | Built for shared editing |
| Storage model | Files and OneDrive | Pooled storage per user in Workspace |
Pick a master copy rule: one place where the current version lives, and who owns it. Most spreadsheet pain is version confusion, not features. Automation tools can copy data between tools when both are needed.
Who should choose which
Choose Excel if you build models, work with large files or need desktop features. Choose Google Sheets if your team collaborates all day in the browser and shares simple lists.
If your sheet has turned into a database, read Airtable vs Google Sheets and Airtable vs Excel.
Security and admin also matter. Workspace and Microsoft 365 both have admin controls, so ask your IT lead which suite you already pay for before you buy a second one. The JustCreateApp directory and best no-code social media app builders help you look at neighbouring tools.
Frequently asked questions
Is Excel better than Google Sheets?
For deep analysis, large workbooks and finance work, Excel is the usual choice. For shared editing and teams that live in Google Workspace, Sheets is easier. Test both on your own file.
Is Excel free?
Microsoft says Excel for the web is free to use online. Desktop Excel comes with Microsoft 365, checked Oct 15, 2026.
Can Google Sheets open Excel files?
Google says you can import Microsoft Excel files into Sheets without making a copy. Check complex formulas and pivot tables after import.
Which has better AI help?
Both sell AI assistants. Excel has Copilot and Sheets has Gemini. Each writes formulas and explains errors, so compare them on your own data and check results.
Which is better for teams?
Sheets is built around shared editing in the browser. Excel for the web also supports collaboration, but desktop-heavy teams still pass files around.
Do I need to choose one?
Not always. Many companies use both because clients send Excel files and teammates prefer Sheets. Agree on a rule for which is the master copy.
What should I compare next?
See Airtable vs Excel, Airtable vs Google Sheets and OpenOffice vs LibreOffice.
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