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Google Sheets alternatives

Top Spreadsheets & Databases like Google Sheets

The most popular alternative to Google Sheets is Microsoft Excel, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Google Sheets are Zoho Sheet, Numbers, Airtable, and LibreOffice.

Most alternatives to Google Sheets are in the Spreadsheets & Databases category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Google Sheets alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
11 apps

All Google Sheets alternatives

  1. Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet in Microsoft 365, used in many organisations for budgets, financial models and data analysis. It offers hundreds of functions, pivot tables, charts, Power Query for importing and cleaning data, VBA macros and Python in Excel, plus Copilot in eligible plans. It runs on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web, where a free version is available with a Microsoft account.

    8 Microsoft Excel alternatives

    Pros

    • Standard tool for financial models and business analysis
    • Power Query, pivot tables and macros handle complex data work
    • Huge range of functions, templates and learning resources

    Cons

    • Full desktop features require a Microsoft 365 subscription
    • The free web version lacks many advanced desktop features
    • Advanced features have a steep learning curve
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  2. Zoho Sheet is a cloud spreadsheet from Zoho for building and sharing spreadsheets with real-time co-editing, comments and cell-level change history. It handles pivot tables, data cleaning and imports from Excel and CSV files, while the Zia assistant suggests charts and answers questions about the data. It is free for individuals and part of paid Zoho Workplace plans for businesses.

    8 Zoho Sheet alternatives

    Pros

    • Free for individuals, with real-time co-editing and comments
    • Cell-level change history makes edits easy to trace
    • Zia assistant suggests charts and answers questions about the data

    Cons

    • Fewer add-ons and third-party integrations than Google Sheets
    • Most valuable for companies already using the Zoho ecosystem
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  3. Numbers is Apple's free spreadsheet app for Mac, iPhone and iPad, also available in the browser on iCloud.com. Instead of one large grid, each sheet is a free-form canvas where tables, charts, text and images can be placed side by side. It includes several hundred functions, pivot tables and real-time collaboration through iCloud, and can import and export Excel files.

    7 Numbers alternatives

    Pros

    • Free on Apple devices, with a browser version on iCloud.com
    • Free-form canvas mixes tables, charts and text on one sheet
    • Polished templates produce good-looking sheets with little effort

    Cons

    • Fewer advanced functions and analysis tools than Excel
    • Excel files with macros or complex formatting do not convert cleanly
    • No native apps for Windows or Android
    Cost / License
    FreeProprietary
    Platforms
  4. Airtable combines the look of a spreadsheet with a relational database, letting teams link records across tables and view them as grids, kanban boards, calendars, galleries or forms. Interfaces, automations and AI features turn bases into lightweight internal apps for content calendars, product roadmaps or inventories. A free plan exists, with paid plans adding capacity and admin features.

    12 Airtable alternatives

    Pros

    • Linked records give spreadsheet users real relational database power
    • Grid, kanban, calendar, gallery and form views on the same data
    • Interfaces and automations turn bases into lightweight internal apps

    Cons

    • Free plan limits on records and automations are reached quickly
    • Paid seats get expensive for larger teams
    • Complex bases can slow down and take effort to maintain
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  5. LibreOffice is a desktop office suite maintained by The Document Foundation, with Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math. It uses the OpenDocument format natively and opens and saves Microsoft Office files. It is free for any use, works fully offline and can be extended with community extensions and templates.

    12 LibreOffice alternatives

    Pros

    • Free for any use, with no account or subscription
    • Full suite with Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw and Base
    • Native OpenDocument support and fully offline use

    Cons

    • Interface feels dated next to Microsoft 365
    • Complex Office files can lose formatting
    • No real-time collaboration in the desktop apps
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
  6. ONLYOFFICE is an office suite from Ascensio System with editors for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs and forms, built around Microsoft Office formats. The desktop and mobile apps are free, and the online editors can be self-hosted or integrated into Nextcloud and other platforms, with paid cloud and enterprise editions. It supports real-time co-editing, plugins and AI assistants.

    12 ONLYOFFICE alternatives

    Pros

    • Strong compatibility with Microsoft Office formats
    • Free desktop and mobile apps, plus self-hostable online editors
    • Real-time co-editing and Nextcloud integration

    Cons

    • A self-hosted server needs technical setup
    • Enterprise features and support require paid editions
    • Fewer advanced features than Microsoft Office
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
  7. Grist is a relational spreadsheet from Grist Labs that combines a familiar grid with typed columns, linked tables and custom layouts. Formulas are written in Python, and granular access rules control who can see or edit each row or column. It is open source under Apache 2.0, can be self-hosted or run as a desktop app, and is also offered as a hosted service with a free tier.

