While Microsoft Excel is the go-to tool for tracking budgets, building financial models, automating reports, and more, Mac users often get the short end of the stick.
Key features like Power Pivot and Power Query are missing or limited, macros don’t always run properly, and updates tend to arrive later than on Windows.
Plus, the high price tag for the Microsoft Office suite feels like you’re paying a premium for a tool that’s only half-optimized for your system.
So if you’re tired of these roadblocks, it’s time to try an MS Excel alternative for Mac users that actually gets the job done smoothly. But with so many options out there, how do you pick the right one? This blog post discusses just that.
Top Excel Alternatives for Mac for Better Productivity
- What Should You Look for in an Excel Alternative for Mac?
- Excel Alternatives at a Glance
- The Best Excel Alternatives for Mac
- How we review software at ClickUp
- 1. ClickUp (Best for managing projects, tracking tasks, automating workflows, and team collaboration)
- 2. LibreOffice Calc (Best no-cost alternative with extensive functions)
- 3. Apple Numbers (Best for seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem)
- 4. WPS Office Spreadsheets (Best mobile-friendly alternative)
- 5. Google Sheets (Best for real-time collaboration and cloud-based flexibility)
- 6. SoftMaker PlanMaker (Best for lightweight and fast data management)
- 7. OnlyOffice (Best for both cloud and on-premise deployment)
- 8. Zoho Sheet (Best for automated data management)
- 9. Airtable (Best option with database capabilities)
- 10. Smartsheet (Best for managing large projects)
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in an Excel Alternative for Mac?
When evaluating Excel alternatives for Mac, keep an eye on the following criteria:
- Compatibility and file support: If you share files with an average Excel user often, make sure the tool can open and save Excel files (.xlsx) without breaking formulas, charts, or formatting
- Features and functions: If you rely on pivot tables, complex formulas, or macros in Excel, look for software that supports complex data tasks. Also consider AI Excel tool alternatives that help analyze data, spot trends, and even suggest formulas
- Real-time collaboration: Web-based applications let multiple people edit simultaneously and avoid those infamous “vFinal_final.xlsx” email threads
- Templates and automation: Good Excel alternatives come with ready-made spreadsheet or database templates for specific uses, such as budgets, project trackers, invoices, etc.
- Built-in automation: Excel automation can seem complicated due to multiple variables or machine learning algorithms. So, seek platforms that can automatically perform tasks like scheduling reports or triggering calculations
- Pricing and licensing: If budget is a concern, check the pricing model. Some offer a free forever tier (with potential limitations on storage or features), while others have one-time purchase options
📚 Read More: How to Use Excel for Project Management
Summarize this article for me pleaseExcel Alternatives at a Glance
Next, let’s compare the top Excel alternatives for Mac to see how they compare in features, usability, and pricing.
| Tool name | Key features | Best for | Pricing* |
| ClickUp | Table View, Formula Fields, AI summaries, Docs, Automation, Templates | Small businesses, Enterprises | Free plan available, Customizations available for enterprises |
| LibreOffice Calc | 300+ functions, charts, offline mode, DataPilot, Scenario Manager | Small businesses, Individuals | Free Forever |
| Apple Numbers | Custom templates, iCloud sync, interactive charts, and real-time editing | Small businesses, Individuals | Free Forever |
| WPS Office Spreadsheets | Smart toolbox, OCR, mobile-optimized, format compatibility | Small businesses | Custom pricing |
| Google Sheets | Real-time collaboration, Apps Script, Smart Fill, GPT integration | Enterprises, Small businesses | Free plan available, Paid plans start at $3.60/user/month |
| SoftMaker PlanMaker | Excel compatibility, 430+ functions, lightweight, chart types | Small businesses | Paid plans start at $14.99/month |
| OnlyOffice | Real-time co-editing, on-premise/cloud support, 200+ templates | Enterprises, Small businesses | Free plan available, Paid plans start at $20/user/month |
| Zoho Sheet | AI assistant, data validation, macros, Zoho CRM integration | Small businesses, Enterprises | Free Forever |
| Airtable | Relational database, multiple views, automations, extensions | Small businesses, Enterprises | Free plan available, Paid plans start at $20/user/month |
| Smartsheet | Gantt charts, dashboards, reporting, integrations, and compliance | Enterprises, Small businesses | Free plan available, Paid plans start at $12/user/month |
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Best Excel Alternatives for Mac
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow we review software at ClickUp
Our editorial team follows a transparent, research-backed, and vendor-neutral process, so you can trust that our recommendations are based on real product value.
