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Technology · head to head

Greenhouse vs Microsoft Excel

Greenhouse logo

Greenhouse

Technology

Hiring software for growing companies

From
On request
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: Greenhouse core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups; Microsoft Excel free tier limited to 5 GB cloud storage and web-only access
  • They diverge on capability: Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking, Microsoft Excel covers Advanced formulas.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Greenhouse and Microsoft Excel differ
AttributeGreenhouseMicrosoft Excel
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android
CategoryTechnologyAccounting
Founded20121975

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

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 Greenhouse

  • Applicant tracking
  • Interview scheduling
  • Scorecard system
  • Job board posting
  • Candidate CRM
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Offer management
  • EEO compliance

Only in Microsoft Excel

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

Both cover

  • Data encryption

What people use each for

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

Greenhouse

  • Enterprise hiring and recruiting automationnot Microsoft Excel
  • Multi-location and multi-team talent acquisitionnot Microsoft Excel
  • Structured interview process managementnot Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

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

Where each one falls short

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

Greenhouse

  • Core plan lacks talent discovery and contact lookups
  • Core plan lacks email automation and applicant texting
  • Plus plan lacks resume anonymisation and application limits
  • Plus plan lacks audit logging and developer tools
  • Pricing customised by hiring volume and company size, not published
  • Only Pro tier offers audit logs and developer sandbox

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

Greenhouse

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Greenhouse review.

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 Greenhouse if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want interview scheduling.
Greenhouse 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 Greenhouse or Microsoft Excel better?
Neither clearly leads. Greenhouse starts at On request and Microsoft Excel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Greenhouse or Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Greenhouse and Free for Microsoft Excel.
Does Greenhouse or Microsoft Excel run on more platforms?
Greenhouse runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. 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. Greenhouse starts at On request.
What is Greenhouse best used for?
Greenhouse is most often used for enterprise hiring and recruiting automation, multi-location and multi-team talent acquisition, structured interview process management. Of those, enterprise hiring and recruiting automation and multi-location and multi-team talent acquisition are not what Microsoft Excel is typically brought in for.
What can Greenhouse do that Microsoft Excel cannot?
Greenhouse covers Applicant tracking, Interview scheduling, Scorecard system, Job board posting. Microsoft Excel covers Advanced formulas, Pivot tables, Data visualization, Charts and graphs. Both handle Data encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Greenhouse: How much does Greenhouse cost?

Greenhouse does not publish specific pricing. The company states that pricing is customized based on your hiring needs, hiring volume, organizational complexity, and required features.

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
Greenhouse: What are the Greenhouse pricing tiers?

Greenhouse offers three plan levels: Core (basic hiring structure), Plus (multi-location optimization), and Pro (complex enterprise hiring). Exact pricing requires contacting Greenhouse for a custom quote.

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
Greenhouse: Do all Greenhouse tiers include the same features?

No. Core includes sourcing and scheduling, Plus adds automation and texting, and Pro adds enterprise data configuration and audit logs. All tiers can be customized.

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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