📊 Microsoft Excel Free Download 2026 – Official & 100% Legal Ways to Get Excel Free

Searching for “Microsoft Excel free download” is one of the highest-volume software searches every month. Most people want the full desktop version without paying a subscription. This guide shows every legitimate way to use Excel free (or almost free) in 2026. No cracked files, no torrents, and no risky third-party installers.

1. Excel Online – Completely Free Forever (Best Option for Most Users)

Excel Online is Microsoft’s free browser-based version. It requires only a free Microsoft account and works forever with no time limit.

How to start using Excel Online free

1. Go to office.com
2. Sign in with a free Microsoft account (or create one in under 2 minutes using any email)
3. Click the Excel icon
4. Create a new blank workbook or upload existing .xlsx / .xls files

What you get for free

• All common and advanced formulas (SUM, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, IF, SUMIF, COUNTIF, etc.)
• PivotTables and PivotCharts
• Conditional formatting and data bars
• Real-time collaboration and comments
• Auto-save to OneDrive (15 GB free storage)
• Full file compatibility with desktop Excel
• Works on Windows, Mac, Chromebook and even Linux browsers

Limitations of Excel Online

• Requires internet connection for full features
• Some advanced Power Query, Power Pivot and VBA macros are limited or unavailable
• Very large files (100,000+ rows) can feel slower than the desktop app

For students, freelancers, office work, small business owners and daily personal use, Excel Online is more than enough and completely free forever.

2. Microsoft 365 Free Trial – Full Desktop Excel for 1 Month

Microsoft offers a free 1-month trial of Microsoft 365 Personal or Family. This gives you the complete desktop Excel application for Windows and Mac.

Exact steps

1. Visit the official Microsoft 365 website
2. Choose Microsoft 365 Personal or Family
3. Click “Try free for 1 month”
4. Sign in with your Microsoft account and add a payment method (required)
5. Download and install the full Office suite including Excel
6. Set a calendar reminder to cancel before the trial ends if you do not want to continue paying

After the trial ends you can continue using Excel Online for free with the same account.

3. Free Excel for Students & Teachers (Microsoft 365 Education)

Students, teachers and staff of eligible schools and colleges get Microsoft 365 Education completely free. This includes the full desktop Excel app plus 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

How to get it

1. Go to the official Microsoft Education page
2. Sign in with your school or college email address (.edu, .ac.in, .edu.in, etc.)
3. If your institution is registered with Microsoft, you will instantly get free access
4. Download the desktop apps from the Office portal

Many Indian colleges, universities and schools already support this programme.

4. Excel Mobile Apps – Free on Android and iOS

The official Microsoft Excel apps for Android and iPhone/iPad are free to download and use for personal work. You can create, edit and save files with a free Microsoft account.

5. Best Completely Free Alternatives (No Microsoft Account Required)

Google Sheets

• Completely free with any Google account
• Excellent real-time collaboration
• Strong formula support and charts
• Can export to Excel format (.xlsx)
• Works offline with the Chrome extension or mobile app

LibreOffice Calc

• 100% free and open-source
• Full desktop application for Windows, Mac and Linux
• Very high compatibility with Excel files
• No account required and works completely offline
• Regular security updates from the community

OnlyOffice Desktop Editors & WPS Office

• Free versions available
• Good Microsoft Office compatibility
• Clean interface

Important Safety Warning

Most websites that rank for “Microsoft Excel free download” or “Excel free download full version” offer illegal cracked software. These files frequently contain malware, ransomware or stolen product keys. Never download from third-party download sites, torrents, Telegram channels or random blogs. Always use official Microsoft sources or the free alternatives listed above.

Which Option Should You Choose in 2026?

Your Need	Best Free Option	Cost
Everyday use + collaboration	Excel Online or Google Sheets	Free
Full desktop for 1 month	Microsoft 365 Free Trial	Free
Student / Teacher	Microsoft 365 Education	Free
Offline desktop, no account needed	LibreOffice Calc	Free
Mobile editing on phone	Official Excel mobile app	Free
Maximum compatibility + offline	LibreOffice + Excel Online combo	Free

Step-by-Step: Start Using Excel Free Today

1. Create a free Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com if you do not have one
2. Go to office.com and open Excel Online
3. Create your first workbook or upload an existing file
4. Need the full desktop version temporarily? Start the Microsoft 365 free trial and set a cancellation reminder
5. Prefer a permanent offline solution with zero Microsoft account? Download LibreOffice from the official libreoffice.org website only

Final Recommendation

You do not need to risk malware or illegal downloads. Excel Online already gives most people everything they need for free. Students and teachers can get the full desktop version free through Education. Everyone else can use LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets with zero cost and zero risk.

Stay only on official websites. That is the safest and only legal way to get Microsoft Excel free in 2026.