Differences Between Microsoft Excel Vs Google Sheets
Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel are similar to each other as both share the same functionality for better analysis. Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application developed by Microsoft that offers a wide range of data storage, manipulation, and mining features. It is an essential tool for strategic decision-making processes in various industries.
On the other hand, Google Sheets is another spreadsheet application that provides users with a highly useful platform for managing data. Both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are designed to help users organize and analyze data effectively. However, Microsoft Excel is more widely used in business due to its advanced features and capabilities. It offers a variety of tools for data analysis, including pivot tables, charts, and graphs, which make it easier to visualize and interpret complex data sets.
Microsoft Excel is a workbook that is installed with the Microsoft Office package. Excel is the data in tables made up of several rows and columns. The formula and functions applied in Excel are shown in the formula bar. Excel is used for various data-related tasks and reports, including creating payslips and salary slips, calculating weekly expenses, and accounting. Excel helps in sorting and filtering by applying rules to data sets by various criteria.
The advantages of Microsoft Excel are; advanced performance, responsiveness, fast, an extensive range of opinions for data visualization, no need for the internet, unlimited storage, a wide range of formulas and functions, and highly customizable. On the other hand, the disadvantages of Microsoft Excel are; it has different versions and compatibility difficulties, expensive full-version support, and no clean revision history.

Google Sheets is a spreadsheet developed by Google. This is slightly different from Microsoft Excel. Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet program that stores data on the cloud, specifically on Google Drive. While it boasts impressive features like cloud support and scripting, it lacks advanced capabilities. Despite its limitations, Google Sheets offers several advantages. It is user-friendly, free, and has in-built real-time revision history. It offers better sharing support with no version compatibility issues and supports a wide range of add-ons. However, it is important to note that Google Sheets may experience slow performance when handling large amounts of data. It also has limited formula and function support, as well as limited data visualization and customization options.

Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Excel developed by Microsoft and Google Sheets are similar in their internal programming, formulas, and basics.
- Both applications help users organize data and also aid in analysing and making decisions.
- Google Sheets provide a collaborative platform for group work, whereas Excel is not collaborative and requires manual saving.
- Google Sheets are comparatively better with its data and appearance than Excel.
- Microsoft Office 365 has a monthly business subscription of $8 per month, but Google Sheets is $5.
Excel Vs Google Sheets – Key Differences
- Google Sheets is an online spreadsheet application, whereas Microsoft Excel is a desktop-based spreadsheet software.
- Meanwhile, Google Sheets is a free spreadsheet; we can use its features for free. But, Microsoft Excel is not free and is a licensed Microsoft product.
- Google Sheets offers the unique feature of simultaneous collaboration, a capability not available in Excel.
- In Google Sheets, we can share and edit files in real-time, while in Microsoft Excel, we can track changes.
- Google Sheets offers automatic saving, thus helping users not to worry about losing their work. On the other hand, Microsoft Excel requires users to manually save their work, which can be time-consuming and may lead to data loss if not saved regularly.
- Remember, Excel formulas and Google Sheets formulas are different.
- Google Sheets uses the Google Apps Script as its scripting language, whereas Microsoft Excel employs VBE.
- Microsoft Excel works with large data, while Google Sheets can work with limited data.
- Microsoft Excel is part of the MS Office suite, whereas Google Sheets is a part of the Google suite.
- Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool where we can easily handle complex tasks and manage large data sets. On the other hand, Google Sheets is better suited for simpler operations and smaller data sets.
- Data analysis is done using Microsoft Excel, as it can handle large volumes of data. On the other hand, Google Sheets is not designed for data analysis purposes.
- Microsoft Excel is ideal for large-scale companies and businesses that need comprehensive spreadsheet software. On the other hand, Google Sheets is a more suitable option for freelancers, students, and small companies who need a friendly and cost-effective solution for their needs.
Excel vs Google Sheets Comparative Table
Parameters | Microsoft Excel | Google Sheets |
---|---|---|
Cost Factor | Microsoft Excel is expensive. | Google Sheets is free to use. |
Installation | It is installed from the Office suite. | It does not require installation; it is used on the web browser. |
Developed by | Microsoft Excel developed by Microsoft. | Google Sheets developed by Google LLC. |
Launched on | Microsoft Excel was launched in the year 1987. | Google Sheets was launched in the year 2006. |
Cloud Support | Microsoft Excel works offline. | Google Sheets uses Google Drive. |
Collaboration | Microsoft Excel supports no collaboration of people. | Google Sheets supports the collaboration of multiple people. |
Statistical Analysis & Visualization | Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet that supports statistical analysis, visualization, and a wide range of built-in formulas and functions. | Google Sheets is not as powerful as Microsoft Excel, which can support statistical analysis and visualization. |
Macro Support | Microsoft Excel provides users with the ability to record macros or VBE. | Google Sheets allows users to record macros but does not use VBE. |
Complexity | Microsoft Excel is a bit complicated as it has a wide range of functions and formulas. | Google Sheets is a simple user interface with limited function. |
Huge data Compatibility | Microsoft Excel is highly effective in handling huge amounts of data. | Google Sheets is most compatible with small datasets. |
Functions availability | Microsoft Excel supports more than 400 functions. | Google Sheets supports limited functions. |
Advancement | Microsoft Excel has advanced functionality. | Google Sheets do not have advanced functionality like Microsoft Excel. |
Output format | Microsoft Excel saves files in more than 20 formats. | No need to save files Google Sheets work on web browsers. |
Versions Compatibility | Microsoft Excel is available in different versions. | Google Sheets has only one version. |
Add-on | There are many add-ons available in Microsoft Excel. | Google Sheets offers limited support for add-ons. |
Cell Quantum | Microsoft Excel boasts a staggering 17 billion cells within a single worksheet. | Google Sheets boasts approximately 2 million cells within a single worksheet. |
Shortcut availability | Microsoft Excel has an extensive range of keyboard shortcuts. | Google Sheets has limited keyboard shortcuts. |
Customization | Microsoft Excel is highly customized. | Google Sheets offers limited options for customization. |
Automation | Automation is possible through VBA. | Automation can be achieved using scripts in Google Sheets. |
Supported Languages | Microsoft Excel is available in 91 different languages. | Google Sheets is available in 83 different languages. |
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