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

Microsoft Excel vs Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel 4.8★ · Free to download 65
Winner Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word 4.7★ · Free to download 70

Microsoft Word has a slight edge over Microsoft Excel for general document creation and editing due to fewer critical bugs reported, but both apps suffer from significant functionality limitations and usability issues on mobile devices compared to their desktop counterparts.

Full reviews: Microsoft Excel · Microsoft Word

Both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word mobile apps are praised for their core functionality, but users consistently report significant limitations compared to desktop versions, including missing features, frequent sign-in issues, and performance problems. Word appears to have a slight advantage in overall stability and user satisfaction, despite similar complaints about mobile usability.

Head to head

Features and Functionality (Mobile) tieR3R6R10R12
Microsoft Excel Users frequently express frustration that the Excel mobile app lacks many basic and advanced features available on the desktop version, such as VBA macros, specific card views, control-click for multiple cell selection, and full keyboard shortcut support R3R6R12R15. Some users also report issues with printing, exporting to PDF, and even basic cell editing R10R16R21.
Microsoft Word Word users also report that the mobile app is missing significant desktop features like SmartArt, developer tabs, and customized ribbons R78. They find the layout and formatting tools difficult to use on mobile, especially for official documents . Some lament the loss of Publisher capabilities, suggesting Word isn't a suitable replacement .
Ease of Use (Mobile) tieR6R7R9R12
Microsoft Excel Many Excel users find the mobile app clunky, non-intuitive, and difficult to use, especially on iPad R6R9. Specific complaints include toolbars disappearing, difficulty with cell boundary adjustments, and a lack of clear equation understanding R12. The preformatted pages are also described as eye-straining and hard to customize R7.
Microsoft Word Word users similarly struggle with mobile usability, citing a terrible scroll feature that jumps around in long documents, difficulty finding common functions like alignment, and rigid, complicated automatisms . Some find it unfriendly with accessibility features like VoiceOver .
Reliability and Performance tieR24R25R28R34
Microsoft Excel Excel users report frequent issues such as freezing, crashing, data loss, and documents not loading or syncing correctly R24R25R28R34. Some updates have reportedly broken existing functionality, like cell editing or copy/paste menus R21.
Microsoft Word Word also suffers from significant reliability problems, including frequent crashes, data loss, and documents not saving or syncing across devices . Users report the keyboard disappearing on iPhone, requiring reinstallation, and issues with documents not loading or uploading .
Price and Value tieR12R19R31R36
Microsoft Excel Excel is free to download, but users complain about being forced to pay for subscriptions to edit documents or access premium features, even after purchasing lifetime access R12R36R59. Frequent sign-in requirements are also a major point of frustration R19R31.
Microsoft Word Word is also free to download, but users express annoyance at being locked out of features or unable to save files without a subscription, even if they previously paid or subscribe to Microsoft 365 R94. The constant need to sign in is a common complaint .
Support and Updates tieR16R21R25R35
Microsoft Excel Some Excel users report that recent updates have negatively impacted functionality, such as disabling printing or exporting, or breaking cell editing R16R21. The app's sync with desktop versions is inconsistent, and Copilot functionality has been questioned R25R35.
Microsoft Word Word users complain about intrusive Copilot features that slow down the app and create compatibility issues . Some prefer the old version, indicating dissatisfaction with recent changes . Issues like the cursor not defaulting to the comment box after an update also frustrate users .
Pick Microsoft Excel if

You need a powerful tool for data analysis, organization, and spreadsheet creation, and you are primarily using it on a desktop, or you are a power user who can navigate its complexities despite mobile limitations .

Pick Microsoft Word if

You need a widely respected and versatile word processing program for creating and editing documents, especially if you prefer it over Google's alternatives and can tolerate the mobile app's limitations .

Evidence note: Both apps are free to download, but many negative reviews stem from friction with the free tier, such as limitations on editing or saving without a paid subscription. This creates an asymmetry where paid users are generally more satisfied, while free users often express frustration with paywalls and limited functionality.

Frequently asked

Are Microsoft Excel and Word mobile apps full-featured like their desktop versions?
No, both Microsoft Excel and Word mobile apps are significantly limited in functionality compared to their desktop counterparts, with users frequently reporting missing features like VBA macros, advanced formatting, and full keyboard shortcuts R6R15R18R78.
Do I need to pay to use Excel or Word on mobile?
While both apps are free to download, many users report being unable to edit, save, or access premium features without a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, even if they previously purchased lifetime access or already subscribe R12R36R59R94.
Are there common technical issues with these apps?
Yes, both apps suffer from common technical issues including frequent crashes, freezing, data loss, syncing problems, and persistent sign-in difficulties R25R34R39R43.

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 Excel 3/5 · US Add card view to iPad version: I love everything excel, but on my phone I have a awesome card view, but I don’t see the same feature on my iPad. You should add it. I think it will increase the use of Excel on mobile devices
  2. [R6] 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
  3. [R10] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Poor: Can’t export to pdf nor print file
  4. [R12] 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
  5. [R7] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Hate it: The preformatted pages are eye-strains and it takes too much effort to get everything customized. Blecch. That said, it’s a powerful app for what it does, IF one has the TIME…
  6. [R9] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · US Not great: Not user friendly
  7. [R24] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · GB Very temprimemtal: When you switch it on the most recent doesn’t work. Today it is blank again. Enter name and doesn’t find it. Very time consuming to find it again.
  8. [R25] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Excel syncs “sometimes”: Not a great app. Buggy and doesn’t always stay in sync with desktop version. Prefer Google sheets
  9. [R28] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US File: It is refusing to load my file
  10. [R34] Microsoft Excel 2/5 · US Freezes: It freezes to the point of having to close out of the application. Not ideal usage for iPad.
  11. [R19] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US SIGN IN FOR OUTLOOK SUCKS: SIGNING IN EACH TIME I NEED TO USE A SPREADSHEET IS INSANE
  12. [R31] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US I have to restart excel: I hate having to sign back in so many times
  13. [R36] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · GB Paid for but can’t access premium features: I started a subscription but it just says “something went wrong “ and can’t access features.
  14. [R16] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Amazing update, completely disables printing or exporting files in any way: Amazing update, completely disables printing or exporting files in any way
  15. [R21] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · GB Cell editing is broken: V2.107.3 cell editing is broken Spacebar does sometimes work, although does tend to select words rather than move the cursor. Can select a word within a cell via double tap, but cannot move character by character.
  16. [R35] Microsoft Excel 4/5 · US Copilot: I can’t use copilot anymore….?
  17. [R15] 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.
  18. [R18] 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
  19. [R78] Microsoft Word 3/5 · US SmartArt: The option to have SmartArt and other desktop features available on Windows and Mac for iPad would be ideal.
  20. [R59] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Knock off the subscriptions: i purchased lifetime access and now am told I need a recurring subscription just to look at products that I created years ago. Get over the subscription threats, OpenOffice does the same thing. For free.
  21. [R94] Microsoft Word 2/5 · US High payment low reward: Great if you’re extremely creative and have a ton of time. Also if you cancel because of how expensive it is. You can’t save the files you created.
  22. [R39] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · GB Freezing: Since the last update the whole app has been freezing as soon as you open a document, just not doing anything or letting you press anything anywhere. Really frustrating. Literally tried everything, closing down the app, turning my phone off and on, nothing helps.
  23. [R43] Microsoft Excel 2/5 · US Disappointing… data loss, crashes: The iOS version is fine, the iPadOS version is unstable. Crashes a lot and losses data entered. Charts sometimes don’t display. Print chart crashes the app and loses changes. Couldn’t be less happy with Excel on the iPad

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