Here’s a detailed rundown of how we review software at ClickUp
Now, let’s explore the top ten Excel alternatives for Mac users.
1. ClickUp (Best for managing projects, tracking tasks, automating workflows, and team collaboration)
If you manage tasks or projects in Excel on your Mac, ClickUp, the everything app for work, gives you a setup that is 10x more structured, clear, and actionable.
ClickUp Table View
ClickUp Table View offers rows and columns like a spreadsheet, but with added features like task assignments, statuses, due dates, Custom Fields, formulas, filters, and automation—all built in.
With Custom Fields, you can track anything you need, such as task progress, file attachments, ratings, and more.
You can also connect customers to orders, sales reps to deals, or employees to their tasks. This makes organizing data more intuitive.
ClickUp Brain
To make data management better, use ClickUp Brain to quickly summarize your data.
For example, ask it things like “How many tasks are still pending?” or “Which rep made the most sales?”, and it’ll give you a clear answer. It’s super helpful when you’re working with tons of data and want quick insights without doing the math or filtering everything yourself.
ClickUp Formula Fields
If you want Excel-like calculations, ClickUp Formula Fields can help. It lets you automate calculations directly within your live tasks, such as calculating the number of days between a task’s start date and due date or subtracting “Amount Spent” from “Budget Allocated” to show what’s left.
This means that as your projects move forward, your numbers stay up to date automatically.
With ClickUp’s Formula Field Automations, you can also automate routine workflows and calculations based on formula-driven triggers and conditions. For instance, automatically update a task status or send a notification if a formula field evaluates to a certain value.
ClickUp Editable Spreadsheet Template
The ClickUp Editable Spreadsheet Template is a great way to manage data without manual work. It comes with automated data imports and the ability to add custom formulas for quick calculations like totals or averages. You can also track things like sales or expenses with fields tailored to your needs.
The template includes multiple views, such as the Financial Statements view to monitor key financial data like gross sales, expenses, and profit/loss, and the Spreadsheet view to edit and calculate data. You can also use custom task statuses like Approval or Complete to track progress.
📮 ClickUp Insight: Low-performing teams are 4 times more likely to juggle 15+ tools, while high-performing teams maintain efficiency by limiting their toolkit to 9 or fewer platforms.
But how about using one platform?
As the everything app for work, ClickUp brings your tasks, projects, docs, wikis, chat, and calls under a single platform, complete with AI-powered workflows. Ready to work smarter? ClickUp works for every team, makes work visible, and allows you to focus on what matters while AI handles the rest.
ClickUp best features
- Data visualization: Lets you create visual reports, such as pivot-table style summaries, burndown charts, etc., via ClickUp Dashboards
- Built-in documentation: Provides ClickUp Docs to embed tables or spreadsheets inside a document. This is handy if you’re writing a report and want to include some data alongside text
- Real-time collaboration: Allows multiple team members to edit Docs simultaneously. Users can also comment anywhere in the Doc and share it publicly or privately with role-based permissions
- Pre-built templates: Offers ready-to-use spreadsheets and project management templates to help you organize and calculate data while managing budgets, tracking project costs, or logging sales figures
- Downloadable for Mac: Provides a dedicated Mac desktop app, letting you manage spreadsheets without needing to switch browsers. This is perfect for users who prefer a native app experience with full functionality
ClickUp limitations
- The wide range of features can make ClickUp overwhelming for new users
ClickUp pricing
free forever
Best for personal use
Free Free
Key Features:
60MB Storage
Unlimited Tasks
Unlimited Free Plan Members
unlimited
Best for small teams
$7 $10
Everything in Free Forever plus:
Unlimited Storage
Unlimited Folders and Spaces
Unlimited Integrations
business
Best for mid-sized teams
$12 $19
Everything in Unlimited, plus:
Google SSO
Unlimited Teams
Unlimited Message History
enterprise
Best for many large teams
Get a custom demo and see how ClickUp aligns with your goals.
Everything in Business, plus:
White Labeling
Conditional Logic in Forms
Team Sharing for Spaces
* Prices when billed annually
The world's most complete work AI, starting at $9 per month
ClickUp Brain is a no Brainer. One AI to manage your work, at a fraction of the cost.
ClickUp ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (10,200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,400+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about ClickUp?
