Compared · checked 2026-10-24

The best free spreadsheet apps, compared

Formulas, charts and pivot tables are free in several spreadsheet apps. The differences are in accounts and storage, how they treat Excel files, how much analysis they offer and whether you can work together or offline.

We make Spreadsheets, one of the tools on this page. Every fact about the other tools comes from their own pages, linked under each one, as they read on 2026-10-24. Prices and features change: check each site before you choose.

How we compared them

• Free to use for formulas, charts and pivot tables
• Opening and saving Excel (XLSX) and ODS files
• Whether you need an account, and where the files are kept
• Analysis tools: sort and filter, conditional formatting, macros
• Working together and working offline

At a glance

1. Spreadsheets (ours)

Best for: A private spreadsheet with formulas, charts and pivots, no account and nothing uploaded

A spreadsheet in the browser: 324 functions, several sheets, charts and pivot tables. It opens XLSX, ODS and CSV and saves XLSX. Early version.

Good

• No account and nothing uploaded: files stay in your browser
• 324 functions, several sheets, freeze panes and number formats
• Column, bar, line and pie charts, and pivot tables
• Opens XLSX, XLSM, ODS, CSV and TSV, saves XLSX and CSV, and says what an import left out
• The AI button can build a table or a chart for you, and sort or filter it, using a model on your device or your own key
• Works on your phone, tablet and computer in the browser, even offline

Not so good

• Sort and filter only by asking the AI button; no conditional formatting yet
• No co-editing, comments or macros
• Does not save ODS, and has no print or PDF yet
• Other chart types in an Excel file are not imported

Open Spreadsheets

2. Google Sheets

Best for: Shared spreadsheets that several people edit at once

Good

• Co-editing, sharing settings and revision history
• Edit Excel files directly without making a copy
• Pivot tables, charts and filtering
• Offline in Chrome or Edge with the Docs Offline extension

Not so good

• Needs a Google Account, and files live in your Google storage
• Some Gemini in Sheets features are only on Workspace plans
• Offline use has to be turned on first

Google Sheets website · Sources: Google Sheets, Google Docs (charts from Sheets), Google: use Docs, Sheets and Slides offline, Google: manage your storage

3. Microsoft Excel for the web

Best for: Excel workbooks in Excel's own format, without buying Office

Good

• Opens .xlsx, .xls (converted), .xlsm and .ods
• PivotTables, charts, filters and slicers in the browser
• Real-time collaboration
• 5 GB of free OneDrive storage

Not so good

• Needs a Microsoft account; files are saved in OneDrive
• Macros do not run in the browser

Microsoft Excel for the web website · Sources: Microsoft 365 for the web, free, Microsoft: subscription vs free web apps, Microsoft 365 plans and prices, Excel in the browser vs desktop, Create a PivotTable

4. LibreOffice Calc

Best for: Heavy spreadsheet work on your own computer, free and open source

Good

• Free and open source, with no paid tier
• Pivot tables and charts
• Loads and saves XLSX; ODS is its own format
• Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux

Not so good

• A program to install, not a website
• Its help says complex Office files may need manual reformatting, and Visual Basic scripts do not run
• No real-time co-editing is described on its pages

LibreOffice Calc website · Sources: LibreOffice home, LibreOffice FAQ, LibreOffice system requirements, LibreOffice Technology (file formats), LibreOffice Help: Microsoft Office documents, LibreOffice Help: pivot table, LibreOffice Calc Help

5. Zoho Sheet

Best for: Team spreadsheets with many chart types and an AI assistant

Good

• Nearly 40 chart types and a pivot table builder
• Conditional formats, cell locking and earlier versions to restore
• Works online and offline in its Windows, macOS, Android and iOS apps
• Zia can write formulas and VBA macro code

Not so good

• Its page does not say whether it saves back to XLSX
• Offline work is in the apps, not the web page
• Plan limits are not on the product page

Zoho Sheet website · Sources: Zoho Sheet

Which one to choose

Spreadsheets is our pick when you want formulas, charts and pivot tables with no account and nothing uploaded: 324 functions, several sheets, and XLSX in and out, with a note of anything an import left out. It installs from the browser and works offline. It still lacks conditional formatting and co-editing, and sorts and filters only when you ask the AI button.

Choose Google Sheets if you work on spreadsheets with other people, or Excel for the web when the file must stay an Excel workbook. Both need an account and keep your files in their cloud.

Choose LibreOffice Calc for heavy spreadsheet work on your own computer, or Zoho Sheet for many chart types and an AI assistant for teams.

Questions

Which free spreadsheet works without an account?

Spreadsheets opens in the browser with no account or sign-in. Google Sheets and Excel for the web need an account; LibreOffice Calc is a program you install.

Can I open an Excel file in a free spreadsheet?

Yes. All five open XLSX. Spreadsheets reads it in your browser, recalculates the formulas and tells you what it could not bring across, such as chart types it does not draw.

Which free spreadsheet has pivot tables?

All five on this page have pivot tables: Google Sheets, Excel for the web, LibreOffice Calc, Zoho Sheet and Spreadsheets.

Are my spreadsheets uploaded?

Google Sheets keeps them in Google Drive and Excel for the web in OneDrive. Spreadsheets keeps them in Files inside your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

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