Where to find spreadsheet templates and what to check first

Choose a template source by the file format it ships in, whether its formulas work, and what the free tier allows. Most of the sources in the spreadsheet template libraries ranking are free libraries of Excel files. Sheet Reserve* sells a paid library with cited datasets, and Smartsheet's templates belong to a paid work management product.

Check the file format before you download

Most templates in the ranking are Excel files, so Google Sheets users need to check the format before they rely on one. Vertex42 is mostly built for Excel rather than Google Sheets. The Spreadsheet Page and ExcelDataPro are built around Excel workbooks, and both advise Google Sheets users to check the format first. Someka publishes both Excel and Google Sheets templates. Spreadsheet123 mixes Excel with Word files such as business cards and address labels, and EXCELTEMPLATES.org posts its templates as Excel files.

Sheet Reserve has the widest format list in the ranking. Members can download any sheet as XLSX, CSV, ODS, XML or Apple Numbers, so a file can go into the program you already use. Smartsheet is the outlier, because its templates belong to its own work management platform rather than being standalone files.

Test the formulas before you rely on them

A template is only as useful as its calculations. Sheet Reserve's templates use live formulas with fictional example data, and its preview lets you inspect cells and formulas before you download. Vertex42 includes calculators in several templates, such as a gas mileage log and a time card calculator, so the workbook does the arithmetic. Someka offers free examples that show what its templates produce, which lets you judge a design before you pay for its Premium membership.

Whichever source you use, enter a few values whose results you already know, then check the totals by hand before you use the file for real work. A formula that returns a plausible number can still be wrong.

What the free tiers and paid plans cost

Free access has limits you should read first. Vertex42's template pages carry advertisements. The Spreadsheet Page says every file on its site is free to download and use, and it has shared templates since 2005. ExcelDataPro says all its templates are free to use, including for commercial purposes. Spreadsheet123 offers free templates and calculators, and each entry shows an updated date, which helps when you compare versions.

Sheet Reserve* is the paid case. Two sheets are free after you confirm your email address with an account, and downloads need an account. The $19.85 a year membership covers every sheet in the library, including sheets added during the year, so it suits someone who needs several sheets over a year rather than one. Access ends at the end of the paid year after cancellation, and the product lists 14-day refunds. Someka's Premium membership adds more templates and discounts on the company's products, while its custom Excel solutions are a separate service.

Datasets with sources and licenses

Sheet Reserve is the only product in the ranking that publishes public datasets. Its eight datasets include world country codes, capitals, area and population, and each one names its source, license and citation. If you need figures with a named source, that is the product to check. The rest of the ranking covers templates rather than data.

The catalogue holds 68 sheets, and only two are free without the membership. A niche need, such as a specific trade or a specific calculation, may not be covered, so search the catalogue before you buy.

Team galleries and single workbooks

Smartsheet is a different kind of source. Its template gallery can be browsed without an account, and its templates are grouped by use and by complexity level, such as low, medium or high. The templates belong to the paid work management product, which is priced per member per month and offers a free trial. They suit teams that track work inside Smartsheet, not people who want a single file that they can open and keep. If you only need one workbook, the Excel libraries above are the simpler fit.

Our picks from the ranking

The ranking places the products covered here in this order, with the editorial score in brackets:

• Sheet Reserve* (84.5): several specialized sheets and cited datasets each year, on a paid membership.
• Vertex42 (88.0): free Excel templates for personal and small business use.
• The Spreadsheet Page (86.0): free Excel templates for households and small firms, with tutorials.
• ExcelDataPro (83.5): free Excel finance, accounting and HR workbooks for accountants and small firms.
• Spreadsheet123 (81.5): quick free templates for one task, with Excel and some Word files.
• Someka (79.0): designed business workbooks in Excel or Google Sheets, with a Premium membership.
• EXCELTEMPLATES.org (76.0): one quick editable Excel template, usually found through search.
• Smartsheet (66.5): team project tracking inside Smartsheet, not a standalone workbook.

What to do next

Start with the file format you need, because most templates here are Excel files. Use a preview or a free example where the library offers one, and check the formulas with numbers you already know. If you need one sheet for one task, try a free library first. If you need several specialized sheets or cited datasets over a year, compare the Sheet Reserve membership with the free options before you pay. The free filter on the ranking shows the free libraries, and the spreadsheet app guide covers file formats, sharing and cost when you choose the app itself.