When I first learned about VLOOKUP in Excel, I thought it was the ultimate solution for searching data. I used it for years to match IDs with employee names, find product prices, and even check student grades. But sometimes, VLOOKUP felt a little... stubborn. It had limitations, especially when the data wasn’t arranged neatly in the first column.
Then, I discovered XLOOKUP a modern alternative that made my Excel journey so much easier. Let me share my personal experience using XLOOKUP and why I think it’s a game-changer for anyone working with data.
My Struggles with VLOOKUP
Back when I was managing product inventory for a small online shop, I used VLOOKUP almost every day. For example, when a customer asked about a product’s stock, I had to look up the product code and get the quantity from the database.
It worked, but VLOOKUP came with some quirks:
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It only searched from left to right, so my data always had to be rearranged.
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If I inserted or deleted columns, the formula often broke.
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For more complex scenarios, I ended up nesting it with IF or even combining with INDEX-MATCH.
Sometimes, I spent more time fixing errors than actually analyzing data. That’s when I stumbled upon XLOOKUP.
First Encounter with XLOOKUP
The first time I tried XLOOKUP, I was blown away. Instead of memorizing column numbers like with VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP directly referred to the range I wanted.
For example:
=XLOOKUP("P001", A2:A100, C2:C100)
Here, I searched for product code P001 in column A and pulled the stock quantity from column C. No need to count columns or worry if I added a new column between A and C.
It felt so much more natural and intuitive.
Why I Fell in Love with XLOOKUP
After using XLOOKUP regularly, I realized how much time and stress it saved me. Here are a few reasons why I prefer it over VLOOKUP:
1. Flexible Search Direction
Unlike VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP can search left to right or right to left. This means I don’t need to rearrange my dataset anymore.
2. Built-in Error Handling
In VLOOKUP, if the value wasn’t found, I’d get that annoying #N/A error. With XLOOKUP, I can specify a custom message:
=XLOOKUP("P999", A2:A100, C2:C100, "Product Not Found")
This little feature made my Excel sheets look much more professional.
3. Exact Match by Default
One thing that used to trip me up with VLOOKUP was forgetting the last parameter. By default, it looked for an approximate match. XLOOKUP, on the other hand, defaults to exact match—just what I need most of the time.
4. Search Options (Top to Bottom or Bottom to Top)
Sometimes, my dataset had duplicate values. XLOOKUP gave me the freedom to decide whether I wanted the first match (top to bottom) or the last one (bottom to top). This was impossible with standard VLOOKUP.
A Real-Life Example: Sales Report
Last year, I was asked to prepare a monthly sales analysis. I had two datasets:
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A list of product codes with their names.
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A sales transaction log with only product codes.
Using VLOOKUP would’ve worked, but setting it up was tricky because the product names weren’t in the first column.
With XLOOKUP, it became super simple:
=XLOOKUP(B2, ProductCodes!A:A, ProductCodes!B:B)
This formula pulled the product name directly into my sales report. Suddenly, my raw sales data turned into a meaningful, readable report in just a few clicks.
XLOOKUP vs. VLOOKUP: My Verdict
After months of using both, here’s my conclusion:
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If you’re stuck with older versions of Excel, VLOOKUP still works fine.
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But if you have Excel 365 or Excel 2019+, XLOOKUP is the future.
It’s not just a replacement it’s a better, smarter, and more reliable tool.
Looking back, I wish XLOOKUP had been around when I first started working with Excel. It would have saved me from countless headaches with broken formulas and endless column counting.
Today, whenever I teach Excel to colleagues or friends, I always recommend starting with XLOOKUP instead of VLOOKUP. It feels more natural and much closer to how we actually think about searching for information.
If you’re still relying heavily on VLOOKUP, I encourage you to give XLOOKUP a try. Trust me, once you experience its simplicity and flexibility, you’ll never want to go back.
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