All of us have that co-worker who’s a self-appointed spreadsheet master. Those individuals who you tell to “don’t make fun of my spreadsheet” or ask to “please check my formulas” because, unlike them, a few of us don’t dream about conditional formatting and Vlookups.
Nevertheless, if you happen to are mediocre at using spreadsheets (like nearly all of us) and are unimpressed with the software you’re using – you don’t need to keep on with the usual platform. There are more spreadsheet options in the marketplace today that could make your life much easier.
So, if you happen to’re out there for a brand new platform or possibly need to read up on what’s on the market so you may sharpen up your data-crunching spreadsheet skills to match (or exceed) your co-worker, we’ve compiled a listing of the very best spreadsheet software in the marketplace to assist you to make an informed decision about which one is correct for you. Let’s start.
1. Hive: Where spreadsheets meet project management
Hive is one in every of the highest spreadsheet-based project management platforms on the market. But greater than just an easy spreadsheet tool, Hive all-in-one productivity software that gives a more collaborative experience and might up your spreadsheet game. With Hive, you may work on projects with others in real-time and see who’s working on what at any given time. Plus, you too can access your files from anywhere, which makes it easy to maintain track of your work even while you’re away out of your desk.
The most effective part about Hive is that you just will not be stuck with just spreadsheets. Hive’s flexible project layouts can help you view any project in a 6 different view, including Gantt charts, Kanban boards, Calendar view — and naturally, Table view. Hive has the power to interrupt down any task into sub-actions, set due dates, and assign them to teammates, making it the proper tool to administer any complex project.
Key Takeaways
Hive offers a wide range of features that will not be available in other spreadsheet tools like Excel, including:
- Robust project management capabilities
- File sharing
- Collaborative note-taking
- Time-tracking and resourcing
- Native email tool
Pricing structure:
2. Microsoft Excel: It’s still around in spite of everything these years
It’s likely that Microsoft Excel was likely the primary spreadsheet software you ever used. And because it’s essentially the grandfather of spreadsheets, just about all spreadsheet software that has followed after Excel uses the identical functionality. So, if you happen to know Excel, you may navigate most spreadsheet programs.
Excel is incredibly robust and might do some extremely powerful data crunching. As well as, it offers a wide range of features, corresponding to automated formulas, cell references, and data visualizations, that make it stand out from the remaining. Nevertheless, it’s more complicated (or it may possibly be) than another options on this list, and there’s something of a learning curve for individuals who have never used this system before.
Key Takeaways:
- Great for complex data crunching and evaluation.
- It offers a wide range of features
- It has been around for a very long time and is widely used, making it easy to search out support and resources online.
Pricing Structure:
- Microsoft Excel is a paid software available as a part of the Microsoft Office suite of programs.
- A free online version of Excel with limited functionality that might be utilized in an online browser.
Comparison: Try our full guide to the very best Excel alternatives in the marketplace.
3. Google Sheets: A collaborative alternative
In case you are aware of Excel, then you need to know Google Sheets. A detailed second and serious competitor to Excel, Google is a free spreadsheet software that’s among the best options today.
Not only does it have my favorite price tag, however it is modern, functional, and incredibly easy to make use of. A cloud-based platform, Google sheets is a typical addition to the Google fleet of tools. It’s incredibly flexible and might integrate into various project management platforms, so everyone in your team can access spreadsheets and the information they supply.
Google Sheets allows users to customize their spreadsheets with add-ons and extensions that enhance functionality and productivity and supply data security, backup, and permission settings.
Key Takeaways
- A free, cloud-based platform
- Integrates into multiple platforms and project management tools
- Offers assistive features like Smart Fill and formula suggestions to assist you to analyze data faster
- Offers a wide range of add-ons for personalisation
Pricing Structure:
- Google Sheets is totally free and might be accessed from any device with an online browser.
4. Apple Numbers: For individuals who prefer to make use of Apple products
Apple Numbers is a superb alternative for individuals who prefer the convenience of its interface and the familiarity of Apple products. With seamless integration of its features like tables, charts, and formulas — this spreadsheet software has that “Apple look” and is made user-friendly and fast.
