Excel-like desktop + suite
WPS Spreadsheet
.xlsx, formulas, charts, and pivots, plus Writer, Presentation, and PDF in one free install.
Details
Decision guide · 7 free apps
Top 7 Free Spreadsheet Software
Compare seven free spreadsheet apps by offline work, live collaboration, .xlsx files, and platform. This guide covers who each tool is for, where it falls short, and how to pick without guessing.
Offline
Collaborate
.xlsx
Suite
Start here
Best free spreadsheet by job
No universal winner. Pick the app that matches how you actually work.
Live collaboration
Google Sheets
Fastest free path for link sharing and editing the same sheet together in a browser.
DetailsOpen-source offline
LibreOffice Calc
Desktop Calc with no ads and no account. Best when local files and open-source policy matter.
Details.xlsx-focused editor
OnlyOffice
Modern free spreadsheet with strong Microsoft format focus for personal or self-hosted setups.
DetailsMac and iPad
Apple Numbers
Clean layouts and Apple sync. Export when sharing with Windows Excel users.
DetailsBusiness web sheets
Zoho Sheet
Browser collaboration with templates for teams already in Zoho or similar web workflows.
DetailsFree Microsoft web path
Excel for the web
Light browser Excel with a Microsoft account. Handy for OneDrive sharing, not a full offline desktop Excel replacement.
DetailsSide by side
Free spreadsheet comparison
Use this table after the best-for cards. It compresses the decision into offline access, live collaboration, everyday .xlsx fidelity, and what “free” actually costs you in ads, accounts, or plan limits.
| App | Best for | Offline | Collab | .xlsx | Free note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPS Spreadsheet | Desktop + suite | Yes | Cloud features | Strong everyday | Ads possible |
| Google Sheets | Team editing | Limited | Excellent | Good import | Google account |
| LibreOffice Calc | Open-source | Yes | Limited | Good (verify) | No ads |
| OnlyOffice | .xlsx focus | Yes | Strong setups | Strong | Personal free |
| Apple Numbers | Mac / iPad | Yes | iCloud | Fair export | Free on Apple |
| Zoho Sheet | Business web | Browser | Strong | Good | Plan limits |
| Excel for the web | Light MS edits | No desktop | OneDrive | Native | MS account |
Open one real workbook before you standardize. Everyday sheets travel well; unusual charts and macros still need a check.
Decision path
How to choose in four checks
Answer these before you compare brand names.
01
Offline or browser?
If files must stay on the computer, or the network is unreliable, start with a desktop app: WPS Spreadsheet, LibreOffice Calc, or OnlyOffice. If you always work online and share by link, Google Sheets, Zoho Sheet, or Excel for the web are simpler.
Offline does not only mean “no Wi‑Fi.” It also means opening a file without waiting on an account sync.
02
Live co-editing?
If several people must edit the same workbook at once, browser sheets still win for most free users. Google Sheets is the usual default. Zoho Sheet and Excel for the web also support shared editing, with different account ecosystems.
Desktop suites can share files by email or cloud folders, but that is version-passing, not the same as live cursors in one sheet.
03
Complex .xlsx?
Budgets, class sheets, and simple sales trackers travel well almost everywhere. Heavy pivot layouts, unusual charts, add-ins, and macros need a real file check before you standardize.
If your main job is leaving Microsoft Excel with .xlsx fidelity in mind, use our deeper free Excel alternative guide after you shortlist here.
04
Open-source, Apple, or suite?
LibreOffice fits open-source policy and local-only preference. Numbers fits Mac and iPad polish. WPS fits people who want spreadsheets plus documents, slides, and PDF tools without buying Microsoft 365.
OnlyOffice sits between “modern .xlsx editor” and optional self-hosted team setups. Zoho fits teams already living in Zoho apps.
Before you download
What “free spreadsheet software” usually means
Free almost never means “identical to paid Microsoft 365 with zero limits.” In practice it means one of these models:
- Free desktop suite: install locally, edit offline, keep files on your computer (WPS, LibreOffice, OnlyOffice personal use).
- Free with an account: browser app funded by the platform ecosystem (Google Sheets, Excel for the web, Zoho Sheet free plan).
- Free on a platform: included with devices you already own (Apple Numbers on Mac and iPad).
