What is a key feature that distinguishes Google Sheets from Excel?

The distinguishing feature of Google Sheets is its online functionality. This means that Google Sheets allows users to access, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets in real-time from any device with internet access. This cloud-based approach facilitates seamless sharing and collaboration, enabling multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously, see changes in real-time, and comment or chat within the document.

In contrast, while Excel has features that allow for data analysis and visualization, it traditionally operates as desktop software, focusing on offline capabilities. Although recent versions of Excel have introduced online functionalities, especially through Office 365, the inherent nature of Google Sheets as a cloud service makes its online functionality a unique and foundational aspect. Additionally, Excel is well known for its advanced data analysis tools, which can be considered superior in certain contexts, and while it offers superior visualization options, these do not compare to the collaboration feature so central to Google Sheets. Offline storage capability is another aspect but does not apply directly to the fundamental distinction, as Google Sheets requires internet access to fully leverage its features.