Which is better, Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice?

Microsoft Excel edges out LibreOffice based on user ratings across 18,767 reviews. That said, the best pick depends on your workflow — LibreOffice may be a stronger fit for specific team sizes or use cases. Review the full comparison to decide.

What are the main differences between Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice?

Key differences between Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice include pricing (Microsoft Excel starts at $5 vs LibreOffice at undisclosed); free trial availability (Microsoft Excel offers one, LibreOffice does not). Use the Spotsaas comparison table to evaluate each dimension before deciding.

Do both Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice offer a Free trial?

Microsoft Excel offers Free Trial, but LibreOffice does not.

Who are the typical users of Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel is designed for Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

Who are the typical users of LibreOffice?

LibreOffice is designed for Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business.

What is the starting price of Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice?

The starting price of Microsoft Excel is $5. Pricing for LibreOffice is unavailable.

What are the best alternatives to Microsoft Excel?

Some top alternatives to Microsoft Excel include SpreadsheetWEB, Apple Numbers, Zoho Sheet, Google Sheets, Retable.

What are the best alternatives to LibreOffice?

Some top alternatives to LibreOffice include PandaDoc, Zoho Docs, AODocs, Docsvault, ONLYOFFICE.

Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice vs PandaDoc Comparison

Last updated: May 21, 2026

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…

View Pricing Read Reviews

LibreOffice

4.0(335 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

Individuals
Freelancers / Consultants

LibreOffice is a comprehensive document management platform that allows users to create, edit and save XLS spreadsheets, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations through a web browser without any local installations.…

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PandaDoc

4.0(3,042 reviews)

Starting at $19 /User/Month

Free Trial
Large Enterprises
Medium Business

PandaDoc is a seamless merger of documents and signatures into one powerful, streamlined experience. It lets user send proposals using any email client and respond to client questions with built in chat. PandaDoc automat…

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

Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice vs PandaDoc — at a glance

Feature	Microsoft Excel	LibreOffice	PandaDoc
Rating	4.7 / 5	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Reviews	18,767	335	3,042
Starting price	$5	Contact for pricing	$19 /User/Month
Free trial	Yes	No	Yes
Free version	No	No	No
Best for	Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business	Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises	Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Category	Spreadsheets Software	Document Management Software	Proposal Software
Platforms	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac	SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
API	Available	Available	Available
Support modes	Online	Online	24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
Certifications	GDPR	—	SOC 2, GDPR
Data residency	Global	Global	US

Key differences between Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice

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

Compare Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice vs PandaDoc — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Which tool fits your team best

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

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.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

	Microsoft Excel (324) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert	LibreOffice (297) Talk to an expert Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

LibreOffice

Best free, open-source office suite for basic document editing and compatibility.

Choose if

You need a cost-effective, no-license office productivity solution.
Your team requires compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats.
You want strong multilingual support with easy language switching.

Consider alternatives if

Your organization demands advanced online collaboration and cloud integration.
You require a modern interface with extensive automation and shortcuts.

PandaDoc

Best for small to medium sales teams needing simple, integrated proposal and e-signature workflows.

Choose if

You want a unified platform combining document creation and e-signatures with built-in client chat.
Your team values a user-friendly interface that simplifies editing, tracking, and signature collection.
You need low-complexity setup and streamlined workflows for managing proposals and contracts efficiently.

Consider alternatives if

Your organization requires advanced analytics and detailed reporting capabilities.
You depend heavily on extensive third-party integrations and customization options.

Microsoft Excel: Best for familiar, powerful spreadsheet data analysis and visualization. LibreOffice: Best free, open-source office suite for basic document editing and compatibility.

Description	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	LibreOffice is a comprehensive document management platform that allows users to create, edit and save XLS spreadsheets, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations through a web browser ... Read More about LibreOffice	PandaDoc is a seamless merger of documents and signatures into one powerful, streamlined experience. It lets user send proposals using any email client and respond to client questions with ... Read More about PandaDoc
Entry Level Pricing	Starts from $5	Not Available	Starts from $19 , Billed Yearly
Free Trial Availability	Get Free Trial	No free trial	Get Free Trial
Spotsaas Score What's this? ↗	Not Available	9.5/10	9.8/10
User Ratings Based on verified Spotsaas reviews	4.7 (18767)	4 (335)	4 (3042)
Best Company Size	Small BusinessLarge Enterprises	1-50 employees51-500 employees	1-50 employees51-500 employees
	Get pricing help	Get pricing help	Visit website

Software Demo

Demo	Microsoft Excel has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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 Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and PandaDoc Compare on Features?

