By Daniel Doan

Excel is one of the world’s most popular spreadsheet programs, with an estimated 1.1 billion people using it for data organization, analysis, and reporting.

While it’s a commendable data system for teams within a business, it’s not free. A standalone copy of Excel costs $159.99, and a personal Office subscription is $69.99 per year for one user.

Microsoft Excel might be the big cheese of data analysis and management, but it’s not the only tool in town.

So, whether you’re looking for a free alternative, a cloud-based solution, or a tool with more advanced features, this article has something for you.

1. Google Sheets

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• Price: Free for personal use and small teams; paid plans start at $6 a user per month for business teams.
• Best for: Teams already using Google Drive.
• What we like: This is the best, free Excel alternative that offers real-time collaboration.

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Brought to you by the Google Drive suite of apps, Google Sheets is a top-tier choice for anyone looking for an Excel alternative.

This cloud-based spreadsheet app has many of the same features as Excel (charts, formulas, and real-time collaboration), making it the best free Excel alternative.

That said, if you don’t mind paying a fee, you can get more storage and advanced features with other tools on this list.

Pros

• Free to use
• Easy collaboration
• Cloud-based and accessible from anywhere

Cons

• Limited features compared to Excel
• Can be slower than desktop applications
• May have compatibility issues with Microsoft Office files

2. Airtable

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• Price: Free for personal use and small teams; paid plans start at $12 a user per month for business teams.
• Best for: Teams that need a database solution.
• What we like: Airtable’s advanced features combine spreadsheet and database components.

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Airtable is a cloud-based platform that combines spreadsheet and database features. It’s designed to be flexible and customizable and offers a variety of views, including grid, calendar, and Kanban.

Pros

• Combines spreadsheet and database features, offering a unique approach to data management
• Designed to be a collaborative solution for teams, including real-time collaboration and commenting features
• Offers a range of templates for different use cases, including project management and content planning
• Integrates with a range of other apps and platforms, including Slack and Zapier
• Offers a free version, as well as paid options for businesses that need more storage or advanced features

Cons

• Limited advanced features compared to other spreadsheet applications
• May not be suitable …read more

  Source:: HubSpot Blog

        

  

  Author: Aaron