Microsoft Excel Versus Apple's Numbers: Who prevails?
Answered February 19, 2016. The equivalent Apple software to Excel is Numbers. Many people will tell you that Numbers has significantly less features then Excel, and they would be correct. Simple tools like removing duplicates, merging data, and some formulas are missing. It would make more sense to ask if there's a Windows version of Excel because Excel started off as a Mac application. Excel was on the Mac about 5 years before it found its way to Windows. The basic version of Microsoft Office, including Excel, is free. The first Microsoft Excel version for Windows was labeled '2' to correspond to the Mac version. It included a run-time version of Windows and was actually a port of the Mac 'Excel 2'. 3: Excel 3: 1990: The next version added toolbars, drawing capabilities, outlining, add-in support, 3D charts, and many more new features. Click the File tab on the Ribbon, then select Help from the left-hand pane. The right-hand pane has the Version information. If you're using a Mac the two most recent Excel versions, 2008 and 2011, just select the Excel menu, then click About Excel. Microsoft released the first version of Excel for the Macintosh on September 30, 1985, and the first Windows version was 2.05 (to synchronize with the Macintosh version 2.2) in November 1987. Lotus was slow to bring 1-2-3 to Windows and by the early 1990s, Excel had started to outsell 1-2-3 and helped Microsoft achieve its position as a leading PC software developer.
Microsoft Excel was the first successful spreadsheet (an interactive computer application program for organization and analysis of data in tabular form) of its kind back in 1985, an improved version of Microsoft's failed original spreadsheet Multiplan in 1982.
There are now a variety of spreadsheets available, with Microsoft's Excel leading the market share with over 750 million users worldwide. In 2007 Apple released Numbers 1.0, adding to the growing rivalry between the two technology giants. Microsoft Excel has 400 functions in 11 categories compared to Apple's Numbers possessing only 262 functions in 10 categories (categories for both spreadsheet programs include date/time, text, statistical, financial and engineering, etc). Before any comparison can be made between the two spreadsheet programs, it must be first considered which computer they are being accessed from. Apple Numbers was specifically made for Mac users whereas Microsoft Excel functions on both Mac and Windows computers.
Overall Excel provides an overwhelming amount of functions in comparison to Apple's Numbers, but it can be argued that they both appeal to different spreadsheet users. Excel supports advanced charting and plotting features not available in Apple Numbers, however, Apple's charts are more visually stimulating (as seen below).
3D Chart in Microsoft Excel
3D Chart in Numbers
Numbers makes it much easier to create spreadsheets with visual impact compared to Excel, with also the option of a wider variety of templates available when the program is first opened – a feature that lacks in Excel.
For overall functionality, Microsoft Excel has a multitude of pre-loaded formulas and functions. Numbers consequently lacks some of the more advanced formulas and functions of Excel, such as pivot tables. While Excel has more built-in functions, on the whole, only users who employ very advanced analytical techniques would miss these missing functions in Numbers. Numbers has always been second to Microsoft Excel, with Microsoft appealing to a wide range of users through their Microsoft Office package, which has more programs with more features for business and home users compared to Apple's iWork alternative. However, Apple's Numbers saw larger growth with the introduction of their mobile app on their popular iPhone and iPad range in 2013, allowing users to collaborate on their spreadsheet documents across a variety of their Apple platforms.
The lack of mobile presence was Microsoft Excel's only downfall. New Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, announced shortly after his appointment earlier this year that Microsoft were in plans to move popular Microsoft Office programs Excel, PowerPoint and Word to an app based format. All three Microsoft apps (Excel, PowerPoint and Word) shot to number one in the App Store, taking away Numbers' competitive edge.
With Microsoft Excel now adapted specifically for smart phones and tablets, Excel will continue to dominate the spreadsheet market. It is fair to conclude that Numbers may be difficult for die-hard Excel enthusiasts to adapt to because of the difference in the Apple and Microsoft Excel user interfaces. However, it may be a better program for the casual or the home-based spreadsheet user, who requires a user-friendly program with a wider variety of templates to assist their basic spreadsheet requirements.
Accountants and other financial experts often choose Excel because of the versatility of the program and its speed in completing complex functions and calculations, matched with the extensive list of reliable features available to the sophisticated spreadsheet user.
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- Microsoft, Store-AnnualMicrosoft PivotTable€69.00 / year
- Microsoft, Store-AnnualMicrosoft Excel€69.00 for 1 year
- Microsoft, Store-AnnualAdvanced Microsoft Excel€69.00 / year
Office for Mac that comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription is updated on a regular basis to provide new features, security updates, and non-security updates. The following information is primarily intended for IT professionals who are deploying Office for Mac to the users in their organizations.
Note
- Starting with Version 16.21, Microsoft Teams will be installed by default for new installations if you're using the Office suite install package. For more information, see Microsoft Teams installations on a Mac.
- For security reason, Microsoft has deprecated the use of SHA-1. Learn more
- Starting with the 16.17 release in September 2018, this information also applies to Office 2019 for Mac, which is a version of Office for Mac that's available as a one-time purchase from a retail store or through a volume licensing agreement.
- The update history information for version 16.16 and earlier also applies to Office 2016 for Mac, which is also a version of Office for Mac that's available as a one-time purchase. Older versions up to and including 16.16 can be activated with an Office 2016 for Mac volume license. You can't activate version 16.17 or later with an Office 2016 for Mac volume license. For information about Office 2016 for Mac releases from September onward, see Release notes for Office 2016 for Mac
- For information about the features, security updates, and non-security updates that are included in a given release of Office for Mac, see Release notes for Office for Mac.
