Run the full Windows version of Microsoft Excel on Mac

Run the full Windows version of Microsoft Excel on Mac

Excel for Mac does not include Power Pivot, the Data Model, interactive Pivot Charts, the full VBA object model, or Windows-only add-ons like CapIQ, JetReports, and Kutools.

Parallels Desktop runs the full Windows version of Excel on Mac, with Microsoft authorization for Windows 11 on Apple silicon.

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Trusted by over 7 million Mac users worldwide

"It's very easy to install, it's intuitive to use, coherence mode alone is an amazing bonus that I was not expecting. I use Parallels Desktop primarily for the Windows version of MS Office Suite, specifically Excel, as the macOS versions are severely stripped down in terms of features and missing many keyboard shortcuts."

Informatics and Database Officer

"I like the ease of use and overall performance of Parallels Desktop. I use the Microsoft stack, specifically Power Bi, Power Query, and Excel, as well as some light gaming (an old game called Dark Age of Camelot)."

Director, Business Operations Analyst

"I have good experience in the last ten years using Word and Excel on Parallels Desktop. This is revolutionary to be able to enjoy in the same platform both Mac's and Windows advantages."

President of the Academy of Hebrew Language

Why Excel for Mac isn’t the same

Power Pivot and the Data Model don't exist on Mac

Power Pivot relies on a specific in-memory database engine called the Data Model. That engine isn't present in Excel for Mac at all. Microsoft has confirmed this directly: There’s no setting to enable, no add-on to install, and no workaround. Mac users cannot build Power Pivot models, cannot create relationships between tables in the Data Model, cannot use DAX measures, and cannot Load To Data Model from Power Query. If your work depends on Power Pivot, Excel for Mac will not run it. Parallels Desktop runs the full Windows version of Excel, with the complete Power Pivot and Data Model capability that Microsoft built for Windows.

Pivot Charts are interactive on Windows, but static on Mac

Pivot Charts on Windows are interactive: Clicking a chart filter or slicer updates the underlying Pivot Table and the chart together. On Mac, Pivot Charts behave more like static screenshots. Source-data filters do not propagate, and slicer interactions are limited or unavailable. For analysts who use Pivot Charts as the front end of an interactive dashboard, this is a meaningful gap. Running the Windows version of Excel through Parallels Desktop allows for full interactive Pivot Chart behavior.

Excel for Mac runs a smaller VBA object model than Windows

Excel for Mac supports VBA, but the object model is smaller than the Windows version. ActiveX controls and Form Controls aren’t supported on Mac. COM add-ons don't run on Mac. Macros that work on a colleague's Windows machine can fail or behave differently on Mac, breaking financial models, automated reports, and any workflow built around Excel automation. Parallels Desktop runs the full Windows VBA object model with ActiveX, Form Controls, and COM add-on support.

Most professional Excel add-ons are Windows only

The add-ons that finance, accounting, and BI teams depend on are largely built for Windows. CapIQ for company financials, JetReports for Microsoft Dynamics reporting, Kutools and ASAP Utilities for power-user productivity, F9 for financial reporting, PowerUser, XLGL, SpreadsheetConverter, and Collectica are all Windows only and won’t run on Mac.

Excel for Mac cannot connect to several Windows data sources

Excel for Windows connects to a wide range of data sources, including ODBC SQL, Microsoft Access, web tables, PDF, JSON, XML, and more. Excel for Mac supports a smaller set, and several of these connectors are unavailable. Even where Power Query is available on Mac, there’s no option to Load To Data Model because the Data Model itself is missing. Running the Windows version of Excel through Parallels Desktop gives Mac users complete Windows data connectivity.

