Not everyone uses Microsoft Excel. Many public administrations, schools, small businesses and home users work with LibreOffice Calc, a free and open-source alternative whose native format is ODS. When a file moves from one program to the other, small surprises can appear: formulas that stop working, formatting that changes or charts that shift. This article explains the differences between ODS and XLSX and how to work with both without trouble.
What the ODS format is
ODS (*OpenDocument Spreadsheet*) is part of the OpenDocument standard, approved as the international standard ISO/IEC 26300. It is the default format of LibreOffice Calc and Apache OpenOffice. Like XLSX, an ODS file is a compressed package containing XML files with the data, styles and settings.
Some public bodies require or recommend it because it is an open standard, it does not depend on a specific vendor and it ensures documents can still be opened many years from now.
What the XLSX format is
XLSX has been Microsoft Excel’s format since 2007, based on the Office Open XML standard (ISO/IEC 29500). It is the most widespread format in business and the one most management software expects when importing or exporting spreadsheets.
Main differences
| Aspect | ODS | XLSX |
|---|---|---|
| Native program | LibreOffice Calc | Microsoft Excel |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 26300 | ISO/IEC 29500 |
| Program license | Free and open source | Commercial |
| Maximum rows | 1,048,576 | 1,048,576 |
| Business use | Less common | Dominant |
| Public sector use | Common | Common |
In terms of data capacity, both formats are equivalent in current versions. The differences show up in advanced features.
What can change when converting
Formulas
Basic functions (SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP, COUNTIF) work the same in both programs. Problems arise with recent Excel functions such as XLOOKUP, FILTER, UNIQUE or LET, which may not be available in older LibreOffice versions, and the other way round with some Calc-specific functions.
Conditional formatting
Simple rules are preserved. Data bars, color scales or complex icon sets may look different.
Charts
Basic charts are kept, but colors, fonts or label positions may vary. Always review charts after converting.
Macros
Excel macros (VBA) and LibreOffice macros (Basic) are not fully compatible. If your workbook depends on macros, you will need to adapt them.
PivotTables
They convert reasonably well, although some layout options or slicers may be lost.
How to convert between ODS and XLSX
From either program you can use Save As and choose the other format. You can also use our online tools, available on the Excel tools page, which accept ODS files as input in converters such as Excel to CSV or Excel to PDF, very handy if you do not have the original program installed.
Tips for sharing files between both programs
- Ask which program the recipient uses. If they use Excel, send XLSX; if they use LibreOffice, ODS or XLSX both work well.
- Avoid very recent functions if you do not know which version will open the file.
- Use common fonts like Arial, Calibri or Liberation Sans, which exist in both environments or have metric-compatible equivalents.
- Send final results as PDF. If the recipient only needs to read, a PDF removes any compatibility issue.
- Exchange raw data as CSV. With no formatting or formulas, it reads the same in any program.
- Compare before and after converting if the data is critical, using our Excel comparison tool.
Which format should you choose?
- If you work in a business environment where everyone uses Excel, XLSX.
- If you work with free software or for an organization that requires open standards, ODS.
- If you collaborate with people using both programs, XLSX is usually the safest choice, because LibreOffice opens and saves it very well.
Frequently asked questions
Can Excel open ODS files?
Yes. Current versions of Excel open and save ODS files, although some advanced features or formatting may change. Check the file after opening it, especially if it contains charts or macros.
Can LibreOffice save as XLSX?
Yes, and it does it quite well. If you collaborate with Excel users, you can set LibreOffice to save as XLSX by default under Tools > Options > Load/Save > General.
Does Google Sheets support ODS?
Yes. Google Sheets can import and download sheets in ODS format, as well as XLSX, CSV, TSV and PDF.
Which format takes less space?
Both are compressed formats and the size is usually similar. Differences depend more on the workbook’s content (images, styles, formatted ranges) than on the format chosen.
Can I compare an ODS file with an XLSX file?
It is best to convert both files to the same format first. Comparing files in different formats can flag formatting differences that do not exist in the data. Once both are XLSX, a comparison tool will show you only the real changes in values, rows and sheets.
Do online tools accept ODS files?
Many do. Our converters accept ODS as input, so you can turn a LibreOffice spreadsheet into CSV or PDF without having LibreOffice installed on the computer you are using.
Conclusion
ODS and XLSX are two modern, capable formats, and converting between them works well in the vast majority of cases. Problems appear with advanced functions, macros and complex charts. Knowing these differences, you can pick the right format for each recipient and check what matters after converting. And if you need to convert, compare or clean files in either format, our free tools help you right from your browser.
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