Best Spreadsheet app for Android?

[Count Steer]

Hmm. When I used Excel on my last new phone it recognised I had an old, paid for version of Office (on laptop) when I put my ID in. Now, with a new Android tablet, it insists that I'll have to pay £5.99/month if I want to edit and save anything on the tablet. Harrumph. I don't mind paying for stuff up front but the drip, drip, drip of monthly subs irritates me.

I know there are other Excel compatible options out there - are any worth using and not chock full of pop-up ads etc?

Ta.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Google's version of it - the name of which totally escapes me - is pretty good IIRC. It's been a while since I used it 'cause I've got full office on my phone via work. It's even green!

[DefTrap]

Sheets?

[MrLongbeard]

the name of which totally escapes me

Sheets

[Count Steer]

I'll give Google Sheets a try, thanks. I suspect, looking at the reviews*, I'll either end up paying for an Office subscription or - more likely - just keep doing the few spreadsheets that I use regularly on the laptop or phone (until I replace the phone).

* It will probably be fine as I'm not using anything fancy in them, but the first few reviews make it sound a bit

[Slenver]

Google Sheets is way better than Excel for 99% of spreadsheet stuff, unless you're particularly used to Excel and fear change, or you generally work in an MS environment with others. Or if you're a full-on spreadsheet pro and really need the stuff that Sheets can't do.

Excel is ultimately more powerful, but being MS it's also a bit of a shitshow in terms of UI etc. The more logical layout of Sheets and its cloud-based functionality (plus its freeness) makes it far better for most people.

[Count Steer]

Google Sheets is way better than Excel for 99% of spreadsheet stuff, unless you're particularly used to Excel and fear change, or you generally work in an MS environment with others. Or if you're a full-on spreadsheet pro and really need the stuff that Sheets can't do.

Excel is ultimately more powerful, but being MS it's also a bit of a shitshow in terms of UI etc. The more logical layout of Sheets and its cloud-based functionality (plus its freeness) makes it far better for most people.

Cheers. I'll give it a go. The main issue is moving between a Windows environment on my laptop and an Android one. I also like to keep the data in them secure and local ie 'off the cloud'. I have a working version of Excel on my phone but it's 'legacy'. TBH with this new 12.4in tablet I can probably add a keyboard, retire the laptop and go all in with Google/Android. The spreadsheets are pretty simple so I'll try it out later.

[Slenver]

Cheers. I'll give it a go. The main issue is moving between a Windows environment on my laptop and an Android one. I also like to keep the data in them secure and local ie 'off the cloud'. I have a working version of Excel on my phone but it's 'legacy'. TBH with this new 12.4in tablet I can probably add a keyboard, retire the laptop and go all in with Google/Android. The spreadsheets are pretty simple so I'll try it out later.

If you're keen to keep it all offline then I guess the Google Drive route might be more work than necessary as it's so geared towards being a cloud service.

I've not considered making a spreadsheet that was offline for at least 10 years, but horses for courses

[Count Steer]

Cheers. I'll give it a go. The main issue is moving between a Windows environment on my laptop and an Android one. I also like to keep the data in them secure and local ie 'off the cloud'. I have a working version of Excel on my phone but it's 'legacy'. TBH with this new 12.4in tablet I can probably add a keyboard, retire the laptop and go all in with Google/Android. The spreadsheets are pretty simple so I'll try it out later.

If you're keen to keep it all offline then I guess the Google Drive route might be more work than necessary as it's so geared towards being a cloud service.

I've not considered making a spreadsheet that was offline for at least 10 years, but horses for courses

Old habits I suppose. I like to keep financials 'in house'. The other stuff can be stored anywhere. I assume the various clouds are secure - apart from for their own staff - but I haven't seen anything to say that the data is encrypted. Paranoia is a 21st Century defence mechanism.

[Slenver]

Old habits I suppose. I like to keep financials 'in house'. The other stuff can be stored anywhere. I assume the various clouds are secure - apart from for their own staff - but I haven't seen anything to say that the data is encrypted. Paranoia is a 21st Century defence mechanism.

It is encrypted, yes. But nothing can ever be 100% secure of course.

I store tons of stuff on Drive, but I wouldn't put things like passwords or the like on there. Frankly, if someone wants to see my meeting notes from 5 years ago or my spreadsheet for which bike to buy next, they're pretty much welcome

[Count Steer]

Old habits I suppose. I like to keep financials 'in house'. The other stuff can be stored anywhere. I assume the various clouds are secure - apart from for their own staff - but I haven't seen anything to say that the data is encrypted. Paranoia is a 21st Century defence mechanism.

It is encrypted, yes. But nothing can ever be 100% secure of course.

I store tons of stuff on Drive, but I wouldn't put things like passwords or the like on there. Frankly, if someone wants to see my meeting notes from 5 years ago or my spreadsheet for which bike to buy next, they're pretty much welcome

Sorted! Got Sheets up and running and Drive working on the tablet.

Odd thing is there appears to be about 1Gb of my Drive allowance used. Must have done something with it before on another device and forgotten. Had a play with a spreadsheet and can access it from Android devices so I'm up and running.

Thanks again.

Edit: I guess my Gmail account data sits in the Google workspace/Drive?

[Slenver]

Sorted! Got Sheets up and running and Drive working on the tablet.

Odd thing is there appears to be about 1Gb of my Drive allowance used. Must have done something with it before on another device and forgotten. Had a play with a spreadsheet and can access it from Android devices so I'm up and running.

Thanks again.

Edit: I guess my Gmail account data sits in the Google workspace/Drive?

Yep, exactly.

And glad you're sorted

[the_priest]

Photos, videos, documents and Email all sit in the storage for Google Drive. Sheets is good. I've got full MS 365 package as a student too, so cheaper for me.

[Count Steer]

Photos, videos, documents and Email all sit in the storage for Google Drive. Sheets is good. I've got full MS 365 package as a student too, so cheaper for me.

I have a paid for (long ago) Office on the laptop (and a second paid for one on the wife's tower set up). Mine allowed me to use all the Office facility on this android phone but not on a new 12.4in tablet. (There appears also to be some restriction on screens over 10in according to the MS blurb). It may be a constraint on the number of devices?
TBH if I was a more regular user of all that's in Office I would just pay up for a new subscription but just want to occasionally view and update 3 or 4 s/sheets. I could just do them on the laptop but the facility to do it across devices is a) nice to have and b) gives me a transition path away from the MS device completely.