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Accounting · head to head

Fyle vs Microsoft Excel

Fyle logo

Fyle

Accounting

Real-time expense management that works with your cards

From
$11.99/month per active user
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Excel logo

Microsoft Excel

Accounting

Spreadsheet software for data analysis and visualization

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Excel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fyle billed per active user, defined as anyone who creates an expense or has a connected card with transactions in the month, so headcount does not predict the bill; Microsoft Excel free tier limited to 5 GB cloud storage and web-only access
  • They diverge on capability: Fyle covers Real-time card tracking, Microsoft Excel covers Advanced formulas.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fyle and Microsoft Excel actually diverge.

Attributes where Fyle and Microsoft Excel differ
AttributeFyleMicrosoft Excel
Starting price$11.99/month per active userFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android
Founded20161975

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Fyle

  • Real-time card tracking
  • Automatic receipt matching
  • Expense policies
  • Approval workflows
  • Mileage tracking
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Sage Intacct

Only in Microsoft Excel

  • Advanced formulas
  • Pivot tables
  • Data visualization
  • Charts and graphs
  • Conditional formatting
  • Data analysis tools
  • Macro automation
  • Collaboration features

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fyle

  • Expense reporting and corporate card reconciliationnot Microsoft Excel
  • Enforcing spend policy and approvals before reimbursementnot Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

  • Financial modelingnot Fyle
  • Data analysisnot Fyle
  • Budget planningnot Fyle
  • Reportingnot Fyle
  • Business intelligencenot Fyle
  • Statistical analysisnot Fyle

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fyle

  • Billed per active user, defined as anyone who creates an expense or has a connected card with transactions in the month, so headcount does not predict the bill
  • The Growth plan carries a 5 user minimum and the Business plan a 10 user minimum, so the entry cost is set by the floor rather than the team
  • API access and the Sage Intacct and NetSuite integrations require a paid tier
  • ACH reimbursements and project expense tracking sit above the entry plan
  • Both published plans are billed annually
  • Enterprise pricing is custom and aimed at organisations with 250 or more employees

Microsoft Excel

  • Free tier limited to 5 GB cloud storage and web-only access
  • Paid plans have per-user costs increasing significantly with more users
  • AI features like Copilot limited or unavailable on lower-tier plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Fyle

$11.99/month per active user
  • Growth$11.99/month per active user
    • Minimum 5 users
    • Unlimited expense tracking, receipt scanning
    • Card integrations, mileage/per diem tracking
  • Business$14.99/month per active user
    • Minimum 10 users
    • Multi-stage approvals, ACH reimbursements (US only)
    • Project tracking, Sage Intacct/300 CRE integrations
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • 250+ employees
    • IP whitelisting, SSO options
    • Branded accounts, dedicated account manager

Microsoft Excel

Free
  • Microsoft Excel (Free)Free
    • Excel for the web
    • Real-time collaboration
    • 5 GB cloud storage
  • Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/month
    • Desktop Excel app
    • 1 TB cloud storage
    • Single user on up to 5 devices
  • Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/month
    • 1-6 users (AI features for subscription owner)
    • Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
    • Each user up to 5 devices
  • Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/month
    • 1-6 users
    • Extensive Copilot feature access
    • Exclusive advanced AI capabilities

Which should you pick?

Choose Fyle if

  • You need real-time card tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want automatic receipt matching.
Fyle review

Choose Microsoft Excel if

  • You need advanced formulas.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want pivot tables.
Microsoft Excel review

Questions people ask

Is Fyle or Microsoft Excel better?
Neither clearly leads. Fyle starts at $11.99/month per active user and Microsoft Excel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fyle or Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $11.99/month per active user for Fyle and Free for Microsoft Excel.
Does Fyle or Microsoft Excel run on more platforms?
Fyle runs on Web, Ios, Android. Microsoft Excel runs on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Microsoft Excel for free?
Yes. Microsoft Excel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fyle starts at $11.99/month per active user.
What is Fyle best used for?
Fyle is most often used for expense reporting and corporate card reconciliation, enforcing spend policy and approvals before reimbursement. Of those, expense reporting and corporate card reconciliation and enforcing spend policy and approvals before reimbursement are not what Microsoft Excel is typically brought in for.
What can Fyle do that Microsoft Excel cannot?
Fyle covers Real-time card tracking, Automatic receipt matching, Expense policies, Approval workflows. Microsoft Excel covers Advanced formulas, Pivot tables, Data visualization, Charts and graphs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fyle: How does Fyle define and charge for active users?

An 'active user' is defined as an employee who creates at least one expense or has a credit card connected with active transactions monthly. You only pay for active users, not all onboarded employees.

Source
Microsoft Excel: How much does Microsoft Excel cost?

Microsoft Excel is free as a web app with 5 GB storage. Paid options include Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99/month for desktop apps and 1 TB storage, Family at $12.99/month for 1-6 users with 6 TB total storage, and Premium at $19.99/month with extended Copilot access.

Source
Fyle: What is Fyle's Growth plan pricing?

The Growth plan costs $11.99 per active user per month (billed annually) with a minimum of 5 users. Includes unlimited expense tracking, receipt scanning, and single-stage approvals.

Source
Microsoft Excel: Is there a free version of Excel?

Yes, Excel for the web is free and includes sharing, real-time collaboration, and 5 GB cloud storage accessible on web, iOS, and Android without subscription.

Source
Fyle: What features does Fyle's Business plan add?

The Business plan costs $14.99 per active user per month (minimum 10 users, annual billing) and adds multi-stage approvals, project tracking, ACH reimbursements (US only), and premium support.

Source
Microsoft Excel: What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Family and Premium tiers?

Family tier at $12.99/month supports 1-6 users with 6 TB total storage and standard features. Premium tier at $19.99/month allows extensive Copilot feature access and exclusive advanced AI capabilities including image creation and audio generation.

Source
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