Top 5 Microsoft Excel Alternatives for Raspberry Pi Users

Microsoft Excel is often the first tool considered for working on spreadsheets like XLS, XLSX, or CSV. However, its lack of native support for ARM processors and Linux OS makes using Microsoft Excel on a Raspberry Pi challenging. That doesn’t mean there aren’t good solutions, so let me show you some of them.

Microsoft Excel is not available on Linux or Raspberry Pi. Workarounds like Wine are available to make it work. However, alternate software like LibreOffice and Google Sheets are good alternatives that offer native support and better performance.

Whether you’re using your Raspberry Pi as your primary device or need to tackle a spreadsheet for a specific project, I will introduce five fantastic alternatives to Microsoft Excel. These options are not only user-friendly but also perfect for running smoothly on your Raspberry Pi!

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LibreOffice Calc

LibreOffice is a complete Office Suite that comes pre-installed with Raspberry Pi OS. LibreOffice Calc is one of the tools included in this suite, and it can handle different spreadsheet formats, including XLS and XLSX.

Installation

LibreOffice Calc comes pre-installed on Raspberry Pi OS, and you don’t need to install anything.

To run LibreOffice Calc, navigate to the Raspberry Pi Applications menu and open “Office” -> “LibreOffice Calc”.

Interface and Functionality

LibreOffice Calc includes most of Microsoft Excel’s basic functionalities and can be great if you want to edit a few spreadsheets for a project. However, it lacks advanced functions like macros, pivot tables, and advanced charting tools.

Its interface resembles older versions of Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Office 2000), but most modern functionalities are available in the top menu bar.

Final Verdict

LibreOffice Calc can be a great choice if you are looking for a lightweight alternative and don’t necessarily need the advanced functionalities. It can also be great if all you are looking for is to edit a spreadsheet or two for a project, as you do not need to install anything.

Advantages

• Raspberry Pi OS is pre-installed
• Lightweight
• Free & open source

Disadvantages

• Limited advanced features
• Compatibility issues with complex Excel sheets

WPS Spreadsheets

WPS Office is a clone of the Microsoft Office Suite developed by the Chinese software developer Kingston Office Software. It is not open-source. While most basic functionality is free, some advanced features require a premium license.

Installation

WPS Office is not available via the official repositories. We first have to install the Pi-Apps, and then WPS Office can be installed through it. Follow these steps to install WPS Office on your Raspberry Pi.

• Install Pi-Apps using the command:
  wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Botspot/pi-apps/master/install | bash
• Navigate to Pi-Apps from the Applications Menu -> “Accessories” -> “Pi-Apps”:
  
• Within the Pi-Apps, navigate to “Office”->”WPS Office” and click on Install:
  

The installation will take some time, depending on your network speed. Once completed, you can launch WPS Spreadsheets by navigating to the Applications Menu -> “Office” -> “WPS Spreadsheets”.

Interface and Functionality

WPS Spreadsheets include most of Microsoft Excel’s basic and advanced features. They only lack a few power user features, like the Power Pivot and Power Query. Thus, most basic to advanced users of Microsoft Excel will feel at home using WPS Spreadsheets.

The interface of WPS Spreadsheets closely resembles that of Microsoft Excel. It utilizes a ribbon-based design similar to the modern versions of Excel. All the buttons and ribbon menus are arranged to mirror Microsoft Excel, and the dialogue boxes are designed to be almost identical to those found in Excel.

Final Verdict

WPS Spreadsheets is an excellent choice if you want an exact clone of Microsoft Excel. If you are familiar with Microsoft Excel, you will find all the familiar options available and in precisely the same manner and location as that of Microsoft Excel.

Advantages

• A replica of Microsoft Excel (Familiar Interface)
• Most of the basic and advanced functionalities are present
• Essential cloud-based collaboration tools are available

Disadvantages

• Few advanced functionalities are not free to use
• Power-user functionalities like Power Query and Power Pivot are not available

Zoho Sheets

Another great alternative to Microsoft Excel is Zoho Sheets. It is a web-based spreadsheet editor with a very intuitive and beautiful interface. It contains most of the basic functionality required in a spreadsheet editor and allows real-time collaboration if working with a team.

Installation

Zoho Sheets is a web-based application that doesn’t require installation. To use it, you can go to their website and click “Access Zoho Sheet.”

