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

Microsoft Excel vs Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft Excel 4.8★ · Free to download 70
Winner Microsoft Excel
Microsoft 365 Copilot 4.7★ · Free + IAP 45

Microsoft Excel is better for traditional spreadsheet tasks, while Microsoft 365 Copilot offers AI assistance but struggles with core functionality and reliability.

Full reviews: Microsoft Excel · Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft Excel, despite its mobile app limitations compared to the desktop version, remains a highly functional spreadsheet tool. Microsoft 365 Copilot, while praised for its AI capabilities, faces significant criticism regarding core app functionality, login issues, and overall reliability.

Head to head

Features and Functionality edge: Microsoft ExcelR1R3R6R8
Microsoft Excel Users appreciate Excel's core data management and analysis capabilities, finding it easy to use for daily tasks R8. However, the mobile version is frequently criticized for missing key features found in the desktop version, such as advanced graph options, VBA macros, and robust file options R1R3R6. Some users also report issues with toolbars disappearing and difficulty with copy-paste R3.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Microsoft 365 Copilot is lauded for its AI capabilities, helping users organize ideas, draft communications, summarize information, and turn hours of work into minutes . It's seen as a helpful assistant for research and learning . However, many users report missing functionality compared to the traditional Office suite, such as file organization by date or content search R56. There are also complaints about the removal of features like Microsoft Lens and the ability to open/edit Office files, making it primarily an AI chat app R78R100.
Ease of Use edge: Microsoft ExcelR1R3R8R14
Microsoft Excel Excel is generally considered easy to use for data management and budgeting R8. However, some users find the mobile interface weak compared to desktop versions R1 and experience cumbersome issues like disappearing toolbars R3. Printing and saving files on mobile devices can also be difficult R14R26.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Copilot is described as intuitive and user-friendly by some . However, a significant number of users find it confusing and difficult to navigate, especially for those not experts in computer software R51. The constant interruption from AI features and pop-ups is also a major source of frustration, making workflows harder .
Reliability and Performance edge: Microsoft ExcelR4R7R10R24
Microsoft Excel A significant number of Excel users report persistent login issues, being constantly logged out and unable to use the app offline R4R7R10. There are also critical complaints about files not saving or disappearing, and the app being buggy R24.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Microsoft 365 Copilot suffers from severe reliability issues. Users frequently report being unable to log in or access their subscriptions R51R54. Many describe the platform as buggy, dysfunctional, and prone to hallucinations or flat-out lies from the AI R72R74. Files not opening or information being dropped are common complaints R72.
Price and Value tieR3R18R26R38
Microsoft Excel While Excel is free to download, editing often requires a paid subscription R3R18R26R44. Users express frustration about needing to pay for full functionality, especially on iPad, and issues with sharing between different paid versions R18R26R38.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Copilot is a paid service, and users feel it is costly without providing sufficient value or enhanced functionality . Some users complain about being forced into AI features even after paying, and the app's dysfunctional nature makes the cost feel unjustified . There are also complaints about features being moved to other paid apps R78.
Pick Microsoft Excel if

You need a reliable spreadsheet application for data management and analysis, and are comfortable with the limitations of the mobile version compared to desktop Excel R8. You prioritize core functionality over AI assistance.

Pick Microsoft 365 Copilot if

You are heavily invested in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and are looking for an AI assistant to help with tasks like drafting communications, summarizing information, and generating ideas, provided you can navigate its current reliability and functionality issues .

Evidence note: Both apps suffer from significant login and reliability issues, as well as complaints about paid features. Microsoft Excel's negative reviews often highlight the disparity between the mobile and desktop versions, while Microsoft 365 Copilot's negative reviews frequently focus on its buggy AI, missing core features, and overall unreliability despite its AI potential.

