Excel or Google Sheets for an executor: which should you use?
Either works. The better choice depends on who needs to see the file and how comfortable you are with each.
Quick comparison
| Google Sheets | Excel | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing with co-executors | Easy: share a link with named people and see changes live | Share a file by email or through OneDrive or SharePoint |
| Works offline | Possible with setup | Yes, by default on desktop |
| Cost | Free with a Google account | Needs a Microsoft 365 licence or a one-off Office purchase for the desktop app |
| Formulas | Most standard formulas work | Most standard formulas work |
| Printing a summary | Fine | Fine, with more page set-up options |
| Version history | Built in | Built in when stored on OneDrive or SharePoint |
Check current plan details on each provider’s website; they change.
Things to decide
- Do co-executors need to edit the same file? If yes, a shared online file avoids “which version is latest” arguments.
- Where do you want the information to live? Estate records are sensitive. Use a strong, unique password and two-step sign-in on whichever account holds them, and share only with people who need it.
- Who will take over if you cannot continue? Make sure someone else can find the file.
- Does your solicitor or accountant prefer a format? Ask. Many are happy with either, or with a PDF of the summary.
Moving between them
A spreadsheet that uses only standard formulas (no scripts or add-ons) can be opened in both. Always check after importing a file that dropdown lists, formulas and any protection still work as expected, and compare a total against a hand calculation.
How All Ends Tied files are built
The All Ends Tied files use standard formulas and no scripts, so they open in both. We test them by recalculating in a desktop spreadsheet program. Google Sheets import behaviour is something each buyer should check once on first use, and we say so in the Start Here tab.
Our suggestion
Pick the one you already use and trust. A tool you will open every week beats a better one you will not.
A 20-tab Google Sheets / Excel workbook for tracking the estate: tasks, notifications, assets, debts, expenses, time, decisions, distributions and a printable summary.