What is the Best Spreadsheet Application? A Quick Guide

What is the best spreadsheet application for everyday use or business growth?

Today, people rely on spreadsheets for everything, from budgeting to managing global logistics. The best spreadsheet application should do more than store numbers. It must analyze, visualize, and simplify data.

Some users need a task-tracking spreadsheet that updates in real-time. Others want powerful data models that support macros, pivot tables, and advanced charting. Preferences vary and need to be changed, yet one question remains the same: What is the best spreadsheet application?

Deciding between Google Sheets and Excel is a significant part of that conversation. Speed, collaboration, and pricing are all factors. So do security and compatibility. However, the Google Spreadsheet vs. Excel debate doesn’t end with features. It’s also about how teams work, where they work, and what tools they rely on.

Spreadsheets are no longer simple tables. They connect teams, automate tasks, and integrate with AI-powered software. Whether building a finance report or managing a content calendar, the best spreadsheet application should adapt to you. Not the other way around.

This post will explore the key differences, goals, and features that define excellence in spreadsheet software today. Are you ready to see which platform earns the title of best spreadsheet application?

Let’s break it down.

What is Spreadsheet Software?

Definition: Spreadsheet software is a digital tool for organizing, analyzing, and storing data. It helps you perform calculations, create charts, and manage information efficiently. Typical uses include budgeting, project planning, and inventory tracking.

Businesses and individuals rely on spreadsheets daily. Whether for reports or planning, spreadsheet software saves time and increases accuracy. It’s a core part of modern productivity.

A common example is Microsoft Excel. You might be wondering, “What is Excel software used for?” It’s mainly for calculations, budgeting, and data analysis. You can also use it to create charts and automate tasks. One important concept is Excel Workbook vs. Worksheet. A workbook is the entire file, while a worksheet is a single page within it. Spreadsheet software supports formulas, graphs, and pivot tables. It’s widely used in business, education, and personal finance.

Top 10 Spreadsheet Software Charts

Check out the top 10 spreadsheet software charts to better understand your data. These charts were created using ChartExpo. ChartExpo is a powerful data visualization tool that makes it easy to turn your spreadsheet data into stunning, insightful visuals.

Multi-Axis Line Chart:

Sankey Chart

Clustered Stacked Bar Chart:

Stacked Waterfall Chart:

Horizontal Waterfall Chart:

Progress Circle Chart:

Mosaic Plot (aka Marimekko)

Clustered Stacked Bar Chart:

Comparison Bar Chart:

Heatmap:

Why Do We Need to Use the Best Spreadsheet App?

Are you tired of clunky systems, endless email threads, and lost data? The best spreadsheet application brings order to chaos. It makes your data smarter, your workflow smoother, and your team efficient.

Here’s how each feature can reshape your work without adding complexity.

• Enhanced data management: Spreadsheets help keep everything in one place—clean, structured, and searchable. Organized data leads to faster decisions.
• Accurate calculations and automation: Built-in formulas and functions reduce the chance of human error. With the rise of artificial intelligence in Excel, even complex tasks like forecasting or data cleansing happen automatically.
• Seamless collaboration: No more juggling multiple versions of the same file. With cloud access, teams can update a task-tracking spreadsheet in real-time, no matter where they are.
• Powerful data visualization: Tables tell a story, but charts show it at a glance. Bar graphs, pie charts, and conditional formatting make trends stand out instantly.
• Cross-platform accessibility: A solid app works whether you’re on a phone, tablet, or desktop. This flexibility ensures your data moves with you, not against you.
• Integration with other tools: Need to connect your spreadsheet with calendars, email, or project software? That’s easy now—learn how to share Excel workbook data across multiple platforms without copying and pasting.

Which one is the Best Spreadsheet Software?

So, which one wins the crown as the best spreadsheet application? That depends on what you want—raw power, seamless sharing, or a cleaner interface. Let me break it down in plain terms to help you choose:

1. Microsoft Excel: Excel is a data beast. It handles big files fast, and tools like PivotTables and Macros are built in. Artificial intelligence in Excel helps spot trends and automate tasks, making it great for deep data work.
2. Google Sheets: It’s built for teams. Everyone can edit at once, and updates happen live. This shared task-tracking spreadsheet works anywhere, anytime. It’s easy to learn and great for collaboration.
3. Apple numbers: This one is clean and simple—best for light work or personal use. It looks nice but has fewer features. If you’re comparing Google Spreadsheets vs. Excel, Numbers falls behind.

What Can I Use Popular Spreadsheet Software For?

