From Spreadsheet to App — In Minutes
Your spreadsheet is already an app. It just needs a better UI. Airrange turns your Excel workbooks into interactive web apps that anyone can use — with your formulas fully intact. No coding, no rewriting, no starting over.
What Is a Spreadsheet App?
A spreadsheet app is an application that is powered by spreadsheet data and formulas, but presents a polished user interface instead of a raw grid of cells. Users interact with forms, buttons, charts, and calculated results — without seeing (or breaking) the underlying spreadsheet.
There are two types of spreadsheet apps:
- Spreadsheet software — apps designed for creating and editing spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc). These are tools for spreadsheet authors.
- Apps built from spreadsheets — applications that use spreadsheet logic as their engine, but provide a custom interface for end users. This is what Airrange does.
If you're looking for a better spreadsheet editor, check out Excel or Google Sheets. If you want to turn your existing spreadsheet into an app that others can use — read on.
Why Excel Alone Isn't Enough
Sharing is all-or-nothing
When you share an Excel file, recipients see everything — formulas, sensitive data, hidden sheets. With a spreadsheet app, you control exactly what users see and interact with.
Formulas break constantly
Every shared Excel file eventually suffers from overwritten formulas, deleted rows, or format changes. An app protects your logic — users interact through a controlled interface.
Mobile is a disaster
Excel on phones is barely usable. Spreadsheet apps are responsive — they adapt to any screen size, making them usable on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Version chaos
report_v3_final_FINAL(2).xlsx — sound familiar? A spreadsheet app has one live version. Everyone always uses the latest data and calculations.
No embedding, no APIs
You can't embed an Excel file on a website or call it from an automation tool. Spreadsheet apps can be embedded anywhere and exposed as REST APIs.
Airrange vs Traditional Spreadsheet Apps
| Excel | Google Sheets | Airrange | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | Cell grid | Cell grid | Custom app UI |
| Formula engine | Full | Limited | Full (Excel native) |
| Sharing control | File-level | File-level | Cell-level |
| Formula protection | Password (breakable) | None | Fully hidden |
| Mobile experience | Poor | Decent | Responsive web app |
| Embeddable | No | View-only | Full interactive embed |
| REST API | No | Apps Script | Yes (SpreadAPI) |
| Version control | Manual | Auto-save | Single live version |
| Offline | Yes | Limited | Enterprise option |
| Data location | Your device | Google Cloud (US) | Your device + EU Cloud |
| Free | No (M365 license) | Yes | Yes (25 elements) |
What You Can Build From a Spreadsheet
Calculators & Pricing Tools
Turn complex Excel pricing models into interactive calculators. Customers configure options, your formulas calculate the result. Embed on your website.
Forms & Data Collection
Create structured input forms powered by your spreadsheet. Validation, conditional logic, multi-step workflows — without coding.
Dashboards & Reports
Transform static Excel reports into interactive dashboards. Stakeholders filter and explore data without touching the spreadsheet.
Insurance & Finance Tools
Premium calculators, risk scoring, financial models. Domain experts maintain the Excel, end users see a polished application.
Shared Workbook Areas
Share specific cell ranges securely — without exposing the entire workbook. Collect feedback and merge it back. Cell-level permissions.
APIs & Automation
Expose spreadsheet calculations as REST APIs for AI agents, chatbots, CRM integrations, and workflow automation tools.
How to Build a Spreadsheet App
Open your spreadsheet
Sign in to Airrange and open your Excel file. Works with local .xlsx files and Microsoft 365. Your file is read in the browser — nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Pick what matters
Select input cells (where users enter data) and output cells (where results appear). Add charts, tables, and print areas. Airrange detects your formulas automatically.
Design the app
Drag & drop elements to build a clean interface. Add labels, sections, rich text, navigation, and your branding. Make it responsive for all devices.
Publish
One click to publish. Share via link, embed on your website, add to Teams, or create a REST API. Your spreadsheet app is live.
Watch the walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best spreadsheet app?
It depends on what you need. If you want to edit spreadsheets, Excel and Google Sheets are the standard. If you want to turn spreadsheets into apps for others to use, Airrange is purpose-built for that — especially for calculation-heavy Excel models.
Is there a free spreadsheet app?
Google Sheets is free for editing spreadsheets. Airrange has a free plan for building spreadsheet-powered apps — up to 25 elements, no credit card required. See pricing →
Can I turn a spreadsheet into a mobile app?
Yes. Airrange creates responsive web apps that work on any device — desktop, tablet, and phone. No app store needed. Users simply open the link in their browser.
Do my Excel formulas work in the app?
All of them. Airrange uses the Excel calculation engine natively. VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, SUMPRODUCT, array formulas, named ranges — everything works exactly as in your spreadsheet.
Can I share only part of my spreadsheet?
Yes. Airrange's granular sharing feature lets you share specific cell ranges without exposing the rest of your workbook. You control exactly what recipients can see and edit.
Do I need to upload my spreadsheet?
No. Your Excel file is read directly in your browser. Airrange extracts only the data needed for the app runtime. Your original file never leaves your device.