Frequently asked

Is Microsoft Excel free to use on mobile?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, but many users report that editing documents requires a paid subscription, especially on iPad R3R18R26R44.
Does Microsoft 365 Copilot replace traditional Office apps?
While Microsoft 365 Copilot aims to integrate AI into Office apps, some users report that it has removed or is missing functionality embedded for years in the traditional Microsoft Office suite, and in recent updates, features like Microsoft Lens and the ability to open and edit Office files have been removed, making it primarily an AI chat app R56R78R100.
What are the main complaints about Microsoft Excel's mobile app?
The main complaints about Microsoft Excel's mobile app include missing key features compared to the desktop version (like advanced graph features and VBA macros), persistent login issues, and problems with files not saving correctly R1R3R4R6.
Is Microsoft 365 Copilot reliable?
Many users report that Microsoft 365 Copilot is not reliable, citing frequent login issues, inability to open files, buggy performance, and the AI generating hallucinations or incorrect information R51R54R72R74.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 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. [R1] Microsoft Excel 2/5 · US Comes up Short on Key Excel Features: Key features missing that drive poor productivity - Would not recommend unless you are desperate and it’s free too. Simple key features are missing from the iOS version of Microsoft Excel… >> Poor graph features >> “Advanced File” option(s) missing >> User interfaces are weak compared to Windows Desk / Lap top versions >> Etc…Etc…Etc
  2. [R3] 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
  3. [R6] 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.
  4. [R8] Microsoft Excel 5/5 · US Data Analysis: Love it,…easy to use yet powerful to manage data for day to day easy and fast tasks, suitable for all levels of experience and knowledge.
  5. [R14] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Grand Ave. spread sheet: Difficult to print
  6. [R4] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Constantly logged out: How many times can I get logged out of an account? Every time I go to use this I am required to log in again. It is almost impossible to use this program offline.
  7. [R7] Microsoft Excel 2/5 · US A Problem: Good app, but a major problem, why do I have to sing almost every time I want to edit a form?!!!! Sometimes I don’t have no internet connection so I can’t use my forms.
  8. [R10] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Microsoft's sign in system makes their products unusable: Literally have to sign in every time I try to open a document or join a teams call. It never remembers me and it never works to log n. It's so horrible. I literally have two separate paid 365 accounts and Microsoft cannot let me sign into either one. There's always some random error message that says something like "something went wrong". N
  9. [R24] Microsoft Excel 2/5 · US Recent files not saved: A file I’ve had for years all of a sudden is gone.
  10. [R18] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Paid App: Using it On my iPad isn’t for free
  11. [R26] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Inconsistent uses between iPad and iPhone: You need to be logged in and with a paid account on iPad to print. For iPhone, you just need to be logged in. Makes excel completely useless on iPad.
  12. [R38] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Bought and Paid for but can’t share easily: I have this version for my iPad and another for my Mac; the versions do not play well with each other and you need to pay another version to have them be able to share even when at home
  13. [R44] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Nothing ever works.: Half the time it won’t let me edit, even though we pay a subscription. Sometimes it doesn’t load. It’s a terrible program.
  14. [R56] Microsoft 365 Copilot 3/5 · US missing functionality: when you have moved from Microsoft Office suite to Microsoft Copilot, many of the applications are missing functionality that has been embedded for years
  15. [R78] Microsoft 365 Copilot 1/5 · US Trash: It doesn't make PDFs like it use to. Now its just a picture and not formatted like a real PDF. It basically took it out and made a new app Lens and wants to make you pay for another subscription when you've already paid for one before they changed this to copilot.
  16. [R100] Microsoft 365 Copilot 1/5 · US No Feature only copilot: In recent updates they have removed microsoft lens, and the ability to open and edit office files. The app is just copilot AI basically.
  17. [R51] Microsoft 365 Copilot 1/5 · US Confusing AF: I just reset my password couple days ago and it’s not recognizing it. Then it asked me to update it which I hate doing because I really have a process for my passwords. Then it won’t take me back to the email which I really. This is so confusing.
  18. [R54] Microsoft 365 Copilot 1/5 · US Not downloading: Cannot get it to sign me in with my personal account, even when deleting my work account. Cannot download a family slideshow for PowerPoint
  19. [R72] Microsoft 365 Copilot 1/5 · US Files won’t open: For the past month I am unable to open my files from the 365 copilot app
  20. [R74] Microsoft 365 Copilot 1/5 · US Embarrassingly Bad: The entire Copilot platform is so buggy that it is effectively not functional. I would say at least half of the responses that I receive are hallucinations or flat out lies. Of the half which or not, another half of that is excuses about the agent not being able to perform a simple task because the tool isn’t working properly or not knowing how to use it’s own features. Replies

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store