Excel vs Google Sheets — Which Is Better for Business Templates?

A detailed comparison of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets for business use. Learn which platform works best for invoices, budgets, and project tracking.

Instant Sheet Templates Editorial Team · 8 min read · 2025-04-12

The Great Spreadsheet Debate

Both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are powerful tools, but they excel (pun intended) in different areas. Choosing the right platform for your business templates depends on your workflow, team size, and specific needs. Let us break down the key differences.

Feature Comparison

Formulas and Functions

Excel wins on raw formula power. It supports more functions, handles larger datasets more efficiently, and offers advanced features like Power Query, pivot tables with slicers, and VBA macros. If your templates involve complex calculations — like job cost estimators with hundreds of line items or financial models with multiple scenarios — Excel is the stronger choice.

Google Sheets covers all the essentials and adds unique functions like GOOGLEFINANCE for stock data and IMPORTDATA for pulling web data. For most business templates — invoices, budgets, trackers — Google Sheets handles everything you need.

Collaboration

Google Sheets dominates collaboration. Real-time co-editing, commenting, version history, and sharing via link make it ideal for teams. Multiple people can work on the same budget or project tracker simultaneously without version conflicts.

Excel has improved with Microsoft 365's co-authoring features, but the experience is not as seamless as Google Sheets, especially for users on different platforms or without Microsoft licenses.

Offline Access

Excel works fully offline — always has. Google Sheets requires an internet connection by default, though you can enable offline mode through Chrome. For field workers, job site managers, or anyone working in areas with unreliable internet, Excel's native offline capability is a significant advantage.

Cost

Google Sheets is free with a Google account. Excel requires a Microsoft 365 subscription ($6-12 per month per user) or a one-time purchase. For budget-conscious freelancers and startups, Google Sheets' zero cost is compelling.

Template Compatibility

Most professional templates are distributed as .xlsx files, which both platforms can open. However, complex Excel features (macros, advanced conditional formatting, some pivot table features) may not translate perfectly to Google Sheets. Our templates at Instant Sheet Templates are optimized to work seamlessly in both platforms.

Which Should You Use?

Choose Excel if: You need advanced formulas, work offline frequently, handle large datasets, or use macros and VBA automation.

Choose Google Sheets if: You prioritize collaboration, want free access, work across devices, or need simple-to-moderate spreadsheet functionality.

The best answer for most small businesses: Use both. Keep your master templates in Excel for maximum compatibility, and use Google Sheets for collaborative documents like shared budgets and team trackers.

Browse Our Templates

All our business templates work in both Excel and Google Sheets. Download once, use anywhere.