Excel on Mac vs Windows vs the Web: What Works Where (2026)

By Ravindra Bagale, Excel & Data Analytics trainer LinkedIn Published: 7 October 2026 Last updated: 7 October 2026

Shahrukh built a sales model on his Windows laptop with Power Pivot and a Goal Seek button. His manager opened it on a MacBook and then on the web from her phone's browser. On the Mac, the Data Model tools were missing; in the browser, the VBA macro could not run. Nothing was broken. The three versions of Excel simply do different things. A two-minute check before you build saves this surprise.

Excel for Windows has the most features, including Power Pivot and the Data Model. Excel for Mac has the same grid, formulas, PivotTables, VBA and (in Microsoft 365) Power Query with fewer data sources, but no Power Pivot. Excel for the web is best for sharing and co-editing: it cannot run VBA macros or what-if tools such as Goal Seek and Solver, and needs an internet connection, but it supports Office Scripts, Python in Excel (Business and Enterprise), Copilot and, for business plans, the Power Query Editor.

Download the practice file (mac-vs-windows-vs-web.xlsx)

Excel file, 8 KB. It has the sample data used below. All numbers in this workbook are fictional teaching data, not real company figures.

Quick answer

List the features your workbook uses: Power Pivot, Power Query, macros, scripts, Python, what-if tools.
Check each against the table below for every platform your readers use.
Avoid Power Pivot if anyone opens the file on a Mac.
Avoid VBA if anyone works in the browser; consider Office Scripts instead.
Keep Goal Seek, Data Tables and Solver for desktop users; save the results as values for web readers.

What works where

Feature	Windows	Mac	Excel for the web	Microsoft source
Power Query (Get & Transform)	Yes, full (Data > Get & Transform)	Yes in Microsoft 365 for Mac (Data > Get Data), with a shorter list of data sources	Yes: view and refresh for all Microsoft 365 subscribers; import and the Power Query Editor need a Business or Enterprise (E3 and above) plan	Power Query data sources in Excel versions, Use Power Query in Excel for the web
Power Pivot / Data Model	Yes (Microsoft 365 and the editions Microsoft lists)	No (not included with Office for Mac)	View Power Pivot tables and charts; you cannot create Data Models	Where is Power Pivot?, Excel for the web service description
VBA macros	Yes	Yes	Cannot create or run VBA macros; the workbook keeps its VBA when you open and edit it	Excel for the web service description
Office Scripts	Yes (Version 2210 or later)	Yes	Yes	Office Scripts platform limits
Python in Excel	Yes for Business and Enterprise (Current Channel 2408 or later)	Yes for Business and Enterprise (Current Channel 16.96 or later)	Yes for Business and Enterprise	Python in Excel availability
Copilot in Excel	Edit, plan and chat modes	Edit, plan and chat modes	Edit, plan and chat modes	Get started with Copilot in Excel
Goal Seek, Data Tables, Solver	Yes	Yes	Not available; you can view the results	Excel for the web service description
Create external data connections	Yes	Yes (Power Query sources above)	View only, per Microsoft's service description	Excel for the web service description
Work offline	Yes	Yes	No; needs an internet connection	Excel for the web service description
Rows and columns per sheet	10,48,576 by 16,384	10,48,576 by 16,384	Same grid; workbooks over 100 MB cannot be viewed in the browser from SharePoint Online	Excel limits, Excel for the web service description

Checked on 7 October 2026

Microsoft updates Excel for the web and Mac often (Power Query on the web gained the editor in 2026, for example). Each row links to the page we checked. Some of Microsoft's own pages are older than others, so if two pages disagree, test in your version.

Keyboard differences that trip people up

Action	Windows	Mac
Toggle absolute and relative references	F4	Cmd+T or F4
AutoSum	Alt+=	Shift+Cmd+T
Enter today's date	Ctrl+;	Ctrl+;
Fill down	Ctrl+D	Ctrl+D (also Cmd+D)
Paste Special	Ctrl+Alt+V	Cmd+Ctrl+V

Source: Keyboard shortcuts in Excel (Windows and Mac tabs). In Excel for the web, browser shortcuts can clash with Excel's; Microsoft lets you change this under Help > Keyboard Shortcuts.

Choosing a platform for a shared workbook

Everyone on Windows desktop: use anything, including Power Pivot and VBA.
Some readers on Mac: avoid Power Pivot and the Data Model; use normal PivotTables, Power Query (Microsoft 365) and formulas.
Readers in the browser: avoid VBA and what-if tools; use formulas, PivotTables and Office Scripts; save Goal Seek or Solver results as values.
Co-editing at the same time: store the file in OneDrive or SharePoint so all three versions can open it together.

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

Open your finished workbook in the browser once before you send it. Five minutes in Excel for the web shows you which buttons, macros or connections your readers will lose, while you can still fix them.

Practice task

Open the Checklist sheet and mark Y/N for the features your current report uses. How many gaps does it count?
Open the practice file in Excel for the web (upload it to OneDrive) and try the Data tab. Which commands are missing?
On a Mac, find the shortcut that toggles absolute references and test it on a formula.
Rewrite one VBA task you use as a list of steps that an Office Script or Power Query could do.

Learn it properly

Course lessons:

Frequently asked questions

Does Excel for Mac have Power Query?

Yes, in Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac, from Data > Get Data, with a shorter list of data sources than Windows. Microsoft lists the supported sources on its Power Query data sources page.

Can I run macros in Excel for the web?

No, you cannot create or run VBA macros in the browser. The workbook keeps its VBA, so desktop users can still run it. Office Scripts are the web-friendly way to automate.

Is Excel for the web free?

You can use Excel for the web with a Microsoft account; business features such as Power Query authoring depend on your Microsoft 365 plan.

Why is Power Pivot missing on my Mac?

Microsoft does not include Power Pivot in Office for Mac. Use normal PivotTables, Power Query or a Windows PC for Data Model work.