Excel is great for crunching numbers, but as soon as you want to share your work with customers or embed it on your website, it starts to feel clunky. Rows and columns are intimidating, formulas are breakable, and the experience is not mobile-friendly.

That is why many businesses look for ways to convert an Excel spreadsheet into a web app. Free if you're getting started, and something scalable if you require more complex needs in the future.

Here is a complete guide to your options, from simple free methods to professional-grade solutions like ConvertCalculator.

1. Google Sheets (Free and Familiar)

The fastest free way is to upload your Excel file into Google Sheets and publish it online.

How it works: Import your file → go to File → Share → Publish to web → copy the link or embed code.

Pros:

- 100% free
- Supports most Excel formulas
- Real-time collaboration

Cons:

- Looks like a plain spreadsheet
- Easy to break formulas
- Poor mobile experience

Best for: quick sharing, simple dashboards, or lightweight calculators.

2. Microsoft Excel Online (OneDrive)

Another free option is Excel Online, part of Microsoft’s OneDrive.

How it works: Upload your file → open in Excel Online → generate an embed link.

Pros:

- Keeps the familiar Excel layout
- Supports most formulas

Cons:

- Still feels like a spreadsheet, not an app
- Limited customization

Best for: businesses already using Microsoft 365.

3. ConvertCalculator (The Professional Choice)

This is where ConvertCalculator stands out. Instead of forcing customers to interact with a grid of rows and columns, you can turn your spreadsheet into a sleek, branded calculator or web application.

Pricing: Free Tier, Subscription Plans, and Concierge Service

Steps to convert your excel spreadsheet to ConvertCalculator:

1. Prepare your excel or google spreadsheet sheet with formulas

2. Add input fields in ConvertCalculator using an intuitive drag-and-drop builder to design an interface with sliders, dropdowns, toggles, file uploads, charts, and even multi-step flows.

3. Rename cell names in ConvertCalculator to match your spreadsheet cell names.

4. Add formula fields and paste your formula in (without the = sign). All formulas will automatically work.

5. Customize brand colors, fonts, and designs.

6. You can embed it on your anywhere, including Wix, Wordpress, Framer, Ghost.

Watch the video below for a tutorial:

Here's is how ConvertCalculator compares to something like Google Sheets:

User Experience: Google Sheets and Excel use a plain grid UI that feels technical and intimidating, while ConvertCalculator offers sleek, polished calculators with sliders, charts, and step-by-step flows.

Accuracy: In Google Sheets and Excel, it’s easy to break formulas or overwrite cells, but ConvertCalculator ensures accuracy by locking inputs so customers only use fields correctly.

Lead Capture: Google Sheets and Excel have no built-in way to collect user information, whereas ConvertCalculator includes forms to capture contact info, location, and more.

Embedding: Sharing through Google Sheets and Excel requires clunky iFrames or links, while ConvertCalculator lets you embed responsive calculators directly on any page.

Interactivity: Inputs in Google Sheets and Excel are static and limited to typing numbers, but ConvertCalculator adds interactive elements like sliders, toggles, file uploads, and multi-step flows.

Branding: Google Sheets and Excel look like internal tools, while ConvertCalculator delivers a branded experience with your colors, fonts, and logos.

Data & Integrations: With Google Sheets and Excel, leads sit in disconnected spreadsheets, but ConvertCalculator syncs instantly to HubSpot, Zapier, and your CRM.

Mobile Experience: Google Sheets and Excel require pinch-zooming on tiny cells, while ConvertCalculator is mobile-first and responsive across all devices.

Analytics: Google Sheets and Excel don’t offer performance tracking, but ConvertCalculator includes built-in analytics to measure engagement and drop-offs.

Maintenance: Updates in Google Sheets and Excel must be done manually, while ConvertCalculator publishes changes instantly across all embeds.

Converting Complex Spreadsheets to Web Apps

With ConvertCalculator, you can go far beyond basic calculators. Teams use it to create pricing calculators, ROI calculators, quote builders, savings estimators, subscription cost breakdowns, lead qualification flows, and interactive forms. These web apps not only make complex math user-friendly but also capture leads and guide prospects toward purchase decisions. You can explore ready-to-use calculator templates to get started quickly.

ConvertCalculator also supports visual experiences for different markets. For example, companies build product configurators that show images as customers make choices, pool configurators for builders and contractors, and interactive finance tools for SaaS businesses. Whether it is construction, manufacturing, real estate, or digital products, you can tailor calculators to your industry and design them to look like a natural part of your website.

For inspiration, you can browse all use cases and see how businesses in different markets are using ConvertCalculator to build customer-facing apps that look professional and drive results.

4. Build It Yourself With HTML/JS

If you are comfortable coding, you can export your spreadsheet as CSV and connect it to open-source libraries like DataTables.js, Handsontable, or Chart.js, then host it free on GitHub Pages.

Pros: free and fully customizable

Cons: requires technical setup

Best for: developers and hobby projects.

Choosing the Right Path

Need something free and quick? → Google Sheets

Already in Microsoft ecosystem? → Excel Online

Want a professional, branded tool with real business value? → ConvertCalculator. ConvertCalculator also offers a free tier. If you do not want to build it yourself, you can hand off your spreadsheet to the concierge and get a working calculator back.

For businesses, ConvertCalculator offers the best balance of ease, professionalism, and lead generation.
For individuals or one-off projects, Google Sheets is the fastest free option.