If you are wondering, or if you were under the impression that Excel files can only be opened by MS office, then this article is for you.
There are several programs that can be used to open and even edit files that were created or edited with MS Office.
It is important to keep in mind that Excel files are not always in the same format.
Microsoft Excel supports multiple file formats. In this article we look at the most common formats.
Your file type will likely be one or more of these, but to be sure you will need to establish which format it is in. If it is in a format that is not covered in this article, then you may need to search for additional programs, based on your file type
The format, or file type, can be identified by looking at the portion of the file name at the end of the filename, after the dot.
Example : MySheet.XLSX ( The example is in .XLSX format, which is an Excel Workbook format. )
I will go into more detail regarding how to find which format it is in a bit later in this article. (Skip to there)
(If you are curious to know how many formats Excel support and what they are, then I recommend that you visit the Microsoft Support Website)
The Three Most Commonly Used Excel File Types
1. XLSX – Workbook
The XLSX file type is currently the most used Excel file format. This is because it is the default format when creating an Excel sheet in the newer versions of Microsoft Excel.
It was first used in Microsoft Office 2007. Older versions of Microsoft Office are not able to recognize and open XLSX files.
2. XLS – Workbook
The XLS file type was commonly used on older versions of Microsoft Office. It used to be the most used Excel file type back then, but not anymore.
It was first introduced in Excel 97 and was in common us up until Excel 2003.
3. CSV – Workbook as a Comma-Delimited Text File
The CSV file type is a very basic file type that only contain plain text and values separated by commas.
It is a popular file format for storing and reading data.
It has limited capability and can only store a single sheet per file and does not support any formatting and formulas.
CSV files are much older than Excel. It has been in use since 1972, so it is even older than personal computers.
Five Alternatives to Microsoft Excel
For full functionality and the ability to use the wide range of features that comes with MS Excel, the Microsoft Office software remains the most versatile. The downside of this is that not all of us use all the available features, yet we pay for those, as it is included in the package.
Although needs and requirements differ from user to user, there are some good software programs available, ranging from free versions to less expensive paid versions.
Alternatives are available with perhaps not all the features, but at a lower cost and even with free software.
| Mac | Windows | iPhone | Android | |
| MobiSystems Oficce Suite | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Sheets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WPS Office | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apache Open Office | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| LibreOffice | Yes | Yes | No | No |
1. MobiSystems Office Suite
Mobi Systems offer an Office suite package that has a wide range of features, that is ideal for personal use and for use in Businesses of various sizes. The wide range of features makes it a great alternative MS office.
Because it is an Office Suite package, it not only offers spreadsheets, but also includes a word processor, slideshow presentation creator, email, and PDF.
2. Google Sheets
Google Sheets is provided by Google as part of the Google Drive service. The Google Drive service also have other Google products available, including Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Forms.
It can be used online or offline.
3. WPS Office
Writer Presentation Spreadsheet Office (WPS Office) is an office suite developed by the China-based Kingsoft Corporation.
WPS Office offers a complete office suite, including sheets, documents, presentations, and PDF. It presents all of these in one window with tabs to conveniently switch between the different tabs.
4. Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice offers an open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations etc. It is available in multiple languages and works on all common computers.
It can be used for personal and commercial purposes for reading and writing files.
5. LibreOffice
LibreOffice provides an open-source office suite. It includes spreadsheets, word processing, presentations, and Draw with vector graphics and flowcharts.
LibreOffice is available in multiple languages.
How to determine the format of an Excel file.
As mentioned before, the file format can be identified by looking at the portion of the file name, at the end of a filename after the dot. This portion of a file name is known as the file extension.
Example : MySheet.XLXS
In the example, XLXS is the file extension, which then also tells you the file type.
In Windows
If you look at the file name in Windows, the default settings will generally not show the file extension.
In this case, the quickest way to see the file type is to right click on the file name and select properties. This will display the file type and extension, along with other information.
On Mac
- Select a file. Then choose File > Get Info, or you can press Command-I.
- Now click the arrow next to Name & Extension to expand the section.
- De-select “Hide extension” to show the file extension.
On Android
There are a multitude of Android devices, so it may vary from device to device.
Check if your Android device has a file viewer, or “My Files” feature. If it does not have, you can download a free app from the App Store.
- Go to your files.
- Select the file location. For Excel files it will generally be under “Documents”
- The file names will appear. If it does not show the file extensions, tap on the three dots on the top right.
- Select “Settings”
- Tick the “Show File Extension” block.
- Tap the back arrow to see the file names, with their extensions.
On iPhone
- Press and hold the file name, until the file name disappears.
- Once the name disappears, release.
- This will bring up a Menu Bar.
- Find and select “More Options”
- Select “Info”. This will display the full file name, including the file extension, along with other information.
