A Comprehensive Guide [Download Microsoft Excel 2013 for Free]

Launched in 2013, Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for creating, managing, and editing spreadsheets. However, the entire Office suite of version 2013 was retired many years ago and replaced by its latest version. If you are wondering about downloading Microsoft Excel 2013 for free in 2023, stick to this article to find an answer to your question. In this article, we will show you how to download Microsoft Excel 2013 for free and what alternatives you can choose.

Can I still Use Microsoft Excel 2013 in 2023?

While Microsoft Excel 2013 is an old software version, it is still functional and can be downloaded and used in 2023. But it comes at a price as Microsoft no longer provides support or updates for the software, so it may not be compatible with newer hardware and operating systems. Explore this article until the end to find an accurate answer to your question.

Reinstall Microsoft Excel 2013 with Product Key

Steps to Install MS Excel 2013

1. On your web browser, visit the official Microsoft webpage.

2. Sign in to your Microsoft account with your credentials.

3. Click on Services and Subscriptions.

4. It will show you all registered Office products. Find the product you want to reinstall and click on the Install button.

5. You will see a pop-up on your screen asking you to either Cancel or Install the software. In the right upper corner, you can also explore additional settings like 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

6. After clicking on Install, it will start downloading the offline installer file. Wait for the download to complete, and then run the downloaded file.

7. In the subsequent step, it will ask you for permission to allow this app to change your computer; click Yes.

8. The offline installer will start downloading the Office setup, and as soon as it finishes, you will have MS Office installed on your PC.

Microsoft Excel 2013 System Requirements

Download Microsoft Excel 2013 at the Third Party

Since Microsoft Office 2013 is not available to buy, you can’t get it from Microsoft's official website. However, You may find that someone has packaged Office 2013 and uploaded it to websites. Then, you can get the Microsoft Office 2013 free download there. But we have to tell you that this way is not safe because the installation package you download may have viruses or be bound with other softwares.

The Microsoft Office 2013 version is an ancient release, followed by versions 2016,2019 and the latest 2021 and Microsoft 365 releases. The latest version has greatly improved the functionality and experience. Therefore, we do not recommend that you still use the old version. If you want to avoid paying for the new version, there are many free alternatives. These free alternatives perform outstanding and are light on your PC.

Four Best Alternatives of Microsoft Excel 2013

No doubt, MS Excel 2013 is an excellent application for spreadsheets, but it is now obsolete as multiple latest versions have been released. This is why it is wise to choose free alternatives that don’t require a high-end PC and are pocket-friendly.

1. WPS Office Spreadsheet

WPS Office is an office productivity suite with different tools for all your office needs. WPS Spreadsheet is a powerful tool, and it is designed to provide users with a comprehensive set of tools and features for creating, editing, and analyzing spreadsheets. It supports a variety of formats, and it is reverse-compatible with Microsoft Excel. The best part of this amazing spreadsheet tool is it's totally free, so you don’t have to worry about renewal of subscriptions.

Salient Features

• It has a clean and intuitive user interface making a visually pleasing working environment for beginners.

• WPS Spreadsheets have a versatile range of supporting formats. Moreover, it has dozens of formatting options to customize cell appearance, including font styles, colours, borders, and merging.

• With WPS Office Spreadsheets, you will have sound statistical analysis, financial calculations, and logical operations using built-in features like charts and graphs to visualize data trends and patterns.

• One eye-catching feature is its collaborative nature. It means that multiple team members can work on a single document simultaneously with real-time updates and changes visible to all collaborators.

• This tool provides seamless integration with softwares like MS Excel and supports almost all Excel formats.  Moreover, it can integrate with cloud storage like Google Drive and Dropbox, allowing users to access and save their spreadsheets across different devices.

Compatible With All Windows

WPS Office is thoroughly compatible with the mainstream 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Windows including Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 8 & 8.1, and Windows 7. Since the release of WPS Office 2016 and WPS Office 2019, the developers have been tyring innovative techniques to bring out a more stable and feature-rich version in 2022.

Price

WPS Office Spreadsheets is free, and you can use it without spending a penny.

System requirements

Pros

• Powerful Data Analysis tool

• Integration with MS Office

• Free of cost

• Data Encryption

• Collaborative environment

Cons

• Limited features in the mobile version

• Not frequently updated

2. Microsoft 365 Excel

Microsoft 365 Excel is a subscription-based latest version of Microsoft Office suite, and it is home to various productivity applications, cloud services, device management, and security features. It has different versions and caters to the need of individuals, businesses, and organizations of all sizes. It provides them with a suite of software and services to enhance productivity, collaboration, and security.

