Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel do the same basic job, and most formulas work in both. The real differences are in price, teamwork, data size and advanced tools. Here is a clear comparison to help you decide, or to know when to use each.
Quick answer
- Choose Google Sheets for free, easy sharing and real-time teamwork on everyday lists, trackers and simple reports.
- Choose Excel for large data, complex models, Power Query, pivot-heavy reports and anything your company or clients expect in Excel format.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Google Sheets | Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free with a Google account; included in Google Workspace | Free web version; full desktop app with Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase |
| Where it runs | Browser and mobile apps | Windows, Mac, web and mobile apps |
| Real-time collaboration | Excellent and simple | Good when files are stored in OneDrive or SharePoint |
| Size limit | Up to 10 million cells per spreadsheet | 1,048,576 rows × 16,384 columns per sheet |
| Speed with big data | Slows down with large files | Handles large files better (desktop) |
| Formulas | Most common functions, plus QUERY, IMPORTRANGE and GOOGLEFINANCE | Widest range, including XLOOKUP, LET, LAMBDA and dynamic arrays |
| Data cleaning | Basic tools and add-ons | Power Query built in |
| Pivot tables and charts | Good | More options and formatting control |
| Automation | Apps Script (JavaScript) | VBA macros, Office Scripts, Power Automate |
| AI assistant | Gemini (on eligible Workspace plans) | Copilot (on eligible Microsoft 365 plans) |
| Offline use | Possible after turning on offline mode | Full offline use in the desktop app |
| Version history | Automatic and easy to browse | Available for files in OneDrive or SharePoint |
Where Google Sheets wins
- Free and instant: anyone with a Google account can start in seconds.
- Sharing: send a link, choose view, comment or edit, and work together live.
- Forms: Google Forms sends answers straight into a sheet, which is perfect for surveys and sign-ups.
- Web data: functions like IMPORTRANGE (pull data from another sheet) and GOOGLEFINANCE are built in.
Where Excel wins
- Power and size: large datasets and complex models run more smoothly on the desktop app.
- Power Query: clean and combine data with clicks and refresh it later. See our Power Query tutorial.
- Advanced analysis: Power Pivot, data models and more chart and pivot table options.
- Business standard: finance and accounting teams, banks and many clients still expect Excel files.
Do formulas work the same?
Mostly yes. SUM, IF, SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH and XLOOKUP work in both with the same syntax. Some functions exist in only one: QUERY and IMPORTRANGE are Google Sheets only, while Excel has some newer functions Sheets does not. Our 25 essential formulas all work in both.
Can you move files between them?
Yes. Upload an .xlsx file to Google Drive and open it with Sheets, or in Sheets choose File → Download → Microsoft Excel (.xlsx). Simple files convert cleanly. Macros, Power Query steps and some advanced formatting do not transfer.
Which should you choose?
| Your need | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Shared team tracker or to-do list | Google Sheets |
| Survey or form responses | Google Sheets |
| Monthly reports from large exports | Excel |
| Financial models and accounting work | Excel |
| Free tool for personal budgets | Either (try our budget template) |
| Your company uses Microsoft 365 | Excel |
| Your company uses Google Workspace | Google Sheets |
FAQ
Is Excel free?
Excel for the web and the mobile apps are free with a Microsoft account, with fewer features. The full desktop version needs Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase.
Which is easier for beginners?
Google Sheets feels simpler because it has fewer menus. The skills you learn transfer directly to Excel.
Should I learn both?
Learn one well; the other will feel familiar. If you work in an office, Excel skills are usually the more valuable of the two.