Why You Want To Use Google Spreadsheets Over Excel

First of all, what is Google Spreadsheets or Excel?

  • Google Sheets and Excel are spreadsheet programs used to organize data, run formulas, and build charts (Sheets is cloud-first; Excel is feature-deep).

Let’s be real: to a brand-new person, Google Sheets (Google Spreadsheets) and Microsoft Excel look like the same scary grid. And at the start, you do need to learn the basics either way: cells, formulas, sorting, filters, and charts.

 

But if you’re new, Google Sheets is usually the more friendly “first step,” because it feels lighter, simpler, and it’s built for modern work (sharing, links, and teamwork) right out of the gate. 

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Here are the biggest ways Sheets is easier (especially for beginners):

  • It’s built for sharing and real-time collaboration. You can have multiple people editing at the same time without emailing files back and forth.
  • It’s harder to “lose” your progress. You can review changes and restore older versions if something gets messed up. 
  • It’s easier to teach yourself. The interface is clean, you don’t get hit with 100 advanced buttons at once, and you can start doing useful work fast.
  • It fits the way beginners actually work: link-sharing, simple templates, and quick collaboration (school projects, small business tracking, personal budgets).

 

Where people get confused is thinking Sheets is “less serious.” It isn’t. It’s just a smoother learning curve for most people.

 

Now, here’s what Sheets and Excel are very similar at:

  • Formulas and functions (SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP-style workflows)
  • Sorting, filtering, and cleaning data
  • Charts and basic dashboards
  • Pivot tables (both can summarize data fast)
  • Using Google spreadsheets for real business stuff: budgets, invoices, inventory, tracking leads, etc.

Google Function List

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So when should you choose Excel?

Excel is still the king in some workplaces, especially where people rely on heavy-duty features like complex macro workflows. In fact, VBA macros are something you generally need the desktop Excel app for.  (Microsoft Support)

 

But even if your future job requires Excel, learning Sheets first is a smart move.

  • You learn the “spreadsheet brain” first (logic + formulas + structure).
  • Then switching to Excel is mostly learning the interface differences and extra features.
  • You avoid getting overwhelmed early, which is the #1 reason people quit learning spreadsheets.

 

For more info on Google Spreadsheets, check out this video by Insider Tech!

How To Use Google Sheets

 

Bottom line: Sheets is the easiest on-ramp, and Excel is the deeper tool you’ll eventually recognize as familiar. Start friendly, build confidence, then upgrade when you need it.

 

About the Author

This article was written by Daniel Ponomarenko. More information can be found on LinkedIn.