What are the differences between Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access?

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Let us understand the concepts of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access before learning the differences between them.

Microsoft Access

It is a database management system offered by Microsoft which puts together the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software development tools.

Advantages

The advantages of Microsoft Access are as follows −

Table structure and normalization through multiple tables − In a database you can store more information in one place and you use the address as a reference in many places.
Records are free − The major difference between Microsoft excels and Microsoft access is that in a database records are free. When there's new data, it can be added continuously without having to add new fields. All the functions, queries, continue to work without any changes.
Queries and reports − Microsoft Access queries and reports will allow you to disintegrate the data to maintain quality. We can add new rules at field level, provide reference between tables so that the data consistency is maintained.
Automation − Using Microsoft access spreadsheet can be transferred and opened in access to maintain the data in the database.

Microsoft Excel

It helps in creating charts and graphs like a Pie chart, Column chart, and Line chart using spreadsheets. Excel also helps in tracing, feeding inputs, finding outputs, and helps in data handling and manipulation. Excel provides built-in rows and columns using which the users can create charts, graphs, etc.

Features

The features of Microsoft excel are as follows −

Pivot Tables
Conditional Formatting
Sorting and Filtering
Excel Formulas
Bring data together

Advantages

The advantages of Excel are as follows −

Very easy calculation in no time
Integration with the other office suits
It makes business easier and simpler
Helps in drawing different charts in a single click.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages of Excel are as follows −

Quite complicated for larger data sets and larger formulas.
There is no much fool proof involving the excel.
Entering the data into excel is time consuming.
And it does not come as free.

Differences

The major differences between Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access are as follows −

Microsoft Excel	Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel helps in creating charts and graphs like a Pie chart, Column chart, Line chart using spreadsheets. Excel also helps in tracing, feeding inputs, finding outputs, and helps in data handling and manipulation. Excel provides built-in rows and columns using which the users can create charts, graphs, etc.	Microsoft Access serves for collecting and sorting data since Access is used as part of the relational database management systems (RDBMS) it is preferred over excel when the small business owners need to deal with a lot of reports and queries. A relational database is a type of database in which data is organized into multiple tables where each table belongs to a single idea.
Microsoft Excel is best for examining deep complex numerical data with formulas like SUMIF. Using this we can calculate cells that meet a specific criteria, and we can use simple formulas like average, count, max, and min.	Access queries can be used to outline data and present aggregate values, like sums, averages, and counts.
Microsoft Excel does not use SQL(structured query language) to view data	Microsoft Access has a variety of ways to view data, Access lets you use Structured Query Language (SQL) queries and based on the queries specified it quickly retrieves the rows and columns of data contained in one or many tables.
Excel does not allow multiple users to edit or work on the same record at the same time.	Access allows multiple users to open and work on a single database simultaneously