NEWJoin 1M+ SaaS Professionals|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe Free →

Spotsaas logo

iWork vs Microsoft Excel Comparison

Last updated:

iWork

4.5(26 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Individuals
  • Medium Business

iWork is a comprehensive, cloud-based Office Suite that offers tools and templates to make getting started a breeze. Create documents, spreadsheets and presentations - all with the power of Apple Pencil on your iPad. Col…

Microsoft Excel

4.7(18,767 reviews)

Starting at $5

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

Microsoft Excel has helped make the world more productive and businesses more valuable to their owners by helping people analyze large sets of data. Developers have built a simple user interface that operates in the same…

Microsoft Excel leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 18,767 reviews.

iWork vs Microsoft Excel — at a glance

FeatureiWorkMicrosoft Excel
Rating4.5 / 54.7 / 5
Reviews2618,767
Starting priceContact for pricing$5
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
CategorySpreadsheets SoftwareSpreadsheets Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailable
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between iWork and Microsoft Excel

  • Pricing: Microsoft Excel starts at $5. iWork pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Microsoft Excel offers a free trial; iWork does not.
  • User satisfaction: Microsoft Excel scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: iWork supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; Microsoft Excel supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

iWork vs Microsoft Excel — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Spreadsheets Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

iWork - New SaaS Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Microsoft Excel - Spreadsheets Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

iWork

Best for

Individuals, Medium Business, Small Business

Microsoft Excel

Best for familiar, powerful spreadsheet data analysis and visualization.

Choose if
  • You need robust financial analysis and reporting tools.
  • Your team values a familiar Microsoft Office interface.
  • You require spreadsheet access across desktop, mobile, and online platforms.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team demands advanced real-time multi-user collaboration features.
  • You work regularly with extremely large datasets causing performance issues.

iWork typically suits Individuals and Medium Business. Microsoft Excel tends to fit Individuals and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

iWork is a comprehensive, cloud-based Office Suite that offers tools and templates to make getting started a breeze. Create documents, spreadsheets and presentations - all with the power of ... Read More about iWork

Microsoft Excel has helped make the world more productive and businesses more valuable to their owners by helping people analyze large sets of data. Developers have built a simple user ... Read More about Microsoft Excel

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $5

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.5

(26)

Best Company Size

Small BusinessLarge Enterprises
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do iWork and Microsoft Excel Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

0 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare iWork and Microsoft Excel on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • $5

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Microsoft 365 Family (For Home)

        • Premium apps included

        • Usage: Up to 6 people

        • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote: Premium

        Show more +

      • Microsoft 365 Personal (For Home)

        • Premium apps included

        • Usage: 1 person

        • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote: Premium

        Show more +

      • Office Home & Student 2019 (For Home)

        • Classic apps included

        • Usage: 1 PC/Mac

        • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote: Classic

      • Browse all pricing plans

      Pricing Page

      Pricing information not available

      Microsoft Excel pricing

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      iWork User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      18

      10

      0

      1

      0

      285

      34

      4

      0

      1

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 29 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Comprehensive office suite
      • Cloud-based collaboration
      • User-friendly templates

      Common complaints

      • Limited to Apple devices
      • May lack advanced features
      • Not suitable for non-Apple users

      Buyer sentiment

      Users generally praise Excel for its powerful data handling and familiar interface but note limitations in collaboration and performance with very large files.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Functionality and features
      • Integration with other Microsoft products

      Common complaints

      • Collaboration limitations
      • Performance issues with large datasets

      Pros and Cons

      • Designed specifically for Apple devices.

      • Offers seamless collaboration across platforms.

      • User-friendly templates simplify document creation.

      • Limited to Apple ecosystem.

      • May lack features for advanced users.

      • Familiar user interface consistent with other Microsoft Office apps

      • Robust data analysis and visualization capabilities

      • Wide platform availability including desktop, mobile, and online

      • Lacks advanced collaboration features compared to specialized cloud tools

      • Can become slow or unstable with extremely large datasets

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Top Alternatives to iWork and Microsoft Excel in 2026

      Expand your shortlist

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, iWork or Microsoft Excel?
      Microsoft Excel edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do iWork and Microsoft Excel offer a free trial?
      Microsoft Excel offers a free trial. iWork does not.
      What is the starting price of iWork vs Microsoft Excel?
      iWork starts at Contact for pricing. Microsoft Excel starts at $5.
      What are the top alternatives to iWork?
      Top alternatives to iWork include Google Workspace, Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, Google Sheets, Google Docs.
      What are the top alternatives to Microsoft Excel?
      Top alternatives to Microsoft Excel include SpreadsheetWEB, Apple Numbers, Zoho Sheet, Google Sheets, Retable.

      Grow your pipeline with buyers who are already looking for you

      254,000+ buyers use Spotsaas every month to evaluate and shortlist software. Get in front of them — for free, or with a managed growth plan built around your category.