9 Best Free Spreadsheet Software of 2026

1. 1

   Google Sheets

   Browser-based spreadsheet from Google that anyone with a Google account can use, with real-time co-editing and offline mode.

   9.6overall

   Browser-based spreadsheet from Google that anyone with a Google account can use, with real-time co-editing and offline mode.

   Best forPeople who want a free, shared spreadsheet that works in any browser and on phones without installing anything.

   Adoption data

   10 millionGoogle said in 2025 that Google Workspace, the product family that includes Sheets, has served more than 10 million businesses.

   Google, Google Workspace enables the future of AI-powered work for every business (2025): “We've empowered more than 10 million businesses of all sizes”

   Google Sheets is the simplest answer to a free, full spreadsheet. Google's own FAQ says anyone with a Google account can create in Sheets, and the app runs in a browser or on a phone, so there is nothing to install or license. Sharing is its strength: several people can edit the same file at once, owners control who can view, comment or edit, and revision history lets you roll back mistakes. It also opens Microsoft Excel files directly without making a copy, which matters if coworkers or clients still send .xlsx files, and offline mode covers trips without a connection. For heavier data, Connected Sheets reaches BigQuery or Looker tables. The limits are about AI and the cloud. Google says some Gemini in Sheets features are only on Workspace plans, and Gemini tools such as Sheets canvas need the file converted to Sheets format. Everything you store also counts against your Google account storage. We compared documented features and published terms; we did not run performance tests.

   Strengths

   • +Free for anyone with a Google account, no download needed
   • +Sharing and simultaneous editing are built in
   • +Works on phone, tablet and desktop

   Limitations

   • −Gemini features such as Sheets canvas need a Workspace plan
   • −Your files live in Google's cloud and count toward account storage
   • −Gemini features need Excel files converted to Sheets format

   SummaryGoogle Sheets costs nothing, needs no install and handles collaboration better than any other free option. It is the best free spreadsheet for most people who are leaving Microsoft 365.

2. 2

   Microsoft Excel for the web

   The free browser version of Excel, included with a Microsoft account along with 5 GB of cloud storage.

   9.1overall

   The free browser version of Excel, included with a Microsoft account along with 5 GB of cloud storage.

   Best forPeople who exchange Excel files with others and want Excel's own interface without paying for desktop Excel.

   Adoption data

   450 millionMicrosoft said paid Microsoft 365 commercial seats, which include Excel, grew 6 percent year over year to more than 450 million in its fiscal second quarter of 2026.

   Microsoft, Microsoft Investor Relations: Earnings Release FY26 Q2 (2026): “And paid M365 commercial seats grew 6% year-over-year to over 450 million with installed base expansion across all customer segments”

   Excel for the web is Microsoft's own answer to people who do not want to pay for Microsoft 365. Microsoft's Excel page states plainly that Excel for the web is free for anyone to use online, and the free tier bundles sharing, real-time collaboration and 5 GB of cloud storage, working on the web, iOS and Android. The biggest benefit is compatibility. Files stay in Excel's own format, so formatting and formulas sent by an employer, accountant or client open exactly as written, with no conversion to another app. It is also the interface most office workers already know. What you give up is the desktop app and the AI. Copilot features and the installable Excel are in paid plans, starting with Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. The free storage is 5 GB, which fills faster than the 15 GB in a Google account. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not benchmark the web app.

   Strengths

   • +Native Excel files with no conversion step
   • +The interface most office workers already know
   • +Free tier includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage

   Limitations

   • −Copilot and desktop apps require a paid Microsoft 365 plan
   • −Browser only on computers, with no free desktop app
   • −Free tier storage is 5 GB, a third of Google's 15 GB

   SummaryExcel for the web is the safest free choice when your files must stay in Excel format. Pay for Microsoft 365 Personal only if you need the desktop app or Copilot.

3. 3

   LibreOffice Calc

   Free, open source desktop spreadsheet that is part of the LibreOffice suite from The Document Foundation.

   9.0overall

   Free, open source desktop spreadsheet that is part of the LibreOffice suite from The Document Foundation.

   Best forPeople who want a full desktop spreadsheet that runs offline, stores files locally and never asks for an account.

   Adoption data

   9.4 millionThe Document Foundation counted 9.4 million LibreOffice downloads in the eight weeks from August 24 to October 18, 2026, after the LibreOffice 26.8 release.

