Choosing whether to use Excel or Sheets can be a difficult decision.

Excel is widely known for its advanced features, while Google Sheets is famous for its collaboration power.

Data Analysis

Spreadsheets are primarily designed to enable quick data calculation and analysis.

Two computer monitors, the one on the left displaying Excel, and the one on the right displaying Google Sheets.

Lucas Gouveia / How-To Geek |Corepics VOF/ Shutterstock

This saves you time scouring the many options available for the perfect visual representation of your numbers.

Collaboration

In short, Google Sheets was built for live collaboration.

Excel also facilitates real-time collaboration, but it’s far less intuitive.

An Excel worksheet with the Formulas tab open and the different formula groups highlighted.

VerdictIf you’re a spreadsheet power user and want more complex functions and options, Excel is for you.

However, if you want to create a relatively more straightforward spreadsheet, go for Google Sheets.

VerdictMost web-based programs work more slowly than their desktop counterparts.

An Excel for the web worksheet with data selected and the Recommended Charts option on the Insert tab highlighted.

Other Features

Excel and Sheets aren’t the only spreadsheet options for you to consider.

Why not try outsome of these free alternativesinstead?

The Excel desktop app with the PivotTable Analyze tab highlighted.

The Insert Chart dialog box in Excel’s desktop app.

An Excel desktop app workbook showing a collaborator working on the sheet and the contact options available if you click the initials of the collaborator.