Why this matters
Employers ask for Excel by name, so it pays to practise in Excel itself. You do not need to buy it to learn. Microsoft offers free versions, and Google Sheets is a free spreadsheet that works in almost the same way. Knowing your options means you can practise today on whatever device you have.
Your three free options
1. Excel for the web. Open a browser, go to the Microsoft 365 website and sign in with a free Microsoft account. If you have an Outlook or Hotmail address you already have one; otherwise you can create one with any email address. Your files are saved in OneDrive, Microsoft's online storage, which comes with some free space. Excel for the web has formulas, tables, charts, PivotTables, sorting, filtering and conditional formatting. It cannot run macros, and some advanced tools are missing or need a paid plan.
2. The Excel app. On a phone or a small tablet, the free Excel app from your app store lets you create, view and do basic editing with a free Microsoft account. Microsoft limits free editing to screens of 10.1 inches or smaller; on bigger tablets you can view files but need a subscription to edit. Some premium features show a message asking you to subscribe. Everything in the early lessons of this track works without one.
3. Google Sheets. Free with a Google account, in a browser or as an app. Most formulas you learn here work the same in Sheets, including XLOOKUP, and you can download any sheet as an Excel file (.xlsx) to send to an employer.