Maglaya, Patricia Ann C.

CC1-Laboratory (7:30-9:30)
CITCS 1D

Laboratory Exercise #3: Alternatives to MS Exccel

1. Google Docs Spreadsheet

-Google Docs is probably the most easily manageable alternative to Excel.

It looks similar to Excel’s layout and has pretty much the same features,
except that it’s free for all Google account owners (if you have a Gmail
account, you also have access to Google Docs).

Advantages:

Google Docs spreadsheet is an internet based document processor which

can be accessed using the internet in any devices like mobile phones and
computers. The document is saved online, so it can be shared easily. It also
saves the document automatically.

Disadvantages:

The downside of Google docs spreadsheet is that it can only be accessed

online, since Google Docs Spreadsheet is internet based. It also lack of
security. In view of the fact that documents can only be saved online, it
can be accessed by hackers or people who knows your google account.

2. LibreOffice Calc
-LibreOffice is a free office suite that includes its own Excel alternative,
also called Calc. It runs into the same restrictions as OpenOffice, in that
LibreOffice Calc lacks cloud support and real-time collaboration.
Advantages:
You can have LibreOffice Calc for free. Unlike MS excel, you have to pay
tons of money just to use it. Aside from being free, it has a lot of functions
than MS Excel.
Disadvantages:
On the other hand, it uses a lot of memory. It doesn’t also have some of
other features used in MS Excel. And it is not known to everyone.
Maglaya, Patricia Ann C. CC1-Laboratory (7:30-9:30)
CITCS 1D

3. Zoho Sheet
-Zoho Sheet is an application that can be used to create, edit and share
spreadsheets online. Zoho Sheet gives you the advantage of
collaborating easily with your colleagues online, thereby speeding up and
improving the efficiency of the job done. This user guide helps you to
familiarize with various features of Zoho Sheet and help you work more
effectively.
Advantages:
The files can be accessed online. It can be used in any devices since it
also has a mobile app. And the files are saved automatically so you don’t
have to worry when your computer crash.
Disadvantages:
The downside of using Zoho is that some features are paid. And when the
file is too big, it become slower. It sometimes has slow performance which
makes people inpatient.

4. Spread32
-Spread32 is a mini-Excel with all of the basic features that you would
expect in a competent spreadsheet program. Run macros, draw objects,
generate charts, calculate functions and formulas, its all here. ...
SpreadCE is the mobile version of Spread32 and it's available for Windows
Mobile and Android.
Advantages:
It is versatile. It can be used in mobile devices. Spread32 is portable and
can be used without even installing it.
Disadvantages:
Spread32 is not available in macOS and linux. It can only be used in some
devices. And it is not also suitable for large amount of data.

5. Apple Numbers
-Apple’s spreadsheet program, Numbers is a web app especially
optimized for Mac computers and laptops, iPhones, and iPads. As a part
Maglaya, Patricia Ann C. CC1-Laboratory (7:30-9:30)
CITCS 1D

of the iWorks suite for iColoud, its browser-based set-up allows multiple
users to access individual projects simultaneously.

Advantages:
Numbers can be used in many devices like mobile phones, tablet, and
computers. It is easy to use like MS Excel. It can also be accessed using
the internet.
Disadvantages:
It is ideally for Apple products. It may have good tools comparable to MS
Excel, only few can use it since mostly uses windows. And in terms of user
interface, it may require some on getting used to it.

6. Gnumeric
-Gnumeric is a spreadsheet program for Unix and Unix-like operating
systems, such as Linux.

Gnumeric is free software, distributed under the GNU General Public

License. It can import and export spreadsheet data to and from multiple
formats, including CSV, Microsoft Excel, HTML, OpenDocument, Quattro
Pro, and LaTex.

Advantages:
It is good for diagrams and mathematical formulas. It can be used with
ease. And the document can be saved as excel format.
Disadvantages:
Since it is mainly used in Linux, it is not compatible on other operating
systems. So, most people can’t use Gnumeric. Unlike MS excel, it is
compatible with any devices and operating systems.

7. Apache OpenOffice Calc

-Calc is similar to Microsoft Excel, with almost the same abilities. Calc is
capable of opening and saving spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel's file
format. It provides a number of features not present in Excel, including a
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CITCS 1D

system which automatically defines a series for graphing based on the

layout of the user's data. Calc is also capable of writing spreadsheets
directly as PDF files.

Advantages:
It is compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Linux. It is similar to MS Excel. It
can be installed so you can use it offline.
Disadvantages:
It losses or might change the format in excel. It can only be saved in the
older format. I doesn’t save the current format.

8. EtherCalc
-A free web-based software that runs on GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X
and Windows, EtherCalc is an open source spreadsheet program.
Advantages:
It can save document online and can be accessed easily. It grant editing
permissions that allows anyone to make changes in the document. It is
shareable even with people who doesn’t have Nextcloud account.
Disadvantages:
EtherCalc is not a fully-featured spreadsheet. It missed some of MS Excel’s
features. It somewhat lack of functions.