Total Features	0 Features	9 Features	13 Features
Unique Features	No features	No unique features	No unique features
	Get Quote	Get Quote	Visit website

Compare Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and PandaDoc 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	$5	Not Available	$19 , Billed Yearly
Pricing Plans	Microsoft 365 Family (For Home) Get Started Premium apps included Usage: Up to 6 people Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote: Premium Show more + Microsoft 365 Personal (For Home) Get Started Premium apps included Usage: 1 person Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote: Premium Show more + Office Home & Student 2019 (For Home) Get Started Classic apps included Usage: 1 PC/Mac Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote: Classic Browse all pricing plans	Not Available	Free eSign Get Started Unlimited legally binding eSignatures Unlimited document uploads Payments Show more + Essentials Get Started Includes features of Free plan, plus Templates Rich media drag and drop document editor Show more + Business Get Started Includes features of Essential plan, plus CRM and Zapier integrations Content library Show more + Browse all pricing plans
Pricing Page		Pricing information not available
	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing	View detailed pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported	Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises Small Business Individuals	Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises Small Business Individuals	Medium Business Freelancers Large Enterprises Small Business Individuals
Platforms Supported	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - iOS Mobile - Android Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - iOS Mobile - Android Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Browser Based (Cloud)	Browser Based (Cloud) Mobile - iOS Mobile - Android Installed - Windows Installed - Mac Browser Based (Cloud)
Modes of support	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online	24/7 (Live rep) Business Hours Online
API Support	Available	Available	Available
	Get help choosing	Get help choosing	Visit Website

Security & Compliance

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

SOC 2	—	—
HIPAA	—	—
GDPR	✓ Yes	—
Single Sign-On (SSO)	—	—
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)	—	—
Data Encryption	—	—
Audit Logs	—	—
Data Residency	🌐 Global	🌐 Global

Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings	4.7 (based on 18767 reviews)	4 (based on 335 reviews)	4 (based on 3042 reviews)
Rating Distribution	285 34 4 0 1	163 107 9 5 13	1889 82 4 3 9
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI	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	Buyer sentiment Users generally appreciate LibreOffice for its cost-effectiveness, compatibility, and ease of use, though some note limitations in collaboration and interface modernity. What buyers like Cost-effectiveness and free access Compatibility with Microsoft Office files Multilingual support Common complaints Limited online collaboration features Outdated user interface	Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use and efficient signature workflows, with some concerns about pricing and limited advanced features. What buyers like Ease of use Efficient signature process Responsive customer support Common complaints Pricing concerns Limited editing and analytics features
Pros and Cons	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	Free and open-source with no licensing costs Compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats Stable performance with an intuitive interface for basic tasks Limited online saving, sharing, and collaboration features Outdated interface compared to commercial alternatives	Streamlined signature collection process improving efficiency User-friendly interface simplifying document editing and tracking Responsive and effective customer support Paid plans can be expensive for some businesses Free version has limited editing capabilities
Positive Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
Negative Reviews	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product	No reviews available for the product
	Read reviews	Read reviews	Read reviews

List of Customers

Customers	No Customers information available.	No Customers information available.	Impact Above Green Werfen

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots	No screenshots available.	3 Screenshots
Videos	No videos available.	3 Videos

Alternatives

Alternatives	SpreadsheetWEB 3.6 Apple Numbers 4.3 Zoho Sheet 4.5	PandaDoc 4 Zoho Docs 4.3 AODocs 4.7	Proposify 4.5 Qwilr 4.5 Proposable 4.2

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice?: Microsoft Excel edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice offer a free trial?: Microsoft Excel offers a free trial. LibreOffice does not.
What is the starting price of Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice?: Microsoft Excel starts at $5. LibreOffice starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to Microsoft Excel?: Top alternatives to Microsoft Excel include SpreadsheetWEB, Apple Numbers, Zoho Sheet, Google Sheets, Retable.
What are the top alternatives to LibreOffice?: Top alternatives to LibreOffice include PandaDoc, Zoho Docs, AODocs, Docsvault, ONLYOFFICE.

Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice vs PandaDoc Comparison

Microsoft Excel

LibreOffice

PandaDoc

Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice vs PandaDoc — at a glance

Key differences between Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice

Compare Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice vs PandaDoc — and walk away knowing which one fits.

Microsoft Excel

LibreOffice

Biggest differences

Description

Entry Level Pricing

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

User Ratings

Best Company Size

Software Demo

Demo

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

How do Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and PandaDoc Compare on Features?

Compare Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and PandaDoc on pricing

Other Details

Organization Types supported

Platforms Supported

Modes of support

API Support

Security & Compliance

Microsoft Excel vs LibreOffice User Reviews & Rating Comparison

List of Customers

Customers

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

Videos

Alternatives

Related Blogs and Articles for Document Management Software

Frequently asked questions