Do you miss certain key features of the Microsoft version of Excel, but also can’t live without your Mac?
Run Microsoft Excel on a Mac and access the full power and complete capabilities of the world’s most popular spreadsheet software — no PC necessary. Enjoy advanced Excel features with Parallels Desktop for only $99.99 with a 1-year subscription.
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"It's very easy to install, it's intuitive to use, coherence mode alone is an amazing bonus that I was not expecting. I use Parallels Desktop primarily for the Windows version of MS Office Suite, specifically Excel, as the macOS versions are severely stripped down in terms of features and missing many keyboard shortcuts."
"I like the ease of use and overall performance of Parallels Desktop. I use the Microsoft stack, specifically Power Bi, Power Query, and Excel, as well as some light gaming (an old game called Dark Age of Camelot)."
"I have good experience in the last ten years using Word and Excel on Parallels Desktop. This is revolutionary to be able to enjoy in the same platform both Mac's and Windows advantages."
Wondering where key tools like comprehensive VBA, Active X and Form Controls, Smart Tags, Power Pivot and more are in Mac Excel?
Mac users, you don’t have to miss out. Your solution is running a virtual machine with the Windows OS on your Mac. Access all the features you know and love in the Microsoft version of Excel and more.
Use these plugins with full functionality that's not available on Mac without Parallels.: Collectica, SpreadsheetConverter, CapIQ, JetReports, PowerUser, F9, Kutools, XLGL, and ASAP Utilities.
These popular form creation tools or form controls are only compatible with the Windows operating system; they are not supported on Excel for Mac and must be constructed in the Windows version of Excel.
Excel for Windows also offers a variety of data connectivity options, including web, tables/ranges, Access, ODBC SQL, PDF, JSON, XML, and more. You can import data from a wide variety of file formats, including PDF, JSON, XML, and more which are not supported by Excel for Mac.
| Features | Excel on Mac | Windows Excel |
| Comprehensive VBA code capabilities | No | Yes |
| Ability to connect to multiple data sources | No | Yes |
| View “Side by Side” option | No | Yes |
| “Smart Tag” feature | No | Yes |
| Ability to add visual effects | No | Yes |
| VBA support and animation | No | Yes |
| Extended ASCII characters | No | Yes |
| Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) | Incomplete | Yes |
| Power Pivot support | No | Yes |
| Active X & Form Controls | No | Yes |
| Data connectivity with ODBC SQL, HTML, Text, and Database (Microsoft Query). | No | Yes |
| Data connectivity with web, tables/ranges, Access, ODBC SQL, PDF, JSON, XML, etc. | No | Yes |
| Import data from a wide variety of file formats, including PDF, JSON, XML, etc. | No | Yes |
| Forecasting | No | Yes |
| Multi-item clip boarding | No | Yes |
Authorized by Microsoft
Optimized for Mac M-series
Download and install Parallels Desktop on your Mac.
Once installed, set up a new virtual machine and install Windows*
*Windows license required
After installing Windows, you can run the Windows version of Excel and enjoy its full feature set and functionality, right from your Mac.
You can download Excel on a Mac with Parallels Desktop the same way as on a Windows PC.
Start by downloading and installing Parallels Desktop (if you don’t have it already.)
Then open the Office app, sign into your Microsoft account, purchase (if necessary), and download the Microsoft Office Suite to your Windows virtual machine. The installation assistant will guide you through the process.
Once the installation is complete, you can access Microsoft Excel on your Mac by double-clicking the icon from the Windows start menu!
You can run many of your favorite Windows and Linux apps on your Mac seamlessly with Parallels Desktop. See the list!
Yes, you can save an Excel file on Mac using Parallels Desktop. Since Parallels Desktop shares Mac user folders with Windows, when you save an Excel file to the Documents folder, that file will also appear in the Documents folder on Mac.
Not only is this super convenient, it saves disk space since there is no need to copy files from Windows to Mac.
Yes, you can update Excel on Mac in a virtual machine powered by Parallels Desktop exactly the same way as you do on Windows — when you have an available update, just follow the directions from Microsoft, as you would on an actual PC.
Yes, you can enable macros, Power Query, full-featured PivotTables, and much more! Check the full list of Excel features.
Using Excel on a Mac versus a PC is a similar experience with some minor differences due to the different hardware and operating systems involved. There are advanced features only available in the Windows version of Excel that simply aren’t available in the version made for Mac or the Excel web application.
Parallels offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all purchases made on parallels.com. If you purchased from another retailer, please check their return policy. Learn more about our Parallels Desktop return policy.
You may request a full refund for any reason within 30 days of your purchase.
Please submit your refund request to Cleverbridge, the Parallels order processing partner, using the email request form or one of their phone numbers.
Parallels Desktop offers two different options: a one-time purchase or a subscription.
Subscriptions will auto-renew, and you can update to the latest version of Parallels Desktop if your subscription is active. Check out this guide to manage your auto-renew.
Parallels Desktop offers exclusive discounts for students enrolled in a qualified institution or professional educators employed at an eligible institution. Educational discounts can save users up to 50%. Start by verifying your student discount eligibility.
Experience the Windows version of Microsoft Office 365 on Mac.
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Learn moreEnjoy Microsoft Excel on Mac, plus other key Windows applications without the need for a PC.
