Free Spire.XLS for .NET is the Community Edition of Spire.XLS for .NET, designed specifically for individual developers and small projects. This totally free Excel API allows you to create, read, edit, and manage Excel files in any .NET application, including C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, and .NET Core—without relying on Microsoft Office.
As a standalone library, Free Spire.XLS for .NET is ideal for personal use to process data, apply data validation, create charts, and more without relying on Microsoft Office. It supports both for the old Excel 97-2003 format (.xls) and for the new Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016 and Excel 2019 (.xlsx, .xlsm).
Friendly Reminder:
The free version of Spire.XLS for .NET is limited to 5 sheets per workbook and 200 rows per sheet. This limitation is enforced during reading or writing XLS or PDF files. For Free Spire.XLS v7.8 and above, there is no limitation when loading and saving .xlsx file format. When converting Excel files to other formats like PDF, XPS, and Images, you can only get the first 3 pages of the target format. If you need technical support or want to unlock more functions, upgrade to the Commercial Edition of Spire.XLS for .NET now.
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Convert
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Export
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Validate
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Formula
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Manage
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Chart
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Pivot Table
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Group
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Merge
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Highlight
Convert Excel to Other Formats
Convert Excel to PDF to ensure your report looks the same on any device when sharing with partners. Moreover, you can convert it to more formats including XML, TEXT, or Image.
Export Data from Database to Excel
Data will be automatically analyzed and visualized when being exported to Excel. Even non-database users can get easy access and proceed with the data.
Apply Data Validation
Set your own Excel dropdown list of Excel to make sure all data entries are accurate and consistent. It saves much effort for post data processing as you have no need to check data manually.
Insert Formulas and Functions
Excel is convenient for its various formulas to calculate values in a cell or in a range of cells. Free Spire.XLS for .NET makes it possible that you can solve these math problems without the installation of Microsoft Excel.
Apply Conditional Formatting
Use conditional formatting in Excel to highlight or differentiate data based on specific criteria. You can apply special formats with Free Spire.XLS for .NET to make key information stand out in your worksheets.
Create Chart in Excel
Chart is a common tool in Excel for easier view and analysis of data. Users can use free Spire.XLS for .NET to set and display data in a graphical representation with their specific needs.
Create a Pivot Table
Users can create pivot tables according to the existence data, allowing users to quickly categorize, calculate, summarize and analyze large amounts of data with a concise tabular format.
Group Cells, Rows and Columns
When working with a large amount of data, grouping rows, columns, or specific cells that contain similar information makes the worksheet looks more compact, logical, and understandable to most users.
Merge Excel Files into One
You can use Free Spire.XLS for .NET to merge multiple Excel files into one by applying different worksheets. Merging Excel files with associated content enhances the work efficiency a lot as the data will be easier to share and read.
Highlight Key Data
You can highlight all cells containing a specific value with the same background color using code to make the value outstanding and more easily to be found out, helping users to grab the key data quickly.
.NET
Standalone .NET API
100% Independent .NET Excel Class Library
No Microsoft Office Required on System
- .NET Framework
- .NET CORE
- Xamarin
- Microsoft Azure
VERSION
- Excel 97-2003
- Excel 2007
- Excel 2010
- Excel 2013
- Excel 2016
- Excel 2019
- OpenOffice
Why Choose Free Spire.XLS for .NET to Work with Excel Files?
A free yet powerful Excel library for .NET — discover six reasons developers love it:

100% Standalone .NET Library
Works without Microsoft Excel or Office Automation. Just reference the DLL and start coding.

Totally Free to Use
Free edition with no time limits or watermarks — ideal for learning, evaluation, and small internal tools.

Comprehensive Excel Features
Create, edit, and read Excel files with complex formulas, charts, pivot tables, data validation, and more.

Strong Documentation & Sample Codes
Comprehensive demo projects and code samples for easier Excel feature integration.

Export to PDF, HTML, and Image
Convert Excel worksheets into high-quality PDFs, web pages, or images with accurate layout.

