Microsoft Excel

By Microsoft

4.7/5(3,191)
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 have an easy-to-use interface, making data management and manipulation efficient and straightforward. (134 mentions)
Users value Excel's flexibility in data analysis, enabling powerful insights through advanced functions and easy data manipulation. (89 mentions)
Users appreciate the flexibility and powerful formulas of Microsoft Excel, enabling efficient data analysis and task automation. (76 mentions)
Users value the data manipulation capabilities of Microsoft Excel, enhancing organization and analysis for various tasks. (52 mentions)
Users appreciate the versatile features of Microsoft Excel, finding it intuitive for data analysis and reporting tasks. (38 mentions)
Users find that Excel's formula complexity can make it confusing and challenging, especially with large datasets. (47 mentions)
Users struggle with a steep learning curve, often needing videos to navigate features and understand formula errors. (46 mentions)
Users often experience slow performance in Excel with large datasets, leading to frustration and potential data loss. (43 mentions)
Users find collaboration limited in Excel, often facing version conflicts and difficulties when sharing workbooks with others. (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 (3,191)

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Microsoft Excel Reviews (3,191)

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4.7
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Yana  K.
YK
Yana K.
Founder & Learning Operations Lead
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Excel: Flexible, Familiar, and Perfect for Everyday Tracking and Budgets"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

I use Excel for a lot of boring but necessary things :) Keeping lists, tracking expenses, comparing numbers, planning budgets, sometimes just putting information into a table because it's easier to understand that way.

What I like is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you need. Most of the time I only use basic formulas, filters and sorting, and that's already enough for probably 90% of what I need. But when I do need something more specific, there's usually a way to do it without moving everything to another tool.

I've used Excel for years, so at this point it's just one of those programs I open without even thinking about it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

The learning curve gets steep pretty quickly once you go beyond the basics. I can do everything I normally need with formulas, filters and tables, but every now and then I need something more advanced and suddenly I'm searching online for how to do it :)

There are so many features that I'm sure I use only a small part of what Excel can actually do. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes even a relatively simple task can feel more complicated than it should. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Timothy H.
TH
Timothy H.
Distribution Center Supervisor
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Powerful Grid-Based Data Analysis with Excel Formulas and Functions"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

Grid-Based Organization: Excel presents data in a grid of rows and columns, allowing users to input, view, and manipulate information clearly and logically. Each cell can hold numbers, text, dates, or formulas, enabling dynamic and interconnected datasets that adapt automatically when values change <br><br>Formulas and Functions: Excel’s extensive library of built-in functions—from basic arithmetic (SUM, AVERAGE) to advanced statistical, financial, and logical operations—transforms it into a powerful analytical engine. Users can also create custom formulas to perform complex calculations efficiently. I do not use it with AI or integrate it with other programs (only use between linked excel spreadsheets). Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

TONS of features, but you often need to rely on YouTube videos or web searches to figure out complex formulas. When formulas don’t work, troubleshooting can be difficult and time-consuming. It takes years of experience and regular use to reach even mild proficiency. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Rajendra S.
RS
Rajendra S.
Operator
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Dependable tool for daily records, quick formulas, and routine reports"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

What I like most about Microsoft Excel is how reliable and flexible it is for day-to-day data entry and reporting. Features like AutoFill, basic sorting, and filters make managing large lists very quick. Using formulas like VLOOKUP, SUMIF, and basic IF conditions saves hours of manual calculations and keeps our records error-free. It simply handles routine office logs and summaries without requiring any complex setup. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

When working with very heavy workbooks containing multiple sheets and complex formulas, it occasionally slows down or lags. Also, troubleshooting syntax errors in long nested formulas can be time-consuming for regular users. The web version is also slightly limited in shortcut responsiveness compared to the desktop app. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Madhav K.
MK
Madhav K.
Data Research Executive
Information Technology and Services
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Fast and Flexible for Data Analysis and CRM"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

I like Excel because it makes my daily data analysis and CRM work more organized and efficient. I regularly use PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, formulas, and filters for lead tracking, customer data cleaning, record updates, reporting, and analysis. I especially like how quickly I can sort, compare, summarize, and analyze data without needing complex tools. It helps me handle large datasets more efficiently and turn raw data into useful insights. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

One thing I find challenging is navigating large and complex spreadsheets. As the amount of data, formulas, and worksheets increases, it can become harder to quickly locate and manage specific information. Better navigation and organization features for large workbooks would make the experience more efficient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Parichay D.
PD
Parichay D.
Analyst
Financial Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Fast, Reliable Excel for Big Data Cleaning and Automation and user prespective review"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

For a data analyst, an accounts person, or anyone doing any kind of maths on a dataset, I recommend this software. We use it every time for repetitive work and for easy handling of big data, especially when a dataset requires cleaning or when manual time is needed for optimising.

I’ve been using this software for about 5 years now, and one of my office friends has been using it for around 20 years. The UI and UX are clean and well organised, with easy navigation and a clear bars/ribbon menu. It also has quickly accessible option boxes for commonly used tools, customizable toolbars, and much more, including helpful shortcut keys.

For performance, I’d say it’s fast, reliable, and stable. Large datasets are handled well, with smooth performance even on big data. Calculations are quick even when using complex formulas, and overall it feels efficient for day-to-day work.

For integrations, it supports Microsoft 365 integration, OneDrive sync, Teams collaboration, Power BI compatibility, and Outlook support.

Although Microsoft Excel is part of a paid subscription, the productivity gains make it worthwhile. The automation features, templates, and advanced functions save hours of manual work every week.

Getting started with Excel is straightforward, and there are plenty of online tutorials, templates, and community resources. Advanced features may take time to master, but learning resources are widely available.