Read what a G2 reviewer had to say:
2. LibreOffice Calc (Best no-cost alternative with extensive functions)
If you’re looking for a basic Excel alternative, LibreOffice Calc is the one. This open-source, free application is part of the LibreOffice suite that offers a user-friendly interface and conditional formatting features like Excel.
Calc supports a library of 300+ functions and lets you create charts and pivot tables for advanced data analysis. You can also download ready-made spreadsheet templates from the LibreOffice repository. These come with built-in formulas, so you can plug in your data and get to work immediately.
Because it’s offline, your data stays local (unless you choose to sync via Dropbox/iCloud). This is great for sensitive data and for working on the go (like on flights) without relying on web apps.
LibreOffice Calc best features
- Scenario manager: Compares “what-if” scenarios (like high, medium, or low sales) to see how input changes affect results, without modifying the original data
- Solver component: Finds the best value for a specific cell, based on conditions or limits set in other cells
- Advanced DataPilot technology: Pull raw data from corporate databases, and then cross-tabulate, summarize, and convert it into usable information
LibreOffice Calc limitations
- Calc doesn’t support real-time editing by multiple users, unlike some cloud-based alternatives
- It can open and save Excel files, but may have issues with complex formats
LibreOffice Calc pricing
- Free Forever
LibreOffice Calc ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.3/5 (25+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (2,225+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about LibreOffice Calc?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
3. Apple Numbers (Best for seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem)
Apple Numbers is spreadsheet software developed by Apple Inc. for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS devices. It’s part of the iWork productivity suite, which is pre-installed on most Apple devices or can be downloaded from the App Store for free.
Numbers’ standout feature is its clean, modern interface. Unlike Excel, which opens with a grid, Numbers starts with a blank canvas to add tables, charts, images, and text anywhere on the page. This design-first approach makes it especially useful for creating visually engaging reports, dashboards, and presentations.
The best part? You can start a spreadsheet on your Mac, update it on your iPad, and tweak a value on your iPhone—with seamless syncing via iCloud. It also integrates with Siri Shortcuts, AppleScript, Keynote, and other macOS features.
Apple Numbers best features
- Customizable templates: Offers a wide variety of pre-designed templates to help you get started quickly and easily customize them to fit your needs
- Real-time collaboration: Lets users share files via iCloud so they can edit them simultaneously across Apple devices
- Data visualization: Supports a wide range of 2D, 3D, and interactive chart types (column, bar, line, area, pie, donut, radar) that dynamically update with data changes
Apple Numbers limitations
- There are infrequent updates and slow feature improvements, which may leave some users wanting more
- It’s not built for massive datasets or to perform complex calculations
Apple Numbers pricing
- Free forever
Apple Numbers ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (200+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (2,500+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Apple Numbers?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
4. WPS Office Spreadsheets (Best mobile-friendly alternative)
WPS Office Spreadsheets is a user-friendly tool that comes with an interface, functionality, and overall design similar to Excel. This reduces the learning curve and makes it easy for users familiar with Excel to transition seamlessly.
WPS’s lightweight design and smooth mobile device operation set it apart. It’s fully optimized for iPhone/iPad—you can start a spreadsheet on your Mac and continue editing on your phone with minimal compromise.
It also supports various file formats, including .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xlt, .csv, and .txt. You can open, edit, and save files without breaking formulas, charts, or layouts across devices and platforms.
WPS Office Spreadsheets best features
- Smart Toolbox: Includes over 60 mini-tools to simplify tasks, such as extracting text from a cell, batch converting spreadsheet formats, and splitting text into columns
- Picture to Text: Integrates Optical Character Recognition (OCR) that extracts text from images and inserts it into spreadsheets
- Smart split columns: Intelligently splits data within a single column into multiple columns based on its content
WPS Office Spreadsheets limitations
- WPS lacks advanced functions compared to Microsoft Excel
- Some users experienced slow performance, lag, or crashes during heavy use or multitasking
WPS Office Spreadsheets pricing
- Custom pricing
WPS Office Spreadsheets ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (55+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (1,500+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about WPS Office Spreadsheets?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
5. Google Sheets (Best for real-time collaboration and cloud-based flexibility)
Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet program that’s part of the Google Workspace. One of its standout features is real-time collaboration, where up to 50 users in different locations can work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously, see coworkers’ changes, and leave comments for others to follow up on.
It also integrates with Google Workspace apps such as Google Analytics, Forms, and Looker Studio. For example, you can turn your spreadsheet data into advanced visualization via Looker Studio or import Analytics data to build charts and track trends.