    8 Grist alternatives

    Pros

    • Formulas are written in Python, a big plus for technical users
    • Granular access rules down to individual rows and columns
    • Open source and self-hostable, with a desktop app option

    Cons

    • Less familiar than a classic spreadsheet for Excel users
    • Smaller template and integration ecosystem than Airtable
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source
  8. Smartsheet manages projects and business processes in sheets that look like spreadsheets but add Gantt, card and calendar views, dependencies, forms and automated workflows. It targets enterprises and PMOs that need reports, dashboards and portfolio views across many projects, and connects to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce and Jira.

    12 Smartsheet alternatives

    Pros

    • Spreadsheet-like interface feels familiar to Excel users
    • Strong reports and dashboards across portfolios of projects
    • Gantt views with dependencies, forms and automated workflows

    Cons

    • No free plan beyond the trial period
    • Costs rise quickly with team size and premium add-ons
    • The interface feels less modern than newer work management tools
    Cost / License
    Free trialProprietary
  9. SeaTable is a spreadsheet-style database made by SeaTable GmbH in Germany, letting teams link tables, attach files, build forms and create custom views. Automations, Python and JavaScript scripts and an API turn tables into business processes without writing a full application. It can be used in the cloud, with a free plan, or installed on your own servers.

    7 SeaTable alternatives

    Pros

    • German vendor offering both GDPR-friendly cloud and self-hosting
    • Python and JavaScript scripts extend tables into business processes
    • Linked tables, forms and file attachments in one workspace

    Cons

    • Smaller community and template library than Airtable
    • Advanced features are reserved for paid plans
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
  10. NocoDB is a no-code database platform that puts a spreadsheet-style interface on top of new or existing PostgreSQL and MySQL databases. Teams get grid, kanban, gallery, form and calendar views, role-based access and automatically generated REST APIs. It can be self-hosted with Docker or used as a cloud service, and its source code is published under the fair-code Sustainable Use License.

    8 NocoDB alternatives

    Pros

    • Connects to existing PostgreSQL and MySQL databases
    • Auto-generated REST APIs for every table
    • Self-hostable with Docker for full control over data

    Cons

    • Fair-code license is not open source in the OSI sense
    • Fewer native integrations and automations than Airtable
    • Self-hosting requires technical skills to maintain
    Cost / License
    FreemiumSource available
  11. Baserow is a no-code database from the Dutch company of the same name, with a spreadsheet-like interface, linked tables, multiple views and a REST API. It also includes an application builder and AI fields for turning data into internal tools. The core is open source under MIT and can be self-hosted; the cloud version, hosted in the EU, has a free plan and paid tiers.

    8 Baserow alternatives

    Pros

    • Open source core that can be self-hosted at no cost
    • Familiar spreadsheet-style interface with linked tables and views
    • EU-hosted cloud option helps with GDPR requirements

    Cons

    • Smaller integration ecosystem than Airtable
    • Some advanced features are reserved for paid plans
    • Self-hosting requires server maintenance and updates
    Cost / License
    FreemiumOpen source

Google Sheets vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Google Sheets, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Google Sheets vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAI assistantFormulasIntegrationsOffline modePivot tables
Google SheetsFreemiumWeb, iPhone, Android
Microsoft ExcelFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
Zoho SheetFreemiumWeb, iPhone, Android
NumbersFreeWeb, Mac, iPhone
AirtableFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android
LibreOfficeFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux

Google Sheets alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Google Sheets?

The most popular alternative to Google Sheets is Microsoft Excel: Microsoft's spreadsheet for analysis, modelling and reporting. Other great alternatives are Zoho Sheet, Numbers, Airtable, and LibreOffice.

Is there a free alternative to Google Sheets?

Yes, 10 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Microsoft Excel, Zoho Sheet, Numbers, and Airtable.

Is there an open source alternative to Google Sheets?

Yes, 4 open source alternatives are listed, including LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE, Grist, and Baserow.

Is Google Sheets free?

Google Sheets has a free plan, with paid plans that unlock more features.

Compare Google Sheets with its alternatives

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