Microsoft Excel: Spreadsheets

Familiar spreadsheets with cloud sync and AI assisted insights

Microsoft Excel: Spreadsheets brings the classic worksheet experience to touch screens with a streamlined interface that favors clarity over complexity. The familiar ribbon is present, trimmed down to the essentials so formatting cells, inserting tables or charts, and adding comments is quick to find and use. Navigation across rows and columns is smooth, making basic edits and reviews feel direct and approachable.

Feature depth is intentionally limited compared to the desktop heavyweight. Core formulas are available, yet helpful conveniences are missing, such as searching for specific functions or auto-generating formulas from a selected range. Page layout tools and image editing are absent, data import from external sources is not supported, and automatic conditional formatting is off the table. Collaboration is also restrained, as you can share via email attachments rather than co-author in real time.

Cloud connectivity is a bright spot. OneDrive and Dropbox integration lets you open and save files in the cloud or locally, which fits well for on-the-go tasks and light teamwork. If you manage budgets or track expenses, the built-in templates and charts can speed up routine accounting work, from simple ledgers to personal finance planning and tax calculations.

Data entry is the weak link. The keyboard can swallow much of the screen, making it harder to see context while typing, and touch precision can turn formula editing into a fussy exercise. Larger screens or portrait orientation help.

Recent updates add substance, including a Check Performance tool in a revamped task pane that detects and strips excess formatting to keep workbooks lean, along with fixes for pivot table insertion, embedded workbook closing, and upload hiccups. With Microsoft 365 Copilot, you can surface trends and produce polished visualizations faster, which nudges the app beyond basic number crunching. For power users, the desktop remains the better fit, but for quick edits and budget tracking with dependable cloud access, this is a practical companion.