Microsoft Excel
Classic
Spreadsheets and business analysis
Excel is the default spreadsheet for finance and operations, powerful but reliant on formula expertise.
Formulas
Pivot tables
Charts
Paid · from $6.99/mo
LibreOffice Calc
Classic
Free and powerful spreadsheet software
4.2
Free · from Free
Best for Budget-conscious users needing offline spreadsheetsOverview
LibreOffice Calc is a free, open-source spreadsheet application compatible with Excel file formats, offering formulas, pivot tables and macros.
Key features
- Excel file compatibility (.xlsx)
- Pivot tables
- Macro scripting (Basic/Python)
- Offline desktop app
Pros
- Completely free forever
- No cloud/account required
Cons
- No native AI features
- Less polished UI
LibreOffice Calc replaces
AI alternatives to LibreOffice Calc
Google Sheets
Classic
Free collaborative spreadsheets
Google Sheets covers most everyday spreadsheet needs with real-time collaboration and scripting. Advanced analysis still means writing formulas by hand.
Formulas
Pivot tables
Apps Script
Freemium · from Free
Rows
AI
Spreadsheet with AI built in
Rows is a modern spreadsheet where an AI assistant writes formulas, classifies data and pulls live data from APIs without add-ins.
AI formula writing
Data enrichment
Live API integrations
Freemium · from $0
Airtable
AI
Connect your apps, automate your work
Airtable combines spreadsheet simplicity with database power, offering views, automations and an AI layer for building custom workflow apps.
Relational database views
Built-in automations
AI field generation
Freemium · from $20/mo
Julius AI
AI
Chat with your spreadsheets
Julius AI analyses CSV and Excel files conversationally, producing charts, statistics and models from plain-English questions.
Natural language analysis
Automatic charting
Statistical modelling
Freemium · from $0
Numerous.ai
AI
AI formulas inside your spreadsheet
Numerous.ai adds AI functions to Google Sheets and Excel so you can categorise, extract and write at scale with a simple formula. It keeps your workflow in the spreadsheet.
AI formulas
Bulk categorisation
Data extraction
Freemium · from $10/mo