Excel vs Google Sheets Formulas: What's the Same and What's Not
Most formulas work the same in Excel and Google Sheets. The differences that matter: Sheets-only functions, Excel-only tools, separators and arrays.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
If you learn formulas in one, you've learned them in the other. SUM, IF, COUNTIF, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP and $ references are written the same way. The differences are at the edges.
Identical in both
- Cell references, ranges, and $ absolute/mixed references
- SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA, ROUND
- IF, IFS, AND, OR, IFERROR
- COUNTIF(S), SUMIF(S), AVERAGEIF(S)
- VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, XLOOKUP
- TRIM, LEFT, RIGHT, MID, TEXT, TEXTJOIN
- TODAY, NOW, DATEDIF, NETWORKDAYS
- UNIQUE, FILTER, SORT
Only in Google Sheets
| Function | Does |
|---|---|
| ARRAYFORMULA | Apply a formula to a whole range |
| QUERY | SQL-like queries on data |
| SPLIT | Split text by a delimiter |
| IMPORTRANGE | Pull data from another spreadsheet |
| GOOGLEFINANCE | Stock and currency data |
| GOOGLETRANSLATE | Translate text |
| IMAGE | Show an image in a cell |
Only in Excel (or not quite the same in Sheets)
- Power Query, Power Pivot, VBA macros (Sheets uses Apps Script instead)
- Some newer Excel functions (check before relying on them in shared files)
- Structured table references like
Table1[Sales]work differently
Small differences that trip people up
Argument separators
Some locales use ; instead of ,. That's a regional setting, not an Excel/Sheets difference, but it shows up when you copy formulas from the web.
Function names in other languages
Localized Excel versions may translate function names (SVERWEIS for VLOOKUP in German Excel). Google Sheets generally uses English names.
SORT arguments
Excel: =SORT(A2:C50,3,-1). Sheets: =SORT(A2:C50,3,FALSE). See SORT.
Array formulas
Older Excel needed Ctrl+Shift+Enter; modern Excel spills automatically. Sheets spills automatically and also has ARRAYFORMULA.
Shortcuts
AutoSum is Alt+= in Excel and Alt+Shift+= in Sheets on Windows. F4 locks references in both.
Which should you learn?
Learn the formulas, not the app. If your workplace uses one, practise there. Everything Cellio teaches (references, SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, fill down, $ locks) works the same in both.
Frequently asked questions
Are Excel formulas the same in Google Sheets?
The vast majority are identical in name and syntax.
Does VLOOKUP work the same in Google Sheets?
Yes, including FALSE for exact match.
Does Google Sheets have XLOOKUP?
Yes, since 2022.
Can I open Excel files in Google Sheets?
Yes. Most formulas carry over; macros and some advanced features don't.