Ahh, the great debate of Microsoft Excel vs Google Sheets. Now, you're probably thinking “Well, of course, you're going to say Excel, this is an Excel blog”. Yes, that's true, I do primarily write about Excel, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't note that Google Sheets is a viable option in many cases. It all depends on what you're using a spreadsheet for. In this post I'll do a comparison of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets with examples of where each tool would be suitable – in many cases, both would be fine. If you want to see a small selection of Excel's functions, check out my blog Understanding the Basic Terms, Functions, and Tools.
Table of Contents
Flexibility to Suit Your Needs
Both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets offer a wide range of features that can cater to your specific requirements. If you need advanced data analysis tools or complex formulas, Excel might be your go-to choice. On the other hand, if you value the convenience of real-time collaboration and cloud-based accessibility, Google Sheets might be the perfect fit for you. The flexibility of these tools allows you to choose the one that aligns best with your needs, preferences, and work style.
Let's say you're a small business owner who needs to keep track of your inventory and sales data. Excel's robust data analysis tools and advanced formulas can provide you with powerful insights and help you make informed business decisions.
Simplify Your Everyday Life
Spreadsheet tools are not just for work-related tasks; they can also simplify your everyday life. Both Excel and Google Sheets can help you manage your finances, plan events, track household expenses, and much more. With easy-to-use templates, functions, and formulas, you can streamline your day-to-day activities, save time, and stay organized.
Imagine you're planning your upcoming wedding, and you need to keep track of your budget, guest list, and RSVPs. Google Sheets can be a game-changer as you can create customized sheets for each task, share them with your partner, and collaborate in real-time, making wedding planning a breeze.
Foster Collaboration
Collaboration is a key aspect of many professional and personal projects, and both Excel and Google Sheets excel in this area. With features like sharing, commenting, and real-time editing, you can work seamlessly with colleagues, clients, or friends on spreadsheets, making teamwork more efficient and effective.
Let's say you're working on a group project with your classmates, and you need to analyze and present data. Google Sheets' real-time editing and commenting features allow you and your teammates to collaborate in real-time, providing feedback and making updates on the go, ensuring a successful project outcome.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
As a blogger who empowers individuals, inclusivity, and accessibility are of utmost importance. Both Excel and Google Sheets offer features that cater to different learning styles, abilities, and preferences. For example, Excel provides accessibility tools like screen readers and high contrast mode, while Google Sheets offers voice typing and translation features. These inclusive features can empower all users, including those with disabilities, to effectively use these tools and excel in their endeavours.
Imagine you're working with a team member who has dyslexia and prefers to use voice typing. Google Sheets' voice typing feature would be invaluable, as it allows your team member to input data using their voice, enhancing their productivity and inclusivity in the team.
Offline Access
With Excel, you have the flexibility to work on your spreadsheets whenever and wherever you need to, without being reliant on an internet connection. You can access and edit your files even when you're on a plane, in a remote location, or in situations where internet connectivity may be unreliable. This offline capability ensures that you can continue to work on your spreadsheets without any interruptions, making Excel a reliable choice for those who need to work on their data regardless of their location or internet availability. Google Sheets is a tool where you must have an internet connection to use it.
Let's say you're a business professional who travels extensively for work with a large international firm, and you like to finalize your sales meeting charts and graphs while travelling on the airplane. You use Excel because of its ability to work offline.
Integration with Microsoft Office
Who is your end user and what tool do they use? Since Microsoft Office is still the Tool of choice for many companies, if such a company is the end user of your spreadsheet, you'll want to use Excel. It makes it so much easier not to have to convert from Google Sheets to Microsoft Excel, plus you'll already have access to Excel's advanced options which you wouldn't have in Google Sheets.
If you are your own end user and let's say you're creating your own personal budget spreadsheet, Google Sheets would work well. If you're an accountant or bookkeeper, you'll most likely want to use Excel for its advanced functions and visualization.
All-In-One vs Third-Party Add-Ons
What do I mean by this? Well, Excel comes pre-built with all of its formulas, functions, graphs, charts, etc. while Google Sheets relies on third-party add-ons to increase its functionality. This leaves you open to glitches in data if the add-ons are not maintained or a material change in the add-on functionality happens. It also could leave you vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
I don't want this to be a deal breaker for anyone, lots of people use Google Sheets and have never had an issue. Just keep in mind that it's a possibility.
Pricing
Google Sheets is free for an individual to use. For Microsoft Excel, the full version requires a one-time fee or monthly subscription to Microsoft Office, but there are ways to get Excel for free. I wrote a whole blog post on How to Get Microsoft Excel for Free (or cheaper), so check it out for all the details!
Conclusion
If you're like me, reading a lot of words and paragraphs is fine, but if you can summarize it in a table for easier viewing, I'm all for it. Are you starting to see why I like spreadsheets?! So let's do it! All the information above is beautifully summarized in a, you guessed it, Excel spreadsheet!
Depending on what you're trying to accomplish and who your end user is (and what tool they use), will determine if Excel or Google Sheets is right for you. In many cases, either tool will accomplish what you're looking to accomplish.
This is where I'm going to show my favouritism towards Excel. As Microsoft Excel has more advanced functionality, if you learn it, you'll be able to intuitively learn Google Sheets easier. I think. I don't know that you could intuitively learn Excel because you know Google Sheets. Probably the basics, but not the more advanced features.
In the end, both tools are great for spreadsheets, you just need to dive in and start using it! Either way, check out my site, you're bound to learn a few tricks, especially if you've chosen Microsoft Excel vs Google Sheets!
Hi! I'm Lindsay!
My nearly 20 years of experience working in various office settings have made me intimately familiar with the power and versatility of Microsoft Excel and I’m here to empower individuals who may not have had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with Excel through traditional means.
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