Try Excel Online right now. If you hit a "feature not available" error, download LibreOffice. Only buy Microsoft 365 if your job requires Power Query or complex VBA.

| Feature | Excel Online (PWA) | Excel Mobile App | LibreOffice Calc | Education License | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | No | Yes (view only) | Yes | Yes | | Pivot Tables | Limited | Full (requires pay to edit) | Yes | Yes | | Macros (VBA) | No | No | Yes (StarBasic) | Yes | | Cost | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 (with .edu) | | Install Required | No (PWA shortcut) | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Best For | Collaboration | Light viewing | Full replacement | Students |

Microsoft offers a 100% free, browser-based version of Excel. It lacks VBA (macros) and advanced pivot charts, but it handles 95% of normal tasks.

Microsoft Office 365 Education.

Let’s break down exactly how to get Excel on Windows, Mac, or your browser without spending a dime.