Supports .NET Framework and .NET Core
Compatible with .NET Framework, .NET Core, and .NET 9.0 — easy to integrate across platforms.
Excel Operations in .NET Made Easy
Perform advanced Excel tasks without Microsoft Office.
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Load and Save Excel Files or Streams
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Insert and Manage Images, Shapes, and Icons
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Find, Replace, and Highlight Excel Content
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Work with Pivot Tables for Data Analysis
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Add or Remove Hyperlinks in Cells
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Apply Conditional Formatting Rules
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Customize Headers, Footers, and Page Settings
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Merge, Split, or Combine Cells and Worksheets
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Use and Evaluate Excel Formulas
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Configure Printing and Page Breaks
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Import and Export Data (CSV, XML formats)
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Manage Cell Comments and Notes
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Track Changes and Workbook
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Add Text or Image Watermarks
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Protect, Encrypt, and Decrypt Excel Files
The following content covers several unique features to help you choose Free Spire.XLS for .NET.
Platforms
Free Spire.XLS for .NET is a powerful Excel component that enables C# and .NET developers to create ASP.NET, Web Services, and WinForms applications targeting .NET Framework versions 2.0 to 4.5. It fully supports both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
Supported File Formats
Free Spire.XLS for .NET supports multiple file formats including:- Old Excel 97-2003 format (.xls)
- New Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, and Excel 2019 (.xlsx, .xlsb, .xlsm)
- Open Office format (.ods)
- Load and save documents in the tab delimited file format
- Comprehensive support of the CSV format to interact with a variety of applications and database
- Save Excel files in plain text format to extract text with ease
Conversion
Free Spire.XLS for .NET enables converting Excel files to the most common and popular formats in the list below:Contents Features
Free Spire.XLS for .NET offers most features that you can do in the Microsoft Office, including the following:- Create, Edit, and Save Excel to file/Stream or as web response
- Find and Replace Data
- Import/Export data from a DataTable, DataView, Array, DataGrid etc.
- Create charts and auto filters
- Read and write hyperlinks
- Implement Data Sorting and Validations
- Merge/Unmerge Cells and files
- Group/UnGroup Rows and Columns
- Insert/Delete or Hide Rows, Columns and Sheets
- Calculate Complex Excel Formula
Formatting Features
Free Spire.XLS for .NET offers comprehensive programmatic control over Excel spreadsheet formatting, including all elements and styles as follows:- All character's formatting including fonts, colors, effects, fill, and shading
- All number format settings supported in MS Excel can be applied
- Set all types of text alignment settings
- Different fonts, colors to cells, gridlines, graphic objects, etc.
- Various border settings and background patterns on cells
Page Setup
Free Spire.XLS for .NET enables individual developers and programmers to customize Setup options:- Adjust page orientation, scaling, paper size, margins, and page centering
- Create or edit the header and footer with image.
- Set print area, titles, turn on gridlines, etc.
- Managing Page Breaks
Feature Details
Support | Excel97~2003 | Excel2007 | Excel2010 | Excel2013 | Excel2016 | ||
Operation | Create New Workbook | Edit Existing Workbook | |||||
Save to file | Save to stream | Save as web response | |||||
Workbook Properties Setup | Worksheet Print Setup | ||||||
Worksheet Copy | Cells Data Copy | Cells Styles Copy | Cells Merge | ||||
Lock Worksheet | Unlock Worksheet | ||||||
Data Table Import | Data Table Export | ||||||
Freezepane | Group | ||||||
Filter | Data Validation | ||||||
Marker Designer | Template | Auto Populate | Style Copy | Variables | |||
Format Cells | Number Format | Text Alignment | Font | ||||
Cell Border | Cell Fill | Cell Protection | Interior | ||||
Content | Formula (all 531 entries supported) | Chart (all 74 types supported) | |||||
Image | Pivot Table | RichText | |||||
Hyperlink | Comments | VBA | |||||
Convert | XML | Image | CSV | Text |
Not supported in Standard Edition |
Request free customized demo just for you. |
High Quality Conversion
Convert Excel to PDFTutorials / Live Demo / Orginial Excel and PDF fileExcel Chart
Excel ChartTutorials / Live Demo / C# CodeMarker Designer
Marker DesignerTutorials / Live Demo / C# CodeData Import/Export
Import Excel from DataTableTutorials / Live Demo / C# CodeRuntime Excel Calculation
Runtime Excel CalculationTutorials / Live Demo / C# CodeCreate Excel Pivot Table
Create Excel Pivot TableTutorials / Live Demo / C# Code
Beginners Guide is the first step towards learning the basic information of Free Spire.XLS for .NET |
Program Guide lists the detailed features of our Free Spire.XLS for .NET and you can search for the information you want. |
The Videos give an operation guide by video. You can check the produce step by step. |
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Frequently asked question for Free Spire.XLS of technical and function issues. |
We guarantee one business day Forum questions Reply. |
We guarantee one business day E-mail response. |
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Free Customized service for OEM Users. |
Skype name: iceblue.support |
Apply for a Free Trial License File. |
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