Switch from Microsoft Excel to Zoho Sheet
Once you have made the switch to Zoho Workplace from Microsoft 365, you need to get your Zoho Sheet account set up. Using this guide, you can explore the features available in Zoho Sheet and start using them.
Sign Up NowGet started with Zoho Sheet
Once you log in to your Zoho Workplace account from workplace.zoho.com, navigate to Sheet from the header. This will open up the list of all your spreadsheets in Zoho Sheet. You can either create a new spreadsheet or open an existing file and start working straight away.
Here are some simple features you can explore to get started:
Significant Features
Zoho Sheet provides a broad array of features for data analysis and collaboration. Here are some key features that you will find useful in Zoho Sheet:
Custom functions
Create personalized functions for your specific use cases, or bring in contextual data from other Zoho and third-party applications such as Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Trello, and more using custom functions powered by Deluge. Learn more about custom functions.
Data cleaning
Get rid of duplicate entries, inconsistencies, and missing values in your spreadsheet data effortlessly using Zoho Sheet's smart data cleaning tool. Learn more about data cleaning.
Insights by Zia
With recommendations and reports from Zia, discover hidden insights, study trends, and understand your data. Ask all your data-related questions in plain English and get answers in an instant, whether you're on your computer or your mobile device. Explore Zia Insights in Sheet.
Collaboration
Share spreadsheets with user-specific permissions, make cell-level or range-level comments, lock or hide important data, and track changes with ease. Zoho Sheet allows you to have control over your data while working with your team. Learn more about collaboration in Zoho Sheet.
Data from pictures
Scan printed books, receipts, and invoices with tabular data and automatically convert them into spreadsheet records in an instant using the Zoho Sheet app for iOS and Android. Learn more about extracting data from pictures.
Integrations
Zoho Sheet integrates with Zoho Forms for data collection, with Zoho Writer for charts and document merges, and with Zoho Flow and Zapier for smooth workflows across thousands of applications.
Zoho Sheet is also integrated with other cloud drives such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and Dropbox, so you can import and export spreadsheets from and to these cloud drives directly from the Zoho Sheet editor.
Comparison between Microsoft Excel and Zoho Sheet
If you have been a Microsoft Excel user, this comparison will help you get familiar with the related features in Zoho Sheet.
| Microsoft Excel | Zoho Sheet |
|---|---|
| Organizing data | |
Data can be sorted based on single or multiple criteria. | Sorting data Sort data in your spreadsheet to make it easy to search and analyze. With custom sorting you can even choose to sort based on multiple criteria at once. Go to Data > Sort. |
Data duplicates can be removed. You can find and replace the inconsistencies and missing values manually. | Data cleaning Get rid of inconsistencies, duplicate entries, and missing values in your spreadsheet in an instant using the smart data cleaning tool. Go to Data > Data Cleaning. |
To save a sheet view after applying a filter from the Data menu, navigate to the View menu. | Narrow down data Apply filters to narrow down the data for more focused analysis. You can save your filtered views for quick access later. Go to Data > Filter > Create Filter. |
| View settings | |
Cell size can be adjusted by changing the row and column size. | Grid spacing Choose from three grid spacing options—Classic, Cozy, and Comfort—for a better view without adjusting the rows and columns manually. Go to View > Grid Spacing. |
Zoom is available in the desktop version. You can set a custom zoom or select a predefined value. | Zoom options Zoom in or out of your spreadsheet data from 50% to 400% and work comfortably on any size of spreadsheets. The objects in your spreadsheets will also get adjusted based on the zoom level you choose. Go to View > Zoom. |
Freezing can be applied to rows or columns using the option under the View menu. | Freeze panes Retain certain rows or columns in your data to make it understandable while scrolling. The frozen panes can also be retained while printing. Go to View > Freeze. |
Users can change the settings to work from right to left inside the spreadsheet. | Right-to-left Work right-to-left on individual worksheets using Grid Direction. For RTL languages like Arabic, the whole spreadsheet, including the interface, can be rendered from right to left based on your settings. Go to View > Grid Direction > Right to Left. |
| Real-time collaboration | |
