Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Microsoft Teams vs Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Teams 4.8★ · Free + IAP 55
Winner Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Microsoft Excel is generally preferred for its core functionality and utility, despite its mobile app limitations, while Microsoft Teams struggles with persistent bugs and a less intuitive user experience.

Full reviews: Microsoft Teams · Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a highly valued tool for data management and organization, with users appreciating its power and versatility, though its mobile app is criticized for lacking desktop features and occasional instability. Microsoft Teams, while essential for many workplaces, is plagued by numerous complaints about notification issues, login problems, and a clunky interface.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Microsoft ExcelR3R5R11R17
Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is praised for its communication and collaboration capabilities, including chat, calls, and video, making it a key tool for team meetings and staying connected R5R17. However, users desire more capabilities like screen sharing R11, scheduled messages, and chat position fixing . Some find its file and folder management clunky, with poor search and image scrolling . Certain features like Airplay or Multicast are missing R3.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is highly valued for its robust data analysis, organization, and spreadsheet creation capabilities, with many users depending on it daily for personal and professional tasks . Copilot is seen as a game-changer for cutting down research time , though some users report issues with it . The mobile app, however, is frequently criticized for missing basic desktop features like VBA macros, full keyboard shortcuts, and advanced cell selection, making it less efficient and intentionally limited compared to the PC version R63R69R72.
Ease of Use & Interface tieR1R3R21R37
Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is often described as becoming more annoying and difficult to use with each update, featuring wasted space, useless buttons, and less customizability R1. Some users find it simple for its core purpose R3, but others report a clunky and non-intuitive experience R37. Issues with scrolling, where the app jumps around R21, and the interface feeling less like a chat app and more like a dashboard R1, contribute to a frustrating user experience.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel's mobile interface is frequently criticized for being less user-friendly and clunky compared to its desktop counterpart R63. Users find it difficult to customize preformatted pages , locate copy/paste functions, and adjust cell boundaries . The disappearance of toolbars when scrolling is also a reported issue R69. However, many long-time users find it easy to use and appreciate how it simplifies their work life .
Reliability & Performance edge: Microsoft TeamsR2R4R10R19
Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is plagued by numerous reliability issues. Persistent problems include incorrect notification badges R10R29R30R33, delayed message syncing R2, and calls not being received after being turned off . The app frequently crashes during meetings R19, gets stuck on a black screen at launch R4, and is almost unusable without Wi-Fi, even on 5G . Users also report overheating phones when using the app and issues with authentication, getting trapped in loops R28R34.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel also faces reliability challenges on mobile. Users report the app freezing , crashing , and losing data . Syncing with desktop versions is inconsistent , and files sometimes fail to load . Specific bugs like broken cell editing and issues with zooming are also mentioned. However, many users rely on it daily and find it to be a dependable tool .
Price & Value tieR15R20R23R32
Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is a free app with in-app purchases. While many users are required to use it for work, some express frustration with its performance, suggesting they would remove it if not mandated by their employer R15. The value is often tied to its necessity for corporate communication R20R23R32.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is free to download but requires payment for editing functionality, which frustrates users who feel locked out of their own files or existing lifetime purchases R69. The constant need to sign in and issues with license recognition contribute to a poor value perception for some R73R85. However, for those who pay, it's considered an invaluable tool for managing finances and projects .
Support & Updates tieR1R6R10R30
Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams users frequently report that recent updates make the app worse, introducing new bugs or failing to fix long-standing issues R1R10R30. There's a perception that developers are not reading feedback, as issues like notification badge inaccuracies persist across multiple updates R30. Some users also struggle with app downloads on specific devices, like new Apple computers R6.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel updates are sometimes criticized for breaking existing functionality, such as printing/exporting or cell editing . Users also report that recent updates can lead to freezing or data loss . The lack of full functionality on mobile, despite updates, suggests a gap in addressing user needs for a comprehensive mobile experience R63R72R75.
Pick Microsoft Teams if

Pick Microsoft Teams if you need a communication and collaboration tool that integrates with your existing Microsoft ecosystem for work, especially if your employer requires it R15R23R32.

Pick Microsoft Excel if

Pick Microsoft Excel if you require a powerful spreadsheet and data management tool for detailed analysis and organization, and you are willing to tolerate the limitations of its mobile app compared to the desktop version .

Evidence note: Reviews for Microsoft Teams are heavily skewed towards recent negative experiences, particularly concerning bugs and performance issues. Microsoft Excel reviews also highlight mobile app limitations but generally reflect a strong appreciation for its core functionality.

