Usability

Study
Schab, Kyle

3/30/2014
Google Spreadsheet and
Microsoft Excel Comparison
Introduction

When doing calculations on a large scale or multiple calculation at once a computerized
spreadsheet program is a helpful tool. A spreadsheet program is useful for household finance,
creating rosters, or complicated statistical data. Programs like excel and google spreadsheets can
be useful for everyday consumers, college students, or even large corporations. For this usability
analysis I studied two different spreadsheet programs Microsoft Excel 2013 and Google
Spreadsheet. Microsoft Excel 2013 is available through Microsoft store as a package with Word,
PowerPoint, and OneNote for $139 or standalone for $109. Google Spreadsheet it available with
Google Quickoffice for free for home users and $5 per month for businesses.

Methods

For the analysis of this two products I created simple spreadsheets with identical numbers and
formatting. I used a University of Idaho Library computer that had Windows 7, Microsoft Office
2013, and Mozilla Firefox 2.0, which, were other programs used. I used these parameters to test
eleven tasks:

Launching software
Opening new spreadsheet
Adding extra sheets to workbook
Cell formatting
Adding equations
Adding graphs
Adding images
Inserting rows and columns
Saving spreadsheet
Printing spreadsheet
Switching file types

I assumed that a basic knowledge of computers and spreadsheet programs are known in order to
complete tasks.









Results

Results and notes on test can be found in table below.

Excel Google Spreadsheet
Function Notes Key
Strokes
Notes Key
Strokes
1 Launching
software
Easy one click on
shortcut or 4 clicks
to navigate to
program through
menu.
1 - 4 Open web browser
type web address in
navigation bar, or
open previous
document from
drive.
4
2 Opening new
Spreadsheet
File new then click
the appropriate
template for
spreadsheet.
3 File new, but can
access other quick
office programs
such as Docs,
Presenter, Form, or
Image.
3
3 Adding extra
sheets to
workbook
Click on the plus
sign in the bottom
left corner of
program window.
For navigation sheet
would have to be
click individually.
1 Click on plus sign
at the bottom left
corner of program
window, has drop
down menu for easy
navigation between
sheets.
1
4 Cell
formatting
Right click on cell
then on format
cell will open
window with tabs
that read: Number,
alignment, font,
border, fill,
protection.
Toolbars also have
shortcuts to each
above, and preset
themes. Has
formula tab
2 then
varies
Formatting for
number, fill, border,
and font on
toolbars. No
alignment and
protection available
2
5 Adding
equations
Auto sum is one
click on icon. All
other can be typed
or selected from list
2 - 3 Only 5 equations
can be found in
drop down menu.
All others need to
be typed manually.
Has small delay for
more complex
equations.
2 - 3
6 Adding
graphs
Insert - graph, Easy
graph set up and
manipulation.
Multiple element
such as secondary
axis, data labels,
error bars and other
statistical options.
2 Simple graph
structure and set up.
Doesn't have error
bars and other
features that are in
excel, much simpler
graph then excel.
2
7 Adding
images
Insert - image,
Excel goes straight
to images that are
saved on computer.
Any online image
needs to be
downloaded to
computer to use.
3 Insert - image,
images needs to be
uploaded from
computer to Google
Drive, but can use
images that are
saved on google+
account.
3
8 Inserting rows
and columns
Right click then
insert, only inserts
columns to the left
and rows above of
clicked rows.
2 Right click or insert
tab can be used.
Can insert to the left
or right on columns,
and above and
below on rows
2
9 Saving
spreadsheet
File - save or save
as only creates
temporary backups
at set time intervals.
Save as then file
name, other save
can be accessed
through shortcut at
top of left of screen.
4 Automatically saves
after changes to
spreadsheet, can be
saved again using
copy feature in file
tab. Change name
by clicking on it
then automatically
saves in Google
Drive.
1
10 Printing
spreadsheet
File - print, will
access the print
options window.
3 Print icon on main
toolbar, opens print
window for print
options.
2
11 Switching file
types
Needs to be saved as
a new file. File types
selected below file
name.
5 File - download, file
is downloaded and
exported as the
chosen file type.
2

Recommendations

My recommendation for Excel is that the program is needed for people or business that due
heavy spreadsheet work. Excel has more functions and is more complex then Google
Spreadsheet. Equations and graphing alone is superior to Google Spreadsheet. Google
Spreadsheet is a program for people that need a spreadsheet program for simpler uses or few uses
a year. Google is cheaper, but has less functions. Google is easier and quicker to navigate then
excel. Both programs have their strong point and weak point, but it is a trade off with what is
being done and how much the program is being used.

Summary

For a financial officer, CPA, or heavy equations work then Excel would be the better choice. If
household budgeting, or few uses then Google Spreadsheet is a better choice. Amount of use
and complexity of work is the final deciding factor program selection.