Check out these 6 online spreadsheets that'll make you forget all about Excel!
We all need a spreadsheet: to draw up a list, draw up a budget, distribute a survey... It is now an integral part of the daily life of many professionals. Who hasn't used Excel to collect data, analyse it, track performance indicators, etc.?
Although Excel is a well-known and recognised office automation tool, few users know how to use it properly, because it quickly becomes too complex. Fortunately, there are alternatives to make it simpler: online spreadsheets.
What is an online spreadsheet? And what are the benefits? Find out the answers to these questions, plus a selection of the 6 best tools.
Why choose an online spreadsheet rather than Excel?
Excel: an unsuitable spreadsheet for teamwork?
Excel is still the benchmark. Yet it has one major drawback: it' s not collaborative. In the workplace, you often need to access a document at the same time as a colleague. When access is limited to a single person in write mode, the productivity of the whole business slows down.
The need for a shared spreadsheet then becomes obvious!
ℹ️ Note: it is now possible for several users to co-edit an Excel sheet simultaneously. However, a number of conditions need to be met:
- have an Office 365 subscription;
- upload a workbook to OneDrive, OneDrive Enterprise or SharePoint Online;
- share the workbook with the person or people concerned.
Office online support says: "Please note that if you have a business or school account, your version of Office may not support co-editing at this time. ".
The advantages of online spreadsheets: synchronisation, collaboration and access to data
Unlike Excel, which you have to install on your computer (on premise), online spreadsheets are accessible via a browser, thanks to a simple Internet connection. That's the magic of the cloud! ✨
They have many other advantages:
- they automatically synchronise changes and update data on all media, for all users;
- they facilitate collaborative working;
- they avoid document versioning errors;
- They can be accessed remotely from any device (computer, tablet, smartphone via a mobile application);
- they can be shared more easily via a link;
- They free up storage space on your computer;
- they avoid updates and version changes: changes are transparent to the user.
Working with an online spreadsheet means you don't risk getting stuck in your work in the event of a power cut, for example. Documents remain accessible offline, and data is synchronised as soon as everything is back online.
☝️ Last but not least, an online spreadsheet is often free. In fact, this type of tool may be available in the free versions of more comprehensive suites, to encourage users to adopt the entire ecosystem (Google Sheet with the Google suite, for example). Handy if you have small needs... and small resources!
Selection of the 6 best online spreadsheets, alternatives to Excel
There are a number of online spreadsheets, including the well-known Google Sheet, as well as free or open source software, such as Framacalc or the OpenOffice or LibreOffice spreadsheets.
In this comparison, we present several alternatives to Excel, available online.
1 of 5
 Google Sheets |  Canva |  ONLYOFFICE |  RowShare |  Zoho Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For all companies | For all companies | For all companies | For companies with more than 1 employees | For all companies |
| See software | See software | See software | See software | See software |
| Learn more about Google Sheets | Learn more about Canva | Learn more about ONLYOFFICE | Learn more about RowShare | Learn more about Zoho Sheet |
Google Sheets
Users looking for an effective online spreadsheet program usually turn to Google Sheets. This tool is part of the Google WorkSpace suite and has a cloud storage space linked to Google Drive. The main advantage of this solution? All you need is a Google account to access it free of charge. All it takes is a Google account, so it's sure to appeal to a huge number of users!
🛠️ The main benefits and functions of Google Sheet :
- numerous functions: sum, subtraction, multiplication, fraction, average, minimum, maximum, calculation of interest, depreciation, discounting, etc. ;
- cell sorting and filtering for customised data display;
- formatting rows and columns: data format, fonts, borders, height and width of rows and columns, etc. ;
- insert rows and columns, merge several cells, etc. ;
- import and export data into your spreadsheet, usually in CSV, XLS or XLSX format;
- create and insert graphics, images, etc.
With Google Sheet, online saving is automatic and continuous, protecting you from bugs: if anything goes wrong, your changes won't be lost.
On the other hand, if you want to build very complex tables, you'll be caught out by its size limit: 2 million cells maximum (or 77,000 rows with the default 26 columns). If you have more than ten tabs, you may notice a slowdown when you open your document.
Google Sheets
Canva
Well known for its graphic design functions, Canva also offers an online spreadsheet solution. Designed for professionals and home users alike, this tool lets you effortlessly create elegant tables. Unlike traditional spreadsheets, Canva focuses on visuals and customisation, making data management more attractive.
🛠️ Canva's main benefits and features :
- customisable templates, designed by professionals and adaptable to your own needs;
- Intuitive interface: easily add and edit tables, rows and columns;
- integration of icons, images and shapes to enhance your creations and make them more attractive;
- add colours, fonts and borders to match your graphic guidelines;
- insert your tables into your presentations, reports or any other design created on Canva;
- access to a wide range of features free of charge.
The aim of Canva is clear: to transform figures into powerful graphic elements. Thanks to a user-friendly interface, even those less at ease with digital tools can structure and present their information with style. Tables are no longer just grids, they become effective communication tools.
However, bear in mind that this is a solution designed to improve the visual quality of your tables. It does not have the same calculation capabilities as Excel!
