Discover the best Microsoft Excel version for your needs. Learn about desktop, web, and beta options, and avoid compatibility issues.

Now, the web version of Office isn't perfect. You get only 5 GB of free storage, for one thing, though it would be hard to fill that up if you're using it only for the occasional file.

A new, free, ad-supported local version of Office changes all that, according to a report. (Update: The ad-supported version is a test, a Microsoft representative said Monday afternoon.

TL;DR Key Takeaways : Microsoft Excel for the web is a free, browser-based version offering essential features like formulas, pivot tables, and real-time collaboration, accessible with a Microsoft ...

When the researchers showed it to the Excel team there was a Fix, Hack, Learn week coming up, so they worked together to build the version that’s now used in the web app.

At this step, Office Web Apps Excel doesn’t resemble Microsoft Office Excel at all. The Office Web Apps Excel workbook looks virtually identical to that of the desktop version of Excel.