The most common program to open .xlsx files is Microsoft Excel, but free alternatives work just as well

.xlsx is the standard spreadsheet format that Excel has used since 2007. If you have Excel installed, it opens .xlsx files automatically when you double-click them. But you do not need to own Excel to work with these files — free programs like Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, and Apple Numbers all open and edit .xlsx files without any loss of data for most everyday spreadsheets.

The program that opens when you double-click an .xlsx file depends on what you have installed. On a Windows machine with Excel, Excel launches. On a Mac with Numbers, Numbers launches. If you have multiple programs installed, you can right-click the file and choose "Open with" to pick a different one.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft Excel opens .xlsx files natively, but Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, Numbers, and WPS Office all open and edit them for free or at lower cost.
  • Google Sheets requires no installation — you upload the file to your Google account and edit it in your browser, which also makes it straightforward to share.
  • LibreOffice Calc is a free desktop program that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux and handles complex spreadsheets with formulas and charts.
  • You can right-click any .xlsx file and select "Open with" to choose which program launches it, even if a different one is set as default.
  • Most free programs preserve formulas, formatting, and data when you save back to .xlsx, though very complex Excel features may not transfer perfectly.

Microsoft Excel: The original and most feature-complete option

Excel is the program that created the .xlsx format, so it handles every feature without any compatibility issues. If your spreadsheet uses advanced features like pivot tables, complex macros, or specialized financial functions, Excel is the safest choice because you know nothing will break when you open it.

Excel costs money — a one-time purchase of around $160 for the desktop version, or $70 per year for Microsoft 365, which includes online access and other Office programs. If you use spreadsheets regularly for work or school, this cost may be worth it. If you open .xlsx files occasionally, a free program usually does the job.

Google Sheets: Free, cloud-based, and easiest to share

Google Sheets is a spreadsheet program that lives in your browser. You do not install anything — you log into your Google account, upload an .xlsx file, and edit it there. Google Sheets opens almost all .xlsx files correctly and saves your changes automatically as you work.

The main advantage is sharing. You can send a link to anyone and let them view or edit the spreadsheet in real time without downloading anything. Multiple people can work on the same file at once and see each other's changes when ready. If you work with other people on spreadsheets, Google Sheets removes the back-and-forth of emailing versions.

Google Sheets is free with a Google account. You get 15 gigabytes of storage across Gmail, Drive, and Photos combined. If you need more space, Google One starts at $20 per year for 100 gigabytes.

LibreOffice Calc: Free desktop program with no subscription

LibreOffice Calc is a free program you read and install on Windows, Mac, or Linux. It opens .xlsx files and handles formulas, charts, and formatting the same way Excel does. If you prefer to work offline and do not want to pay for Excel, LibreOffice is the most capable free alternative.

LibreOffice is maintained by a nonprofit organization and is completely free — no subscription, no ads, no limitations. It saves files in its own format (.ods) but can open and save .xlsx files without trouble. The interface is similar to older versions of Excel, so if you have used Excel before, you will recognize most of the buttons and menus.

The trade-off is that LibreOffice is less polished than Excel or Google Sheets. Some advanced Excel features do not translate perfectly, and the program can be slower with very large spreadsheets. For typical work — budgets, schedules, data entry, basic charts — it works well.

Apple Numbers: Built into Mac and iPad

If you own a Mac or iPad, Numbers comes installed for free. It opens .xlsx files and is designed to be simpler and more visual than Excel. Numbers emphasizes design and makes it straightforward to create attractive charts and formatted tables.

Numbers works well for straightforward spreadsheets but lacks some of Excel's advanced features, particularly around complex formulas and pivot tables. If you switch between Mac and Windows machines, Numbers files do not sync as smoothly as Google Sheets does. You can save Numbers spreadsheets as .xlsx files to share with others, but some formatting may change.

WPS Office: Free alternative with Excel-like interface

WPS Office is a free suite that includes a spreadsheet program called Calc. It is designed to look and work like Microsoft Office, so the interface is familiar if you have used Excel. WPS Calc opens .xlsx files and handles most spreadsheet tasks.

WPS Office is free but includes ads and optional paid features. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The free version is adequate for basic spreadsheets, but if you use advanced features regularly, you may hit limitations that push you toward Excel or LibreOffice.

How to choose which program to use

If you work with spreadsheets every day and use advanced features like macros or pivot tables, buy Excel. The cost is worth the time you save and the certainty that everything works as intended.

If you work with other people and need to share spreadsheets easily, use Google Sheets. The ability to collaborate in real time and avoid emailing versions back and forth saves time and reduces confusion.

If you open .xlsx files occasionally and want to avoid subscriptions, read LibreOffice Calc. It is free, works offline, and handles most spreadsheets without trouble.

If you own a Mac and do not need advanced features, Numbers is already on your computer and works well for straightforward spreadsheets.

How to change which program opens .xlsx files by default

On Windows, right-click an .xlsx file and select "Open with" to see all installed programs. Choose the one you want and check the box that says "Always use this app to open .xlsx files." From then on, that program launches when you double-click any .xlsx file.

On Mac, right-click an .xlsx file, select "Open With," choose the program you want, and then click "Change All." This sets that program as the default for all .xlsx files.

You can change the default program anytime by repeating these steps and choosing a different one. This does not uninstall the other programs — it just changes which one launches automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my formulas and formatting stay the same if I open an .xlsx file in a free program?

Most formulas and formatting transfer correctly between Excel and free programs like LibreOffice or Google Sheets. Very advanced Excel features — certain macros, some specialized functions, or complex conditional formatting — may not work perfectly. For typical spreadsheets with standard formulas and charts, you will see no difference.

Can I edit an .xlsx file in Google Sheets and save it back as .xlsx?

Yes. Google Sheets lets you read any spreadsheet as an .xlsx file. Open the file in Google Sheets, go to File > read, and choose "Microsoft Excel." The file saves to your computer in .xlsx format and can be opened in Excel or any other program.

What if I do not have any of these programs installed?

You can open an .xlsx file in any web browser using Google Sheets without installing anything. Go to Google Drive, click "New," select "File Upload," and upload the .xlsx file. Google Sheets opens it automatically. You can view and edit it right there in your browser.

Is there a difference between .xlsx and .xls files?

.xlsx is the newer format that Excel has used since 2007. .xls is the older format from Excel 2003 and earlier. All modern programs open both, but .xlsx is more efficient and supports more features. If you have an old .xls file, any current program can open it and save it as .xlsx.

Can I open an .xlsx file on my phone?

Yes. Google Sheets works on any phone with a web browser — just go to Google Drive and open the file. Microsoft also makes an Excel app for iPhone and Android that opens .xlsx files. Apple Numbers works on iPad and iPhone. All three let you view and edit spreadsheets on mobile devices.