How to Use Microsoft Excel on Linux for Free (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Microsoft does not ship a native Excel installer for Linux. If you need to open XLSX files, run formulas, or share workbooks with Windows and Mac teammates, you still have solid free options.

This guide compares the main paths: Excel Online in a browser, a desktop spreadsheet app such as WPS Spreadsheet or LibreOffice Calc, and heavier setups with Wine or a Windows virtual machine. Pick by whether you need offline editing, Excel-compatible files, or the real Windows Excel binary.

Free ways to work with Excel files on Linux

Most Linux users are not asking how to install the Windows Excel package. They want a reliable way to create, open, and share spreadsheet files that Excel users can open.

If your main need is free everyday spreadsheet work on Linux, start with Excel Online or a native desktop suite. Use Wine or a VM only when a specific Excel feature or add-in has no practical substitute.

Can you install Microsoft Excel on Linux?

There is no official Excel desktop app for Linux from Microsoft. You will not find a supported .deb or .rpm Excel package on Microsoft’s site.

What people usually mean by “install Excel on Linux” is one of these:

• Use Excel in the browser (Excel for the web)

• Open Excel files in another spreadsheet app that supports XLSX

• Run the Windows Excel installer through Wine or inside a Windows virtual machine

The first two paths are free for common work. Wine and VMs can run desktop Excel, but they are not a free Excel license. You still need a valid Microsoft product or subscription for that binary.

Use Microsoft Excel Online on Linux

Excel Online is the simplest way to use Microsoft’s own Excel interface on Linux. It runs in a normal browser. You do not install Windows software.

1. Step 1. Connect to the internet. Excel Online needs a stable connection.

2. Step 2. Open Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or another current browser.

3. Step 3. Go to office.com or Microsoft 365 and sign in with a Microsoft account. Create a free account if you do not have one.

4. Step 4. Open Excel from the app launcher.

5. Step 5. Create a blank workbook, open a file from OneDrive, or upload an XLSX from your Linux Downloads folder.

On Chrome or Edge, you can also install the Excel site as a progressive web app so it appears in your application menu. That still depends on the browser and the network. It is not a native Linux package.

Pros

• Works on any Linux distro with a modern browser

• No Wine, VM, or desktop installer

• Real-time collaboration and automatic cloud saves to OneDrive

• Free for basic use with a Microsoft account

Cons

• Requires internet access

• Missing some desktop Excel features, including many VBA workflows

• Free OneDrive storage is limited

• Local XLSX files are less convenient than in a native desktop app

Choose Excel Online when collaboration and Microsoft’s web Excel UI matter more than offline local files.

Edit Excel files offline with WPS Spreadsheet

If you want a desktop spreadsheet on Linux without a Microsoft 365 subscription, WPS Office for Linux includes WPS Spreadsheet. You can open and save common Excel formats, run familiar formulas, and keep files on your machine.

Why WPS Spreadsheet fits Linux users

• Opens and saves XLSX, XLS, and CSV for everyday sharing with Excel users

• Supports common formulas such as SUM, AVERAGE, IF, and VLOOKUP

• Runs as a native Linux desktop app, so offline editing is available

• Includes Writer, Presentation, and PDF tools in the same suite when you need more than sheets

• Does not require Wine or a Windows license for normal spreadsheet work

Google Sheets is still a better fit if browser-only collaboration is your main priority. LibreOffice Calc is a better fit if an open-source license is non-negotiable. WPS Spreadsheet is a practical middle path when you want a familiar desktop sheet editor and Microsoft-format files on Linux.

Download and install WPS Office on Linux

1. Step 1. Open the official WPS Office for Linux page.

2. Step 2. Download the Deb package for Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, and similar systems, or the Rpm package for Fedora and related distributions.

3. Step 3. Save the file (usually in ~/Downloads) and note the exact filename. Version numbers change over time.

4. Step 4. Install the local package. On Ubuntu, you can right-click the .deb and open it with Software Install, or install from a terminal with sudo apt install ./exact-file-name.deb.

5. Step 5. Enter your administrator password when prompted, then wait for the install to finish.

For a fuller install walkthrough, see how to install WPS Office on Linux. If the graphical installer stalls, use the terminal install guide.