- If you want early access to new releases, join the Office Insider program.
Most current packages for Office for Mac
Microsoft Excel For Apple
The following table lists the most current packages for the Office suite and for the individual applications. The Office suite includes all the individual applications, such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. All packages are 64-bit only. The build date is listed in parentheses, in a YYMMDD format, after the version number. The install package is used if you don't have the application already installed, while the update package is used to update an existing installation.
To view release notes, see Release notes.
Apple Version Of Excel
October 13, 2020
Version 16.42 (20101102)
Application | Download links | SHA-256 hash for install package |
---|---|---|
Office suite (with Teams) | Install package | 8AC425F0E31869B32C323F4349FB48E9B1C3A114B77EA68897D97C50D9B8BECB |
Office suite (without Teams) | Install package | 5FA1084BD240BF10FAAF94D908492939807EAD8E014582DCB2ADE7ECC484276B |
Word | Install package Update package | 21C54A78343B106A93FFD176130DEB9A6C9154F56EB58446FC27192D1E191995 |
Excel | Install package Update package | 2235E4FE0741CE013777E2B6811AD9EFF738F9A724860FBA0DFD31976BF96E62 |
PowerPoint | Install package Update package | EAF6B82C2042BD4D026779CEB4A58E0B92C8E320A9797C77CA3A588FD94B19EB |
Outlook | Install package Update package | 566A1BD7AD446FCDD31156EBCA3FBD7F8F8BB2EFBCC8F3217CB55AA16A586420 |
OneNote | Update package | Not applicable |
Release history for Office for Mac
The following table provides release history information and download links for Office for Mac. Macbook samsung galaxy. The table is ordered by release date, with the most recent release date listed first. The build date is listed in parentheses, in a YYMMDD format, after the version number. All releases after August 22, 2016 are 64-bit only. All releases prior to August 22, 2016 are 32-bit only.
Note
Apple's Version Of Excel
Download links are only provided for the most recent releases.
Download Excel
Release date | Version | Install package | Update packages |
---|---|---|---|
October 13, 2020 | 16.42 (20101102) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
September 15, 2020 | 16.41 (20091302) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
August 11, 2020 | 16.40 (20081000) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
July 14, 2020 | 16.39 (20071300) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
June 16, 2020 | 16.38 (20061401) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
May 12, 2020 | 16.37 (20051002) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
April 21, 2020 | 16.36 (20041300) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | |
April 14, 2020 | 16.36 (20041300) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote | |
March 10, 2020 | 16.35 (20030802) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
February 11, 2020 | 16.34 (20020900) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
January 14, 2020 | 16.33 (20011301) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
December 10, 2019 | 16.32 (19120802) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
November 12, 2019 | 16.31 (19111002) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
October 15, 2019 | 16.30 (19101301) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
September 18, 2019 | 16.29.1 (19091700) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint | |
September 10, 2019 | 16.29 (19090802) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
August 13, 2019 | 16.28 (19081202) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
July 16, 2019 | 16.27 (19071500) | Office suite (with Teams) Office suite (without Teams) | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
June 11, 2019 | 16.26 (19060901) | ||
May 14, 2019 | 16.25 (19051201) | ||
April 16, 2019 | 16.24 (19041401) | ||
March 27, 2019 | 16.23.1 (19032603) | ||
March 12, 2019 | 16.23.0 (19030902) | ||
February 20, 2019 | 16.22 (19022000) | ||
January 24, 2019 | 16.21 (19011700) | ||
January 16, 2019 | 16.21 (19011500) | ||
December 11, 2018 | 16.20 (18120801) | ||
November 13, 2018 | 16.19 (18110915) | ||
October 16, 2018 | 16.18 (18101400) | ||
September 11, 2018 | 16.17 (18090901) | ||
August 14, 2018 | 16.16 (18081201) | ||
July 10, 2018 | 16.15 (18070902) | ||
June 13, 2018 | 16.14.1 (18061302) | ||
June 12, 2018 | 16.14.0 (18061000) | ||
May 24, 2018 | 16.13.1 (18052304) | ||
May 23, 2018 | 16.13.1 (18052203) | ||
May 15, 2018 | 16.13.0 (18051301) | ||
April 11, 2018 | 16.12.0 (18041000) | ||
March 19, 2018 | 16.11.1 (18031900) | ||
March 13, 2018 | 16.11.0 (18031100) | ||
February 13, 2018 | 16.10.0 (18021001) | ||
January 26, 2018 | 16.9.1 (18012504) | ||
January 18, 2018 | 16.9.0 (18011602) | ||
December 12, 2017 | 15.41.0 (17120500) | ||
November 14, 2017 | 15.40.0 (17110800) | ||
October 10, 2017 | 15.39.0 (17101000) | ||
September 12, 2017 | 15.38.0 (17090200) | ||
August 15, 2017 | 15.37.0 (17081500) | ||
July 21, 2017 | 15.36.1 (17072101) | ||
July 11, 2017 | 15.36.0 (17070200) | ||
June 16, 2017 | 15.35.0 (17061600) | ||
June 13, 2017 | 15.35.0 (17061000) | ||
May 16, 2017 | 15.34.0 (17051500) | ||
April 11, 2017 | 15.33.0 (17040900) | ||
March 14, 2017 | 15.32.0 (17030901) | ||
February 16, 2017 | 15.31.0 (17021600) | ||
January 11, 2017 | 15.30.0 (17010700) |