Download Details

Version: 16.0.20228.20124 (latest)
File size: 6.3 MB
License: Free Trial
Security scan: VirusTotal: 71 of 71 engines say OK (0 flagged)
SHA-256 checksum: f266bc16834fbfae5aa7aca7c27ed5f393cac0bb2acebc2d5bb2dd7813cf7497
Developer: Microsoft Corporation
Supported OS: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8.1
Installers: 64-bit (x64), 32-bit (x86)
Downloads: 18309
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 · 65 reviews
File name(s): setup.exe

Reviewed by Ali Mohamed
Tested on Windows 11 and 10 · November 13, 2026 · How we review

Screenshots

Pick Excel if spreadsheets are part of your daily work, whether that means budgets, reports or messy exports that need cleaning.

The desktop app runs on Windows 10 and 11 in 64-bit and 32-bit builds.

The standout is Power Query, which cleans and reshapes imported data with clicks instead of formulas.

It is paid software with a one-month free trial, so casual users may be fine with the free browser version.

What is Microsoft Excel?

Excel is Microsoft’s spreadsheet program for storing, calculating and charting data in rows and columns. It has been around since 1985 and ships with the Microsoft 365 apps.

Microsoft Corporation develops it, and the desktop version is paid with a one-month trial.

XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays and LET for shorter formulas

XLOOKUP looks up values in any direction and replaces most uses of VLOOKUP.

Dynamic arrays let one formula spill its results into the cells below, so you stop copying formulas down a column.

LET lets you name an intermediate result once and reuse it inside a long formula.

Tip: if an old workbook is full of nested lookups, rewrite the heaviest one with XLOOKUP first and compare results before changing the rest.

Turning thousands of rows into a summary with pivot tables

Pivot tables group and total large lists by drag and drop, such as sales by region or spend by month.

The weak spot is data that changes. A pivot does not refresh itself, so use Refresh All after you edit the source.

Tip: format the source range as a Table first, so new rows join the pivot automatically.

Cleaning imports with Power Query

Power Query pulls data from files, folders and web pages, then lets you filter, split and merge columns with point-and-click steps.

Those steps are saved, so the same cleanup runs again when the source file changes.

It takes an hour or two to learn, but it removes a lot of manual copy and paste.

Co-editing a workbook with colleagues

When a workbook is saved to OneDrive or SharePoint, several people can edit it at the same time and see each other’s changes.

Comments support @mentions, which sends a note to the person you tag.

Co-editing needs a cloud-saved file and an internet connection, so a workbook kept only on your disk will not do it.

Charts and conditional formatting for reports

Besides standard column and line charts, Excel offers waterfall, funnel and map charts for reports.

Conditional formatting colors cells by rule, which helps flag overdue dates or budget overruns at a glance.

Desktop app or browser: what changes

Option	Cost	Best for
Excel for the web	Free with a Microsoft account	Light edits and simple sheets
Excel desktop app	One-month trial, then paid	Large files, Power Query and heavy formulas

The browser version covers everyday work, though it has fewer advanced tools than the desktop app.

Safety check: a clean VirusTotal result

The installer was checked with VirusTotal and came back clean.

Get Excel only through the download button on this page or from Microsoft, because cracked copies elsewhere are a common way to pick up malware.

Skip the desktop app if a browser sheet is enough

If you only keep a shopping list or a simple budget, the free web version or another free spreadsheet tool will serve you well.

The paid desktop app makes sense once you hit its advanced tools, or when your job or school requires Excel files.

Pros & Cons

What we liked

Powerful formulas and pivot tables
Power Query cleans messy imports
Real-time co-editing through OneDrive
Free browser version available
Standard format for work files

What we didn't like

Desktop app is paid after trial
Advanced features take time to learn

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