Not everyone needs Excel. Some people just want to track grocery costs. Others need a tool for work or business. Others may also need the Excel tool itself. However, affording the premium version has become a limitation to what they need the tool for. Whatever your reason, there are free spreadsheet apps out there. Many of them are great and easy to use. Most of these alternative applications also offer certain important features that may not be available in Microsoft Excel for free.
Spreadsheets are a big part of life now. People use them to manage money, track goals, or work with large amounts of data. Microsoft Excel is still the most popular one. But it costs money. And you need to use Microsoft’s software with it.
Free alternatives are worth checking out if you want to save money or have more control over your tools. Most of them work on Windows, Mac, and Linux, too.
Excel Still Rules in Business
Excel is still the top choice for many businesses. It works well with other Microsoft tools. It also has powerful features.
People love Excel because:
- It’s easy to use if you’ve used it before.
- It has pivot tables and macros.
- You can write scripts using Visual Basic.
- It connects to other data sources.
- It makes nice graphs and charts.
But not everyone needs all of that. If you don’t use Excel every day for work, you might find that a free tool does the job just as well.
1. LibreOffice Calc – A Great All-Rounder
Best for: Most people looking for a free Excel replacement
LibreOffice Calc is part of LibreOffice, a free office suite. It also includes tools like Writer (for documents) and Impress (for presentations).
What it offers:
- It opens and saves Excel files.
- It has charts, pivot tables, and formulas.
- It works with scripts in Basic, Python, and JavaScript.
- It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Calc looks and feels like Excel. It’s free and gets updates often. If you’re not tied to Microsoft Office, this is a great place to start.
There’s also Collabora Online. It’s based on LibreOffice but works in your browser. You can work with your team in real time, like Google Docs, but without giving up control of your data.
2. Gnumeric – Simple and Fast (Linux Only)
Best for: Linux users who want a light tool
Gnumeric is a fast and easy spreadsheet tool. It only works on Linux. You can install it with a simple command.
Why use it:
- It’s small and doesn’t slow your computer down.
- It’s known for accuracy (good for science and math work).
- It supports formulas and charts.
- You can use Python to automate tasks.
It doesn’t have everything (like pivot tables), but it’s great for quick jobs or simple needs.
3. OnlyOffice Spreadsheet Editor – Made for the Cloud
Best for: Teams who need to work together online
OnlyOffice is built for people who want to work in the cloud. It feels modern and is packed with features.
What you get:
- Pivot tables, charts, and formulas
- Live editing with teammates
- Macros using JavaScript
- You can run it in a browser or install it yourself with Docker
OnlyOffice works well for remote teams. You can set it up on a home server or NAS. That means you can open your files from anywhere. It’s a good Excel replacement for small businesses, too.
4. Grist – A Mix of Spreadsheet and Database
Best for: People who need structure and flexibility
Grist is a smart tool. It mixes a spreadsheet with a database. You can build forms, manage user access, and write scripts in Python.
What it does:
- Works in your browser (or you can host it yourself)
- Imports Excel files
- Lets you control who sees or edits what
- Helps you build workflows and apps for your data
It works differently from Excel, so it takes a little time to learn. But it’s powerful, especially for teams or people handling complex info.
5. Python – For Serious Data Work
Best for: Data professionals and tech-savvy users
Python isn’t a spreadsheet. But if you work with data often, it’s worth learning. It’s one of the most used languages in data science.
Why it’s useful:
- You can use Pandas and NumPy to clean and analyze data.
- Make charts with Matplotlib and Seaborn.
- Jupyter Notebooks let you write code and see results step-by-step.
Python won’t replace Excel for basic stuff. But it will let you do things Excel can’t. If you’re a data nerd, this is the next level.
How to Pick the Right One
Think about what you need most:
- Need pivot tables? Try LibreOffice Calc or OnlyOffice.
- Use Linux and want something light? Gnumeric is great.
- Need to work with others online? Go with OnlyOffice or Grist.
- Love digging into data? Python is for you.
All of these are free. Try a few and see which one feels right for you.
Ditch Excel Without Losing Power
You don’t need to pay for Microsoft Excel to stay productive. There are free tools that are powerful, easy to use, and work across platforms. Whether you want to leave Microsoft behind or just save money, there’s an option for you.
Test them out. You may be surprised at what you can do with these tools. And if you want more, check out other guides on free alternatives to Microsoft 365 or Adobe software. You’ll save money and stay in control of your work.
