The three ways to get Excel: buy it outright, subscribe monthly, or use a free alternative

You can get Excel three ways: buy a one-time license through Microsoft Office, pay a monthly subscription for Microsoft 365, or use a free spreadsheet program that opens Excel files. The choice depends on how often you use spreadsheets, whether you need the latest features, and what you can spend upfront. Most people fall into one of these paths, and each has real trade-offs in cost and capability.

Microsoft Excel is the industry standard for spreadsheets, but it is not the only option. If you use spreadsheets occasionally, a free program like LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets may do everything you need. If you use Excel daily for work, a subscription or permanent license makes more sense. The decision also depends on your operating system — Windows, Mac, or Linux — since not all options work on all three.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is a monthly subscription that includes Excel, Word, and Outlook, and costs between $6 and $20 per month depending on the plan you choose.
  • A one-time purchase of Microsoft Office 2021 or Office 2019 gives you Excel permanently, but you do not receive updates and the upfront cost is $160 to $250.
  • Free alternatives like LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, and WPS Office can open and edit most Excel files without paying anything, though advanced features may work differently.
  • Excel is available on Windows, Mac, and iPad, but the mobile app has fewer features than the desktop version.
  • You can test Excel free for 30 days through Microsoft's trial before you buy or subscribe.

Microsoft 365 subscription: the most common choice for regular users

Microsoft 365 is a monthly or yearly subscription that includes Excel, Word, Outlook, and other Office programs. The Personal plan costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year and works on one computer. The Family plan costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and covers up to six people on six devices each. Both plans include 1 terabyte of cloud storage through OneDrive and automatic updates whenever Microsoft releases new features.

You read Excel to your computer and sign in with your Microsoft account each time you open it. The subscription renews automatically unless you cancel it. If you stop paying, you can still open files you created, but you cannot edit them. Most people choose this route because the monthly cost is low, you always have the newest version, and you get technical support included.

To start, go to microsoft.com, click on Microsoft 365, choose Personal or Family, and enter your payment method. Microsoft will send you a read link. Run the installer, sign in with your Microsoft account (or create one free), and Excel will be ready to use within a few minutes.

One-time purchase: Office 2021 or Office 2019 for permanent ownership

If you prefer to own Excel outright instead of renting it, you can buy Microsoft Office 2021 (the newest version available for one-time purchase) or Office 2019. Office 2021 Home and Student costs $160 and includes Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Office 2021 Home and Business costs $250 and adds Outlook and Publisher. You pay once, install it on one computer, and it is yours to use forever.

The catch is that you do not receive updates. If Microsoft releases a new version in three years, you still have the 2021 version. You also cannot use it on multiple computers — each copy is licensed for one device. If you upgrade your computer, you can move the license, but you need to contact Microsoft support to do it.

Buy Office 2021 through the Microsoft Store, Amazon, or authorized retailers. You will receive a product key (a 25-character code) that you use to set up the software. read the installer from Microsoft's website, run it, enter your product key when prompted, and sign in with your Microsoft account to complete set up.

Free alternatives: LibreOffice, Google Sheets, and WPS Office

LibreOffice Calc is a free, open-source spreadsheet program that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It opens Excel files, saves them in Excel format, and handles most common spreadsheet tasks — formulas, charts, filtering, and pivot tables. read it from libreoffice.org, run the installer, and it is ready to use. The learning curve is small if you have used Excel before, though the menu layout is slightly different.

Google Sheets is a free web-based spreadsheet that you access through your web browser. You sign in with a Google account (free to create), click "Create," choose "Spreadsheet," and start working. Google Sheets syncs automatically to the cloud, so your files are safe if your computer crashes. You can share a spreadsheet with others and work on it together in real time. The downside is that advanced Excel features like macros and some complex formulas do not work the same way, and you need an internet connection to use it.

WPS Office is a free suite that includes a spreadsheet program similar to Excel. It is available for Windows and Mac. read it from wps.com, install it, and use it without paying. WPS Office handles most Excel files well, though some formatting may shift slightly when you open a file created in Excel.

All three free options work for basic spreadsheets, budgets, and data entry. If you use advanced features like Visual Basic macros, complex array formulas, or specialized financial functions, Excel itself is more reliable.

Excel on Mac: subscription or one-time purchase work the same way

Excel for Mac is available through Microsoft 365 or as a one-time purchase of Office 2021 for Mac. The subscription process is identical — go to microsoft.com, choose your plan, and read the Mac installer. The one-time purchase also works the same way: buy the product key, read from Microsoft, and set up it with your key.

Mac users can also use LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, or WPS Office, all of which run on macOS. The free alternatives work the same on Mac as they do on Windows, so the choice between them does not depend on your operating system.

Excel on mobile devices: iPad and phone apps with limited features

Microsoft offers free Excel apps for iPad and iPhone. The apps are free to read and use for viewing and basic editing. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you unlock advanced features like creating new spreadsheets from scratch, using all formulas, and editing complex files. The mobile apps are useful for checking a spreadsheet or making quick changes while you are away from your computer, but they are not a replacement for the desktop version — many features are missing or simplified.

To use Excel on your phone or iPad, read the app from the Apple App Store, sign in with your Microsoft account, and open a file. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, all features unlock automatically. If you do not subscribe, you can still view files and make basic edits.

The 30-day free trial: test Excel before you commit

Microsoft offers a free 30-day trial of Microsoft 365 that includes full access to Excel, Word, Outlook, and other programs. Go to microsoft.com/microsoft-365/try, enter your email address, create a password, and read the installer. You do not need to enter a credit card to start the trial. After 30 days, your access ends unless you buy a subscription or a one-time license.

The trial is a good way to see whether you need Excel or whether a free alternative would work for you. You can use all features during the trial period, so you can test advanced functions, macros, and file formats that matter to your work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Excel for free without a subscription?

Yes, through the 30-day trial or by using free alternatives like LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets. You can also use Excel online for free through Office.com if you have a Microsoft account, though the web version has fewer features than the desktop app. The free alternatives work well for most everyday spreadsheet tasks.

What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021?

Microsoft 365 is a subscription you pay for monthly or yearly and always get the newest version. Office 2021 is a one-time purchase that never expires but never updates. Choose 365 if you want the latest features and automatic updates; choose 2021 if you prefer to own it outright and do not mind using the same version for years.

Can I move my Excel license to a new computer?

With Microsoft 365, you can sign in on a new computer and your subscription follows you. With a one-time purchase like Office 2021, you need to contact Microsoft support to move the license from your old computer to your new one. Each license covers one computer at a time.

Will my Excel files open in LibreOffice or Google Sheets?

Yes, both programs can open Excel files (.xlsx and .xls formats). Some advanced features like macros or complex formulas may not work exactly the same way, but basic spreadsheets, charts, and formulas usually transfer without problems. Test your specific file in the free program before you rely on it.

Do I need Excel if I only use spreadsheets occasionally?

Probably not. If you create a budget once a year or track a straightforward list, LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets will do the job and cost nothing. Excel is worth the cost if you use spreadsheets regularly for work, need advanced features, or work with files created by others who use Excel's specialized functions.