Excel's AI-powered features, including Copilot and data analysis suggestions, help automate repetitive tasks and generate insights quickly. These tools improve efficiency, especially when working with large datasets. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

One thing I dislike about Excel is that some of its more advanced features come with a steep learning curve. When I’m working with very large spreadsheets, performance can occasionally slow down, and troubleshooting complex formulas can be time-consuming. Although Microsoft 365 collaboration generally works well, version conflicts can still happen in shared files. The subscription cost can also be a downside for users who only need basic spreadsheet features. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Abhishek S.
AS
Abhishek S.
Executive-Business Development ( Export)
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Flexible, Easy-to-Use Excel That Boosts Productivity Every Day"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

What I like best about Microsoft Excel is its user-friendly interface and the wide range of features it offers. The UI is clean and easy to navigate, making it simple to create reports, analyze data, and manage large datasets. I regularly use formulas, PivotTables, filters, charts, and conditional formatting to track sales, customer information, and business performance.

Excel integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, and Power BI, making collaboration and file sharing very efficient. Even when working with large spreadsheets, the performance is reliable and responsive. Considering the productivity gains and time it saves, Excel provides excellent value for money. Microsoft also offers helpful tutorials and documentation, making it easy to learn new features. Additionally, AI-powered tools like Analyze Data and formula suggestions help identify trends, generate insights, and automate tasks, making my work faster and more accurate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

Although Microsoft Excel has significantly improved my workflow, there are still a few areas where it could be stronger. When I’m working with very large files that include multiple PivotTables and complex formulas, performance can sometimes slow down. The interface feels user-friendly for everyday tasks, but more advanced tools such as Power Query and VBA have a steeper learning curve than I expected. The AI features are helpful, yet they could offer deeper insights when dealing with complex business datasets. Microsoft provides solid documentation and learning resources, but more interactive onboarding for these advanced features would help users become productive more quickly. Overall, these feel like relatively minor drawbacks compared with the value Excel delivers. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Md. R.
MR
Md. R.
Asst. Manager - Corporate Affairs
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Best analytical and visual tool"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

Data Analysis, Data visualisation, project flow management, automated data fetching, Financial analysis Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

Found it always useful and I do not have anything to dislike in excel. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jai C.
JC
Jai C.
Software engineer
Information Technology and Services
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Excel’s Power Features Make Data Cleaning and Quick Analysis a Breeze"
5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

As a Data Analyst, Excel is one of the tools I use every day for cleaning data, validating reports, and performing quick analysis before building dashboards. Features like PivotTables, XLOOKUP, Power Query, conditional formatting, and formulas save a lot of time. I also like how easily I can export data from different systems and collaborate with teammates using a format everyone understands. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

Excel can become slow when working with very large datasets or complex workbooks containing multiple formulas. Version control is also challenging when several people edit different copies of the same file. While Power Query helps, some advanced automation still has a learning curve. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

alka m.
AM
alka m.
Sales And Marketing Specialist
Insurance
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Reliable for Data Validation and Spreadsheet Accuracy"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

Microsoft Excel stands out because it allows me to clean and verify large datasets with a level of control that is difficult to find in simpler spreadsheet applications. A regular part of my work involves importing data, comparing records from different worksheets, checking for inconsistencies and making sure the information is accurate before it is used elsewhere. Excel provides the built in tools needed to complete these tasks without relying on additional software. The functions I use most often are XLOOKUP, FILTER and text functions together with conditional formatting, sorting and filtering. They make it much easier to identify duplicate records, locate missing values, standardize imported data and correct formatting issues before the information is shared or analyzed. Excel Tables are equally useful because they keep growing datasets organized without requiring constant manual adjustments.

What keeps me coming back to Excel is the amount of control it provides throughout the entire validation process. Whether I am reconciling records, checking imported files or verifying calculations I can review every step before the data moves forward. That level of visibility makes Excel a dependable application whenever data quality is a priority. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

Most of the difficulties I experience with Excel appear only after a workbook has been in use for months or years. As different people continue updating the same file, formulas become more layered, worksheets are added and references start pointing across multiple tabs. Eventually understanding how a particular value was produced can take longer than creating a new calculation. There is also very little guidance when trying to untangle an unfamiliar workbook. Hidden ranges named references and formulas that depend on several other calculations require a fair amount of manual investigation before changes can be made confidently. That becomes even more noticeable when the original author is no longer available to explain the workbook structure.

I would welcome stronger workbook auditing features that visually expose formula relationships, identify unnecessary calculations and make it easier to understand how different sections of a spreadsheet are connected. That would simplify maintaining complex files over the long term. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MD QUADIR ALI 2.
M2
MD QUADIR ALI 2.
Research Fellow
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Excel: A Powerful Tool for Data Management and Analysis"
4.5/5
What do you like best about Microsoft Excel?

One thing I've really liked recently is how Excel keeps adding features that make everyday work easier. The real-time collaboration is helpful when multiple people are working on the same file, and AutoSave has saved me from losing work more than once. I also use PivotTables, conditional formatting, and XLOOKUP quite often because they make analyzing large amounts of data much faster. Charts and dashboards are easy to create and help present information clearly. I also like that Excel integrates well with other Microsoft 365 apps, so it's easy to share files and work across devices. Even after using it for years, I still come across useful features that make my work more efficient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Microsoft Excel?

Excel is a great tool overall, but I think it could improve its performance when working with very large files, as they can sometimes become slow or unresponsive. I’d also like to see easier collaboration features with fewer version conflicts, a more intuitive way to troubleshoot complex formulas, and more AI-powered assistance for cleaning and analyzing data. These improvements would make it even more user-friendly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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Microsoft Excel
4.7/5(3,191)