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Apple Numbers alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Apple Numbers: struggles with large datasets, and no macros and limited advanced analysis. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Apple Numbers, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Microsoft Excel currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Microsoft Excel logoMicrosoft ExcelFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +24 of 466.5
2Google Sheets logoGoogle SheetsFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android3 of 362.6
3LibreOffice logoLibreOfficeOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 459.6
4Zoho Sheet logoZoho SheetFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +23 of 357.2
  1. Microsoft Excel logo

    1. Microsoft ExcelTop pick

    Best for: Analysts and finance teams who need PivotTables, Power Query and large models

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Numbers

    Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others.

    Pros

    • Deepest feature set of any spreadsheet, including Power Query and data models
    • Huge pool of templates, training and people who already know it
    • Free web version for basic editing and co-authoring

    Cons

    • Windows desktop is the most complete; Mac and web lag on some features
    • Large workbooks get slow and are easy to break
    • Full features need a Microsoft 365 subscription
    Visit Microsoft Excel Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Microsoft Excel a good Apple Numbers alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Worksheet size
    1,048,576 rows by 16,384 columns
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free version
    Excel for the web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop app
    Included in Microsoft 365 Personal
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $9.99/month (Microsoft 365 Personal)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Google Sheets logo

    2. Google Sheets

    Best for: Teams sharing trackers, budgets and lists that several people update

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Numbers

    Free, cross-platform and better for sheets that many people update.

    Pros

    • Live multi-user editing and cell comments with no file passing
    • Free, with Apps Script automation and many add-ons
    • Edits Excel files directly

    Cons

    • Slows down noticeably with large datasets
    • No equivalent to Excel's Power Query or VBA
    • Offline use needs Chrome or Edge
    Visit Google Sheets Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Google Sheets a good Apple Numbers alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Anyone with a Google account
    Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Excel files
    Convert or edit directly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. LibreOffice logo

    3. LibreOffice

    Best for: People and organisations who want a full free office suite on their own computers

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Numbers

    Free desktop spreadsheet that also runs on Windows and Linux.

    Pros

    • Completely free with six apps, including a database and drawing tool
    • Runs offline on Windows, macOS and Linux with no account
    • Uses the open ODF standard while still reading and writing Office files

    Cons

    • Interface feels older than Microsoft 365 or Google Docs
    • Complex Office files can show layout differences
    • No built-in real-time co-editing
    Visit LibreOffice Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LibreOffice a good Apple Numbers alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MPL 2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026libreoffice.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest version
    26.8.1
    Checked Oct 25, 2026libreoffice.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Apps included
    6 (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026libreoffice.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026libreoffice.org(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Zoho Sheet logo

    4. Zoho Sheet

    Best for: Teams wanting a free shared spreadsheet with AI data cleanup and offline apps

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Numbers

    Free online spreadsheet with apps on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

    Pros

    • Free, with real-time collaboration
    • AI assistant for cleaning data and building charts
    • Offline-capable apps on desktop and mobile

    Cons

    • Smaller template and add-on ecosystem than Sheets or Excel
    • Complex Excel workbooks don't convert fully
    • Best value only if you use other Zoho apps
    Visit Zoho Sheet Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Sheet a good Apple Numbers alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Windows, macOS, Android, iOS apps
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI features
    AI-assisted data cleaning
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Apple Numbers alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Microsoft Excel logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for most people

Microsoft Excel

Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others.

Google Sheets logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for a free option

Google Sheets

Free, cross-platform and better for sheets that many people update.

Zoho Sheet logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Zoho Sheet

Free online spreadsheet with apps on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.

LibreOffice logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for open source

LibreOffice

Free desktop spreadsheet that also runs on Windows and Linux.

Microsoft Excel logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for Mac

Microsoft Excel

Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others.

Microsoft Excel logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for Windows

Microsoft Excel

Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others.

LibreOffice logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for Linux

LibreOffice

Free desktop spreadsheet that also runs on Windows and Linux.

Microsoft Excel logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for iPhone and Android

Microsoft Excel

Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others.

Microsoft Excel logo

Best Apple Numbers alternative for working in the browser

Microsoft Excel

Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others.

Apple Numbers alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Apple Numbers?

Microsoft Excel ranks first right now. Far more analysis power and the standard .xlsx format for sharing with others. Google Sheets and LibreOffice follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Apple Numbers?

Yes. Microsoft Excel (free plan + paid), Google Sheets (free), LibreOffice (open source) and Zoho Sheet (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Apple Numbers?

Yes: LibreOffice.

Which Apple Numbers alternatives work on Linux?

LibreOffice runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Apple Numbers?

The complaints we hear most: struggles with large datasets; no macros and limited advanced analysis; no native Windows or Android app.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Apple Numbers, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.