Excel is the spreadsheet most people learned on, and it is also a tool many store owners pay for without opening more than a few times a week. The Microsoft page I reviewed lists a free Excel plan on the web with 5 GB of cloud storage, and paid Microsoft 365 plans starting at $9.99 a month. People look for Excel alternatives when they want something free, when they want to share a sheet with a helper, or when they want a spreadsheet that works more like a database. I run my own stores and teach high-ticket dropshipping at Ecommerce Paradise, so I judge spreadsheets by what they cost per year and whether a store owner can track supplier prices, margins, and orders without fighting the tool.
Everything below comes from each vendor’s own page as I reviewed it in October 2026. Where a page does not show a number, I write “not shown” instead of guessing. Prices and plans change often, so confirm them before you sign up. Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
A spreadsheet supports a store, but it does not replace one. If you are still deciding what to sell, start with my guide to what high-ticket dropshipping is before you spend time on tracking tools.
Excel Alternatives at a Glance
| Option | Starting price | Free option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Sheets | Free with a Google Account | Yes | Owners who share sheets with helpers |
| LibreOffice Calc | Free | Yes, no cost | Owners who want a free desktop spreadsheet |
| Zoho Sheet | Paid prices not shown | Free, per the vendor | Owners who already use Zoho tools |
| Airtable | Team at $20 per user a month billed annually | Free plan | Owners who want a spreadsheet that acts like a database |
| Apple Numbers | Price not shown | Not confirmed | Owners who work on Apple devices |
Clean numbers help, but the store has to be built right first. If you want a high-ticket store built for you, start here. See the done-for-you store build →
What Excel Costs and Where It Falls Short
The Microsoft Excel page lists a free plan with Excel for the web, 5 GB of cloud storage, and access on web, iOS, and Android. Microsoft 365 Personal is listed at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year for one person. Microsoft 365 Family is listed at $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year for one to six people.
Personal and Family list Excel on PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets. A one-time purchase option is not shown on that page. For a business account, the Microsoft business page I reviewed for my Gmail alternatives guide lists Business Basic at $7 per user a month paid yearly.
The drawback for a store owner is the bundle. If you pay mainly for a spreadsheet, you also pay for apps you may never open. The free web version is a fair starting point, so check which features you need before you pay.
How to Pick a Spreadsheet Tool
Start with what you track. Supplier price lists, margin calculators, and order logs are simple grids with formulas. A product database with links between records is closer to what a database tool does.
Next, think about sharing. If a virtual assistant or a partner edits the same sheet, real-time collaboration and version history matter. If only you open it, a desktop app may be enough.
Finally, think about file compatibility. Suppliers often send price lists as Excel files, so check how each tool opens and exports them. My guide to Microsoft Office alternatives compares full suites if you also need documents and slides.
1. Google Sheets
Google Sheets is listed as free for anyone with a Google Account. Some Gemini in Sheets features require a Google Workspace plan. The page lists real-time editing with sharing controls for viewing, commenting, or editing, plus revision history so you can revert to earlier versions.
You can open and edit Excel files directly in Sheets without making a copy, and the original file stays intact. You can also convert files to the Sheets format. The page notes that Gemini features such as Sheets canvas and Fill with Gemini require conversion.
Sheets works on phones, tablets, and desktops, and you can create and edit offline. For a custom domain and business tools, Google Workspace is the paid route. The Workspace pricing page lists Starter at $7 per user a month, Standard at $14, and Plus at $22.
2. LibreOffice Calc
LibreOffice is a free office suite, and the page says it is provided at no cost to you. Calc is the spreadsheet tool, described as a way to analyze data, work with numbers, and create charts and visuals. The source code is listed under the Mozilla Public License v2.0, and a donate link is provided.
The page I read did not list platforms and did not describe Microsoft Office file compatibility in the vendor’s own words. It quotes a third-party review that calls it as good as Microsoft Office, which I treat as an opinion, not a fact. Test your own supplier files before you rely on it.
LibreOffice suits owners who want to pay nothing and are happy with a desktop app. I covered it alongside other suites in my Microsoft Office alternatives guide.
3. Zoho Sheet
Zoho Sheet says teams can create and collaborate on spreadsheets for free. Paid plan pricing is not shown on the page I read, and row, column, file size, and user limits are not shown either. You can look at plans through my Zoho link.