Google Sheets best features
- Easy sharing and permissions: Easily share a sheet with others via link or email invite and set their access level (view, comment, or edit)
- Google Apps Script: Provides a built-in scripting tool that lets you write simple JavaScript functions to automate workflows, send emails, connect to APIs, or trigger actions based on cell values
- Smart fill: Uses machine learning to detect patterns in your data and suggest how to fill in remaining cells
- GPT for Sheets: Integrates OpenAI’s models directly into your spreadsheet, allowing you to create formulas, extract structured data from raw inputs, and automate repetitive tasks
Google Sheets limitations
- It doesn’t match advanced tools like Excel for deep analysis
- While it offers offline access, some features don’t work without a stable internet connection
Google Sheets pricing
- Free: Included with a free Google account
- Google Workspace Individual: $9.99 per month
- Google Workspace Business Starter: $3.60/user per month
- Google Workspace Business Standard: $14.40/user per month
- Google Workspace Business Plus: $27.33/user per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Google Sheets ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (42,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (13,000+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Google Sheets?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
🧠 Fun Fact: Google Sheets originated from a web-based spreadsheet application called XL2Web, developed by 2Web Technologies. When Google acquired XL2Web in 2006, it eventually became Google Labs Spreadsheets before its official launch as Google Sheets.
6. SoftMaker PlanMaker (Best for lightweight and fast data management)
SoftMaker PlanMaker is a GDPR-compliant spreadsheet application designed for users who demand deep Excel compatibility. It can open and save Excel’s XLS and XLSX formats, support password-protected files, and handle large-scale worksheets with up to one million rows and 16,384 columns.
This allows users to process high-volume data without limitations. PlanMaker also supports over 430 built-in calculation functions, covering financial and statistical analysis to engineering, and database operations.
And unlike Excel’s multi-gigabyte size, PlanMaker installs under 200 MB. This means quicker setup and faster launch, especially on older systems or those with limited storage.
SoftMaker PlanMaker best features
- Data visualization: Supports 80+ chart types (bar, pie, histogram, etc.), plus 3D rotation, shadows, and lighting effects for presentation-ready visuals
- No cloud dependency: Get offline access and GDPR-compliance, making it suitable for privacy-conscious users or regulated environments
- AutoFilter feature: Lets you apply filters to individual columns to display only the data that meets your chosen conditions
SoftMaker PlanMaker limitations
- PlanMaker doesn’t have built-in multi-user collaboration tools
- It cannot execute macros embedded in Excel documents
SoftMaker PlanMaker pricing
- Free plan
- Custom pricing
SoftMaker PlanMaker ratings and reviews
- G2 reviews: Not enough reviews
- Capterra reviews: Not enough reviews
What are real-life users saying about SoftMaker PlanMaker?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
📚 Read More: Best Note-Taking Apps (Free & Paid)
7. OnlyOffice (Best for both cloud and on-premise deployment)
ONLYOFFICE is another free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Excel for Mac users. It integrates with both cloud-based and on-premises environments, making it ideal for security-conscious individuals and organizations with strict compliance needs.
It supports real-time collaboration, letting you and your team co-edit spreadsheets, leave comments, and chat without leaving the editor. You can even browse version history and restore specific changes when needed, making it a viable Google Sheets alternative.
ONLYOFFICE uses the standard Microsoft Excel formats (XLSX) as its default file type, which means fewer conversion issues when exchanging files with MS Office users.
OnlyOffice best features
- Single interface: Lets you open or create all document types, such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF forms, within a unified workspace
- 200+ templates: Create everything from tax forms to bingo cards in minutes, then customize layouts and visuals to suit your style
- Security: Protect sensitive data by setting passwords, locking specific cells or sheets, hiding formulas, and assigning edit access to selected users
OnlyOffice limitations
- On-premise use demands strong hardware, which could discourage small users
- Some users stated that the initial load speed could improve
OnlyOffice pricing
- Docs Space:
- Startup: Free
- Business: $20/month per user
- Enterprise: From $6550 per server
- Docs Enterprise:
- For Home: $149 (one-time payment for up to 10 users)
- For Family: $330 for up to 5 users
- For Business: Customizable, pricing starts at $1,500 for up to 50 users
- Workspace Enterprise:
- Enterprise: $2200 per server
- Enterprise Plus: $3300 per server
- Enterprise Premium: $4450 per server
OnlyOffice ratings and reviews
- G2 reviews: 4.4/5 (60+ reviews)
- Capterra reviews: 4.5/5 (320+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Google Sheets?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
8. Zoho Sheet (Best for automated data management)
Zoho Sheet is a cloud-based spreadsheet tool for creating, managing, and automating functional spreadsheets. It offers 350+ built-in functions, advanced data processing, and 1,000+ app integrations to automate workflows and import data from sources like Excel.
