Microsoft Excel

By Microsoft

4.7/5(3,185)
4.7 out of 5 stars

How would you rate your experience with Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find Microsoft Excel to be incredibly user-friendly, allowing for easy organization and quick data manipulation. (134 mentions)
Users value the data analysis capabilities of Microsoft Excel, enabling efficient organization and insightful automation of information. (89 mentions)
Users appreciate the flexibility and powerful formulas of Excel, saving time and enhancing data analysis capabilities. (76 mentions)
Users value Excel for its robust data manipulation capabilities, making tasks like scheduling and comparisons effortless. (51 mentions)
Users value the wide range of features in Microsoft Excel, enhancing efficiency and making analysis straightforward. (38 mentions)
Users find the formula complexity in Excel challenging, making it tough to master advanced features effectively. (47 mentions)
Users find Excel's learning curve steep, as it lacks user-friendly features and requires time to master. (45 mentions)
Users experience slow performance with large datasets in Excel, leading to delays and errors during operation. (43 mentions)
Users find poor collaboration in Excel challenging, especially with file sharing and real-time updates among multiple users. (25 mentions)
Users experience slow processing with large datasets or complex formulas, impacting performance and stability significantly. (23 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of Microsoft Excel

5 Cons or Disadvantages of Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel Reviews (3,185)

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Microsoft Excel Reviews (3,185)

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4.7
3,185 reviews
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SR
Sameer R.
Operations - Executive
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
""Faster Reporting With Excel""
4/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

I use it daily for data entry, reports and tables in my support role. Few things I like most:

- I make agent-wise score sheets using formulas, saves manual calculation time.

- Sort and Filter helps me organize large data quickly

- I can rapidly summarize performance data with the help of pivot table

- Conditional formatting helps me highlight good/bad scores easily Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

- Sheets gets slow with large data and many formulas

- Some formulas are hard to remember, suggestions while typing could be easier Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Furkan A.
FA
Furkan A.
Data scientist
Computer Software
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Easy-to-Use Software for Data Organization and Analysis."
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

What I like best about Microsoft Excel is that it makes organising, managing, and analysing data very easy. I use it regularly for calculations, creating reports, tracking information, and keeping records in a structured way. Features like formulas, tables, filters, and charts save a lot of time and reduce manual work, which helps improve productivity. Another thing I like is that Excel is easy to learn for basic tasks, while also offering advanced features for more complex work when needed. It allows me to handle large amounts of data efficiently and present information in a clear and professional format. Whether for personal use, studies, or office work, Microsoft Excel is a reliable tool that helps me work more accurately and efficiently. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

One thing I dislike about Microsoft Excel is that some of its advanced features can be difficult to understand, especially for beginners who are new to spreadsheets. Functions, formulas, PivotTables, and data analysis tools often require extra learning before they can be used effectively. It can take some time to become comfortable with all the available features. Another issue is that Excel can sometimes become slow when working with very large files or datasets containing thousands of rows and complex calculations. This may affect performance and make certain tasks take longer to complete. However, these issues are relatively minor compared to the overall benefits of the software. Apart from that, Microsoft Excel works very well for daily tasks, data management, reporting, calculations, and record keeping. It is a reliable and powerful tool that helps improve productivity and makes organizing information much easier. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jeet S.
JS
Jeet S.
Senior Technology Specialist
Information Technology and Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Excel Makes Dashboards and Reports Fast, Accurate, and Actionable"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

Excel is great for reports and dashboards, because it mixes powerful data analysis with easy visuals - pivot tables, formulas, charts, and conditional formatting turn raw data into clear reports fast. It's user-friendly with a clean interface, integrates with SQL and Power BI, handles large datasets smoothly, offers great value through Office 365, has solid Microsoft support, and includes AI features like Copilot covering all six review depth areas. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

Collaboration and version control in Excel don’t feel very smooth, especially when multiple people are working on separate copies of the same file. It’s easy to end up with conflicting versions, duplicated changes, and confusion about which file contains the most up-to-date data. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Anjaly T.
AT
Anjaly T.
Reporting and Analytics Specialist
Public Relations and Communications
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Microsoft Excel: Powerful Pivot Tables and Formulas for Fast, Insightful Reporting"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

What I like best about Microsoft Excel is its ability to handle large datasets and turn them into meaningful insights. I regularly use pivot tables to analyze data, create charts and visualizations, and summarize information quickly. The wide range of formulas and functions makes data manipulation and reporting efficient, while features like filtering, conditional formatting, and dashboards help streamline analysis. It is a versatile tool that saves significant time when working with data and reporting tasks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

