8 Best Alternatives to Excel in May 2024

Alternatives & Competitors to Excel

Here are competitors or alternatives to Excel and other similar Productivity software. You need to consider some important factors when choosing a tool like Excel for your business: the main features of each solution, ease of use of user interface, pricing or value for money for instance. Each software has its pros and cons so it's up to you to choose the best alternative to Excel that meets the needs of your small business. To help you compare each app and choose the right solution, we have put together a list of the best competitors of Excel. Discover sofware like QuickBooks, Airtable, Google Docs or Google Sheets.

List of Alternatives to Excel

From Productivity tools, we have selected the best alternatives to Excel based on reviews for each solution and similarities with Excel. Of course, each solution has its benefits and drawbacks, and its own features but, whether you are a small business, a startup or a large enterprise, you will find the right choice that empowers your projects.

logo quickbooks

Description

Quickbooks is a software that will allow you to manage your accounting quickly and easily. Record your expenses with simple photos, analyze your cash flow, manage your unpaid bills, and many other tasks that will simplify your accounting life.

QuickBooks compared to Excel

Excel is a better solution based on percentage of positive reviews than QuickBooks: 98 vs 85

Excel is a better solution for customer support than QuickBooks: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is better at ease to use than QuickBooks: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is better at value for money than QuickBooks: 4.6 vs 4.1

QuickBooks is more versatile than Excel: 164 vs 15

QuickBooks: Pros & Cons

User interface: Quickbooks software has a pleasant user interface
Software integrations: There are many relevant integrations
Customizable reports: The detailed information provided by the online solution helps to improve the workflow
Expensive tool: Price plans with the most interesting features are priced high
Learning curve: Easy to use, but takes a long time to get the most out of the tool
Customer service: Support is mostly based on the community and online forums

Best features

  • - Adapt your billing to your needs

  • - Keep your accounts up to date efficiently

  • - Monitor your performance

  • - Monitor your cash flow and forecasts

  • - Automate your tax calculations

  • - Access all your data on a single platform

  • - Digitize all your expenses

QuickBooks pricing

Simple Start

$30 / month

Essentials

$55 / month

Plus

$85 / month

Advanced

$200 / month
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logo airtable

Description

The power of a relational database, without the need to code or use Excel.

Airtable compared to Excel

Excel has more positive reviews than Airtable: 98 vs 96

Airtable is better at support than Excel: 4.5 vs 4.3

Airtable is easy to use compared to Excel: 4.5 vs 4.3

Airtable has more options than Excel: 171 vs 15

What's the difference between Airtable and Excel?

Airtable and Excel are both robust platforms, but they serve very different purposes and are designed for distinct types of tasks. Airtable operates more like a database, allowing users to structure and link data in multiple ways. This makes it perfect for content management systems, inventory tracking, and project management. Its interface is highly intuitive, allowing users to switch between different data...

Airtable: Pros & Cons

Intuitive to use: The Airtable tool is easy to use
Customization of usage: Via dedicated blocks, the Airtable Cloud solution can integrate additional functionality
Presence of different views: Depending on your business needs, you can view and display data in different ways
High cost: For large companies, Airtable is expensive
Limited integrations: The platform does not connect with some tools
Speed issue: Airtable’s database can sometimes load slowly

Best features

  • - Turn your data into actionable views

  • - Automate your data

  • - Take advantage of hundreds of integrations and Airtable's powerful API

  • - Get custom reports in a few clicks

  • - Set up notifications and reminders

  • - Collaborate in real-time

  • - Customize your database with field types

  • - Visualize data with charts and graphs

Airtable pricing

Enterprise Scale

Contact sales

Free

Team

$20 / user / month

Business

$45 / user / month

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logo google docs

Description

Google Docs brings the value of collaborative and efficient document creation and editing. With its cloud-based platform, multiple users can work on the same document in real-time, making it easy to collaborate with team members, clients, or stakeholders. It eliminates the need for version control and allows for seamless sharing and commenting on documents.