Open, edit, and save XLSX files

1. Step 1. Open WPS Spreadsheet from your application menu, or launch WPS Office and choose Spreadsheet.

2. Step 2. Create a blank workbook, or open an existing .xlsx / .xls / .csv file from your Linux folders.

3. Step 3. Enter formulas in cells the same way you would in Excel. Example: =SUM(G3:G12).

4. Step 4. Save as XLSX when you need to share with Microsoft Excel users. Use Save As if you also need CSV or another format.

Test any workbook that uses advanced Excel features, PivotTables with unusual layouts, or macros before you treat the file as final. Simple budgets, trackers, and formula sheets usually transfer cleanly.

     

     

     

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LibreOffice Calc for open-source users

LibreOffice Calc is a strong choice if open-source software is your priority. It is free, available in most distribution repositories, and opens many Excel files without a Microsoft account.

Install it from your distro’s software center or package manager, then open XLSX files in Calc. For highly formatted Excel workbooks, open the file, check charts and formulas, and save a copy before you overwrite the original.

Choose LibreOffice when package-manager installs and an open-source license matter more than matching Excel’s interface. Choose WPS Spreadsheet when you prefer a Microsoft-like desktop layout and want Writer, Presentation, and PDF tools in one Linux install.

Wine or a Windows VM for licensed desktop Excel

Wine (and front ends such as Bottles) translates Windows API calls so some Windows apps can run on Linux. A virtual machine runs a full Windows system inside Linux with tools such as VirtualBox or VMware.

These methods can run desktop Excel when you already own a Windows Excel or Microsoft 365 license. They are not free Excel. They also need more disk space, more setup time, and occasional fixes after Office or Wine updates.

Use a VM when compatibility must be exact (complex macros, special add-ins, enterprise templates). Use Wine or Bottles only if you are comfortable troubleshooting Windows installers on Linux. For most free spreadsheet work, Excel Online or a native Linux suite is simpler.

FAQ

Is Microsoft Excel free on Linux?

Excel for the web is free for basic use with a Microsoft account. The full desktop Excel app is not a free native Linux product. Desktop Excel through Wine or a VM still needs a valid Microsoft license.

What is Wine, and how does it help run Excel on Linux?

Wine is a compatibility layer that lets some Windows programs run on Linux. It can run Windows Excel in some setups, but success depends on the Office version, Wine version, and your distribution. It does not replace a Microsoft license.

Can I run Microsoft 365 on a virtual machine?

Yes. Install a licensed Windows guest in VirtualBox or another hypervisor, then sign in to Microsoft 365 or install Office inside that guest. Expect higher RAM and disk use than a native Linux spreadsheet app.

Can I collaborate with Windows or Mac Excel users from Linux?

Yes. Share XLSX files through OneDrive, Google Drive, email, or shared folders. Excel Online supports real-time co-authoring in the browser. Desktop suites on Linux can exchange XLSX files; confirm formatting after round-trips on complex workbooks.

What is the easiest free option for Ubuntu?

For quick Microsoft Excel access, use Excel Online in your browser. For offline local files on Ubuntu, install WPS Office for Linux (Deb package) or LibreOffice from Ubuntu’s repositories.

Does WPS Spreadsheet work without the internet?

Yes. After you install the Linux desktop app, you can open, edit, and save spreadsheet files offline. Cloud features still need a connection when you choose to use them.

Conclusion

You cannot install an official native Microsoft Excel package on Linux, but you can still do Excel work for free.

Use Excel Online when you want Microsoft’s web interface and cloud collaboration. Use WPS Spreadsheet when you need offline XLSX editing on the Linux desktop. Use LibreOffice Calc when open-source packaging is the deciding factor. Reserve Wine or a Windows VM for licensed desktop Excel cases that truly need it.

The trade-off that matters most is offline local files versus Microsoft’s own Excel UI. Decide that first, then install only the path you will actually use.

Ready to edit spreadsheets on Linux without a Windows install? Download WPS Office for Linux and open your next XLSX in Spreadsheet.