Zoho Sheet has an AI assistant, Zia, that helps you analyze data, suggest charts or functions, and identify inconsistencies. It also integrates with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps so you can work smoothly within the same system.
Zoho Sheet best features
- Real-time collaboration: Allows multi-user collaboration with real-time updates, cell/range comments, discussion threads, and customizable permissions for efficient team workflows
- Data cleaning and validation tools: Detects duplicates, inconsistencies, and blank entries to ensure clean, accurate data
- Generative AI: Generates sample data sets, formulas, and VBA macro codes with ease through Zia, powered by ChatGPT
Zoho Sheet limitations
- Some users find the platform’s UI outdated and difficult to navigate
- It can experience performance issues when working with large spreadsheets
Zoho Sheet pricing
- Free Forever
Zoho Sheet ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (180+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4/5 (60+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Zoho Sheets?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
9. Airtable (Best option with database capabilities)
Airtable has a grid-style layout that looks like a spreadsheet, but each “row” is more like a record in a database. It lets you set specific field types for each column, such as text, number, dropdown, or file attachment. You can also link records between tables to create relationships, such as linking tasks in one table to projects in another.
Further, this project management spreadsheet platform lets you switch between views. For example, the calendar view shows records with dates on a timeline, Kanban groups them in columns like task stages, and gallery displays them as visual cards—useful for images or portfolios.
Airtable best features
- Data sharing: Create shareable links with view-only or editable access, embed bases into websites, or use the Airtable API to connect your data with custom apps
- Built-in extensions: Offers tools, like charts, forms, or reporting widgets, that you can add to support specific use cases
- Automation: Lets you set up trigger-action rules (e.g., “When a record is created or when the Status field changes to X, then send an email or post a Slack message”)
Airtable limitations
- Airtable is more for tracking and relational data management than for doing advanced math or Excel reporting with charts
- As databases grow, managing large or complex setups can get messy
Airtable pricing
- Free
- Team: $20/month per seat
- Business: $45/month per seat
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
Airtable ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.6/5 (2,900+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,100+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Airtable?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
📚 Read More: Best Airtable Alternatives & Competitors
10. Smartsheet (Best for managing large projects)
Smartsheet is an enterprise-grade tool that combines the functionality of project management tools with the simplicity of a spreadsheet interface.
It uses AI capabilities like predictive insights, intelligent formula suggestions, and automations to help you create custom workflows. Plus, it integrates with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Jira, and Salesforce for smooth data flow across platforms.
Users can also build dashboards for a high-level view of projects and generate reports that pull real-time data from multiple sheets. This eliminates the need to consolidate information manually across files.
Smartsheet best features
- Project management essentials: Offers a built-in Gantt chart view and the ability to set task dependencies
- Security and compliance: Includes enterprise-level security features like user permissions, encryption, and compliance with standards like GDPR and HIPAA
- Use case flexibility: Supports a wide range of scenarios, from managing construction projects and university operations to tracking healthcare workflows and capital investments
Smartsheet limitations
- It experiences occasional lag with large or complex sheets
- Some users mention a steep learning curve, particularly for team members transitioning from simpler tools or mobile apps
Smartsheet pricing
- Free
- Pro: $12/member per month
- Business: $24/member per month
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
Smartsheet ratings and reviews
- G2: 4.4/5 (19,400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (3,400+ reviews)
What are real-life users saying about Smartsheet?
Read what this G2 reviewer had to say:
📚 Read More: The Best Productivity Apps for Macs
Summarize this article for me pleaseCreate Powerful Spreadsheets on Mac with ClickUp
While Excel works smoothly on macOS, certain advanced features and updates often arrive later than they do for Windows users.
ClickUp steps in as an all-in-one solution that offers a collaborative approach to spreadsheet management on your Mac.
ClickUp’s Table View offers an intuitive interface to create, view, and manipulate data directly in your workspace, whereas the Formula Fields bring the power of Excel-like calculations. Plus, with Formula Fields Automation, you can set up automations to update values or trigger specific actions based on your formula outputs.
Want to create smarter, more efficient spreadsheets on your Mac? Sign up for ClickUp today.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