Files can be shared with viewer, commenter, or editor access individually, or using a link. | Share spreadsheets Share files with 4 levels of permissions (view, comment, edit, and share). Collaborate within the organization, or externally using a link. Go to Share in the top right corner of the editor. |
Can add only single-cell comments. Once added, the cell reference cannot be changed in the comment. | Add comments Make cell-level or range-level comments, @mention colleagues, and resolve the thread when the task is done. You can even make a group discussion with your team inside the spreadsheet using the chat option. Go to Insert > Comment > Add Comment or use the right-click context menu. |
Emails can be sent to collaborators using VBA macros or using Outlook. | Notify via email Send an email notification to all the collaborators in your spreadsheet, including a personalized message. This option is available only when the spreadsheet has at least one collaborator. Go to Share > Notify Collaborators. |
Desired ranges must be unlocked using Format Cells before protecting a sheet. The locked/unlocked state applies to all users or collaborators. | Protect cells Lock desired cell ranges or worksheets specifically. You can choose to lock or unlock them for all collaborators, or only some. Go to Data > Lock > Lock Cells or Lock Sheet. |
Rows, columns, or sheets can be hidden using the right-click context menu. | Hide row/column Hide specific rows, columns, or worksheets to prevent your collaborators from viewing them. Go to View > Hide & Unhide or use the right-click context menu. |
A predefined setting must be used to highlight and track changes. | Track changes Keep track of all changes that happen inside your spreadsheet, including the date, time, and user, with Audit Trail. You can filter the change log based on the user, date, or range. Go to File > Audit Trail. |
Editing can be restricted using the co-authoring options and lock function. | Pause collaboration Pause real-time collaboration at any time to prevent collaborators from editing the file or viewing your changes until you are ready. Go to Share > Check Out. |
| Data analysis | |
Predefined functions can be used by entering the equal sign inside a cell. | Predefined functions Choose from more than 400 predefined functions to suit your use case. You can use the contextual help guide within the editor for functions. Start with a "=" sign or go to the Fx option in the right side pane. |
Custom functions can be created using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). | Custom functions Create personalized functions and bring in data from other applications like Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and Trello using custom functions powered by Deluge. Deluge's drag-and-drop interface makes it easier for non-programmers to create a function. Go to Tools > Custom Functions > Create. |
User can insert pivot tables and charts to consolidate data in spreadsheets. | Pivot tables Build pivot tables to consolidate huge data sets and understand the data quickly. You can also insert pivot charts using these tables to visualize the consolidated data. Go to Data > Pivot Table. |
| Visualizing data | |
You can insert charts into spreadsheets to visualize the data. | Insert charts Choose from 35+ chart types to represent your data visually. Customize your charts for accuracy and styling, and even publish and embed them to blogs or web pages. Go to Insert > Chart or use the Chart icon in the toolbar. |
You can use static bar charts or time lines to view periodic data. | Race charts Use these animated bar charts to visualize the data over a period of time. The bars race against each other to dynamically display the changes in your data. Go to Insert > Chart > Race Chart |
Users with a Microsoft Office 365 subscription can use Ideas to get insights on their data. | Insights by Zia Get chart and pivot table recommendations, or ask questions in plain English and get answers instantly with Zia. You can simply drag and drop charts and pivot tables into your sheets. Go to Tools > Insights by Zia or use the Zia icon in the bottom left corner. |
Sparklines can be used to visualize data trends and patterns. | Insert sparklines Use these cell-level graphs to visualize data trends or patterns right alongside your spreadsheet data. You can customize your sparklines or add text into the cells containing them. Go to Insert > Sparkline |
| Mobile apps | |
The Microsoft Excel app is available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. | iOS and Android The Zoho Sheet mobile application is available for download on both iOS and Android devices, so you can work on your spreadsheets on the go. |
Data from printed copies can be converted into spreadsheet data using the Data from Picture option. | Data from pictures Simply scan printed tabular data or choose an image from your device gallery and convert it into spreadsheet data in a matter of seconds. This is available on both iOS and Android. Learn more about extracting data from pictures in Zoho Sheet. |