WPS Symbol on macOS helps you insert special characters, math symbols, currency symbols, and related characters into worksheet cells; it includes 4 core tasks, with 4 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 4 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 4 | 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
Symbol is an insert tool in WPS Sheets for Mac that lets you add common symbols, special characters, and categorized characters to worksheet cells. It supports choosing characters from the symbol panel, quickly inserting recently used items, switching to the Special Characters view, and adding frequently used symbols to the symbol bar. It is useful for financial sheets, teaching materials, statistical tables, and worksheets that need standardized character display.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | A macOS device that can run WPS Office for Mac normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office for Mac |
| Network | Symbol insertion is a local editing feature, while downloading, installing, and signing in require a network connection |
| Other | An editable spreadsheet file and fonts that support the target characters |
Download & Installation
Before using Symbol, install WPS Office for Mac and open WPS Sheets to create or edit a worksheet.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Official Download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install Check | Launch WPS Sheets, open a worksheet, and check whether the Symbol entry is available in the Insert menu |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | In WPS Sheets for Mac, you can use Insert > Symbol to insert symbols, choose fonts, use Unicode or ASCII, and work with Special Characters and the symbol bar. | In Microsoft 365 on the Mac, Excel provides Insert > Symbol and uses the Character Viewer to browse additional character sets. | Google states that Sheets can insert emoji, but special characters cannot be inserted directly in Google Sheets and are typically inserted in Docs first and then copied into a sheet. | Notion supports block equations, inline equations, and KaTeX symbols, which are more focused on equation authoring than inserting symbols through a spreadsheet cell panel. | Adobe Acrobat focuses on PDF comments, markup, and form filling, including symbols such as checkmarks, crossmarks, and dots, rather than spreadsheet cell symbol insertion. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: WPS keeps symbol insertion, special characters, and symbol bar management inside the spreadsheet editing interface. Distinct: It fits repeated cell-based symbol entry workflows. | Compared with WPS: Microsoft also supports symbol insertion on Mac, but its public guidance emphasizes the system Character Viewer and does not highlight recent-use insertion or a custom symbol bar in the same way. | Compared with WPS: Google supports some character input paths, but its official help says special characters cannot be inserted directly in Sheets, so the workflow is less direct for spreadsheet use. | Compared with WPS: Notion is better aligned with equation blocks and document-style editing, not a spreadsheet cell symbol panel workflow. | Compared with WPS: Adobe is better aligned with PDF annotation and markup, not character insertion and management inside spreadsheet cells. |
| Official Source | — | Insert a symbol | Insert emojis & special characters | Math equations | How to add notes to a PDF |
Overall Conclusion: WPS is a practical fit when you need to insert and manage symbols directly inside spreadsheet cells on macOS. Other products provide related character or notation features, but their workflows are centered more on system viewers, document equations, or PDF markup than on spreadsheet-based symbol entry.
Use Cases
| # | Scenario | Target Users | Core Pain Point | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Financial symbol entry | Finance staff and cashiers | Need to quickly enter currency marks, percent signs, and special notation | Use Insert > Symbol to choose the needed character and insert it into a cell |
| 2 | Teaching and research tables | Teachers, students, and researchers | Need to enter math symbols or special characters in worksheets | Find the target character in the symbol panel by font and code |
| 3 | Repeated entry of common characters | Administrative and operations staff | Repeatedly searching for common symbols reduces efficiency | Use recently used symbols or the custom symbol bar for faster insertion |
| 4 | Copyright and trademark marking | Marketing and legal staff | Need to add characters such as © and ® in worksheets | Switch to Special Characters and insert the target character directly |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature | Free User | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol insertion in spreadsheets | ✅ | ✅ |
| Special character insertion | ✅ | ✅ |
| Basic office component usage | ✅ | ✅ |
| More advanced office and value-added capabilities | Some capabilities are limited | More benefits are available |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Use Case | Recommended Plan | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional symbol insertion in everyday worksheets | Free | The Symbol feature itself is available for direct use and fits basic editing needs |
| Long-term use of broader office value-added capabilities | WPS Premium | Suitable if you also need more advanced tools, expanded benefits, and broader office workflows |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page