Free & open source alternatives to Microsoft Excel

4 free spreadsheet apps to use instead of Microsoft Excel by Microsoft

The best free alternative to Microsoft Excel is LibreOffice. Calc handles functions, pivot tables and charts, and runs some VBA macros.

Other great options: Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, ONLYOFFICE Desktop and WPS Office.

Quick pick: For desktop use with macros: LibreOffice Calc (runs some VBA macros). For collaboration and modern functions: Google Sheets.

Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.

Official ways to use Microsoft Excel for free

Excel for the web is free at office.com with a Microsoft account.
Excel on mobile is free for basic editing.

Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.

4 best alternatives to Microsoft Excel

LibreOffice

Office & PDF

Open sourceEasy to use

Calc handles functions, pivot tables and charts, and runs some VBA macros.

Open-source office suite that replaces Microsoft Office: Writer, Calc, Impress and Draw. Works fully offline and is available in many languages.

Free for organizations and businesses, no license fees
Opens and saves .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
Many interface languages, works without internet

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux

LibreOffice details Official website ↗

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides

Office & PDF

FreeEasy to use

Google Sheets offers collaboration plus functions like QUERY and IMPORTRANGE, and connects to Forms.

Google's browser-based office suite, free with a Google account. Several people can edit the same file at once, and it saves to Google Drive automatically.

Real-time co-editing with version history
Opens and exports .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
Works on phones

Platforms: Web · Android · iPhone

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides details Official website ↗

ONLYOFFICE Desktop

Office & PDF HealthGood (83/100)5,705

Open sourceEasy to use

An Excel-like interface that keeps formatting well; macros are written in JavaScript.

Open-source office suite with a ribbon interface like modern Office. Keeps .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formatting better than LibreOffice.

Familiar Word- and Excel-style interface
Good fidelity with Office file formats
Mobile apps and a self-hosted server edition for collaboration

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

ONLYOFFICE Desktop details Official website ↗

WPS Office

Office & PDF

FreemiumEasy to use

WPS Spreadsheets looks like Excel; it shows ads.

Lightweight office suite from Kingsoft that looks almost identical to Microsoft Office. Mobile apps are available too.

Interface is nearly the same as Office
Light and quick to open on older computers

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

WPS Office details Official website ↗

Quick comparison

App	Type	Platforms	Ease of use	GitHub stars
LibreOffice	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux	Easy to use	—
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides	Free	Web, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	—
ONLYOFFICE Desktop	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	5,705
WPS Office	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	—

Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Excel?

The most popular picks are LibreOffice, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, ONLYOFFICE Desktop and WPS Office. For desktop use with macros: LibreOffice Calc (runs some VBA macros). For collaboration and modern functions: Google Sheets.

Where can I run Excel files with macros?

LibreOffice Calc runs many simple VBA macros (enable them in Tools > Options > Security). Complex macros or ones with UserForms still need Excel. Google Sheets does not run VBA.