And while Apple Numbers may not have all the additional elements in other competitive spreadsheets, its biggest strength lies in helping you create beautiful designs explicitly tailored to your project needs. In case you are a staunch “Apple person,” this platform will integrate across your whole apple products and present data beautifully when needed.
Key Takeaways:
- It offers seamless integration with other Apple products, making it a wonderful alternative for Apple users.
- Apple Numbers has a user-friendly and fast interface, with features like tables, charts, and formulas which can be easy to make use of.
- Many templates assist you to create beautiful designs/reports that might be tailored specifically to your project needs.
Pricing Structure:
- Apple Numbers is a free spreadsheet software available on all Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers.
- While no additional costs are related to using Apple Numbers, users will need to have an Apple device to access it.
5. Smartsheet: Perfect for businesses that have to track plenty of data
Combining the functionality of a conventional spreadsheet with project management features, Smartsheet makes it easy to maintain tabs on literally anything — and in an aesthetically pleasing way too. Smartsheet can assist you to make graphs, generate reports, and effortlessly collaborate with teammates.
With its customized workflows, templates, and automation tools, you may save time and increase productivity. Also, it’s a snap to generate reports and visualize data in a way that is straightforward to grasp. With built-in charts, graphs, and dashboards, you may quickly see how your project progresses and discover areas needing attention.
Key Takeaways:
- A strong spreadsheet and project management tool
- User-friendly interface with customizable workflows and templates
- Built-in charts, graphs, and dashboards to quickly visualize data
- Automation to extend productivity and save time
Pricing Structure:
- Smartsheet offers a wide range of plans ranging in price from $14.00-$25.00 per user/month, depending on the features you would like.
- There’s also a free plan that enables users to access a limited variety of features for private use.
Comparison: Try our full guide to the very best Smartsheet alternatives in the marketplace.
6. Jotform Tables: For teams that need greater than only a basic spreadsheet
Jotform Tables is a strong data management tool that goes beyond the restrictions of a spreadsheet. With Jotform Tables, you’ll have access to a flexible workspace that permits you to easily collect, organize, and manage all of your data in a single place.
One in every of my favorite things about Jotform Tables is how easy it’s so as to add recent entries. You possibly can simply enter them by hand, or import CSV or Excel files directly into your table. Plus, if you should streamline the method even further, you may create forms to gather responses and mechanically populate your tables with submission data.
In relation to collaborating together with your team, Jotform Tables has got you covered. With customizable access settings, you may easily share your tables with colleagues and assign entries to trace progress. And with ready-to-use column types, you may easily organize your data and create reports that fit your needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Collaborate together with your team by sharing your tables quickly and simply. You possibly can customize access settings, assign entries, and track progress.
- Organize data with ready-to-use column types.
- Send your data to other parties, or integrations; create PDFs; send emails, and more.
- Use one in every of the ready-made templates to create the tables that fit your needs perfectly.
Pricing structure:
- Jotform Tables offers a free plan that features all of the features you should start, with paid plans starting at just $34/month when billed annually.
7. Airtable: For data organization and collaboration
Airtable is a spreadsheet-database hybrid software that goes beyond traditional spreadsheets by offering a highly customizable and collaborative platform for data organization. It combines the familiarity and suppleness of spreadsheets with the functionality of databases, making it a top alternative for teams and individuals trying to manage their data effectively.
With Airtable, users can create customized databases, often called “bases,” to arrange and store their information in a structured manner. Its intuitive interface allows for straightforward data entry, manipulation, and sorting, helping users to trace and analyze data in a user-friendly way. Moreover, Airtable supports a wide range of data types, including text, numbers, attachments, and even links to other records, enabling users to create dynamic and interconnected data structures.
Key Takeaways:
- Flexible and customizable, users can create personalized databases.
- Collaborate using real-time editing, commenting, and sharing.
- Extensive integration capabilities with other tools and platforms, like Zapier and Slack.
Pricing Structure:
- Airtable offers a free plan with limited features and paid plans start at $10 per user/month, offering advanced features, increased storage and revision history, and extra support options.
Comparison: Learn about other similar tools in the marketplace on this guide to the top Airtable alternatives.