If you are curious about the difference between Microsoft 365 Excel and Excel 2013, both being Microsoft products, below is the comparison table to answer all your questions.

Features of Microsoft 365 Excel

• Featuring collaboration, it allows you and others to work on the same spreadsheet in real time, with changes visible to all users.

• You can import data from external sources like databases, text files, and online services and export the spreadsheet in formats like PDF, CSV, and HTML.

• By using custom VBA macros, you can easily automate repetitive tasks for your ease.

• You can create dynamic and interactive charts, graphs, and pivot tables to visualize data trends and patterns, making data analysis more appealing.

• It enables you to integrate Excel with other Microsoft 365 apps, such as Word and PowerPoint, for seamless data transfer and collaboration.

Price

Office 365, being a paid app, has different plans. The family plan (accessible by six users) will cost you $99.99/year, while the personal plan costs $69.99/year.

System requirements

Pros

• Amazing compatibility

• Enhanced collaboration

• More secure

• Regular updates

Cons

• Subscription based service

• Internet dependence

• Limited customization

3. Zoho Sheet

Zoho Sheet is another alternative to Excel 2013. offered by Zoho as part of their suite of productivity and collaboration tools. It provides users with the ability to create, edit, analyze, and collaborate on spreadsheets in a cloud-based environment. This spreadsheet tool is also free to use and easy to find on the internet and install on your PC. It is a versatile tool for managing your spreadsheet because of its excellent ability to manage data, perform calculations, and visualise information.

Distinctive Features of Zoho Sheet

• You can create and edit spreadsheets with Zoho Sheet using its advanced formatting options, including cell styling, font styles, borders, and alignment.

• It offers interactive charts, graphs, and pivot tables, allowing for better insights and decision-making.

• Like 365 Excel, it also features real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously, where Users can add comments and tag collaborators.

• You can import data to Zoho Sheet in multiple formats and also export spreadsheets to certain formats, including PDF, CSV, and XLs.

• Zoho Sheet is a secure application that keeps your data safe by ensuring data security with encryption, secure access protocols, and granular permission settings to control user access and protect sensitive information.

Price

Zoho Sheet is available for free.

System requirements

4. Quip

Quip is a collaborative productivity platform that has features of a word processor, spreadsheet tool, and chat application into one integrated platform. Unlike WPS Office Spreadsheet, Quis is not a free tool, and you have to purchase it. Quip aims to create strategic sales documents that drive decisions and move deals forward with live Salesforce data and real-time chat. It also offers a collaborative working environment which makes communication between the team easy.

Noticeable Features of Quip

• It allows you to create and collaborate on spreadsheets, perform calculations, and visualize data. They can be embedded within documents to provide comprehensive data management.

• It has a built-in chat messenger that enables you to communicate and collaborate within the context of the documents.

• With its project management feature, you can create and assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress.

• One of the best features is the offline access to Quip. You don’t need internet access to work on your documents. All the offline changes are automatically synced with the availability of the internet.

• Being a Salesforce product, it integrates seamlessly with Salesforce CRM, allowing teams to collaborate on customer-related documents, proposals, and reports.

Price

There are different packages, including Quip Starter - $10/month, Quip Plus - $25/month and Quip Advanced - $100/month.

System requirements

Download Office Suites on Official Websites

You should download these software suites on official websites to make sure the downloaded software is secure. Or, you may encounter the following problems:

1. Unauthorized software and no official technical support.

2. Pirated software may contain computer viruses, not secure.

3. Illegal software may be prohibited when the official finds it.

FAQs about Excel 2013

Does Microsoft have a free version of Excel?

Yes, you can use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for free on the web. The below link is present for reference.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web

Can I install Excel 2013 on multiple computers?

The license agreement for Excel 2013 allows for installation on one computer only. If you need to install Excel on multiple computers, you must purchase additional licenses.

Can I download Excel 2013 for free?

No, downloading Excel 2013 for free would be considered piracy and illegal. You can purchase a licensed copy of Excel 2021 or subscribe to Microsoft 365, which includes Excel, and access it online.

Summary

Microsoft Excel 2013 is an outstanding tool for spreadsheets. But being replaced by its latest versions, Microsoft has officially retired it, and no customer support is offered without including new features and updates. This is why it is recommended to switch to its latest versions, like Microsoft 365 Excel, to enjoy all the latest features. But the problem with 365 Excel is you have to buy the subscriptions and renew them either monthly or annually.

For this purpose, WPS Office Spreadsheet is the best free alternative for Excel 2013. This software is compatible with MS Office, and you can easily download it on your PC. You can use both versions of this spreadsheet tool - online and offline. If you want to eliminate Excel 2013, WPS Office Spreadsheet is the best alternative.