Create and edit Google Sheets spreadsheets on the go
Google Sheets offers a quick and easy way to create and edit spreadsheets on your mobile device. It's now a separate app from Google Drive, though it is heavily integrated with Google's cloud storage service, giving you easy access to documents stored on there.
What can you do with Google Sheets?
Google Sheets allows you to create and edit spreadsheets on your phone or tablet. It synchronizes with your Google Drive so you can open sheets that you've already been working on either on your device, on the web, or on another device.
One of the key plus points of the Google Sheets app is that it lets you collaborate on spreadsheets, giving you the ability to edit in real time with others.
Another great thing about the app is that it supports offline viewing and editing, meaning you can work without an internet connection. The app supports auto-saving too, so you never need to worry about remembering to press a Save button.
All the basic features you'd expect from a spreadsheet app are included in Google Sheets. You can edit and format cells, apply formulas and operations, sort data, merge cells, freeze rows or columns, and more.
Google Sheets doesn't do everything though, and if you're a keen data cruncher there's some stuff you'll be missing. For example, it doesn't support the full range of Sheets functions or pivot tables, there's no search feature within a sheet, and you can't insert notes or comments.
One of the main drawbacks of the app is that it doesn't support Excel sheets (XLS files), which means it'll be useless for you if you're a heavy user of Microsoft Office. So, if you're looking for a way to edit XLS sheets on your mobile, try QuickOffice, KingSoft Office, or Microsoft Office Mobile.
What's it like to use?
Google Sheets has a simple but functional user interface that's fairly comfortable to work with. The main pull-out menu gives you quick access to your sheets from Google Drive, including starred items, plus spreadsheets that are stored locally. You can view folders and documents as a list or in grid view, with thumbnail previews shown to help you quickly identify what's what.
Once you've opened or created a sheet, editing features appear in a ribbon above the document panel. On an iPhone the editing options can be a bit fiddly since you need to slide the ribbon across to see all the tools. The iPad support is great though, and the larger interface provides a very comfortable way to format documents.
Why is Google Sheets very popular?
Google Sheets is a popular spreadsheet application for several reasons:
- Free and cloud-based: Google Sheets is free to use and is cloud-based, which means that spreadsheets are stored on Google's servers and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This eliminates the need for local storage, backups, and expensive software licenses.
- Collaboration: Google Sheets allows multiple users to work on the same spreadsheet simultaneously, with each user's edits and changes visible in real-time. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate on spreadsheets, regardless of their location.
- Accessibility and convenience: Because Google Sheets is cloud-based, users can access their spreadsheets from any device with internet access. This means that users can work on their spreadsheets from their home computer, work computer, or mobile device.
- Powerful functionality: Google Sheets offers a range of features, including formulas, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts and graphs. This makes it a powerful tool for data analysis and visualization, financial modeling, and project management.
- Seamless integration: Google Sheets is integrated with other Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, making it easy to share and collaborate on spreadsheets. It can also be integrated with third-party applications and services, such as Zapier, Trello, and Slack.
Under the sheets
If you just want to view Google sheets and perform basic calculations and data analysis, the app works well. However, it's not so useful if you regularly need to use functions or perform more complex tasks — or if you work with Excel sheets mostly.
