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Before we start coding

Meet xlwings Lite

Python inside Excel. No installer. No cloud. No cost.

What is xlwings Lite?

An Excel add-in that runs Python on your computer.

Excel add-in

One-click install from the Office store. No separate Python install, no command line, no setup wizard, no VBA macros.

Runs on your computer

Python runs right inside Excel's task pane. Works offline. Your code and data never leave your device.

100% free

Personal and commercial use. No user limit, no usage limit, no time limit. No account needed.

Works on your Excel

Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 and newer, on Windows, Mac, or Excel in the browser.

Share like a normal Excel file

Your Python lives inside a regular .xlsx. No .xlsm, no VBA macros, no scary warnings.

The full power of Python

Build reports, create charts, clean data, and run analysis with Python's huge ecosystem of ready-to-use tools.

Common questions

Full documentation: lite.xlwings.org

What can I actually do with it?

Automate Excel: reports, sheets, tables, custom formulas, data cleanup.

Analyze & visualize: crunch numbers and build charts using the full power of Python, right inside Excel.

How is this different from Microsoft's "Python in Excel"?

Python in Excel runs in Microsoft's cloud, is mainly for analyzing data on a sheet, works on Microsoft 365 only, and has usage limits.

xlwings Lite runs on your computer, keeps your data private, and can do both: analyze data and automate Excel (sheets, tables, custom formulas). It's also free with no usage limits, and works on Microsoft 365 or Office 2021+.

What if my company blocks add-ins?

xlwings Lite is in the official Office add-in store, so IT can whitelist it like any other approved add-in.

Will the file still open without xlwings Lite?

Yes. It opens like any normal .xlsx. Your colleague just needs the add-in installed once to run the Python inside.