Does it happen that you think spreadsheets are just rows and columns? Think again. The best spreadsheet application can do far more than hold numbers. It’s your digital workspace, planner, and calculator—all in one. Here’s what people use them for:

• Data entry and organization: Store names, dates, products, etc. Use filters and sorting to stay organized and in control.
• Financial management: Track income, expenses, and budgets. This is what Excel software is used for daily by businesses and households alike.
• Data analysis and reporting: Spreadsheets help you spot patterns. With formulas and tools, you can pull real insights from messy data.
• Charting and visualization: Numbers alone are hard to read. Graphs, charts, and color-coded cells bring your data to life instantly.
• Project planning: Do you need to assign tasks and monitor deadlines? A task-tracking spreadsheet can help keep your entire team on schedule.
• Collaboration and sharing: Do you want your team to pitch in simultaneously? Learn how to share Excel workbook files or use Google Sheets for real-time editing.

What are the Must-Have Features for Top Spreadsheet Software?

Picking the right spreadsheet software is no longer just about the numbers. It’s about working smarter, faster, and with fewer headaches. Whether you’re budgeting, testing, or dealing with data, these six features are mind-blowing:

1. Smart functions & formulas: Great software guides you through contextually appropriate formulas, even for heavy lifting. It will accommodate your logic from SUM to VLOOKUP and custom functions like a champ.
2. High-quality visuals: Rows and columns don’t do your data justice. The tool includes charts, graphs, and dashboards to help you quickly see trends and share insights.
3. Pivot power: PivotTables “pivot” to expose the structure of complex datasets, allowing you to organize, sort, and summarize with ease. It’s like having a data analyst embedded in your team.
4. Ease of collaborating: Easy collaboration should be implicit. Look for real-time editing, comments, and version history with your team so everyone’s never out of the loop.
5. Automation: Why repeat when you can make software do the work? Macros and scripts enable you to automate your flow, saving you many hours every week.
6. Anytime, anywhere access: Whether you’re on a phone, laptop, or tablet, your spreadsheet should be easy to access and use. Compatibility across devices means your data is always within reach when needed.

What Should I Consider When Choosing Spreadsheet Software?

Choosing spreadsheet software isn’t about picking the most popular name. It’s about finding a tool that fits the way you work. Your data, your team, your goals—it all matters.

Here are things to keep in mind before you commit:

• Features that matter: Look for tools for formulas, charts, automation, and task management. The right features will save you time and help you get more done.
• Simple and intuitive design: A clean layout makes all the difference. You shouldn’t need a manual to enter data or create a chart.
• Real-time team collaboration: Working solo? Maybe. But teams need live editing, commenting, and sharing options. Smooth collaboration means fewer delays and no duplicate files.
• Access and compatibility: Your spreadsheet should work wherever you are—on any device and with other file types and apps.
• Cost and security: Is it affordable? Is your data protected? A good spreadsheet tool should fit your budget without putting sensitive information at risk.

How to Use the Best Spreadsheet Application for Charting?

Spreadsheets run the world—until it’s time to make a chart. That’s when things get messy.

So, what is the best spreadsheet application if your goal is clear, powerful data analysis? Excel might be the giant, but it often falls short when it comes to data visualization. Clunky chart types and limited customization rules. There are too many clicks for too little insight.

That’s where ChartExpo steps in. It plugs right into Excel and gives your data the visual upgrade it deserves. Simple, insightful charts in seconds—no coding, no stress.

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

1. Open your Excel application.
2. Open the worksheet and click the “Insert” menu.
3. You’ll see the “My Apps” option.
4. In the Office Add-ins window, click “Store” and search for ChartExpo on my Apps Store.
5. Click the “Add” button to install ChartExpo in your Excel.

ChartExpo charts are available both in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Please use the following CTAs to install the tool of your choice and create beautiful visualizations with a few clicks in your favorite tool.

How to Install ChartExpo in Google Sheets?

1. To start using ChartExpo, download it directly from the Google Sheets program. To do this, select Extensions from the top toolbar.
2. A menu will appear. Click the Get add-ons option.
3. Search for ChartExpo, and click on Charts, Graphs & Visualizations by ChartExpo when it appears in the results.
4. Click the Install button. You will have to confirm your Google account and accept some permissions.

ChartExpo charts are available both in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Please use the following CTAs to install the tool of your choice and create beautiful visualizations in a few clicks in your favorite tool.

Example

Excel with Add-Ins (ChartExpo):

Let’s analyze this sample data in Excel using ChartExpo.

