Excel Premium

Question

What features does Excel Premium come with? What are the pros and cons to subscribing to EP?TIA,

Moderator note: personal info removed

Answer 1

Dear @Shane Devenshire,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft 365 Q&A forum. I would be happy to help you understand the features and value of a premium Excel experience. 

To clarify, "Excel Premium" is not a standalone product but rather the version of Excel included with a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription. This is different from the free, basic version of Excel available online or on mobile devices. 

Below are a breakdown of the premium features and the trade-offs of subscribing. 

When you subscribe to a Microsoft 365 plan, your Excel experience is upgraded from "Basic" to "Premium" with several exclusive tools: 

• Microsoft Copilot in Excel: An AI assistant that helps you analyze data, identify trends, and create professional-quality visualizations using natural language prompts. 
• Advanced Data Types: Access to rich data sources like Stocks, Geography, and even custom data types from your organization (Power BI). 
• Python in Excel: The ability to perform advanced data analysis using Python directly within your spreadsheets without any complex setup. 
• Premium Templates & Stock Media: Exclusive access to professionally designed templates, high-quality stock images, icons, and fonts. 
• Dynamic Arrays & Newer Functions: Subscribers get immediate access to the latest formula innovations (like XLOOKUP, LET, and LAMBDA) as soon as they are released. 
• Offline Desktop Access: Unlike the free web version, you can install the full-featured Excel app on your PC or Mac and work without an internet connection. 

Pros and cons of subscribing

Pros 

• Always Up to Date: You never have to buy a "new version." You receive continuous feature and security updates automatically. 
• Large Cloud Storage: Subscriptions include 1 TB of OneDrive storage, allowing you to sync workbooks across all your devices and collaborate in real-time. 
• Multi-Device Usage: You can sign into Excel on up to 5 devices simultaneously (PC, Mac, tablet, and phone).
• Enhanced Security: Includes advanced ransomware protection and file recovery for your saved workbooks. 

Cons 

• Recurring Cost: It requires a monthly or annual fee, whereas the web/mobile versions are free or "Office 2024" is a one-time purchase. 
• Feature Overkill: If you only use Excel for simple lists or basic math, the AI and advanced data tools might be more than you need. 
• Internet Requirement for AI: While the app works offline, AI features like Copilot require a connection to process requests. 

If you are looking to upgrade, I recommend visiting the official Compare Microsoft 365 Plans & Pricing (Formerly Office 365) – Microsoft Store. You can often start a one-month free trial to see if the premium features fit your workflow before committing to a paid plan. 

Important: If you signed up for the free trial, please remember to cancel your trial subscription after your issue is resolved to avoid being charged. 

I hope this clarifies the current situation and makes it easier for you to articulate your request. Please let me know if you have any further questions. 

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Answer 2

Thanks,

I used the link "Compare Microsoft 365 Plans..."