Microsoft Excel
Smartsheet
| Feature | Microsoft Excel | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $6/mo | Free / from $9/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | finance-professionals, data-analysts, enterprise, accountants | enterprise, project-managers, operations-teams, it-teams |
| Founded | 1985 | 2005 |
| Advanced Formulas | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pivot Tables | ✓ | ✗ |
| Power Query | ✓ | ✗ |
| Macros Vba | ✓ | ✗ |
| Charts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Data Analysis | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sheets | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gantt Charts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dashboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Forms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Resource Management | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Microsoft Excel Pros
- Most powerful spreadsheet
- Advanced formulas
- Pivot tables
- Power Query
✗ Microsoft Excel Cons
- Expensive
- Complex for beginners
- Collaboration not as smooth
✓ Smartsheet Pros
- Familiar spreadsheet interface
- Powerful automation
- Enterprise-grade
- Good dashboards
✗ Smartsheet Cons
- Can be confusing
- Expensive for small teams
- Learning curve
The Verdict
Microsoft Excel is built for finance professionals and data analysts, with a focus on advanced-formulas and pivot-tables. Smartsheet targets enterprise and project managers and leads with sheets and gantt-charts.
Pricing is close: Microsoft Excel starts at $6/mo versus $9/mo for Smartsheet — not a deciding factor on its own.
Smartsheet has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Microsoft Excel requires a paid subscription from day one.
Both tools are a solid fit for enterprise — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Microsoft Excel has a slight overall edge — but if familiar spreadsheet interface matters most to you, Smartsheet may still be the right call.