Pivot tables are one of the strongest features of spreadsheets, helping you organize large sets of data into concise, easy-to-read tables. If you're dealing with a massive amount of data, pivot tables can be a lifesaver. They allow you to summarize, analyze, explore, and present your data efficiently.
I'm going to guide you through the process of creating a pivot table to show you how simple it is. But first, let’s take a step back and understand what a pivot table is and what are the best free Office suites that support pivot tables in spreadsheets.
What is the Pivot Table in Spreadsheets?
A pivot table is a powerful tool in Excel (and other spreadsheet software) that helps you summarize large sets of data in a simplified, easy-to-read format. Think of it as a dynamic summary that allows you to group, sort, and filter data without manually combing through each row and column.
In simpler terms, pivot tables help you extract meaningful insights from huge, overwhelming datasets by letting you arrange data in various ways. The name "pivot" comes from the ability to rotate data—moving rows to columns or columns to rows—allowing you to view your information from different angles.
For example, if you have a sales report for different products across several regions, a pivot table can quickly show you total sales by region, product, or salesperson. This makes it easier to spot trends, make comparisons, and make informed decisions without altering your original data.
Free Office Suites with Pivot Table Features
Creating a pivot table is often helpful when dealing with large data sets, ultimately making the process much less intimidating. These tools simplify the task, providing an easy-to-use and seamless experience for organizing and analyzing your data effectively.
WPS Spreadsheets
WPS Office is a comprehensive, all-in-one office suite that combines word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF management into one platform. It offers a variety of features for free, with broad compatibility across numerous file formats such as DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and PDF, as well as support for different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The spreadsheet tool opens in a single window for seamless navigation, and creating a pivot table is simple, enabling real-time data analysis from the "Insert" menu.
WPS Office is regularly updated to ensure optimal performance, and it also offers web-based tools with similar functionality, allowing users to create pivot tables seamlessly online.
WPS Spreadsheet is included when you download WPS Office. So, you not only get a complete office suite but also advanced PDF capabilities and a professional photo editor. If you want to download WPS Office, simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Open your web browser and navigate to the official WPS Office website.
Step 2: Click on the "Free Download" button to begin downloading the WPS Office suite for your system.
LibreOffice Calc
LibreOffice offers a free Calc tool that closely resembles older versions of Microsoft Office. While it may be slightly more subtle and less intuitive to navigate, it still provides a solid spreadsheet experience. Creating a pivot table in LibreOffice Calc is relatively simple, as it can be accessed through the "Insert" menu. Although the real-time data updates may not be as fast as some alternatives, the overall process for displaying and analyzing data is similar, making it a practical option for users familiar with classic office software.
To download LibreOffice Calc on your system, you will need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Open your browser and navigate to the LibreOffice website.
Step 2: In the center of the page, use the drop-down menu to select your system requirements, and then click on the "Download" button to begin the download.
Google Sheets
Google Sheets is a web-based program that is very easy to use, though its unique interface may feel a bit less intuitive initially. Despite this, it allows you to perform virtually any task, including creating pivot tables with ease. Simply go to the "Insert" menu to create your pivot table. One of the major features of Google Sheets is its integration with Google Drive, which lets you store and access your files conveniently from the cloud—an excellent advantage for collaborative and remote work.
After creating a pivot table, Google Sheets provides helpful suggestions on the right based on your data, making it easier to generate further insights and refine your analysis.
Google Sheets is an online tool, so you don’t need to download it. Here’s how you can access Google Sheets:
Step 1: First, open your browser and navigate to the Google Sheets website.
Step 2: On the Google Sheets website, click on the "Sign in" button.
Apache OpenOffice Calc
Apache OpenOffice Calc is completely free to use, but it comes with the minor drawback of being a bit more difficult to work with, especially for those used to traditional office suites. For instance, while you’d typically go to the "Insert" menu to add a pivot table in most programs, here you need to go to the "Data" menu, which can be confusing at first. Some features feel a little outdated, but with a bit of time and practice, it becomes easier to navigate and use effectively.