Google Docs compared to Excel

Excel has more positive reviews than Google Docs: 98 vs 97

Google Docs is better at support than Excel: 4.4 vs 4.3

Google Docs is more user friendly than Excel: 4.7 vs 4.3

Google Docs is better at value for money than Excel: 4.8 vs 4.6

Google Docs has more functions than Excel: 17 vs 15

Google Docs: Pros & Cons

Collaboration: Google Docs allows multiple people to work on a document simultaneously
Accessibility: With cloud storage, you can access your documents from anywhere, anytime
Version control: Google Docs automatically saves versions, making it easy to track changes
Limited offline access: Google Docs requires an internet connection to access and edit documents
Fewer advanced formatting options: Google Docs may not have as many advanced formatting features as other software
Limited collaboration features: Collaborating in real-time can be limited when compared to other collaborative software

Best features

  • - Real-time collaboration

  • - Cloud-based storage

  • - Version history

  • - Commenting and suggesting

  • - Built-in templates

  • - Add-ons and extensions

  • - Offline access

  • - Integration with Google Drive

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logo google sheets

Description

Google Sheets is a powerful cloud-based spreadsheet tool that brings exceptional value to businesses and individuals alike. With its intuitive interface and robust collaboration features, Google Sheets allows users to create, edit, and analyze data efficiently and effectively.

Google Sheets compared to Excel

Excel has better positive reviews compared to Google Sheets: 98 vs 96

Google Sheets is better at customer service than Excel: 4.5 vs 4.3

Google Sheets is easy to use compared to Excel: 4.5 vs 4.3

Google Sheets pricing plans are more competitive than Excel: 4.8 vs 4.6

Excel is better at number of features than Google Sheets: 15 vs 12

Google Sheets: Pros & Cons

Collaboration: Google Sheets allows multiple people to edit and work on the same document simultaneously
Accessibility: Google Sheets can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection
Cost-effective: Google Sheets is free to use, making it a budget-friendly tool for startups
Limited functionality: Google Sheets may lack advanced features that are essential for complex business processes
Collaboration challenges: Working collaboratively on Google Sheets can be difficult and prone to syncing issues
Security concerns: Storing sensitive data on Google Sheets may raise privacy and security concerns

Best features

  • - Cloud-based

  • - Collaboration

  • - Formulas and functions

  • - Data visualization

  • - Conditional formatting

  • - Data import and export

  • - Add-ons and extensions

  • - Data protection and sharing settings

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logo smartsheet

Description

Smartsheet provides a cloud-based platform for flexible work management and automation, empowering teams and organizations to plan, track, automate, and report on work.

Smartsheet compared to Excel

Excel has better positive reviews compared to Smartsheet: 98 vs 92

Smartsheet is better at customer service than Excel: 4.5 vs 4.3

Smartsheet is easy to use compared to Excel: 4.5 vs 4.3

Excel pricing plans are more competitive than Smartsheet: 4.6 vs 4.3

Smartsheet has more functions than Excel: 219 vs 15

Smartsheet: Pros & Cons

Affordable prices: The platform’s prices are very affordable
Analysis tools: Powerful and relevant analysis and reporting features
Data protection: The tool meets all data protection and compliance standards
Learning curve: It takes some time to master the software
Limited integrations: Smartsheet offers too few software integrations
Mobile application: The mobile app is not as robust as the web version

Best features

  • - Collaborate with your team

  • - Project nanagement made easy

  • - Improve communication and transparency

  • - Automate your workflow

  • - Accessible from anywhere

  • - Key & lock management

  • - Expense management

  • - Rescheduling

  • - Change order management

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logo tableau

Description

Tableau brings value by providing data visualization and business intelligence tools that allow users to easily analyze and understand their data, leading to better and more informed decision-making.

