Spreadsheet analytics · Microsoft

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft's spreadsheet application for data analysis, modeling, and reporting, used across finance, ops, and analytics teams.

Visit Microsoft Excel Alternatives

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application for data analysis, financial modeling, and reporting, available as a desktop app, in Microsoft 365 for web, and on mobile. Power Query handles data import, cleaning, and transformation from files, databases, and web sources, while PivotTables and PivotCharts summarize large datasets interactively. The Analysis ToolPak add-in provides regression, ANOVA, and other statistical routines, and Power Pivot extends Excel with a columnar data model for relating multiple large tables and writing DAX measures. Dynamic arrays, native statistical and lookup functions, and Python in Excel support more advanced calculations without leaving the grid. Files sync through OneDrive or SharePoint for co-authoring and version history, and Excel connects to Power BI, Power Automate, and Dataverse for broader reporting and automation across an organization.

At a glance

Vendor Microsoft
Pricing model Subscription
Free tier Yes
Deployment Cloud
Open source No
Best for Analysts and business users who need ad hoc modeling, pivot analysis, and statistical calculations in a familiar spreadsheet.

Pricing

A limited free web version of Excel is available with a Microsoft account; full Microsoft 365 plans with desktop Excel start at $9.99/month.

Plan Price Notes
Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/month or $99.99/year 1 person; includes desktop Excel plus cloud storage
Microsoft 365 Family $12.99/month or $129.99/year Up to 6 people; includes desktop Excel plus cloud storage
Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/month or $199.99/year Adds Copilot AI features on top of the Family plan

Prices read from the vendor's own page on September 21, 2026. Vendors change prices; check the source before you budget.

Features

  • Power Query for data import and transformation
  • PivotTables and PivotCharts
  • Analysis ToolPak add-in for regression and statistical analysis
  • Power Pivot data model for multi-table analysis with DAX
  • Dynamic arrays and native statistical/lookup functions
  • Python in Excel for advanced analytics
  • Conditional formatting and data validation
  • Co-authoring and version history via OneDrive/SharePoint

Integrations

Profile last reviewed September 21, 2026

Head to head

Alternatives

Google Sheets Google's cloud spreadsheet app for collaborative reporting and analysis, with a live BigQuery connection via Connected Sheets. Airtable Cloud database-spreadsheet hybrid for building no-code apps, tracking structured data, and automating team workflows. Quadratic AI-native spreadsheet that combines formulas with Python, SQL, and JavaScript cells for code-based data analysis.

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Terms to know

Data modeling The practice of organizing data into entities, relationships and schemas that make it accurate and efficient to query. Regression analysis A statistical method for estimating the relationship between one outcome variable and one or more predictor variables. Exploratory data analysis An open-ended first pass through a dataset to understand its structure and spot patterns before formal analysis. FP&A (financial planning and analysis) The finance function responsible for budgeting, forecasting and analyzing company performance against plan. Data validation Checking that data meets explicit, predefined rules for type, range, format, or consistency before it is used or trusted.

Related guides

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