The page lists real-time editing, comments, locking selected cells, version restore, and different levels of control. It also lists about 40 chart types, a pivot table builder, data cleaning, and data connections to Zoho apps such as CRM, Projects, and Books. Zia, its AI assistant, is said to generate formulas and VBA macro code and explain existing ones.
You can import Microsoft Excel files, and the page claims no loss of formatting, which is the vendor’s own claim. Platforms listed are web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chromebook, and the Windows, macOS, and Android apps also work offline.
4. Airtable
Airtable lists a Free plan at $0, a Team plan at $20 per user a month billed annually, and a Business plan at $45 per user a month billed annually. Enterprise Scale pricing is custom. Free plan limits and trial details are not shown, and monthly prices are not shown.
The page says paid plans bill per seat for users with edit permissions on at least one base. Read-only collaborators, form submissions, and share links are not charged. That matters if you want a helper to update records while you only view them.
Airtable is commonly used as a database-style tool, though the pricing page I read does not describe its features, so test it on a real product list. I compared it with other tools in my Airtable alternatives guide.
5. Apple Numbers
Apple Numbers is described as a spreadsheet app for creating, editing, and sharing spreadsheets, with hundreds of built-in functions for formulas. It runs on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, and Numbers for iCloud runs in a web browser. A price is not shown on the page I read, which promotes an Apple subscription without giving pricing.
The page says you can share spreadsheets by converting them to Microsoft Excel, CSV, and PDF formats. Excel import details are not shown. Because I could not confirm the cost, check the App Store page before you count on it as a free option.
Numbers suits owners who work only on Apple devices and want a simple tool. If anyone on your team uses Windows, test sharing first.
What Each Option Costs Per Year
These figures are my own math from the listed prices. They leave out tax and any add-on the pages do not state, and where a page does not show a price I say so.
Microsoft 365 Personal is $99.99 a year, or $119.88 a year if you pay $9.99 monthly. Family is $129.99 a year, or $155.88 on monthly billing. Google Workspace Starter at $7 per user is $84 a year, Standard at $14 is $168, and Plus at $22 is $264.
Airtable Team at $20 per user a month billed annually is $240 per user a year, and Business at $45 is $540 per user a year. Google Sheets with a Google Account is $0, LibreOffice is $0, and Zoho Sheet is described as free. Apple Numbers and Zoho paid plans are not shown, so I cannot work out a figure for them.
Which Option Fits Which Store Owner
If you want to pay nothing, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and Zoho Sheet all list free access. Sheets is the easiest to share, while LibreOffice is a desktop app.
If you track products with links between records, Airtable is commonly used for that, and its paid plans start at $20 per user a month on annual billing. If you work only on Apple devices, Numbers is worth a test once you confirm the cost.
If your suppliers send Excel files every week, test how each tool opens them. Google Sheets lists direct editing of Excel files, and Zoho Sheet lists Excel import.
Features Worth Paying For
Collaboration comes first. If a helper edits your supplier sheet, you want version history so you can undo a bad change. Google Sheets and Zoho Sheet both list revision or version restore features.
Pivot tables and charts come second. They help you see which products and suppliers make money. Zoho Sheet lists a pivot table builder and about 40 chart types, and Google Sheets says Gemini can build pivot tables and charts.
Automation comes third. If you copy the same numbers every week, connections to other tools save time. Zoho Sheet lists data connections to Zoho apps.
Using Spreadsheets for a High-Ticket Store
High-ticket stores run on a few key numbers. Supplier cost, your price, shipping, and fees decide whether a sale makes money. A simple margin sheet shows you which products to push and which to drop.
Keep one sheet for supplier price lists, one for orders, and one for margins. Name each file by date so you can see how prices change. If you sell on Shopify, you can export your orders and paste them into your sheet each week.
Do not build a complicated model before you know what you sell. My high-ticket niches list helps you pick a category first.
A Simple 30-Day Test Plan
Pick one real file, such as a supplier price list with a margin formula. Open it in your first-choice tool and check that the formulas and formatting survived. Share it with a helper and ask them to edit one cell.
Note anything that breaks, such as a formula or a date format. Check how the file looks when you export it back to Excel. If a supplier needs an Excel file, this step matters.
At the end of the month, repeat the test with a second tool. Keep the one that handled your real files best, and cancel anything you did not use.