Category	Product Groups	Values
PY	Baby Food	80,458
Price	Baby Food	7,497
Vol	Baby Food	12,484
Mix	Baby Food	159
AC	Baby Food	100,598
PY	Frozen Food	62,270
Price	Frozen Food	5,896
Vol	Frozen Food	327
Mix	Frozen Food	-164
AC	Frozen Food	68,329
PY	Dairy Products	116,809
Price	Dairy Products	8,885
Vol	Dairy Products	-26,429
Mix	Dairy Products	5,576
AC	Dairy Products	104,841
PY	Baked Goods	82,185
Price	Baked Goods	-22,731
Vol	Baked Goods	56,099
Mix	Baked Goods	-6,947
AC	Baked Goods	108,606

• To get started with ChartExpo, install ChartExpo in Excel.
• Now, click on My Apps from the INSERT menu.

• Choose ChartExpo from My Apps, then click Insert.

• Once it loads, scroll through the charts list to locate and choose the “Horizontal Waterfall Chart”.

• After clicking on the chart, you will see the Horizontal Waterfall Chart on the screen.

• Click the “Create Chart From Selection” button after selecting the data from the sheet, as shown.

• ChartExpo will generate the visualization below for you.

• If you want to add anything to the chart, click the Edit Chart button:
• Click the pencil icon next to the Chart Header to change the title.
• It will open the properties dialog. Under the Text section, you can add a heading in Line 1 and enable Show.
• Give the appropriate title of your chart and click the Apply button.

• Enable the “Set as Total” of PY by clicking on the small pencil icon as follows:

• You can enable the “Set as Total” of AC by clicking on the small pencil icon as follows:

• Click the “Save Changes” button to persist the changes.

• Your final chart will appear as follows.

Insights

• Baby food: Strong overall growth.
• Frozen food: Mixed results; volume and pricing issues.
• Dairy products: Inconsistent performance with sales challenges.
• Baked goods: Prices dropped, but volume and actual sales increased.

Google Sheets with Add-Ons (ChartExpo):

Now, let’s see how to visualize and analyze data in Google Sheets using ChartExpo.

Habit	Progress (%)
Exercise	80%
Read (Book)	86%
Drink Water	100%
Meditation	75%
Eat Healthy	83%
Sleep Well	90%

• To get started with ChartExpo, install ChartExpo in Google Sheets.
• Go to Extensions > Charts, Graphs & Visualizations by ChartExpo > Open.

• To access the charts library, click the Add new chart button.

• Once it loads, scroll through the charts list to locate and choose the “Progress Circle Chart”.

• Click the “Create Chart From Selection” button after selecting the data from the sheet, as shown.

• Your Progress Circle Chart will appear as shown below.

• You can change the Data Representation as follows:

• If you want to add anything to the chart, click the Edit Chart button:

• Click the pencil icon next to the Chart Header to change the title.
• It will open the properties dialog. Under the Text section, you can add a heading in Line 1 and enable Show.
• Give the appropriate title of your chart and click the Apply button.

• You can add the percentage sign with all values as follows:

• After making all the changes, click the “Save” button:

• Your final chart will look like the one below.

Insights:

• Drink Water: 100% consistency.
• Meditation: 75% consistency.
• Exercise: Near target, showing solid progress.
• Eat Healthy: Close to goal, indicating steady improvement.

FAQs

Is there a better spreadsheet than Excel?

Yes, depending on your needs. Google Sheets is great for teamwork, and it’s free and cloud-based. Excel is powerful, but not always the best for collaboration or visuals. For visual reports, ChartExpo adds value.

What’s the best spreadsheet to use?

It depends on your goals. For complex data, Excel is strong. For sharing and live edits, Google Sheets wins. Want easy visuals? Add-ons like ChartExpo help. The best spreadsheet is the one that fits your workflow.

Wrap Up

So, what is the best spreadsheet application? It depends on how you work. Excel, Google Sheets, and all others offer something different. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but some stand out.

Excel is still the leader in advanced tasks. It handles big data, complex formulas, and automation. That’s exactly what Excel software is used for—powerful analysis and business reporting. It’s trusted by professionals everywhere.

Google Sheets shines in real-time teamwork. It’s web-based, fast, and easy to access. If collaboration is key, it’s hard to beat.

Need better visuals? Excel alone may fall short. Add-ons like ChartExpo help bring your data to life with simple charts and clear insights. Sharing files also matters. Knowing how to email an Excel spreadsheet is essential. Save it, attach it, and send it. You can also use a cloud link for live updates.

So, what is the best spreadsheet app? It’s the one that fits your tasks and your team. Think about what you need most—power, speed, visuals, or sharing. Then, pick the tool that checks those boxes.

Remember to install ChartExpo. This tool will help you visualize your spreadsheet application data.