Windows-only Excel add-ons and how to run them on Mac

Add-on What it does Who needs it
CapIQ Office Plug-in S&P Capital IQ's Office plug-in pulls company financials, market data, transaction comps, and ratings directly into Excel cells. The standard way to use it on a Mac is to run Windows Excel through Parallels Desktop. Investment banking, equity research, M&A, private equity
JetReports JetReports is a financial reporting add-on for Microsoft Dynamics ERP environments. It builds live, refreshable financial statements directly in Excel. Dynamics 365/NAV/GP finance teams, controllers
Kutools for Excel Kutools adds 300+ productivity tools to Excel: Batch operations, advanced merging, complex find and replace, sheet management. Mac users run it via Parallels Desktop. Power-user accountants, analysts, operations teams
ASAP Utilities ASAP Utilities is one of the longest-running Excel productivity add-ons, with tools for sorting, formatting, version control, and bulk cell operations. Accountants, analysts, anyone with heavy spreadsheet workflows
F9 Financial Reporting F9 connects Excel directly to general ledger data for live financial reports with no manual export needed. Accountants, controllers, FP&A teams
PowerUser PowerUser adds advanced charting, mapping, presentation, and data automation features to Excel and PowerPoint. The full Excel add-on feature set is Windows only. Consulting, finance, operations
XLGL XLGL is an Excel-based general ledger and accounting tool used in small business and bookkeeping practices. Small business accounting, bookkeepers
SpreadsheetConverter SpreadsheetConverter turns Excel spreadsheets into HTML web forms and calculators that run in the browser. The Excel-side conversion add-on is Windows only. Web teams converting calculators and forms from Excel
Collectica Collectica integrates Excel with statistical metadata standards (DDI, SDMX) used in research, government statistics, and survey data. Statistical research, government data, survey analysis

Why Parallels Is Better Than Native Mac Excel

Wondering where key tools like comprehensive VBA, Active X and Form Controls, Smart Tags, Power Pivot and more are in Mac Excel?

Mac users, you don’t have to miss out. Your solution is running a virtual machine with the Windows OS on your Mac. Access all the features you know and love in the Microsoft version of Excel and more.

Keyboard shortcuts and layouts
Power Pivot and data analysis
Visual Basic Editor
Use Windows-only plugins
Form Controls and Active X
Data connectivity options

Excel for Mac vs Excel for Windows: Feature comparison

Features Excel on Mac Windows Excel
Comprehensive VBA code capabilities Limited Yes
Ability to connect to multiple data sources Limited Yes
View “Side by Side” option Limited Yes
“Smart Tag” feature Limited Yes
Ability to add visual effects Limited Yes
VBA support and animation Limited Yes
Extended ASCII characters Limited Yes
Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) Incomplete Yes
Power Pivot support Limited Yes
Active X & Form Controls Limited Yes
Data connectivity (ODBC SQL, Access, web, PDF, JSON, XML) Limited Yes
Import data from a wide variety of file formats, including PDF, JSON, XML, etc. Limited Yes
Forecasting Limited Yes
Multi-item clip boarding Limited Yes
Power Pivot Mac Not available Available
Data Model Mac Not available Available
Interactive Pivot Charts Mac Limited Interactive
Power Query Load To Data Model Mac Limited Yes
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Parallels Desktop for Mac

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Optimized for Mac M-series icon Optimized for Mac M-series

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  • Use 200,000+ Windows apps
  • Access the full range of Excel features
  • No need for a second Windows machine
  • Switch between macOS and Windows effortlessly
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The verdict: Excel for Mac vs Excel for Windows

Use Excel for Mac for general spreadsheet use

Excel for Mac handles general spreadsheet work well: Formulas, charts, basic Pivot Tables, basic Power Query, and most everyday analysis. If you don't use Power Pivot, don't need the Data Model, don't depend on interactive Pivot Charts, don't run macros built around the full Windows VBA object model, and don't use any Windows-only add-ons, the native Mac version is sufficient.

Run the Windows version of Excel through Parallels Desktop if you need the full feature set

Run the Windows version of Excel through Parallels Desktop if your work needs Power Pivot, the Data Model, interactive Pivot Charts, the full Windows VBA object model, ActiveX or Form Controls, Microsoft Query/ODBC connections, or any Windows-only add-on like CapIQ, JetReports, Kutools, ASAP Utilities, F9, PowerUser, XLGL, SpreadsheetConverter, Collectica. Great for financial analysts, BI teams, accountants, investment bankers, and anyone moving to Mac from a Windows-centric Excel workflow.

