Free Spreadsheet Software for Making Tax Digital — What Are Your Options?

Making Tax Digital requires you to keep digital records of your income and expenses. For most self-employed people, that means a spreadsheet. But here's the thing — you don't need to pay for one.

If you don't have Microsoft Excel on your computer, or your licence has expired, there are several genuinely free options that do everything you need for MTD record-keeping. Here's a rundown of what's available.

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is free with any Google account. It runs entirely in your browser — there's nothing to download or install. If you have a Gmail address, you already have access.

For MTD purposes, Google Sheets handles everything you need: formulas, formatting, multiple tabs, and easy organisation of income and expenses. It also makes collaboration simple if you work with a bookkeeper or accountant who needs to see your records.

When it's time to submit, you can export your Google Sheet as an .xlsx file (File → Download → Microsoft Excel) and upload it to Flonancial. The whole process takes a few seconds.

For most people, this is probably the easiest option. Zero setup, works on any device with a browser, and you can access your records from anywhere.

Microsoft Excel Online

This is the one most people don't know about. Microsoft offers a genuinely free version of Excel that runs in your browser at microsoft365.com. All you need is a free Microsoft account.

This isn't a cut-down imitation — it's real Excel in the browser. It handles formulas, formatting, charts, and everything you'd need for keeping MTD records. Your files are saved to OneDrive automatically, so you won't lose anything.

You can download your spreadsheet as an .xlsx file at any time and upload it to Flonancial for submission. If you're already familiar with Excel, this is the closest experience to the desktop version without paying a penny.

To be clear: Microsoft 365 the paid subscription (which includes the desktop apps) does come pre-installed on some laptops, and it's available via monthly subscription. But you absolutely don't need it. The free browser version at microsoft365.com is more than enough for MTD record-keeping.

LibreOffice Calc

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that you download and install on your computer. It's available from libreoffice.org and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

LibreOffice Calc is the spreadsheet application, and it has excellent Excel compatibility. You can open .xlsx files, work with them, and save them back as .xlsx. It handles formulas, formatting, and everything you'd expect from a desktop spreadsheet application.

The main advantage of LibreOffice is that it works offline. If you prefer having a proper desktop application rather than working in a browser, this is your best free option. Save your file as .xlsx and upload to Flonancial when you're ready to submit.

Apple Numbers

If you're on a Mac, iPad, or iPhone, Apple Numbers comes free with your device. It's a perfectly capable spreadsheet application for tracking income and expenses.

The one thing to remember is that Numbers uses its own file format by default. When you're ready to upload to Flonancial, you'll need to export as .xlsx (File → Export To → Excel on Mac, or Share → Export → Excel on iPad/iPhone). Once exported, upload the .xlsx file as normal.

Numbers is a solid choice if you're already in the Apple ecosystem and don't want to install anything extra.

The Flonancial template

Whichever free tool you choose, we offer a free spreadsheet template that's designed for MTD record-keeping. It includes columns for dates, descriptions, income, and expenses, plus a Flo tab that automatically totals your figures for submission.

Download the template, open it in whichever free software you prefer, and start recording your transactions. When it's time to submit, upload the file to Flonancial and your totals are read automatically from the Flo tab — no cell-picking needed.

The template works with all of the tools listed above. It's a standard .xlsx file.

Quick comparison

Tool	Cost	Platform	Offline?	Export to .xlsx?
Google Sheets	Free	Browser (any device)	No	Yes
Excel Online	Free	Browser (any device)	No	Yes
LibreOffice Calc	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux	Yes	Yes
Apple Numbers	Free	Mac, iPad, iPhone	Yes	Yes

Which one should you choose?

If you're not sure, go with Google Sheets. It's the simplest option — no downloads, no installations, works in any browser on any device. You can be up and running in under a minute.

If you already have a Microsoft account and prefer the Excel look and feel, Excel Online at microsoft365.com is excellent and completely free.

If you want a proper desktop application that works offline, LibreOffice Calc is the way to go. And if you're already on a Mac or iPad, Apple Numbers is right there waiting for you.

All four options can produce .xlsx files that work perfectly with Flonancial. There's no wrong choice here — just pick whichever one feels most comfortable and start keeping your records.