Excel vs Google Sheets formulas

Excel vs Google Sheets: which formula to use for lookups, filters, imports, arrays, and finance. Links to the matching Excel and Sheets guides on Updevly.

Updevly keeps two generators because the dialects are not the same file. A comma file and a semicolon file are also not the same locale. Dialect comparison.

One lookup result

Sheets still uses FILTER when several rows can match.

Classic vertical lookup

Keep FALSE for exact match on both platforms.

Every matching row

Excel uses if_empty. Sheets returns #N/A unless you wrap it.

Distinct lists

Same idea. Sheets argument names differ slightly.

SQL-like select

QUERY does not exist as an Excel worksheet function.

Fill a whole column

Sheets needs ARRAYFORMULA around ordinary * and IF.

Another spreadsheet

Excel uses Power Query or a linked workbook, not one formula.

Public HTML table

JavaScript-only pages fail IMPORTHTML.

Text extract

SPLIT is the Sheets cousin of TEXTSPLIT.

Join text

TEXTJOIN exists on both. SPLIT is Sheets-native.

Reusable function

Pair with BYROW on Sheets or MAP on Excel 365.

Row helper

One value per row. Not a replacement for ARRAYFORMULA math.

Number list

Excel SEQUENCE lives in Microsoft 365. See also TOCOL.

Flatten a block

TOCOL then UNIQUE is the distinct-from-a-grid pattern.

Market data

GOOGLEFINANCE is Sheets-only and delayed.

Mini chart

Sheets uses a formula. Excel uses Insert > Sparklines.

Generate for one platform

Excel generator · Sheets generator · Search all guides

FAQ

Should I learn Excel or Google Sheets formulas first?

Learn the platform you open every day. SUM, IF, and VLOOKUP transfer. QUERY, ARRAYFORMULA, IMPORTRANGE, and GOOGLEFINANCE do not.

Can I paste an Excel formula into Sheets?

Often yes for SUM, IF, and VLOOKUP. Dynamic arrays, structured tables, and Power Query steps do not paste cleanly. Always pick one platform in the generator.

Where is the dialect table?

See Excel vs Google Sheets formulas for XLOOKUP vs FILTER and comma vs semicolon.