   The Document Foundation, 8 weeks, 9.4 million downloads (2026): “The announcement of LibreOffice 26.8 had a noticeable positive effect on download figures, which have since exceeded one million per week, totalling 9.4 million downloads over eight weeks, from 24 August to 18 October.”

   LibreOffice Calc is the strongest free option if you want a spreadsheet installed on your computer rather than in a browser. The Document Foundation describes Calc as a feature-rich spreadsheet, and its help pages list statistical and banking functions, a function wizard, what-if calculations with predefined scenarios, subtotals, conditional formatting and dynamic charts that refresh when data changes. It opens and saves Microsoft Excel files through built-in filters. The foundation says LibreOffice provides its tools at no cost, there is no account to create, and files stay on your own disk. Demand is real: 9.4 million downloads in eight weeks after the 26.8 release. Calc also arrives with Writer, Impress, Draw, Base and Math, so it replaces most of Microsoft 365 in one install. The tradeoffs are sharing and polish. There is no built-in live co-editing like Google Sheets, complex Excel workbooks may need checking after conversion, and support comes from the community. We compared documented features; we did not test file fidelity ourselves.

   Strengths

   • +Free and open source with no account or ads
   • +Works fully offline with files on your own disk
   • +Comes with a word processor, presentations and database tool

   Limitations

   • −No built-in real-time co-editing like Google Sheets
   • −Complex Excel files may need checking after conversion
   • −Help comes from the community unless you buy third-party support

   SummaryLibreOffice Calc is the best free desktop spreadsheet and the most complete offline replacement for Excel. Choose it when privacy and local files matter more than live collaboration.

4. 4

   WPS Spreadsheet

   The spreadsheet app in Kingsoft's WPS Office suite, a free download for desktop and mobile with paid AI and Pro tiers.

   8.5overall

   The spreadsheet app in Kingsoft's WPS Office suite, a free download for desktop and mobile with paid AI and Pro tiers.

   Best forPeople who want an Excel-like desktop spreadsheet on Windows, Mac or Linux and do not mind a free tier with upgrade prompts.

   Adoption data

   600 millionKingsoft Office says WPS Office, which includes the spreadsheet app, has more than 600 million monthly active users.

   Kingsoft Office (WPS), About WPS Office (2026): “With more than 600 million monthly active users, we are dedicated to providing a better "Workplace Platform Service".”

   WPS Spreadsheet is the closest look-alike to desktop Excel among free apps. Kingsoft's product page shows Excel-style formulas such as SUMIFS working on .xlsx files, pivot and chart tools, and an AI formula writer that turns a plain-language request into a formula for the selected cell. WPS AI can also analyze selected data and generate charts with written conclusions, and the page lists real-time co-editing, comments, permissions and version history. Apps cover Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and a web editor, so it is one of the few free options with a native Linux desktop app. Kingsoft says WPS Office has more than 600 million monthly active users. The caveats are the business model. The pricing page shows cloud storage of 1 GB or 20 GB depending on plan and says Pro+ AI tools pause once a daily limit is reached. We could not load USD prices from our location, so paid tiers are marked pending. We compared documented features; we did not test the apps.

   Strengths

   • +Interface and file handling close to Excel
   • +One of the few free suites with a Linux desktop app
   • +Large user base of more than 600 million monthly users

   Limitations

   • −AI tools are limited on lower tiers, with daily usage caps on Pro+
   • −Free tier includes upgrade prompts toward paid plans
   • −USD prices did not load for us, so we could not verify paid plan costs

   SummaryWPS Spreadsheet suits people who want desktop Excel's feel without Microsoft's price. Expect upgrade prompts, and budget for a paid tier if you rely on its AI.

5. 5

   Zoho Sheet

   Free online spreadsheet from Zoho with desktop and mobile apps, a pivot table builder and the Zia AI assistant.

   8.5overall

   Free online spreadsheet from Zoho with desktop and mobile apps, a pivot table builder and the Zia AI assistant.

   Best forSmall teams that want a free collaborative spreadsheet with automation and links to other business apps.

   Adoption data

   550,000Zoho says more than 550,000 customers use Zoho Workplace, the suite that includes Zoho Sheet.

