Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet most of the world learned on, and it now comes in two distinct forms: a free version that runs in a browser and on mobile with a Microsoft account, and the full desktop application bundled with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft, founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, is headquartered at One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington and reports 223,000 employees worldwide as of September 2026.

The free tier is genuinely useful: Excel for the web covers sharing and real-time collaboration, includes 5 GB of cloud storage, and works on web, iOS and Android – enough for household budgets, simple trackers and shared lists. The desktop apps unlock the depth Excel is known for: advanced formulas, pivot tables, Power Query data connections, charting and automation that analysts, finance teams and operations staff build careers on.

The AI story runs through Microsoft 365 Copilot. Microsoft positions Copilot in Excel as an assistant that can edit formulas, tables and formatting from plain-language prompts and handle multi-step analysis, with usage limits and features scaling by plan. Copilot capabilities in select apps extend to work files in a secured way on paid plans.

Pricing is subscription-based. For individuals, Microsoft 365 Personal costs $99.99 per year for one person with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote desktop apps plus 1 TB of storage; Microsoft 365 Family is $129.99 per year for up to six people with 2 TB shared; Microsoft 365 Premium at $199.99 per year adds advanced Copilot usage and agentic AI features. A one-month free trial is offered on paid plans – a credit card is required and the subscription converts automatically unless canceled. Business plans are priced separately.

Watch-outs: the free version has no desktop apps, so offline work and advanced features require a subscription. Copilot usage is metered by plan, and the most capable AI features sit behind the higher tiers. The trial needs a card up front and auto-renews, so set a reminder if you are only evaluating. And Excel’s real depth carries a learning curve – casual users may never touch most of it.

For anyone already in the Microsoft ecosystem – or anyone who needs the deepest spreadsheet engine available – Excel remains the default choice. The free web version makes casual use cost nothing, and the paid plans bundle the desktop app with the rest of Microsoft 365 at prices that undercut buying office software any other way.