8. Wrike: For flexible, on-the-fly adjustments
Wrike is a project management tool that has a Gantt chart feature, often called the Timeline view, that provides teams the power to visualise all the project timeline and higher understand task dependencies and overlapping dates. This view also simplifies the strategy of scheduling since you may move tasks around directly on the timeline, mechanically updating dependent tasks and alerting relevant team members of any changes.
Wrike’s Gantt charts also support real-time collaboration, where teams could make adjustments on-the-fly. This shared visibility encourages a way of accountability amongst team members, ensuring everyone understands their deadlines and the way their role suits inside the larger project timeline.
Key Takeaways:
- Gantt charts feature real-time updates
- Timeline view that gives a visible representation of the project with task dependencies
- Flexible, on-the-fly adjustments, keeping the project up-to-date and reflective of any changes
Pricing Structure:
- Wrike has a free plan for startups and as your team grows, they’ve plans starting at $9.80/user/month.
Comparison: Proceed researching by testing these Wrike alternatives in the marketplace.
9. Zoho Sheet: For smart data evaluation and real-time collaboration
Zoho Sheet is a spreadsheet application that integrates with an AI assistant to assist you to accomplish tasks easier. The software analyzes data with automated chart and pivot table suggestions. Zoho Sheet cleans up data by utilizing a tool that identifies duplicate rows, spelling and grammar errors, and random missing values. There’s also a low-coding feature that permits you to create custom functions and gather data from external sources. In relation to collaboration, that’s Zoho Sheet forte, because the allows multiple users to work on the identical spreadsheet concurrently. It also offers comments, chat, and version history.
Zoho Sheet gives you the power to create automated workflows with integrations powered by Zapier and Zoho Flow. Access and edit your spreadsheets from a browser, or use iOS and Android apps to create spreadsheets and collaborate wherever you’re.
Key Takeaways:
- AI powered assistant
- Cell-level graphs for analyzing trends alongside data
- Nearly 40 different chart types including Histogram, Pareto and Word Cloud
- Import Excel spreadsheets with no lack of formatting
Pricing Structure:
- Zoho Sheet is free to make use of if you happen to enroll for a Zoho account. They provide paid plans to unlock more features for small teams and large corporations, but you should contact their team to get a quote.
10. Polaris Office: best for easy data evaluation and create presentations
In case you are on the lookout for a cheaper, easy-to-use spreadsheet application for easy data evaluation Polaris Office might do the trick. With a friendly interface, Polaris Officer is accessible for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It supports a wide range of file formats, including Word, Sheet, Slide and PDF. It also supports TXT, CSV, ODF, and ZIP formats. Polaris Office also offers the power to edit PDF files and create presentations. Often described as ‘free office app for documents, spreadsheets, presentations and Adobe PDF files’, Polaris Office works as an efficient Office Suite for productivity.
Key takeaways:
- Easy data evaluation
- Multiple format capabilities
- PDF editing
- Presentation creation
Pricing Structure:
The Basic plan is free but with limited features, its Smart plan starts at $3.99/month and the Pro plan starts at $5.99.
11. Stackby: best known for flexibility of spreadsheets and power of databases
With powerful capability of built-in integrations, Stackby is an ideal spreadsheet alternative. Its database functionality along with effective collaboration features, makes Stackby a very good solution for businesses of any size. The platform has the power to store and manage your data in a relational database facilitating the creation of complex relationships between different tables. Stackby has project management capabilities, can function a CRM and product management software.
Key takeaways:
- Database functionality
- No-code automation
- Collaboration
- Powerful spreadsheet features
- Templates library for straightforward onboarding
Pricing Structure:
Stackby has a free plan for small teams with limited features. Its hottest paid plan costs $18 per seat per 30 days and offers unlimited members and read-only users, 50 stacks and other sophisticated features.
The world of spreadsheets has come a good distance since I learned the right way to add formulas back in highschool… over 20 years ago. With so many options, deciding which one to choose can take time. Whether you’re on the lookout for a free and easy-to-use platform, like Google Sheets, or need a more robust tool for your small business, like Hive, there’s something on the market for each teams and individuals.
In case you are hesitant to make the switch, keep in mind that learning a brand new spreadsheet software can increase your productivity and make your life easier in the long term. In fact, it would take you some serious practice to surpass the local guru at your work – but there remains to be hope!
