It used to be a joke. If you were a serious "Excel person"—the kind of person who dreams in VLOOKUPs and builds three-statement financial models for fun—you didn't use a Mac. You just didn't. The shortcuts were different, the Power Pivot support was nonexistent, and the whole thing felt like a clunky afterthought from Microsoft’s Mac Business Unit. But things have changed. Excel for Apple computer has quietly evolved into a powerhouse that, for 95% of users, is actually indistinguishable from the PC version.
Honestly, the transition to Apple Silicon (M1, M2, and M3 chips) was the turning point.
Microsoft optimized the code for ARM architecture early on. Now, if you’re running a massive spreadsheet on a MacBook Pro, it often feels snappier than it does on a bulky Dell workstation. It’s weird to say, but the hardware-software synergy is finally there.
The "Shortcut Gap" and why it drives people crazy
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the keyboard.
If you grew up on Windows, your fingers have muscle memory for Alt + H + O + I to auto-fit columns. On a Mac, that doesn't work. There is no Alt key—well, there’s Option, but it doesn't trigger the ribbon shortcuts the same way. This is usually where the frustration starts. Most people think Excel for Apple computer is "missing features," but often, the feature is just hiding behind a different keystroke.
You've got the Command key doing the heavy lifting now. Instead of Ctrl + 1 to format cells, it’s Cmd + 1. Simple enough, right? But the lack of "Alt-key sequences" remains the biggest hurdle for power users moving from PC to Mac. You can’t just tap your way through the top menu without a mouse.
👉 See also: How Far Away Is Moon From Earth: The Weird Truth About That Massive Gap
However, Microsoft did something smart recently. They’ve started allowing more customization for keyboard shortcuts in the Mac version. You can actually go into the macOS System Settings and force specific Menu Title commands to respond to whatever keys you want. It’s a workaround, but it’s a lifesaver for analysts who can't afford to slow down.
What’s actually missing? (Let's be real)
I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s a 1:1 match. It isn't.
If your job depends on Power Pivot or the Data Model, you’re going to hit a wall. As of early 2026, the Mac version still doesn't natively support the full Power Pivot add-in that Windows users rely on for massive relational data sets. You can view a file that has a Data Model, and you can even interact with Pivot Tables linked to it, but you can’t build the underlying relationships from scratch on a Mac.
Then there’s VBA.
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) technically works on Mac, but it’s a nightmare. The editor looks like it was designed in 1995. More importantly, many Windows-specific APIs aren't available. If you have a macro that interacts with the Windows File Explorer or specific DLL files, it will crash the second it hits a MacBook.
The Office Scripts alternative
Microsoft is clearly pushing Office Scripts (based on TypeScript) as the future. These scripts run in the cloud and work perfectly across Windows, Mac, and the Web. If you're starting a new automation project today, don't use VBA. Seriously. Use Office Scripts. It’s the only way to ensure your work stays cross-platform.
Performance on M-Series chips
I recently tested a 500,000-row dataset with complex INDEX(MATCH) formulas on an M3 Max MacBook. It was silent. No fan noise. No beachball of death.
Apple's Unified Memory Architecture is basically a cheat code for Excel. Because the CPU and GPU share the same pool of high-speed memory, data-heavy operations that used to choke an Intel i7 chip just fly. If you’re choosing an Apple computer for Excel work, the RAM is more important than the processor. 16GB is the bare minimum; 32GB is the sweet spot if you’re doing heavy data manipulation.
Don't settle for 8GB. Just don't.
Collaboration and the "Version Control" nightmare
One thing the Mac version handles beautifully is OneDrive integration.
- AutoSave actually works now.
- Co-authoring is seamless between a guy on an iMac in London and a girl on a Surface Pro in New York.
- Version History is accessible directly from the title bar.
There was a time when opening a "Mac Excel" file on a PC would mess up the fonts or the print scaling. That’s mostly gone. Microsoft uses "Calibri" or "Aptos" as the default across both, so the formatting stays tight. The only lingering issue is usually the "Page Layout" view, which sometimes renders slightly differently because of how macOS handles display scaling (Retina vs. Standard).
Real-world tips for the Mac Power User
If you're committed to using Excel for Apple computer, you need to change your setup slightly.
First, get a full-sized keyboard with a number pad. Using a laptop keyboard for data entry is a recipe for carpal tunnel. Second, learn the "Function" key settings. By default, Macs use the F-keys for brightness and volume. In Excel, you need F2 to edit a cell and F4 to toggle absolute references. You should go to System Settings > Keyboard and toggle "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys." It changes everything.
✨ Don't miss: Does the USPS Send Text Messages About Packages? How to Spot the Smishing Scams
Also, check out Power Query. For a long time, this was the reason people stayed on Windows. But Microsoft finally brought the Power Query editor to the Mac. You can now refresh connections to SQL databases, local Folders, and Web tables. It’s not quite as feature-rich as the Windows version (some connectors are still missing), but the core engine is there.
Helpful Add-ins to bridge the gap
There are tools like Macabacus or Parallels. If you are in investment banking, you probably need Macabacus for formatting, but they only recently started supporting Mac in a limited capacity.
If you absolutely must have the Windows version of Excel on your Mac, don't buy a PC. Just use Parallels Desktop. It lets you run Windows 11 in a window on your Mac. You can open the Windows version of Excel right next to your Mac apps. On M-series chips, it runs faster than it does on most actual Windows laptops. It's a weird paradox, but it's true.
Practical Steps to Optimize Your Workflow
Stop trying to make the Mac version act like Windows. It’s a losing battle. Instead, embrace the strengths of the macOS environment.
- Map your own shortcuts: Use the "App Shortcuts" feature in macOS settings to create commands for things like "Paste Values."
- Use the Trackpad: The "Pinch to Zoom" on a Mac trackpad is infinitely smoother than any mouse wheel on Windows. It makes navigating huge sheets much faster.
- Clean up your Ribbon: Right-click the Ribbon and customize it. Remove the junk you don't use to save screen real estate, especially on a 13-inch MacBook Air.
- Adopt LAMBDA functions: Since Mac users have less access to certain add-ins, use the
LAMBDAfunction to create your own custom, reusable functions without needing VBA. - Check your File Format: Always save as
.xlsxor.xlsb(binary). Avoid.xlsmunless you specifically have macros, as macOS security settings can sometimes be aggressive with macro-enabled files.
Excel on a Mac isn't a compromise anymore. It's a different flavor of the same powerful tool. While the "hardcore" financial modeling world might still cling to their ThinkPads for those specific Alt-key shortcuts, the gap has closed enough that you can be just as productive on a Mac. You just have to be willing to relearn a few habits.
The reality is that Microsoft has realized their best customers are often using MacBooks. They can't afford to give them a second-rate experience. Whether you’re a student, a small business owner, or a data analyst, the current state of Excel for Apple computer is more than capable of handling whatever you throw at it. Just make sure you get that extra RAM.