Where to Learn Microsoft Excel Online: Top Resources for All Skill Levels
Microsoft Excel is a versatile and powerful tool that can be used for a wide range of applications, from data entry and storage to budgeting, data analysis, and project management. Whether you’re a marketer, freelancer, entrepreneur, or business owner, having Excel skills is essential. Here are the top resources to learn Microsoft Excel online, both free and paid, to help you enhance your skills and become proficient in using this powerful application.
Free Resources
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GoSkills & HubSpot Academy Excel for Marketers Course
This course is designed for marketers but is universally applicable. It covers common formulas, functions, and shortcuts, and can be completed in under two hours.
What to Expect: Time-saving hacks, mastery of essential Excel skills, and a certificate of achievement.
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Microsoft’s Excel for Windows Training
Microsoft’s official training hub offers a comprehensive set of free tutorials covering the latest version of Excel. The training is organized into functional learning modules, making it easy to understand and practical.
What to Expect: Short, practical, and easy-to-understand video tutorials.
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The Spreadsheet Page
This resource provides professionally designed Excel templates that can be downloaded and customized for personal, business, and educational purposes. It also offers step-by-step instructions for various Excel functions and features.
What to Expect: Hundreds of downloadable spreadsheets with detailed instructions.
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Chandoo.org
Founded by Purna “Chandoo” Duggirala, this site aims to make users awesome at Excel and Power BI. It features a forum where users can ask questions and get answers, and articles based on user queries.
What to Expect: A community-driven resource with articles, tutorials, and a forum.
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Excel Easy
This comprehensive tutorial is divided into chapters covering the basics, functions, data analysis, and VBA. It includes written guides with screenshots and 300 examples to help users master each concept.
What to Expect: Detailed written guides with screenshots and practical examples.
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Excel in an Hour
A free crash course from GoSkills that includes 16 easy-to-digest tutorial videos, downloadable exercise files, and a certificate of completion. It’s designed for beginners and covers essential formulas and functions.
What to Expect: Bite-sized videos, downloadable practice worksheets, and a certificate upon completion.
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Trump Excel
Founded by Sumit Bansal, a Microsoft Excel MVP award winner, this site offers a vast number of free Excel tutorials and videos. It covers topics like Excel functions, VBA, charting, and dashboards.
What to Expect: A wide range of free tutorials, videos, and downloadable resources.
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Introduction to MS Excel (Simplilearn)
A free training course from Simplilearn that covers essential spreadsheet features and real-world tasks. It includes seven hours of self-paced video lessons and is suitable for beginners.
What to Expect: Comprehensive video lessons, practical examples, and a shareable certificate upon completion.
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Microsoft Excel – Improve Your Skills Quickly (Udemy)
A free course on Udemy taught by Phillip Burton, a Microsoft Certified Master Instructor. It covers a wide range of Excel topics and includes over 40 video courses.
What to Expect: Detailed video lessons, practical exercises, and a certificate upon completion.
Paid Resources
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GoSkills
Offers a range of Excel certification courses for all skill levels. The most popular course is Excel – Basic & Advanced, which covers essential real-world skills. It includes bite-sized lessons with video tutorials, practical exercises, and quizzes.
Price: $39 per month (billed monthly) or $20.75 per month (billed yearly).
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Coursera
A global platform offering online classes on various topics, including Excel. It includes video lectures, interactive quizzes, and peer-graded assessments. Popular courses include Introduction to Microsoft Excel and Using Basic Formulas and Functions in Microsoft Excel.
Price: $49-$79 per month for a single topic or $59 per month with Coursera Plus Monthly. A 14-day money-back guarantee is available for the yearly subscription.
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Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning)
Offers thousands of courses on business, technology, creative skills, and software, including over 100 Excel courses and 4,000 video tutorials. It covers broad topics like Excel 2016 Essential Training and niche topics like Pivot Tables in Depth.
Price: Membership starts at $19.99/month with a free trial available.
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Excel Everest
A unique training resource that teaches Excel while you’re in Excel. It includes hundreds of exercises and video tutorials embedded directly in a sample Excel spreadsheet. Topics covered include conditional formatting, VLOOKUP, and chart creation.
Price: $159.
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eLearnExcel
Offers approved Microsoft courses with a 14-day free trial. The subscription options include monthly, yearly, and lifetime access. The courses are used by Microsoft and cover a wide range of Excel topics.
Price: $24 per month (paid monthly), $247 for one-year access, $297 for two-year access, or $999 for lifetime access.
Additional Resources
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ExcelFrog
A blog that shares favorite resources for learning Excel, including Excel-Easy, Exceljet, and Chandoo.org. It provides short articles and video tutorials, but some content requires a subscription.
What to Expect: A variety of resources with a focus on short articles and video tutorials.
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Southern Tide Media
Lists the top 10 resources for learning Excel, including Microsoft’s Excel Training Center, The Spreadsheet Page, and Chandoo.org. It also mentions Lynda.com as a worthwhile investment for those willing to pay.
What to Expect: A comprehensive list of resources covering both free and paid options.
Conclusion
Learning Microsoft Excel can be a rewarding experience, especially with the right resources. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to advance your skills, the resources listed above offer a comprehensive guide to mastering Excel. From free tutorials and templates to paid courses and subscription-based platforms, there’s something for everyone. Start with the free resources and gradually move to paid options as you progress in your learning journey. With dedication and the right tools, you can become proficient in using Microsoft Excel and unlock its full potential for your projects and career.
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Next Steps
- Explore Free Courses: Start your learning journey with free resources such as the GoSkills Excel for Marketers Course or Microsoft’s Excel Training to build a solid foundation in Excel.
- Dive into Tutorials: Enhance your skills with comprehensive tutorials available on Chandoo.org and Excel Easy, offering a plethora of guides and examples tailored for all levels.
- Engage with Online Communities: Join forums and community discussions at Chandoo.org Forum to ask questions and share knowledge with fellow Excel learners.
- Consider Paid Options: If you’re ready for more structured learning, check out platforms like Coursera or Udemy for a wealth of courses.
- Download Practice Files: Fortify your Excel skills by downloading practice files from resources like The Spreadsheet Page to experiment with real-world scenarios.
- Stay Updated: Regularly visit Excel Foundations’ blog for the latest posts and guides, including additional resources to learn Excel online, to continue mastering Excel.