Excel’s 2026 update introduces compatibility versions, bridging modern features with legacy support. See how it transforms data analysis.

Microsoft Excel is free to use, with limitations. For the cost of a Microsoft 365 subscription, you get a whole lot of power.

Microsoft Office 2024 and earlier versions of Office get you locked-in-time versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook.

Microsoft appears to have released free versions of its core Office apps – Word, Excel and PowerPoint – although they are supported by ads and limited in their functionality.

I discovered artificial intelligence tool GPT Excel in my quest to cut down on all the busywork it takes to create and update spreadsheets.