Interface and Functionality

Zoho Sheets offers most of the essential functions. However, most functionalities lack the depth of customization one would be accustomed to if they came from Microsoft Excel.

For example, the default chart templates are great, but you will quickly realize they are not as customizable as some alternate options.

Zoho Sheets’s interface looks modern and neat. Most of the options are listed in traditional drop-down menus. Everything is easy to find and very easy to get used to.

Final Verdict

Suppose you seek an accessible alternative to Microsoft Excel for basic spreadsheet editing with easy real-time collaboration with your team members. In that case, Zoho Sheets is easy to recommend.

Advantages

• Easy and intuitive to use
• Web-based interface/no installation
• Offers real-time collaboration with team members

Disadvantages

• Lacks advanced functionality
• Internet connection required

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a web-based alternative. In addition to the typical benefits of real-time collaboration that come with cloud-based spreadsheet editors, Google Sheets also offers the advantage of being part of the Google ecosystem.

Installation

Similar to Zoho Sheets, you do not need to install anything. You can visit their website and try Google Sheets or use it by logging in to your Gmail ID.

Interface and Functionality

Google Sheets provides a wide range of primary and advanced functions needed for spreadsheet editing. While it lacks some of the more advanced data analysis tools found in Microsoft Excel, it has the advantage of seamless integration with other Google services, such as Google Forms, Google Calendar, and Google Drive.

Google Sheets also has the added advantage of Google Apps Scripts for automation (comparable to Microsoft Excel’s VBA Scripts).

Its interface is very similar to Zoho Sheets’. It is composed of drop-down menus that are very intuitive and easy to get used to. Additionally, Google Sheets has an avid user base and good documentation to help you navigate the interface.

Final Verdict

Google Sheets is an excellent alternative to Microsoft Excel on Raspberry Pi. Some users might even prefer Google Sheets over Microsoft Excel on Windows PCs because of its close integration with Google Services.

Advantages

• Seamless integration with Google Cloud Services
• Real-time collaboration
• Great userbase and documentation

Disadvantages

• Few advanced data analysis tools are missing
• Requires internet connection and a Gmail ID

Microsoft Office 365

I must admit I was not entirely truthful in the introductory paragraphs. Microsoft Excel can indeed be used on a Raspberry Pi.

Microsoft Office 365 is the latest version of the Microsoft Office Suite, which runs natively on Windows. A web-based version of Office 365 is also available, allowing it to be used on any device, including the Raspberry Pi.

Installation

You don’t need to install anything. Since the desktop version cannot be installed on Raspberry Pi, the only option is to use the web-based version of Microsoft Office 365, which can be accessed from their website using a Microsoft account.

Interface and Functionality

The web version of Microsoft Office 365 offers basic to moderate functionality. However, many of the advanced data analysis and charting tools found in the desktop version of Microsoft Excel, which we used to compare other options, are unavailable in the web version.

The interface of the web version of Microsoft Office 365 is the same as that of the desktop version.

Final Verdict

The web version of Microsoft 365 can be a great option if you are too accustomed to the Microsoft Excel user interface and functionality. However, you will be missing advanced data analysis and charting functions here.

Advantages

• Familiar Interface (Microsoft Excel)
• Integration with Microsoft ecosystem like Microsoft Onedrive
• Excellent compatibility with the desktop version of Microsoft Excel (If sharing files with peers who are using Microsoft Excel)

Disadvantages

• Advanced data analysis and charting functionalities are missing
• Internet connection required

Overall, I would recommend WPS Spreadsheets for anyone looking for something similar to Microsoft Excel on Raspberry Pi. Alternatively, Google Sheets is also an excellent choice if you need something with seamless real-time collaboration and a great cloud ecosystem.

However, if you frequently share files with your co-workers who use Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office 365 is the best choice.

Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:

Test Your Raspberry Pi Level (Free): Not sure why everything takes so long on your Raspberry Pi? Take this free 3-minute assessment and see what’s causing the problems.

The RaspberryTips Community: Need help or want to discuss your Raspberry Pi projects with others who actually get it? Join the RaspberryTips Community and get access to private forums, exclusive lessons, and direct help (try it for just $1).

Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.

Master Python on Raspberry Pi: Create, understand, and improve any Python script for your Raspberry Pi. Learn the essentials step-by-step without losing time understanding useless concepts.

You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.