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Accounting · head to head

Microsoft Excel vs Rydoo

Microsoft Excel logo

Microsoft Excel

Accounting

Spreadsheet software for data analysis and visualization

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rydoo logo

Rydoo

Accounting

Expense management with per-user pricing and a five-user minimum, built for European multi-entity teams

From
$10/month
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: Microsoft Excel free tier limited to 5 GB cloud storage and web-only access; Rydoo a five-user minimum means very small teams pay for seats they do not have, which removes Rydoo from consideration for firms of two or three.
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Excel covers Advanced formulas, Rydoo covers Receipt OCR.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Microsoft Excel and Rydoo differ
AttributeMicrosoft ExcelRydoo
Starting priceFree$10/month
Pricing modelfreemiumPer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Founded1975Unknown

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 Microsoft Excel

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

Only in Rydoo

  • Receipt OCR
  • Per diem engine
  • Mileage
  • VAT fields
  • Multi-entity
  • ERP export

What people use each for

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

Microsoft Excel

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

Rydoo

  • A Belgian or German employer that must apply statutory per diem rates correctly across staff travelling in several countriesnot Microsoft Excel
  • A group with five legal entities wanting one expense tool but separate approval chains and ledgersnot Microsoft Excel
  • A company that already has a corporate card programme and refuses to change banks to get expense softwarenot Microsoft Excel
  • A finance team recovering VAT on foreign travel and needing the fields captured at claim timenot Microsoft Excel

Where each one falls short

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

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

Rydoo

  • A five-user minimum means very small teams pay for seats they do not have, which removes Rydoo from consideration for firms of two or three.
  • Pricing is per user rather than per active user, so organisations where most staff claim expenses twice a year still pay a full seat every month for them.
  • There is no card issuing, so real-time spend control and pre-authorisation are outside the product and remain with your bank.
  • Per diem and multi-entity handling sit on the higher tier, so the countries that most need Rydoo generally cannot buy the cheap plan.
  • Receipt extraction quality varies by language and receipt format, and finance teams still review a meaningful share of claims by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Rydoo

$10/month
  • Essentials$10/month
    • Around 9 per user per month billed annually
    • Five-user minimum
    • Receipt capture, approvals and accounting export
  • Pro$12/month
    • Around 11 per user per month billed annually
    • Per diem engine and advanced policy controls
    • Multi-entity and multi-currency handling
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Quoted pricing
    • Custom ERP and single sign-on work
    • Dedicated support and onboarding

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Rydoo if

  • You need receipt ocr.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want per diem engine.
Rydoo review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Excel or Rydoo better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Excel starts at Free and Rydoo at $10/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Excel or Rydoo?
Microsoft Excel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Excel and $10/month for Rydoo.
Does Microsoft Excel or Rydoo run on more platforms?
Microsoft Excel runs on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android. Rydoo runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Microsoft Excel for free?
Yes. Microsoft Excel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rydoo starts at $10/month.
What is Microsoft Excel best used for?
Microsoft Excel is most often used for financial modeling, data analysis, budget planning, reporting. Of those, financial modeling and data analysis are not what Rydoo is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Excel do that Rydoo cannot?
Microsoft Excel covers Advanced formulas, Pivot tables, Data visualization, Charts and graphs. Rydoo covers Receipt OCR, Per diem engine, Mileage, VAT fields.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Rydoo: Does Rydoo issue cards?

No. It is expense software only; you keep your existing corporate card or bank programme.

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
Rydoo: Is there a minimum?

Yes, pricing carries a five-user minimum, so the smallest bill is five seats regardless of headcount.

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
Rydoo: Do I need the Pro plan?

If you operate per diems, multiple legal entities or multi-currency claims, yes. Essentials is for single-entity receipt and approval workflows.

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