- Free-tier trade-offs: ads, storage caps, missing enterprise features, or paid upgrades for cloud extras. WPS discloses ads on the free tier; always check the plan page for the others before you standardize.
The shortlist
The 7 free spreadsheet apps
What each one is good at, and where it stops.
1
WPS Spreadsheet
Excel-like sheets inside a free suite
WPS Spreadsheet opens common .xlsx, .xls, and .csv files, handles everyday formulas, charts, and pivots, and installs with Writer, Presentation, and PDF. That suite bundle is the main edge versus sheet-only free apps. It is a practical default when you want Excel-like desktop habits without paying for Microsoft 365, and you still need documents and PDFs in the same install.
Choose WPS when
- You edit spreadsheets offline on a PC or Mac
- Colleagues send .xlsx attachments
- You also need Writer, slides, or PDF tools
Watch for
- Ads on the free tier
- Some cloud or premium extras may be paid
- Test unusual macros before you standardize
- Best for offline desktop work with an Excel-familiar layout
- Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS
- Free tier may show ads; some extras may need a paid plan
2
Google Sheets
Best free team spreadsheet
Sheets wins when sharing a link and editing together matters more than a desktop ribbon. Import .xlsx when needed; expect complex Excel layouts to need cleanup. For classrooms, remote teams, and lightweight business trackers, it remains the fastest free collaborative spreadsheet.
Choose Sheets when
- Many people edit one sheet live
- Sharing by link is the workflow
- Your team already uses Google accounts
Watch for
- Browser-first storage and account lock-in
- Complex Excel layouts can shift
- Offline mode needs setup and is not desktop-first
- Ideal for class teams and shared trackers
- Offline mode exists but needs setup
- Requires a Google account and cloud-first storage
3
LibreOffice Calc
Best open-source offline spreadsheet
LibreOffice Calc is a full desktop spreadsheet inside a free open-source office suite. It runs without a subscription and without forcing a cloud account. That makes it a strong pick for students, nonprofits, Linux users, and anyone who wants files to stay local. It is not a cloud spreadsheet product, even though people sometimes confuse it with browser tools.
Strengths
- Truly free offline desktop use with no ads
- Broad formula set, charts, and DataPilot pivots
- Opens and saves common Excel formats for everyday sheets
- Fits open-source and privacy-first policies
Limits
- Interface feels less like modern Excel than WPS or OnlyOffice
- Real-time collaboration is not the main strength
- Complex Excel charts, macros, and layouts still need testing
- Mobile apps are not a core Calc workflow
Best for: offline open-source work and local-only files. Note: OpenOffice Calc is an older related project. Most new users should start with LibreOffice instead.
4
OnlyOffice Spreadsheet
Modern free editor with strong .xlsx focus
OnlyOffice appears often in independent free spreadsheet roundups beside WPS and LibreOffice. Its pitch is a cleaner modern editor with careful Microsoft format handling. Individuals can use the free desktop apps. Teams that want self-hosted collaboration can grow into OnlyOffice Docs later. That path is useful when you care about .xlsx round-trips more than Google-style browser defaults.
Strengths
- Strong focus on opening and saving Microsoft Office formats
- Modern UI that feels closer to current office suites
- Desktop offline editing for personal use
- Optional self-hosted collaboration for teams
Limits
- Less “suite + PDF in one consumer install” than WPS for everyday users
- Team collaboration usually means extra setup or hosting
- Excel VBA depth is still limited versus desktop Excel
- Feature naming and editions can confuse first-time downloaders
Best for: people who want a modern free .xlsx editor, or teams evaluating self-hosted document collaboration later.
5
Apple Numbers
Best free spreadsheet for Mac and iPad
Numbers is free on Apple devices and strong when visual layout matters: dashboards, school projects, and presentation-ready tables. It syncs through iCloud and feels native on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. The trade-off appears when files leave Apple. Windows Excel users may see layout shifts, so export to Excel or CSV when sharing outside the Apple ecosystem.
