WPS Sort is a spreadsheet feature for rearranging collaborative table data by selected criteria; it includes 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 3 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 3 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | All listed tasks are available directly |
About This Feature
Overview
Sort is a built-in feature in WPS Office for Windows collaborative spreadsheets. It helps you reorder full rows of data by column values with ascending, descending, or custom multi-level sorting.
Core capabilities include:
- Quick Sort: sort the current column in ascending or descending order for fast data review.
- Custom Sort: define primary and secondary sort keys for more complex table organization.
- More Settings: adjust sort direction, case sensitivity, and regional sorting options for finer control.
This feature is useful for sales records, project lists, collaborative reviews, and categorized data analysis. When sorting is applied, related rows move together so each record stays aligned.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows computer that can run WPS Office |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | Local sorting does not require a constant internet connection; collaboration sync and version recovery require network access |
| Other | It is recommended to work with a complete data range and confirm that you have editing permission |
Download & Installation
Before using Sort on Windows, install WPS Office on your device.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Check after installation | Open WPS Spreadsheet, then open a collaborative sheet and confirm that the Sort entry is available on the Data tab |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Supports ascending, descending, custom multi-level sorting, and additional settings in collaborative spreadsheets. | Word can sort table contents with headers, text/number/date types, ascending or descending order, and up to three levels. | Google Sheets can sort alphabetically or numerically, add another sort column, and sort by color with filters. | Notion database views can sort by property and apply multiple sorts in a chosen order. | Adobe FrameMaker can sort table rows or columns, set primary, second, and third sort keys, and use case-sensitive sorting. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: The Data tab brings quick sort, custom sort, and more settings together in one spreadsheet workflow for everyday table cleanup. | Compared with WPS: The official page focuses on Word document tables rather than collaborative spreadsheet-style data work. | Compared with WPS: It supports multi-column sorting and filter-based workflows; WPS keeps the current workflow centered on desktop collaborative spreadsheets. | Compared with WPS: It is oriented toward database views and property-based organization; WPS is closer to traditional spreadsheet column sorting. | Compared with WPS: The official guidance is focused on FrameMaker table layout workflows; WPS is more aligned with daily office spreadsheet sorting. |
| Official Source | — | Sort the contents of a table | Sort & filter your data | Views, filters, sorts & groups | Sorting table rows and columns |
Overall Conclusion
WPS Sort is well suited to quickly reorganizing full rows in collaborative spreadsheets on Windows, with a direct entry point and a clear sequence for common sorting tasks. If your work is centered on document tables, online filter views, or database-style organization, those products may fit those scenarios more closely.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main issue | How Sort helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales data ordering | Sales and operations teams | Amounts or dates are mixed and hard to review quickly | Use Quick Sort to reorder by amount or date |
| 2 | Multi-field list organization | Project managers and admins | Data must be sorted by department first and then by time | Use Custom Sort to add multiple sort conditions |
| 3 | Collaborative sheet review | Team collaborators | Data order becomes inconsistent after multiple edits | Apply sorting in the collaborative sheet and sync the result |
| 4 | Header-safe sorting | Data entry staff | The header row may be moved into the sorted data | Turn on the header option in Custom Sort |
| 5 | Special sorting rules | Finance and analysis users | Sorting may need row or column direction and case sensitivity | Adjust the extra options in More Settings |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
Based on the current feature scope, Sort itself is available without membership. The WPS Office pricing page also shows differences between free and paid plans for PDF tools, templates, cloud storage, and some advanced capabilities.
| Capability | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Sort feature | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB or more depending on the plan shown on the site |
| Template resources | Basic templates | More advanced templates |
| Some advanced tools | Depends on what is shown in the product | More advanced capabilities are included |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday sorting and basic spreadsheet work | Free | The Sort feature is directly available without an added subscription |
| More cloud storage or broader advanced tools | WPS Premium | Suitable if you also need more templates, storage, and other advanced office features |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page