WPS Shapes on Windows helps you insert, draw, and refine graphic objects in worksheets; this guide covers 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 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Shapes in WPS Spreadsheets is a built-in drawing feature for adding geometric figures, arrows, and flowchart symbols to a worksheet. You can also adjust styling and reshape certain objects for clearer visual explanations in spreadsheets.
Core tasks include:
- Insert shapes: Choose a shape from the gallery and draw it in the worksheet.
- Format shapes: Adjust fill, line, effects, size, and properties.
- Edit vertices: Change the outline of supported shapes by moving edit points.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | The latest version of WPS Office is recommended |
| Network | No mandatory internet connection is required for local shape editing; internet access is needed for download and account-related actions |
| Other | You need to open or create a WPS spreadsheet file |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Check after installation | Open WPS Spreadsheets, then confirm that the Shapes entry is available on the Insert tab |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Lets you insert shapes in spreadsheets, format them, and edit vertices for supported shapes. | Microsoft Office lets users add shapes such as boxes, circles, and arrows, then add text and change fill, outline, and effects. | Google Docs uses Drawing tools to create and insert shapes, lines, text boxes, and images. | Notion centers on page blocks such as text, images, tables, and other content blocks rather than worksheet-based shape drawing. | Adobe Acrobat provides shape and drawing markups such as lines, arrows, rectangles, circles, polygons, and free-form drawing in PDF review workflows. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: the shape workflow is directly integrated into spreadsheet editing on Windows; Distinct: supported shapes can be refined further with Format Shape and Edit Vertices. | Compared with WPS: shape tools are broad and support text and style changes, but the official guidance covers multiple Office apps rather than a spreadsheet-focused shape workflow. | Compared with WPS: shapes are created through a separate drawing canvas before being inserted into the document. | Compared with WPS: official help emphasizes flexible page blocks and content organization instead of worksheet-native shape editing. | Compared with WPS: official guidance focuses on PDF markup and review rather than spreadsheet object editing. |
| Official Source | — | Add shapes | Learn how to use drawings & markups | What is a block? | Add comments in callouts in Acrobat |
Overall Conclusion
For worksheet-based diagrams, callouts, and visual annotations, WPS keeps the shape workflow close to spreadsheet editing. Other products are better aligned with their own primary contexts, such as document canvases, block-based pages, or PDF review.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable Users | Main Need | How Shapes Helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building simple process diagrams | Office users | Text-only steps are hard to scan | Insert arrows and flowchart shapes for clearer process explanations |
| 2 | Highlighting data areas | Spreadsheet editors | Important ranges are easy to miss | Use rectangles, circles, and similar shapes to mark key areas |
| 3 | Adding visual elements to reports | Report creators | A worksheet needs lightweight visuals | Insert shapes and adjust fill, line, and effects |
| 4 | Customizing a shape outline | Users who need custom graphics | Default shapes may not fully match the intended layout | Edit vertices to reshape supported objects |
| 5 | Adding notes inside graphics | Users who combine text and visuals | Separate notes can reduce readability | Type directly inside a shape |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Shape insertion and basic editing | Available | Available |
| Core office components | Available | Available |
| More PDF, template, and extended benefits | Limited in some areas | Includes more advanced benefits |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB or more depending on the plan shown on the pricing page |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday spreadsheet annotations and simple diagrams | Free | The Shapes feature itself is available for regular worksheet work |
| More cloud storage or broader office benefits | WPS Premium | Suitable if you also need expanded storage, templates, or additional office features |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page