Apache OpenOffice Calc can easily be downloaded as part of the entire office suite from their website by following the steps below.
Step 1: On your browser, head over to the Apache OpenOffice website.
Step 2: Select your system type from the drop-down menu and then click on the "Download full installation" button to begin your download.
Zoho Sheets
Zoho Sheets is another web-based tool that offers free and efficient real-time data handling, making it highly effective for collaboration and data analysis. While its interface is slightly different from the traditional sheets tool, creating a pivot table is still simple, requiring you to go to the "Data" menu. Zoho Sheets is user-friendly, easily shareable, and integrates seamlessly with other Zoho applications, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows.
Step 1: On your browser, navigate to the Zoho Sheets website.
Step 2: Here, simply click on the "CREATE A SPREADSHEET" button to create a new spreadsheet on Zoho Sheets.
Step 3: Once signed in, you can now experience the online spreadsheet with Zoho Sheets. Simply click on the "New Spreadsheet" button to start.
How to Make a Pivot Table in WPS Office?
While testing out each spreadsheet software, I found WPS Spreadsheet to be the most convenient in terms of offline availability, advanced functionalities, and the simplicity of its user interface. When looking for the best free software for pivot tables in spreadsheets, WPS Spreadsheet stood out.
I had some sales data from my retail store, showing the sales made by individual salespeople along with the volume. Let's create a pivot table with WPS Spreadsheets so you can also experience the ease of using this software, step by step.
Step 1: Let's begin by opening our data spreadsheet in WPS Spreadsheet.
Step 2: In WPS Spreadsheet, navigate to the "Insert" tab in the toolbar and select the "Pivot Table" option in the Insert ribbon.
Step 3: Create a Pivot Table dialog box will now appear, here the first thing you need to do is select a range for your Pivot Table.
Note: WPS Spreadsheet automatically selects the range if your cursor is placed on your table.
Step 4: Once the range has been selected, choose whether you want the table to be created on a new worksheet or the existing sheet, and then click "OK" to create your Pivot Table.
Step 5: Now, all that’s left to do is design your Pivot Table. You can drag and drop fields from the field list into the Pivot Table Areas to create your new Pivot Table.
Your Pivot Table will now be created. However, if you're a beginner making your first Pivot Table, downloading WPS Spreadsheet could be the best choice. When creating a Pivot Table, people often get confused about which fields should be placed where—whether in columns, rows, or values.
What I enjoyed most while experimenting with WPS Spreadsheet was how it creates Pivot Tables in real-time. As I added or removed fields, the changes were immediately reflected, helping me experiment and figure out where to place each field to make my Pivot Table meaningful.
So, if you're stuck using a spreadsheet tool that makes Pivot Tables seem difficult, try creating one with WPS Spreadsheet and see how your perspective pivots!
FAQs
1. Are there any limitations in free office suites compared to Microsoft Excel?
Free office suites like LibreOffice, Google Sheets, and OpenOffice provide essential tools for everyday tasks, including the ability to create pivot tables. However, they may not match Microsoft Excel in terms of advanced features, capacity for handling extensive datasets, and close integration with other Microsoft services. Additionally, Microsoft Excel excels in real-time collaboration, making it the go-to option for more complex or professional requirements.
2. Can I use pivot tables in mobile versions of free office suites?
Yes, mobile versions of some free office suites do support pivot tables. However, the extent of this functionality can differ depending on the specific application. While basic pivot table features may be available, advanced capabilities might be limited or less intuitive on mobile platforms compared to their desktop counterparts.
A Free and Seamless Alternative with WPS Office
With this article, you’ll not only learn the basics of creating a pivot table, but you'll also discover affordable alternatives to Microsoft Office. Not everyone can afford premium software, so we've highlighted several excellent free office suites that allow you to create perfect pivot tables at no cost. Among them, WPS Office stands out, providing a seamless and effortless experience that’s even smoother than working with Microsoft Office. Given the value it offers at no cost, WPS Office is definitely worth a try—download it today!