Strengths
- Free and polished on Mac, iPad, and iPhone
- Excellent templates and visual sheet layouts
- Offline device use with iCloud sync when you want it
- Easy collaboration inside Apple’s sharing tools
Limits
- Not ideal as a Windows-first team standard
- Complex Excel workbooks can lose layout on import/export
- Advanced Excel power-user features are thinner
- Cross-platform offices usually need a second tool anyway
Best for: Apple-only or Apple-first users who care about design and device sync more than Windows Excel parity.
6
Zoho Sheet
Business-oriented free web spreadsheet
Zoho Sheet is a browser spreadsheet aimed at work teams: collaboration, templates, comments, and automation-friendly workflows. It is especially practical if you already use Zoho CRM, Mail, or other Zoho apps. Compared with Google Sheets, it is less of a default consumer habit and more of a business-suite choice. Always read the current free-plan limits for storage, users, and advanced features before you standardize.
Strengths
- Solid real-time collaboration in the browser
- Templates and business-oriented sheet workflows
- Fits teams already inside the Zoho ecosystem
- Can import common spreadsheet formats for many office files
Limits
- Browser-first, so offline is not the main story
- Free-plan caps can matter for growing teams
- Less familiar than Google Sheets for schools and casual users
- Not a full offline office suite replacement by itself
Best for: small businesses and Zoho users who want collaborative web sheets without jumping to Microsoft 365.
7
Excel for the web
Free Microsoft browser editing path
Excel for the web is the free Microsoft option for light spreadsheet work in a browser with a Microsoft account. It is useful when partners already live in OneDrive or Outlook, and you need familiar Excel labels without paying for desktop Microsoft 365. It is not the same as full desktop Excel. Power Query, deep offline modeling, and many advanced desktop features remain on the paid desktop side.
Strengths
- Native Microsoft formats and familiar Excel naming
- Convenient for light edits and OneDrive sharing
- Good bridge when colleagues already use Microsoft accounts
- No separate “learn a new brand” cost for basic tasks
Limits
- Not a full offline desktop Excel replacement
- Advanced modeling and many desktop features stay limited
- Requires Microsoft account and cloud-first storage
- Not ideal if your goal is leaving Microsoft subscriptions entirely
Best for: light Microsoft-ecosystem edits. If your real goal is leaving paid Excel for offline desktop work, continue with the free Excel alternative comparison for .xlsx, pivots, and macro trade-offs.
Quick pick
Which free spreadsheet should you use?
Offline + suite: WPS Spreadsheet
Live team editing: Google Sheets
Open-source local: LibreOffice Calc
Apple devices: Numbers
Light Microsoft web edits: Excel for the web
Main trade-off: collaboration versus offline control. Browser sheets win shared editing. Desktop suites win local files and Microsoft-format habits.
Free Download WPS Spreadsheet
Free to start. Ads may appear on the free tier.
FAQ
Free spreadsheet software FAQ
What is the best free spreadsheet software?
It depends on the job. Google Sheets for live collaboration, LibreOffice Calc for open-source offline work, Apple Numbers for Mac and iPad, and WPS Spreadsheet for Excel-like desktop editing plus a full free office suite.
Is there a free spreadsheet app that works offline?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheet, LibreOffice Calc, OnlyOffice, and Apple Numbers support offline desktop or device use. Google Sheets and Excel for the web are browser-first.
Which free spreadsheet is most like Microsoft Excel?
WPS Spreadsheet and OnlyOffice are often chosen for Excel-like .xlsx workflows. Excel for the web stays closest to Microsoft branding but is not full desktop Excel.
Is WPS Spreadsheet really free?
Yes for core spreadsheet editing. The free tier may show ads, and some premium templates or cloud extras may need a paid plan.
Google Sheets vs WPS Spreadsheet: which should I use?
Use Google Sheets when simultaneous browser editing is the whole job. Use WPS when you want offline desktop sheets and an office suite for documents, slides, and PDFs.
Is LibreOffice Calc free and offline?
Yes. LibreOffice Calc is free, open-source, and desktop-first. It is not a cloud spreadsheet product.
Do I still need Microsoft Excel?
Keep desktop Excel for Power Query, Power Pivot, Microsoft-only workplaces, or macros that must behave exactly like Excel. Free apps cover most school, budget, and everyday business sheets.
Download free spreadsheet software for desktop work
Offline sheets plus documents and PDFs without Microsoft 365. Install WPS and validate one real workbook.
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