Microsoft Excel 2021 | Mac

Microsoft Excel 2021 for Mac – spreadsheets and calculations

Excel 2021 for Mac is the standalone program for calculations, budgets and analyses on the Mac. Buy it once and use it permanently, with no monthly costs.

XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays and the LET function make many formulas shorter and easier to understand.

Typical uses

• Financial planning and household budget
• Calculations and preparing quotes
• Analyses with PivotTables
• Exchanging data with Windows colleagues

What Excel 2021 for Mac offers

• XLOOKUP and XMATCH
• dynamic arrays: UNIQUE, FILTER, SORT
• LET function for clearer formulas
• native support for Apple silicon
• co-authoring via OneDrive

Excel on the Mac – tips for getting started

• Quick Analysis: select a range and get suitable charts suggested.
• Format as Table: with ⌘ + T, including filters and total row.
• PivotTables: summarise sales and expenses in seconds.
• Numbers files: export as XLSX in Numbers and continue editing in Excel.
• Conditional formatting: highlight important values in colour.

Who is Excel 2021 as a standalone program worth it for?

Buying Excel 2021 on its own makes sense if you otherwise work with Pages, Numbers or Keynote on the Mac but need a fully compatible Microsoft program for exchanging files with customers and colleagues. It also works well as an addition: if you already own an older Office version, you can upgrade the program you use most often to a newer version.

Working with Windows colleagues

Excel 2021 for Mac uses the same formats as Excel for Windows: XLSX for normal workbooks, XLSM for files with macros. Formulas, charts and PivotTables look the same on both systems. Some Windows extensions such as Power Pivot are not available on the Mac. You import CSV data via “Data” → “From Text”.

Standalone program or Office suite?

If you mainly work with Excel, with the standalone program you only pay for what you really use. If you later need more programs, a suite is usually cheaper than several standalone programs.

You will find further editions under Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac.

Excel 2021 or 2024?

Both versions are perpetual licences and save in the same file formats. Excel 2021 is mature, cheaper and still the standard in many offices. If you want the latest features, choose Excel 2024 for Mac.

Buy once instead of subscribing

Microsoft 365 costs money every year and in return provides cloud storage and a steady stream of new features. You pay for Office 2021 once; the programs stay on your Mac permanently and continue to receive security and quality updates via Microsoft AutoUpdate. If you don’t need cloud extras and store your files on your own Mac, in iCloud Drive or with a cloud provider of your choice anyway, the perpetual licence saves you a considerable amount over the years.

System requirements

• Operating system: one of the three most recent macOS versions
• Processor: Apple silicon (M series) or Intel
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Hard disk: 10 GB of free space (APFS or Mac OS Extended)
• Display: resolution of 1280 × 800 or higher
• Internet: required for download, activation and updates

Installation and activation

1. Download the installation package (.pkg) using the link in our e-mail.
2. Open the package and follow the installation.
3. Start the program and activate it with the product key – without a Microsoft account.

Frequently asked questions

Does Excel run on Macs with an M chip?

Yes, Excel 2021 runs natively on Apple silicon and on Intel Macs.

Do I need a Microsoft account?

No, Excel 2021 is activated with the product key.

Is this a subscription?

No. You pay once and use Excel 2021 permanently on one Mac.

Can I transfer the program to a new Mac?

Yes. Uninstall it on the old device, install it on the new one and activate it with the same key. If you run into problems, our support team will help.

Do macros work?

Yes, VBA macros also run in Excel for Mac; individual Windows-specific commands may differ.

Will I receive updates?

Yes. Microsoft AutoUpdate installs security and quality updates automatically.

Delivery, invoice and support

• Delivery by e-mail: you will usually receive the product key, download link and installation guide within 5 to 30 minutes of payment (daily 09:00–21:00 CET). More under Shipping & payment.
• Invoice: every order comes with a proper invoice, with your company address on request.
• Origin of the licence: we source our licences from distributors and wholesalers in Europe. We explain exactly how this works on the page Buying legal software.
• Support: if you have questions about installation or activation, we help by e-mail (Mon–Sun 09:00–21:00 CET), phone (Mon–Fri 09:00–14:00 CET), live chat or remote support with TeamViewer.

Our goodwill promise

Should the ordered Office version ever no longer be available, we will supply the next higher version at no extra charge. You never pay more than the price at which you ordered.