Difference between a Microsoft Access database and an Excel spreadsheet by comparing the features

One of the biggest differences between Microsoft Access and Excel is that Microsoft Access is a database. The database is used to access information simultaneously with different clients. Excel spreadsheet on the other hand, can only be accessed one at a time.

Additionally, Microsoft Access features data management rather than data analysis. Excel has functions to analyze data while Microsoft Access has functions to manage the data (add, remove, etc). Microsoft Access also removes the limitation that Microsoft Spreadsheet has, which is the limited amount of data it can hold. Microsoft Access is capable of holding massive records without the database crashing.

In summary, Microsoft Access is used to store data while Microsoft Excel is used primarily to analyze that data.