Once data is loaded into Excel, Copilot allows users to ask questions in natural language instead of building new formulas.

You have a few choices when it comes to making spreadsheets, but if you're going beyond the basics, we think Microsoft Office is the most feature-filled, easy to use, and compatible program to use.

Is Apple’s iWork a viable alternative to Microsoft Office? To find out, we asked Rob Griffiths—our go-to expert on spreadsheets—to use Excel 2008 and Numbers ‘08 to create the same project, ...