   Zoho, Zoho Workplace pricing (2026): “Join 550,000 + customers”

   Zoho Sheet is the most capable free spreadsheet that few people have heard of. Zoho's product page offers it for free collaboration and lists nearly 40 chart types, a dynamic pivot table builder, data cleaning to find duplicates, and Zia, an AI assistant that answers plain-English questions about your data and suggests charts and pivots. Collaborators can comment, lock selected cells and restore earlier versions. Unlike most browser spreadsheets, Zoho also ships apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Chromebook that work offline and sync back to the web. Data connections pull and refresh records from Zoho CRM, Projects and Books, and Zoho Flow links it to thousands of other cloud apps. If you later want business email and more storage, Zoho Workplace Standard costs US$3 per user per month billed annually. Zoho says Workplace has more than 550,000 customers, a far smaller base than Google or Microsoft, so templates and outside help are thinner. We compared documented features and published prices.

   Strengths

   • +Free with no install needed
   • +Offline desktop and mobile apps sync with the web version
   • +Integrates with thousands of apps through Zoho Flow

   Limitations

   • −Smaller user base than Google Sheets or Excel
   • −Integrations are strongest inside the Zoho product family
   • −Paid features sit inside the wider Zoho Workplace bundle

   SummaryZoho Sheet delivers pivot tables, AI help and offline apps without a fee. It is the best free pick for small businesses already using, or open to, Zoho apps.

6. 6

   ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet Editor

   Open source spreadsheet editor with free desktop apps and paid self-hosted server editions, built around the .xlsx format.

   8.4overall

   Open source spreadsheet editor with free desktop apps and paid self-hosted server editions, built around the .xlsx format.

   Best forPeople who want a free desktop editor that keeps Excel files in their native format, and teams that may self-host later.

   Adoption data

   21 millionONLYOFFICE says more than 21 million users worldwide use its products.

   Ascensio System (ONLYOFFICE), ONLYOFFICE homepage (2026): “21,000,000 users worldwide across all ONLYOFFICE products”

   ONLYOFFICE is the free desktop editor for people whose files must stay as .xlsx. Its spreadsheet editor page lists more than 400 formulas and functions, pivot tables, charts, conditional formatting, data validation, named ranges, filters and sorting. Automation runs on JavaScript macros, and the editor can convert existing VBA macros, which helps when you inherit workbooks from Excel users. The desktop apps for Windows, Linux and macOS are free, and the vendor's FAQ says they are free for personal and professional use, which removes the licensing doubt some free tools leave for business users. Co-editing, version history and change tracking are available when you connect the apps to an ONLYOFFICE cloud or a compatible service such as Nextcloud. If a team later wants its own server, Docs Home costs $149 per server per year. ONLYOFFICE reports more than 21 million users across its products. The cost is the VBA step and the extra setup needed for live collaboration. We compared documented features and published prices.

   Strengths

   • +Desktop apps free for personal and professional use
   • +Handles .xlsx natively
   • +Can move to self-hosted collaboration later

   Limitations

   • −VBA macros must be converted to JavaScript
   • −Real-time collaboration needs a cloud or server setup
   • −Smaller community than LibreOffice

   SummaryONLYOFFICE gives you a free, Excel-like desktop spreadsheet that is cleared for business use. Pick it over LibreOffice when native .xlsx handling matters most.

7. 7

   Apple Numbers

   Apple's free spreadsheet app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built around a flexible canvas of tables and charts.

   8.1overall

   Apple's free spreadsheet app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built around a flexible canvas of tables and charts.

   Best forMac, iPhone and iPad owners who want a free, visual spreadsheet for budgets, lists and simple analysis.

   Adoption data

   227KApple's US App Store listing for Numbers showed 227 thousand ratings with an average of 4.6 stars when we checked; Apple does not publish Numbers user counts.

   Apple App Store, Numbers: Make Spreadsheets (2026): “227K Ratings 4.6”

   Apple Numbers is the free spreadsheet most Mac and iPhone owners already have. Apple's App Store listing says creating, viewing and editing spreadsheets, and collaborating in real time, does not require a subscription. It works differently from Excel: tables, charts, text and images sit anywhere on a free-form canvas instead of one endless grid, which suits budgets, invoices and trip plans that need to look tidy. It is not a toy, though. The listing lists hundreds of functions including XLOOKUP and regex, spilling arrays, pivot tables, interactive charts and filters for large tables, and it imports and edits Excel and CSV files. Sharing runs through iCloud or Box, and PC users can join through iCloud.com. The US listing showed 4.6 stars from 227 thousand ratings when we checked. The limits are reach and familiarity: native apps exist only for Apple devices, the canvas takes adjustment for Excel users, and premium content and AI features sit in Apple Creator Studio. We compared documented features.