Costs to Watch as You Grow
The first cost is the billing term. Microsoft lists lower prices on yearly billing than monthly, and Airtable lists prices billed annually. Read the renewal price before you click subscribe.
The second cost is per-seat pricing. Airtable bills per user with edit permissions, and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 business plans are priced per user. Plan around the full price after any trial or promo ends.
The third cost is storage. Free plans list limited cloud space, such as 5 GB for Excel on the web. Large product images and supplier files can fill it quickly.
Moving Away From Excel Safely
Do not cancel your Microsoft plan the day you try another tool. Keep it active until you have opened your important files in the new one. Save a copy of every file in its original format first.
Check formulas, dates, and conditional formatting, because those are the parts most likely to change. If you use macros, test them before you move, since not every tool runs them. Fix any problems before you share a sheet with a supplier.
Tell the people you work with where the new files live. A short note prevents two versions of the same price list.
When Excel Is Still the Right Pick
Excel still makes sense in many cases. If you build large models with macros, a tool made for that work saves time. If your suppliers and accountant all use Excel, using the same app removes friction.
If the free web version covers your needs, there is little reason to pay for anything else. Match the tool to your work, and do not switch only because a list told you to.
Hiring Help With Spreadsheets
Spreadsheet work is easy to hand off once you have a template. A virtual assistant from OnlineJobs.ph can update supplier prices, log orders, and keep your margin sheet current. Give them one finished example and a short checklist.
For a one-off job, such as building a margin calculator or cleaning a messy price list, a freelancer on Fiverr can be quicker than doing it yourself. Keep the master copy in your own account and share access carefully.
Common Mistakes With Spreadsheets
The first mistake is paying for a full Microsoft bundle when you only need a grid. The second mistake is keeping several versions of the same price list in different places.
The third mistake is tracking orders before your company exists. If you have not formed your company, read my guide to business formation for high-ticket dropshipping. To file an LLC quickly, Bizee is one option I recommend.
The fourth mistake is building a spreadsheet before you have suppliers. My guide to finding suppliers for high-ticket dropshipping covers what to line up first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Excel?
Google Sheets is listed as free with a Google Account, and LibreOffice is listed as free at no cost. Zoho Sheet is also described as free, with limits not shown.
How much does Excel cost?
The Microsoft page lists a free web plan, Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and Family at $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year.
Can I open Excel files in another tool?
Google Sheets lists direct editing of Excel files without making a copy, and Zoho Sheet lists Excel import. Test your own files, because complex formulas and macros may not carry over.
Is there a spreadsheet that works like a database?
Airtable is commonly used that way, though its pricing page does not describe features. Its Team plan is listed at $20 per user a month billed annually. The free plan limits are not shown.
Do I need a paid spreadsheet as a small store owner?
Not always. If you only track prices and orders, a free tool may be enough. Paid plans add storage, seats, and support that matter once a team shares the files.
Final Verdict on Excel Alternatives
Google Sheets is a good first test for owners who share sheets with helpers and want a free tool. LibreOffice Calc suits owners who want a free desktop app, Zoho Sheet suits owners who already use Zoho tools, Airtable suits owners who want database-style records, and Apple Numbers suits owners who work only on Apple devices. Excel is still worth keeping if you build large models or your suppliers all send Excel files.
Start with the free options, confirm the current price on each live page, and test with a real supplier file before you cancel anything. Then put your attention back on the store, because clean numbers only help when the products behind them can sell.
Want a high-ticket store with the products, suppliers, and pages already set up? Let my team build it for you. Get your store built →
Prefer to learn the model yourself? Start with my free mini course, or go deeper in the masterclass and coaching. Free mini course → Masterclass → Coaching →
Related Articles
If you found this useful, these guides go deeper on related topics:
- Microsoft Office Alternatives: 5 Office Suites Compared by Price and Fit (2026)
- Airtable Alternatives: 5 Database Tools Compared for Store Owners (2026)
- Notion Alternatives: 5 Workspace Tools Compared for Store Owners (2026)
- Gmail Alternatives: 5 Email Providers Compared by Price and Fit (2026)
- Google Drive Alternatives: 5 Cloud Storage Options Compared by Price and Fit (2026)
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and world traveler from Seattle, Washington, and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
He maintains homes in Seattle and Bali, spends most of the year overseas, and usually returns to Seattle for about a month each summer.
