Best Free and Open-Source Spreadsheet Software for Business: 11 Excel Alternatives Compared

Spreadsheets remain the most common business data tool, but licence fees add up across large teams. Free and open-source options now cover most everyday needs, from budgets to shared trackers.

This guide compares eleven spreadsheet and spreadsheet-database tools from the SaaSPodium directory by licence model, deployment and company-size fit. Because no ratings are available yet for these listings, we explain trade-offs rather than rank by score.

How We Chose These Free and Open-Source Spreadsheet Tools

We reviewed the 18 spreadsheet products published on SaaSPodium and kept those that are free, freemium or open source. Ratings are not yet available for these listings, so we selected by licence model, deployment and fit rather than score. Open-source status is noted only where the vendor positions it that way.

• Free, freemium or open-source licensing in the listing or vendor positioning.
• Web, desktop or self-hosted deployment.
• Collaboration and data-handling capability for business use.
• Target company size from the SaaSPodium listing.

1. LibreOffice Calc

LibreOffice Calc is the open-source desktop standard and the default answer for teams that want to avoid licence fees. SaaSPodium lists it with free to use. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: free to use.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Desktop - Mac, Desktop - Windows.
• Target size: teams of varied sizes. Full profile: LibreOffice Calc.

2. Google Sheets

Google Sheets offers real-time collaborative editing in the browser and is the common choice for distributed teams. SaaSPodium lists it with paid pricing that you confirm with the vendor (no public starting price in our data). Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: paid pricing that you confirm with the vendor (no public starting price in our data).
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Desktop - Mac, Desktop - Windows.
• Target size: teams of varied sizes. Full profile: Google Sheets.

3. Zoho Sheet

Zoho Sheet is an online spreadsheet with AI-driven data cleaning features, useful for teams already in the Zoho ecosystem. SaaSPodium lists it with paid pricing that you confirm with the vendor (no public starting price in our data). Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: paid pricing that you confirm with the vendor (no public starting price in our data).
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Desktop - Mac, Desktop - Windows.
• Target size: teams of varied sizes. Full profile: Zoho Sheet.

4. ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet

ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet belongs to a secure online office suite and is aimed at medium and enterprise teams. SaaSPodium lists it with freemium pricing with a listed starting price of $1500 as of October 2026. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: freemium pricing with a listed starting price of $1500 as of October 2026.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web, Desktop, Mobile.
• Target size: Medium, Enterprise. Full profile: ONLYOFFICE Spreadsheet.

5. WPS Spreadsheets

WPS Spreadsheets is positioned as a free Excel alternative with web, desktop and mobile apps. SaaSPodium lists it with freemium pricing with a listed starting price of $29.99 as of October 2026. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: freemium pricing with a listed starting price of $29.99 as of October 2026.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web, Desktop, Mobile.
• Target size: Small, Medium. Full profile: WPS Spreadsheets.

6. Gnumeric

Gnumeric is a free, fast and accurate spreadsheet, a light option for analysts who want no licence cost. SaaSPodium lists it with free to use. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: free to use.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web.
• Target size: Small, Medium. Full profile: Gnumeric.

7. Ethercalc

Ethercalc is a collaborative spreadsheet web pad, simple and free for shared editing. SaaSPodium lists it with free to use. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: free to use.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web.
• Target size: Small. Full profile: Ethercalc.

8. Baserow

Baserow is an open-source no-code database with a spreadsheet-style interface. SaaSPodium lists it with free pricing with a listed starting price of $5 as of October 2026. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: free pricing with a listed starting price of $5 as of October 2026.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web.
• Target size: Medium, Enterprise. Full profile: Baserow.

9. NocoDB

NocoDB is an open-source Airtable alternative that puts a spreadsheet interface on top of a database. SaaSPodium lists it with free to use. Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: free to use.
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web.
• Target size: Small, Medium, Enterprise. Full profile: NocoDB.

10. SeaTable

SeaTable combines a spreadsheet interface with database features for medium and enterprise teams. SaaSPodium lists it with a freemium model with a free tier (confirm paid tiers on the vendor site). Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: a freemium model with a free tier (confirm paid tiers on the vendor site).
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web.
• Target size: Medium, Enterprise. Full profile: SeaTable.

11. Grist

Grist is a relational spreadsheet that builds apps around your data. SaaSPodium lists it with paid pricing that you confirm with the vendor (no public starting price in our data). Always verify limits, licence terms and current features on the vendor site before standardizing.

• Pricing model: paid pricing that you confirm with the vendor (no public starting price in our data).
• Deployment: Cloud, SaaS, Web, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Desktop - Mac, Desktop - Windows.
• Target size: teams of varied sizes. Full profile: Grist.

Free vs Paid Spreadsheet Software: What You Give Up

Free spreadsheet tools cover formulas, charts and sharing, but paid suites add admin controls, support, audit logs and deeper integrations. For regulated or large teams, those controls often justify a paid plan. Small teams can usually start free.

• Support: community help instead of an SLA.
• Governance: fewer audit and retention controls on free tiers.
• Integrations: connectors may be limited or require self-hosting.
• Compatibility: complex Excel macros and pivot features may not convert cleanly.

Open-Source and Self-Hosted Options: Security Considerations

Self-hosted spreadsheet and database tools such as Baserow and NocoDB keep data in your own infrastructure, which helps with data residency. They also make you responsible for patching, backups and access control, so budget IT time for that work.

Use recognized guidance when you operate them. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework gives a structure for identifying, protecting and recovering data, and the OWASP Top 10 lists the most common web application risks to test against.

• Place self-hosted tools behind SSO and a VPN or zero-trust proxy.
• Automate backups and test restores.
• Track upstream security releases and patch on a schedule.

How to Migrate from Excel to a Free Spreadsheet Tool

A safe migration takes four steps: inventory your critical workbooks, test conversion on copies, retrain power users, then cut over in phases. Macros, external data links and complex pivot tables are the usual breakpoints, so test them first.

• Inventory: list workbooks by owner, business criticality and macro use.
• Test: convert copies and compare totals cell by cell.
• Train: run a short session on the new shortcuts and formulas.
• Cut over: move low-risk files first, then finance and reporting files.

Use the formula to confirm that switching saves money after migration labor and support. Also read our Excel vs Google Sheets comparison and browse the spreadsheet software directory for paid options such as Microsoft Excel.

Which Free Spreadsheet Tool Should You Choose?

Choose Google Sheets or Zoho Sheet for browser collaboration, LibreOffice Calc or Gnumeric for free desktop work, and Baserow, NocoDB, SeaTable or Grist when your spreadsheet is really becoming a database or an internal app.

• Distributed team: Google Sheets or Zoho Sheet.
• Zero licence budget on desktops: LibreOffice Calc.
• Need data residency: self-hosted Baserow or NocoDB.
• Spreadsheet outgrowing rows and columns: Grist or SeaTable.

Start with a pilot in one department. A tool such as Baserow offers a quick way to see how a database-style workflow compares with a classic spreadsheet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free spreadsheet software for business?
For collaboration, Google Sheets and Zoho Sheet are common web choices, and LibreOffice Calc is the standard free desktop option. The best choice depends on your integrations, file compatibility needs and whether you need self-hosting.

Can free spreadsheet software replace Excel?
For many standard tasks such as budgets, lists and charts, yes. Heavy macro use, advanced pivot tables and external data connections can cause compatibility problems, so test your key workbooks on a copy before migrating.

How long does it take to migrate a team off Excel?
A small team with few macros can move in one to two weeks. Larger teams with complex reporting often need a phased migration over a quarter, including testing, training and a rollback plan.