Tableau compared to Excel

Excel has more positive reviews than Tableau: 98 vs 95

Excel is better at support than Tableau: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is easier to use than Tableau: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is more suitable for small businesses thanks to its good value for money than Tableau: 4.6 vs 4.2

Tableau has more functions than Excel: 138 vs 15

Tableau: Pros & Cons

Visualization: The visualization capabilities of this platform are excellent
Data quantity: The online solution is capable of handling millions of rows of data
Mobile version: The mobile application available on iOS or Android is relevant and powerful
Help desk: Users complain about the lack of responsiveness of the customer service department
Software integration: Tableau’s integration is not seamless
Table resolution: If the table’s resolution is different from the user’s screen, there may be display problems

Best features

  • - Interactive dashboards

  • - Data integration

  • - Text analysis

  • - Real-time collaboration

  • - Advanced analytics

  • - Mobile optimization

  • - Self-service data preparation

  • - High volume processing

  • - Ad hoc analysis

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Microsoft Project Logo

Description

Microsoft Project brings value by providing a comprehensive and powerful project management solution. With features such as task scheduling, resource allocation, budgeting, and collaboration tools, it allows businesses to effectively plan, track, and manage projects of any size.

Microsoft Project compared to Excel

Excel has more positive reviews than Microsoft Project: 98 vs 90

Excel is better at support than Microsoft Project: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is easier to use than Microsoft Project: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is more suitable for small businesses thanks to its good value for money than Microsoft Project: 4.6 vs 4.1

Microsoft Project has more features than Excel: 40 vs 15

Microsoft Project: Pros & Cons

Streamline project management: Microsoft Project helps you efficiently plan, track, and manage your projects, ensuring smooth execution
Collaborate seamlessly: With its collaboration features, Microsoft Project allows team members to work together in real-time, enhancing productivity
Gain valuable insights: Microsoft Project provides in-depth reporting and analytics, giving you data-driven insights to make informed business decisions.
Limited collaboration features: Microsoft Project lacks robust collaboration tools, making it challenging for team members to work together efficiently
Steep learning curve: The software's complexity can be overwhelming, especially for young entrepreneurs who may not have extensive project management experience
Expensive pricing model: Microsoft Project is known for its high pricing, which may not be affordable for cash-strapped startups.

Best features

  • - Streamlined team collaboration

  • - Effortless project planning

  • - Powerful resource management

  • - Real-time reporting and dashboards

  • - Flexible project tracking and monitoring

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Jotform Logo

Description

Microsoft Power BI is a powerful business intelligence tool that allows users to visualize and analyze their data in real-time. With its intuitive interface and extensive range of features, Power BI empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions, uncover insights, and drive growth. It enables users to connect to multiple data sources, create interactive dashboards and reports, and share them securely with colleagues and stakeholders. Power BI also offers advanced analytics capabilities, such as predictive modeling and machine learning, to further enhance data analysis and forecasting. Overall, Power BI streamlines data management, facilitates data exploration, and enables informed decision-making for businesses of all sizes.

Microsoft power bi compared to Excel

Excel has better positive reviews compared to Microsoft power bi: 98 vs 95

Excel is better at customer service than Microsoft power bi: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is easier to use than Microsoft power bi: 4.3 vs 4.0

Excel is more suitable for small businesses thanks to its good value for money than Microsoft power bi: 4.6 vs 4.5

Microsoft power bi has more options than Excel: 37 vs 15

Microsoft power bi: Pros & Cons

Seamless integration: Power BI integrates smoothly with other Microsoft tools such as Excel, Azure, and SharePoint
Accessible anytime, anywhere: With Power BI cloud-based service, you can access your data and reports from any device with an internet connection.
Enhanced data visualization: Microsoft Power BI allows you to create visually appealing and interactive charts, graphs, and dashboards
Steep learning curve: It can take time for young entrepreneurs to fully understand and effectively use Power BI
High cost: The pricing structure of Power BI may be prohibitive for startups on a tight budget.
Limited data visualization options: Power BI may not offer as many advanced data visualization options compared to other tools

Best features

  • - Collaborate and Share

  • - Insights on the Go

  • - Interactive Dashboards

  • - Data Analysis Made Easy

  • - Integrate with Your Existing Tools

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