Canva
ONLYOFFICE
ONLYOFFICE is an open source office and collaboration suite that is popular not only with SMEs, but also with the education sector and government organisations.
It offers an intuitive online spreadsheet, which looks very similar to Excel, as well as a word processor, a presentation tool and EDM and CRM functions, to name but a few!
🛠️ Main advantages and features of ONLYOFFICE :
- two co-editing modes, in real time or temporarily locked ;
- secure file sharing with rights management;
- easy tracking of modifications and revisions, and version history;
- data analysis, with graphs and equations added to reports;
- Choose from 400 functions and formulas, and automate calculations;
- comments on cells and discussion with colleagues online without leaving the editor, etc.
This open source alternative to Excel has the advantage of being highly compatible with MS Office formats, as well as offering a hundred or so software connectors for integration with Alfresco, Nextcloud, DocuSign, ownCloud and others.
As an added bonus, the tool is regularly updated, can be self-hosted or used in the cloud, and is still very affordable. There's also a 3-month free version.
ONLYOFFICE
Retable
Retable is a modern online spreadsheet program that combines ease of use with advanced functionality. With just a few clicks, you can create customised spreadsheets, either from an "intelligent" blank document or from templates. You can also create dynamic forms from your spreadsheets.
🛠️ Retable's main benefits and features include:
- you can create and modify spreadsheets without having to register;
- automatic generation of forms from your spreadsheets, for easy data collection;
- synchronisation of all your data;
- the ability to collaborate on documents in real time;
- the provision of templates for project management, content planning and more;
- the ability to connect Retable to multiple applications, so your data flows seamlessly.
Retable is resolutely focused on collaboration, so it's perfect for teams who want to work without constraints. Add data, track changes and adapt projects live, without losing any information. The solution can be adapted to a variety of needs: project management, task tracking, event planning or data collection via interactive forms.
RowShare
RowShare is a collaborative online spreadsheet. It lets you collect and classify data before using it. Creating tables has never been easier: you can start from an existing model, or create it from scratch. More than just a spreadsheet, RowShare is at the crossroads between your business software and a database.
🛠️ RowShare's main benefits and features include
- All users can modify tables simultaneously (instant updates);
- specific permissions for each user, row or column;
- the creation of structured forms, designed to collect information without errors;
- access to a wide range of customisable templates;
- modification history;
- consultation and editing of your tables from a computer, tablet or smartphone.
RowShare's great strength also lies in the specialisation of tables by business area: marketing, human resources, sales, project management, finance and accounting. Each department has a tool tailored to its own specific issues, to optimise the monitoring of its projects.
Finally, a special mention goes to its access management system, which is simple to set up, yet powerful. For example, the table administrator can consult all the data in the table, but an external service provider will only see the data relevant to him.
RowShare
Zoho Sheet
Zoho Sheet is a full-featured online spreadsheet that combines ease of use with functional power. Designed for businesses and individuals alike, it provides a flexible interface that's perfect for organising, analysing and sharing data with ease. Accessible from any device, it makes it easy to collaborate and automate repetitive tasks. Whether you need to manage a budget, track projects or analyse trends, Zoho Sheet can be adapted to suit your every need!
🛠️ Key benefits and features of Zoho Sheet :
- create interactive spreadsheets;
- Share your spreadsheets with your colleagues, and discuss and solve problems using comments;
- analyse your data using precise reports (over 350 functions);
- publish your tables online, on your website for example;
- automate data flows, since you can integrate Zoho Sheet with over 1,000 cloud applications;
- built-in AI assistant: use Zia to get insights and suggestions based on your data.
The main advantage of Zoho Sheet? An intuitive interface, combined with advanced features such as artificial intelligence and integration with numerous third-party applications. Unlike some spreadsheets, it focuses on data security and real-time collaboration, enabling teams to work together effectively, wherever they are.
Zoho Sheet puts an end to lost files and multiple versions! It centralises everything, simplifies work and boosts productivity.
Zoho Sheet
What do I need to know about online spreadsheets?
Choosing the right online spreadsheet means first and foremost finding the tool that meets your needs. Whether you're looking for greater simplicity, smoother collaboration or advanced functionality, there's no shortage of relevant alternatives to Excel. Each solution brings its own advantages, transforming the way you manage and use your data on a daily basis.
The challenge? Adopting a solution that combines efficiency and adaptability, while anticipating future developments in collaborative working and task automation. Are you ready to take the plunge and reinvent your data management?
Article translated from French
Maëlys De Santis, Growth Managing Editor, started at Appvizer in 2017 as Copywriter & Content Manager. Her career at Appvizer is distinguished by her in-depth expertise in content strategy and marketing, as well as SEO optimization. With a Master's degree in Intercultural Communication and Translation from ISIT, Maëlys also studied languages and English at the University of Surrey. She has shared her expertise in publications such as Le Point and Digital CMO. She contributes to the organization of the global SaaS event, B2B Rocks, where she took part in the opening keynote in 2023 and 2024.
An anecdote about Maëlys? She has a (not so) secret passion for fancy socks, Christmas, baking and her cat Gary. 🐈⬛