   Strengths

   • +Free, with no subscription needed to create, edit or collaborate
   • +Preinstalled or one tap away on Apple devices
   • +Templates and a free-form canvas make reports look polished

   Limitations

   • −Apps only for Apple devices; PC users must use iCloud.com
   • −Canvas layout differs from the grid model Excel users expect
   • −Premium content and AI features need Apple Creator Studio

   SummaryNumbers is the natural free choice for Apple users who want attractive, simple spreadsheets. Mixed-device teams will find Google Sheets or Excel for the web easier to share.

8. 8

   Airtable

   Cloud platform that looks like a spreadsheet but stores linked records, used to build apps and workflows on top of data.

   7.6overall

   Cloud platform that looks like a spreadsheet but stores linked records, used to build apps and workflows on top of data.

   Best forTeams whose spreadsheet has turned into a database of records, such as content calendars, inventories or client lists.

   Adoption data

   500,000Airtable says 500,000 companies build in Airtable and that it has 10 million active users.

   Airtable, About Airtable (2026): “500,000 companies build in Airtable 50M+ apps and agents 90% of the Fortune 100 10M active users”

   Airtable is on this list because many people searching for a free spreadsheet actually need a small database. It looks like a grid, but each row is a record that can link to records in other tables, and Airtable lets you build apps and AI agents on top of that data. Airtable says 500,000 companies build in it and it has 10 million active users. The free plan, according to Airtable's pricing FAQ, is available to teams at no charge and is meant for individual users, very small teams or lightweight needs. On paid plans you are charged only for users with edit permissions, and the Team plan is $20 per user per month billed annually. That makes it the costliest upgrade on this list. It is also not a full spreadsheet in the Excel sense: there is no free-form grid where any cell can hold any formula, so financial models and ad hoc analysis belong in one of the tools above. We compared documented features and published prices.

   Strengths

   • +Handles related records better than a plain spreadsheet
   • +Large user base of 10 million active users
   • +Free plan has no time limit

   Limitations

   • −Not a full spreadsheet: no free-form formulas across any cell
   • −Free plan is meant for lightweight needs
   • −Team plan at $20 per user per month is the priciest upgrade here

   SummaryAirtable is the right free tool when your rows are records that need linking and views. For calculations and models, a true spreadsheet ranks higher.

9. 9

   Grist

   Open source spreadsheet-database hybrid with Python formulas, cell-level access rules and a self-hosting option.

   7.1overall

   Open source spreadsheet-database hybrid with Python formulas, cell-level access rules and a self-hosting option.

   Best forTechnical users and organizations that want spreadsheet ease with database structure and the option to host it themselves.

   Adoption data

   20,000Grist says more than 20,000 people use it across French government agencies and regions through LaSuite, France's sovereign digital workspace.

   Grist Labs, Grist: The evolution of spreadsheets (2026): “There are over 20,000 Grist users in multiple agencies and regions across the country.”

   Grist sits between a spreadsheet and a database and is fully open source. Its free hosted plan includes unlimited documents of up to 5,000 records each, 30 days of snapshot history and 100 one-time AI assistant credits. The feature that sets it apart is cell-level access rules: you can control who sees which rows and columns, and Grist says the rules also apply to its AI assistant. That makes it a good fit for shared data where some people should not see everything. Organizations can self-host it on their own servers, and Grist says more than 20,000 users across French government agencies use it through LaSuite. Forms, automations, webhooks and an API round it out. The tradeoffs are scale and familiarity. The free plan's 5,000-record limit is tight for big data sets, the user base is the smallest here, and the column-and-table model takes more learning than a plain grid. Pro costs $8 per user per month billed annually. We compared documented features and published prices.

   Strengths

   • +Open source with no data lock-in
   • +Fine-grained access rules most spreadsheets lack
   • +Pro is only $8 per user per month billed annually

   Limitations

   • −Free plan caps each document at 5,000 records
   • −Smallest user base on this list
   • −Database-style structure takes longer to learn than a grid

   SummaryGrist is the best free pick when access control and self-hosting matter. Casual users will find Google Sheets or LibreOffice Calc simpler.

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