What I Learned Moving from Excel to Google Suite (Spoiler: It’s Not Perfect, But It’s Close)

So, I did it. I made the switch from Excel to Google Suite. At first, I was like, “Can Google Sheets really handle my data analysis game?” If you’ve ever felt that inner Excel loyalty (shoutout to all the pivot table lovers), you know exactly what I mean.

But after spending the last 9 months working with Google Sheets, I’ve gotta say: it’s a game-changer. Of course, nothing’s perfect. Here’s the rundown of what’s working, what’s not, and a few pro tips for making the transition smooth.

What’s Awesome About Google Suite

1. Most Formulas are Basically the Same

Okay, let’s start with the basics. If you know your way around Excel formulas, you’ll be right at home in Google Sheets. Functions like SUM, VLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH—they all work the same. No need to relearn the whole formula library.

If you’ve already got Excel formulas memorized, consider this your gateway drug to a much more collaborative, cloud-based future.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t waste time re-typing the same formulas over and over. Use Google Sheets’ “drag to fill” feature and let it do the work for you. It’s a productivity hack that’s basically a cheat code.

2. Real-Time Collaboration? Yes, Please

The best part about Google Sheets (and the rest of Google Suite) is how easy it is to collaborate. You can comment, tag people, and discuss changes in real time without sending endless email chains or version-controlled nightmares.

One of my favorite features? The ability to drop a quick comment and tag someone to get their attention—like a mini Slack thread, but for your spreadsheets. This means less back-and-forth and more actual work getting done.

💡 Pro Tip: Use comments to leave “to-do” notes for your teammates. This way, when they open the sheet, they instantly see what needs attention. It keeps everyone on track and helps avoid missed tasks.

3. It All Works Together (Like Magic)

Google Suite is one big, happy family. Sheets, