CSV & Specialized Utilities
Arte Sheets vs QuickSheet and Legacy iOS Spreadsheet Apps
When Arte Sheets fits best
- Supports modern Excel dynamic array formulas (XLOOKUP, XMATCH, FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT, SEQUENCE, TEXTSPLIT) missing from legacy mobile apps.
- Evergreen browser delivery: never breaks after an iOS update, requires zero App Store binary maintenance, and caches its shell offline.
- Imports both legacy .xls/.xlsb and modern .xlsx/.ods/.csv/.tsv files up to 32 MB cleanly via browser workers.
When Quickoffice / QuickSheet & Legacy iOS Spreadsheet Apps fits best
- Older native apps stored files strictly inside legacy iOS app sandboxes without browser tabs.
- Familiar minimal toolbars for users who never needed post-2010 Excel functions.
- Historical one-time $9.99–$19.99 App Store purchases (where still installable on older OS builds).
Modern Evergreen Web Standards vs Abandoned Binary Apps
Users migrating old iPads often discover that classic standalone spreadsheet apps either vanished from the App Store after acquisitions (like Google’s sunsetting of Quickoffice) or crash on modern iPadOS 64-bit sandboxes, trapping old .xls and .xlsx workbooks.
Arte Sheets uses standard ES modules, IndexedDB, and Web Workers in Safari and Chrome. You can convert old .xls and .xlsb workbooks into clean modern .xlsx or UTF-8 .csv files in seconds without creating an account.
| Dimension | Arte Sheets (2026 Web App) | Legacy iOS Sheet Apps (QuickSheet / DocsToGo) |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance & OS support | Active evergreen web app; works on current iPadOS, iOS & macOS | Mostly discontinued, unmaintained, or legacy maintenance-only |
| Legacy binary .xls import | Yes — browser worker converts .xls & .xlsb (up to 32 MB) | Designed around older BIFF8 .xls limits (65,536 rows) |
| Modern .xlsx export | Preserves modern Excel formulas & cell formatting | Often strips post-2007 XML functions into #NAME? errors |
| Offline persistence | Service Worker shell cache + local IndexedDB storage | Local app container storage |
| Multi-device continuity | Optional EU cloud sync (10 files free / 1,000 Pro) | Defunct proprietary desktop sync helpers or manual email |
| Cost to start | $0 (no registration or App Store purchase) | Discontinued or legacy paid downloads |
Formula Generation Gap: Dynamic Arrays vs Pre-2010 Functions
Spreadsheets written in the last five years rely heavily on XLOOKUP, IFS, SUMIFS, MAXIFS, TEXTJOIN, FILTER, and UNIQUE. Opening a modern client workbook in a legacy mobile app turns those cells into #NAME? or _xlfn. prefixes. Arte Sheets evaluates all 184 modern and classic functions natively.
| Feature | Arte Sheets | Legacy Mobile Spreadsheet Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Lookup functions | XLOOKUP, XMATCH, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH | VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH only |
| Dynamic array spills | FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT, SORTBY, SEQUENCE, VSTACK, HSTACK | Not supported |
| Text manipulation | TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE, TEXTAFTER, TEXTJOIN, CONCAT, TRIM | LEFT, RIGHT, MID, CONCATENATE only |
| PivotTables & charts | SUM PivotTables + 7 chart types free (multi-agg in Pro) | Basic static charts; rarely supported PivotTables |
| AI & interactive lessons | 2,950+ free runnable guides + Pro AI assistant | None |
Migration Path and Cost
Export or AirDrop your historical .xls, .xlsx, or .csv files to your Mac or iPad Downloads folder, open sheets.arte-soft.com/app/, import them locally for $0, and resave as clean modern .xlsx files.
| Option | Cost | Legacy .xls Import | Modern XLOOKUP / FILTER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arte Sheets Free | $0 | Yes (worker conversion) | Yes (184 built-in functions) |
| Arte Sheets Pro | $19.99/mo or $179.99/yr | Yes + AI file-excerpt help | Yes + Goal Seek, Macros & 1,000 EU cloud files |
| Apple Numbers | $0 on iPad/Mac | Yes (converts to canvas) | Partial (XLOOKUP supported; canvas export differences) |
| Microsoft Excel iPad | $0 view / M365 to edit >10.1" | Yes | Yes (requires M365 subscription on larger iPads) |
Frequently asked questions
Can Arte Sheets open old Excel 97–2003 (.xls) files from legacy apps?
Yes. Arte Sheets includes a dedicated browser tabular-import worker that converts .xls, .xlsb, and .ods files up to 32 MB so you can edit and export them as modern .xlsx or .csv.
Can I add Arte Sheets to my iPad or iPhone Home Screen?
Yes. Open sheets.arte-soft.com/app/ in Safari and choose Share → Add to Home Screen for one-tap launch alongside offline Service Worker shell caching.
Will XLOOKUP formulas created in Arte Sheets work in desktop Excel?
Yes. Exported .xlsx files store standard Excel formula syntax that opens in Excel 2021, Microsoft 365, and Excel for the web.
Is there any charge to convert old .xls files to .xlsx in Arte Sheets?
No. File import and .xlsx/.csv/.tsv export are completely free without creating an account.