Excel vs. Google Sheets in 2025: Which One Should You Use?

When it comes to spreadsheets, two names always come up: Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Both have come a long way, and in 2025, each offers powerful AI-driven features, automation, and collaboration tools. For professionals focusing on Excel Reporting, knowing the right tool can make a big difference in efficiency and insights.
 

If you’re trying to decide between them, this Excel vs Google Sheets comparison will help you understand which one best suits your workflow.

So which one should you use in 2025? The answer depends on what you need: power and depth (Excel) or simplicity and collaboration (Sheets). Let’s break it down.

1. Pricing & Accessibility

Excel (Microsoft 365): Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription (starts around $6/month). Works as both a desktop and cloud version.
Google Sheets: Free with a Google account. For businesses, it comes with Google Workspace ($6/month+).
Winner: Sheets for affordability, Excel for enterprise-grade access.

2. Performance & Capacity

When it comes to Excel vs Google Sheets for data analysis, performance makes a huge difference.

Excel: Handles millions of rows and highly complex formulas with ease. Suitable for financial models, HR data, or enterprise reports.
Google Sheets: Good for smaller datasets, but capped at 10M cells. Slows down with large or complex files.
Winner: Excel — unmatched for big data.

3. Collaboration & Sharing

Excel: Cloud version supports real-time editing. Desktop mode still allows offline flexibility.
Google Sheets: Designed for collaboration. Real-time editing, comments, and sharing are smooth and intuitive.
Winner: Google Sheets — collaboration is its strength.

4. Advanced Features & Functions

In the Excel vs Google Sheets 2025 landscape, both tools have stepped up their feature sets.

Excel:
PivotTables, advanced charts, and financial modeling.
AI Copilot for formula writing, dashboard narration, and automation.
More than 400 functions, including XLOOKUP, LET, and LAMBDA.
Google Sheets:
Basic formulas and charting are solid.
Integrates with Google Apps Script.
“Help me organize” AI feature for quick table building.
Winner: Excel — better for professionals who need advanced analytics.

5. Integration & Ecosystem

Excel: Strong integration with Power BI, Power Automate, Teams, and databases like SQL — making it a top choice in the Excel vs Google Sheets comparison for enterprises.
Google Sheets: Works seamlessly with Google Workspace (Docs, Drive, Forms) and third-party SaaS apps.
Winner: Depends on your ecosystem. Excel fits enterprise workflows, Sheets fits cloud-first teams.

6. AI & Automation in 2025

Excel: AI Copilot writes formulas, explains errors, and builds forecasts.
Google Sheets: Gemini AI assists with suggestions, quick summaries, and chart recommendations.
Winner: Excel — offers more advanced AI for data analysis, and Sheets is better for casual users.

7. Offline vs. Online Use

Excel: Full desktop version works offline. Perfect for secure environments.
Google Sheets: Mostly online. Offline mode is limited.
Winner: Excel — more reliable offline.

Comparison at a Glance

Which One Should You Use in 2025?

Choose Excel if you:
✔ Work with large datasets
✔ Need financial modeling, analytics, or forecasting
✔ Rely on AI-powered automation and enterprise integrations

Choose Google Sheets if you:
✔ Want free or low-cost collaboration
✔ Work in small teams or startups
✔ Prioritize simplicity over advanced analytics

In reality, many professionals use both: Sheets for quick collaboration, Excel for deep data analysis.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, the Excel vs Google Sheets comparison shows a clear divide: Excel remains the powerhouse for business reporting and data analytics, while Google Sheets is the lightweight, collaboration-friendly tool. The choice comes down to whether you need depth or speed, power or simplicity.

Editor’s Note:
At ExcelGoodies.com, we help professionals unlock Excel’s full reporting potential — from dashboards to analytics. If you want to go beyond the basics and build business-ready reports, explore our Microsoft Excel Reporting programs at ExcelGoodies.com

Courtesy: Excelgoodies Power Users.
 

Excel Formulas