One drawback of Microsoft Excel is that it relies heavily on manual saving when working with local files, which can lead to lost work if changes are not saved regularly. While AutoSave helps in some environments, I find cloud-based tools like Google Sheets more convenient for real-time saving and collaboration. Improved autosave and collaboration capabilities across all use cases would enhance the experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Muzammil M.
MM
Muzammil M.
Founder – Muzammil Graphic | Interior and Graphic Designer | Transforming Spaces and Brands Visually
Graphic Design
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Excel Makes Everyday Data Work Simple and Efficient"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

What I found most useful about Microsoft Excel is how simple it makes everyday work. I’ve used it many times for managing data, making reports, tracking expenses, and organizing information in one place. The formulas, filters, and sorting options save a lot of time and reduce manual work. I also like that it works well for both basic tasks and more detailed analysis without feeling too complicated. The interface is familiar, easy to navigate, and reliable for daily use. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

One thing I don’t like about Microsoft Excel is that large files can sometimes become slow or laggy, especially when there are too many formulas or sheets. Some advanced features also take time to understand if you are not using Excel regularly. Another issue I noticed is that collaboration is not always smooth when multiple people edit the same file at the same time. A cleaner way to manage very large datasets and simpler automation tools would make the experience even better. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Information Technology and Services
UI
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Powerful Data Management Tool"
4/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

I particularly like Excel's Copilot integration, which can generate formulas, summarize data, identify trends, and create charts using natural language, making data analysis much faster. The improved Python in Excel support is another standout feature, allowing advanced data analysis and automation without leaving Excel. I also appreciate the enhancements to dynamic arrays, Power Query, and collaborative editing, which make it much easier to clean, transform, analyze, and share large datasets with the team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

The row limits hit us hard when analysing large test execution logs. Collaborative editing is also painful when multiple people are using the same file. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

LuRae L.
LL
LuRae L.
Founder
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Powerful Sorting, Multi-Tab Tracking, and Helpful Claude.ai Integration"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

The ability to sort data by date and numeric value is a no brainer. Having multiple tabs along the bottom to store links back to work over multiple years is priceless. I use it to track links back to ghostwriting links on LinkedIn, blog posts, and articles. AI integration with Claude.ai with app development has been extremely helpful. The fact that it's part of the Microsoft Suite of products on an annual basis helps tremendously. I haven't used the AI intelligence within the platform itself, but its integration with other platforms is extremely helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

I wish I could see the fields with a light blue or less intense frame than the standard black. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

RS
Rafael S.
Marketing Data Analyst
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Excel: powerful macros and Power Query, quick analysis, and great value for money"
4/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

Macros and scripts are very powerful tools for automating Excel, just like pivot tables, which allow you to analyze data quickly. Additionally, Excel allows you, through Power Query, to integrate data from practically any source with a very agile user experience. Without a doubt, the cost of Excel, compared to its benefits, makes it extremely worthwhile to have it. I have also noticed that in recent years the performance of the tool has improved more and more; it doesn't crash as much as it used to. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

When you add VBA macros to your files, it becomes very difficult to share the documents with other people. Sometimes it is difficult for them to be compatible or for the macros to run smoothly for other users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

John L.
JL
John L.
Commodity Futures Trader
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Unmatched Power for Data Analysis and Financial Modeling"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

The power of PivotTables and VLOOKUP (or XLOOKUP now) feels unmatched when it comes to handling large datasets and building financial models. I also really appreciate how quickly I can turn numbers into clear visuals with charts, especially when I’m preparing presentations for stakeholders. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

The learning curve for some of the more advanced “Power Pivot” features can be pretty steep. Also, when I’m working with extremely large files (millions of rows), the software can sometimes lag or even crash, especially if I’m not using a high-spec machine. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Arya P.
AP
Arya P.
HR Analyst- Global Benefits Operations
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Excel has become my everyday HR sidekick"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

I love how Excel makes managing benefits data so much easier. Whether I’m tracking enrollments or comparing plan costs, it lets me organize complex information into clear, easy-to-read reports that leadership can actually understand. Pivot tables and charts save me a lot of time and make it simple to spot trends, which is a huge win for me in HR. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

For HR benefits work, Excel can sometimes feel overly manual. While it’s a powerful tool, building complex formulas and keeping large spreadsheets updated can take a lot of time, and even a small mistake can throw off an entire report. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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Microsoft Excel
4.7/5(3,185)