Frequently asked

Which app has better notification reliability?
Neither app has consistently reliable notifications, but Microsoft Teams has significantly more widespread and persistent issues with inaccurate notification badges, phantom alerts, and delayed syncing across devices R10R29R30R33.
Is the mobile version of Excel as functional as the desktop version?
No, the mobile version of Microsoft Excel is widely criticized for lacking many basic and advanced features found in the desktop version, such as VBA macros, full keyboard shortcuts, and efficient cell selection, making it feel intentionally limited and less efficient R63R69R72R75.
Do these apps have login issues?
Yes, both apps have reported login issues, but Microsoft Teams users frequently experience severe authentication problems, getting stuck in loops or being unable to log in at all R28R34. Microsoft Excel users also complain about having to sign in too often and issues with linking to their Microsoft accounts R73R85.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Microsoft Teams 3/5 · US No Airplay or Multicast functionality: I like Teams for its simplicity, and is adequate for the purpose for which I use it. However, the app itself lacks the functionality connect to my TV using Airplay or Multicast. Consequently, I have to haul around my heavy laptop to either cast to a smart TV or connect via HDMI.
  2. [R5] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US Love it: This is one of my best apps to use when in a team meeting
  3. [R11] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US Good initial support: Please continue adding capabilities, like screen sharing! Also, be able to not lock the app during a session as Vision Pro can detect when it’s taken off.
  4. [R17] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US Team: It’s easy to communicate with team
  5. [R1] Microsoft Teams 1/5 · US Somehow constantly getting worse: Somehow the teams app developers manage to make this more annoying and more difficult to use, with more wasted space and less usefulness with every single release. Teams is now the least customizable it's ever been, with more useless buttons and wasted screen space than ever before. It doesn't even feel like a chat app anymore. It feels like a poor attempt at a da
  6. [R21] Microsoft Teams 3/5 · US Jumps around: What’s with MS apps jumping around when scrolling. Both Outlook and Teams. When scrolling through a chat, it will often jump up or down several posts. It’s been doing this for a long time so I don’t think it’s a version bug. And I’ve reset my phone to factory so I know it’s the app.
  7. [R37] Microsoft Teams 1/5 · US Do not get: The app has lots of bugs. It’s very clunky and not worth using. I will stick with something way more secure as in Telegram
  8. [R2] Microsoft Teams 4/5 · US Great app but…: Great app, however I se notifications on the phone on a message, then when I open the app, I don’t see the message for a few minutes. That delay is annoying but livable .
  9. [R4] Microsoft Teams 1/5 · US Doesn’t open: When I open the app it shows a black screen with a white border at the bottom. Unusable
  10. [R10] Microsoft Teams 2/5 · US Notifications/badges are still not working correctly: Notifications/badges are still not working correctly. If I’ve read a message on my MacBook or PC it’s still not updating the app badges as expected. This broke 3-4 updates ago! Please fix. It’s annoying and misleading.
  11. [R19] Microsoft Teams 1/5 · US Crash: For several months now, Teams crashes while in a meeting. I keep missing important information or maybe in the middle of speaking.
  12. [R15] Microsoft Teams 3/5 · US Very buggy - only good for chat: Only reliable for chat. Other options are buggy or don’t work. If my employer didn’t require this app, I’d remove it.
  13. [R20] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US Dispatcher: Communication is key in this line of business. Good to know there’s a seamless application to keep us on point.
  14. [R23] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US It’s Teams: Not sure why they promoted for a review of Teams. It’s Teams. If you don’t know what Teams is, you are for sure unemployed or in a third world country. Teams is great. It works. Nuff said
  15. [R32] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US Teams: The app is reliable. For my company it replaced Webex.
  16. [R6] Microsoft Teams 3/5 · US Be more Apple Friendly: I got a new computer and teams is a requirement for work. Yet the app won’t download. I have to use the web browser and it works only 50% of the time. Why can’t the app work for my new Apple computer but it works for my Apple phone?? 😡 The app worked just fine on my old Apple computer.
  17. [R30] Microsoft Teams 3/5 · US Good but Buggy: Has traditionally worked as expected and no complaints but lately notifications are a mess. Every time I get even ONE IM, it shows 8, 10, 18+ on the notification bubble. I go in and clear any/all notifications or alerts. Tested it with one in - immediately shows 10 missed notifications which isn’t true. Please fix! Updated to 3 stars - even after multiple app updates, the issue pe
  18. [R29] Microsoft Teams 5/5 · US App notification badge keeps showing when no new activity is present in the app: I don’t know what changed but the recent update is causing the Teams app to show a notification alert badge when there is no new activity or I have caught up with all activity. I keep thinking I have a new message or alert and I go check and there’s nothing new to check. Then the badge goes away and comes back later.
  19. [R33] Microsoft Teams 3/5 · US Unread Messages Badge: I have 1 unread message, not 6. Please fix the unread message badge to be accurate!
  20. [R63] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · US Almost the Excel I know for my PC: Microsoft deliberately makes using this software on an iPad more difficult and less efficient. Some basic, non complicated features, like holding control to select multiple cells, are not available. Lots of things like that which are just strange not to allow and really destroy efficiency. Overall I can still get the job done, it just feels intentionally limit
  21. [R69] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · US Typical Microsoft: Does not support vba macros Does not support editing without paying Wow i can see my data but….. Sometimes the bottom and top toolbars disappears when you scroll down and you have to hit fx to get it back or scroll up. This is not always convenient. This is cumbersome and can lead to errors
  22. [R72] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · US App is missing a lot of functionality: App for Excel is missing many simple features that are in the desktop version.
  23. [R75] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · US So close but not quite there yet: I like using the app on my M4 IPad Pro, however, I wish Microsoft would give it the full functionality we get on windows PCs
  24. [R28] Microsoft Teams 1/5 · US Authentication is atrocious: If you use this on mobile they make it impossible to authenticate on a single device, the app tries to authenticate on the authentication app via the authentication app. If you have a meeting to get to on mobile and you get signed out good luck. Also the outlook sign in solution also failed. This process all around is a failure.
  25. [R34] Microsoft Teams 1/5 · US Richest poor software in the world: The application functions just like any other email application with the added side effect that you will randomly not be able to sign in due to their Authenticator app being complete and total garbage. It will trap you in an endless loop of needing to use the Authenticator app to authenticate that you’re using the Authenticator app so you can authenticate teams.
  26. [R73] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US SIGN IN FOR OUTLOOK SUCKS: SIGNING IN EACH TIME I NEED TO USE A SPREADSHEET IS INSANE
  27. [R85] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US I have to restart excel: I hate having to sign back in so many times

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store