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On Apple silicon, Parallels Desktop is the only Microsoft-authorized option

Parallels Desktop is the only solution Microsoft has authorized to run Windows 11 on Apple silicon Macs. That authorization covers license compliance and Windows update access on M-series hardware. If you’re running Excel on a recent Mac (M1 through M5, MacBook Neo) and need the Windows version for Power Pivot, the Data Model, or any Windows-only add-on, Parallels Desktop is the only authorized way to do it.

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How to set up Microsoft Excel on your Mac with Parallels Desktop

Download and install Parallels Desktop

Download Parallels Desktop and run the installer. Installation takes under five minutes on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. No configuration is required before moving to step 2.

Install Windows 11 automatically

Parallels Desktop downloads and installs Windows 11 automatically on Apple silicon Macs. There is no ISO to find and no manual driver setup. A Windows license is required for activation but not required to start using Windows in trial mode.

Install Microsoft 365 and Excel inside Windows

Open the Edge browser inside your new Windows VM, sign in with the Microsoft 365 account that holds your Excel license, and download the Microsoft 365 installer. Run the installer, sign into Excel, and your existing license will activate automatically. If you don't have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can also install standalone Excel from microsoft.com.

Turn on Coherence mode so Excel behaves like a native Mac app

In your Parallels Desktop settings, switch your VM to Coherence mode. The Windows version of Excel will appear in your Mac dock, in your Cmd-Tab switcher, and in Mission Control like any other Mac app. The Windows desktop disappears so only Excel is visible. You can pin it to your dock for one-click access.

Install your Windows-only Excel add-ons

Inside Windows, open Excel and install any add-ons you need: CapIQ, JetReports, Kutools, ASAP Utilities, F9, PowerUser, XLGL, SpreadsheetConverter, or Collectica. Each one installs the same way it would on a native Windows machine. Your add-on licenses follow standard vendor activation. To use Power Pivot, enable it in File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins.

Who runs Excel on Mac with Parallels Desktop

Financial analysts and accountants

FP&A analysts, controllers, and senior accountants who build large financial models depend on Power Pivot, the Data Model, full Power Query Load To, and the complete Windows VBA object model. Many also use F9 for live general ledger reporting and JetReports for Microsoft Dynamics environments. None of those are available on the Mac version of Excel. Running Excel through Parallels Desktop on a Mac gives finance teams access without leaving their company-issued Mac hardware.

Business intelligence and data analysts

Power Pivot is the desktop entry point to the Microsoft BI stack. The same DAX expressions and model relationships that power Power BI desktop start in Power Pivot. Excel for Mac does not include the Data Model engine that Power Pivot relies on. BI analysts on Mac who need to author or refine Power Pivot models, build cube hierarchies, or query data with DAX measures run Excel through Parallels Desktop.

Investment banking, private equity, and equity research

IB analysts and associates depend on the CapIQ Office plug-in to pull S&P Capital IQ company financials, market data, and transaction comps directly into Excel cells. CapIQ is Windows only. Many shops also depend on Think-Cell-style chart automation and Bloomberg Office add-ons for data refresh. Running Excel via Parallels Desktop on a MacBook Pro is the solution for analysts who prefer Mac hardware for everything except their financial modeling stack.

Power-user accountants and small business operators

Bookkeepers, small business accountants, and operations managers who depend on Kutools, ASAP Utilities, or XLGL for daily productivity have no native Mac alternative. These add-ons are Windows only. Running the Windows version of Excel through Parallels Desktop keeps this productivity stack intact on Mac hardware.

Why choose Parallels Desktop?

Authorized by Microsoft
Authorized by Microsoft

Parallels Desktop is the only virtualization tool Microsoft has authorized to run Windows 11.

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Gain access to 50+ free productivity tools designed to simplify tasks.

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24/7 phone, chat and email support for subscribers. Get in touch anytime, anywhere.

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Using Microsoft Excel on Mac FAQs

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Run the full Windows version of Microsoft Excel on your Mac

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