MPL-2.0freeRuns locallyWriting & Office
LibreOffice Calc: Free Open-Source Excel Alternative
Spreadsheet module of the MPL-2.0 LibreOffice suite. Latest branch 26.8.1.
- License
- MPL-2.0
- Stars
- 4,536 (2026-10-20)
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- First seen
- 2011-01-25
TL;DR. LibreOffice Calc is Spreadsheet module of the MPL-2.0 LibreOffice suite. Latest branch 26.8.1. License: MPL-2.0 (verified). Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux. Price: free. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to Microsoft Excel.
| Name | LibreOffice Calc |
|---|---|
| Language | C++ |
| Suite | LibreOffice |
| License | MPL-2.0 |
| Pricing | free |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Runs locally | Yes |
| Stats | 4,536 stars · 987 forks (as of 2026-10-20) |
| First seen | 2011-01-25 |
| Repository | https://gerrit.libreoffice.org/ |
LibreOffice Calc is the spreadsheet in The Document Foundation’s LibreOffice suite. It is listed on Excel alternatives as the long-standing open office option, not because we ranked it against Microsoft Excel.
Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-20: libreoffice.org/about-us/licenses/ (MPL-2.0), download, release notes, TDF blogs for 26.8.1, and the read-only GitHub mirror LibreOffice/core.
Key facts (2026-10-20)
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Spreadsheet (Calc) inside a six-app suite | libreoffice.org |
| Latest branch | 26.8.1 (8 October 2026) | TDF blog / release-notes |
| Previous branch | 26.2.6, EOL 30 November 2026 | same |
| License (official page) | MPL-2.0 | libreoffice.org/about-us/licenses/ |
| GitHub API license | GPL-3.0 (COPYING in the mirror) | GitHub LibreOffice/core |
| GitHub mirror stars / forks | 4,536 / 987 | GitHub API 2026-10-20 |
| Mirror last push | 2026-10-19T21:28:23Z | same |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | download page |
26.8.1 is described as a bug-fix of the 26.8 family (~40 fixes), including OOXML (DOCX/XLSX/PPTX) compatibility. 26.8 itself (26 August 2026) added Markdown import/export and connectors in Calc and Writer. Those are TDF sentences. We did not retest them.
Related
- Excel alternatives
- LibreOffice Impress · ONLYOFFICE
- GridCraft (alpha Rust XLSX editor)
- Microsoft Word alternatives (WordCraft)
- PowerPoint alternatives
FAQ
Is LibreOffice Calc free?
Yes. libreoffice.org/about-us/licenses/ (opened 2026-10-20) states MPL-2.0. GitHub’s LibreOffice/core license field shows GPL-3.0 because of a COPYING file; the official licenses page is the source we copy. Not legal advice.
What version should I install?
TDF’s 2026-10-08 blog and the release-notes page present LibreOffice 26.8.1 as the latest branch (recommended for people who want new features). LibreOffice 26.2.6 is the previous “mature” branch, supported until 30 November 2026. We have not timed an install.
Why cite GitHub stars for LibreOffice?
GitHub LibreOffice/core is a read-only mirror (no PRs; use Gerrit). The 4,536 star count (2026-10-20 API) is that mirror, not a Gerrit popularity claim.
Should I pick Calc or GridCraft?
Calc is the long-standing spreadsheet in a full office suite. GridCraft is a new alpha Rust XLSX editor. See Excel alternatives. We have no sourced quality ranking.
Sources & verification
- https://www.libreoffice.org/about-us/licenses/
- https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice/
- https://www.libreoffice.org/download/release-notes/
- https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/10/08/lo-26-8-1-available-at-last/
- https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/10/02/libreoffice-26-8-1/
- https://github.com/LibreOffice/core
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Libre_Office_7.2(calc).png
License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.