OpenDocument Spreadsheet vs Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy): Which Should You Use?

Side-by-side comparison of OpenDocument Spreadsheet and Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) spreadsheet formats — features, pros, cons, and conversion options.

Quick Answer

OpenDocument Spreadsheet is best for Open-source spreadsheet editing. Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) is best for Legacy Excel spreadsheets.

Quick Verdict

OpenDocument Spreadsheet Best for Open-source spreadsheet editing
  • Open standard
  • Free to use
  • Good formula support
  • Limited Excel macro compatibility
Convert OpenDocument Spreadsheet to Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) →
Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) Best for Legacy Excel spreadsheets
  • Wide legacy compatibility
  • Full formula support
  • Macro and VBA support
  • Proprietary binary format
Convert Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) to OpenDocument Spreadsheet →

Specs Comparison

Side-by-side technical comparison of OpenDocument Spreadsheet and Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)

Feature OpenDocument Spreadsheet Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)
Category Spreadsheet Spreadsheet
Year Introduced 2005 1987
MIME Type application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet application/vnd.ms-excel
Extensions .ods .xls
Formatting
Formulas
Multi Sheet
Images
Editable
Plain Text

Pros & Cons

OpenDocument Spreadsheet

Pros
  • ✓ Open standard
  • ✓ Free to use
  • ✓ Good formula support
Cons
  • ✗ Limited Excel macro compatibility
  • ✗ Fewer advanced features
  • ✗ Less corporate adoption

Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)

Pros
  • ✓ Wide legacy compatibility
  • ✓ Full formula support
  • ✓ Macro and VBA support
Cons
  • ✗ Proprietary binary format
  • ✗ 65,536 row limit
  • ✗ Security risks from macros

When to Use Each

Choose OpenDocument Spreadsheet when...

  • You need files optimized for Open-source spreadsheet editing
  • Open standard
  • Free to use

Choose Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) when...

  • You need files optimized for Legacy Excel spreadsheets
  • Wide legacy compatibility
  • Full formula support

How to Convert

Convert between OpenDocument Spreadsheet and Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) for free on ChangeThisFile

Convert OpenDocument Spreadsheet to Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) Server-side conversion — auto-deleted after processing Convert Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) to OpenDocument Spreadsheet Server-side conversion — auto-deleted after processing

Frequently Asked Questions

OpenDocument Spreadsheet is best for Open-source spreadsheet editing, while Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) is best for Legacy Excel spreadsheets. Both are spreadsheet formats but they differ in compression, compatibility, and intended use cases.

It depends on your use case. OpenDocument Spreadsheet is better for Open-source spreadsheet editing. Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) is better for Legacy Excel spreadsheets. Consider your specific requirements when choosing between them.

Go to the OpenDocument Spreadsheet to Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) converter on ChangeThisFile. Upload your file and the conversion processes on the server, then auto-deletes. It's free with no signup required.

Yes. ChangeThisFile supports Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) to OpenDocument Spreadsheet conversion. Upload your file for server-side conversion — files are auto-deleted after processing.

File size varies depending on the content, compression method, and quality settings of each format. In general, lossy formats produce smaller files than lossless ones. Test with your specific files to compare actual sizes.

OpenDocument Spreadsheet and Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) share some features but differ in others. Check the feature comparison table above for a detailed side-by-side breakdown.

Both OpenDocument Spreadsheet and Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) are supported file formats that are free to use. You can convert between them for free on ChangeThisFile — server-side conversions are free with no signup required.

OpenDocument Spreadsheet is newer — it was introduced in 2005, while Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) dates back to 1987. Newer formats often offer better compression and features, but older formats tend to have wider compatibility.

Related Comparisons

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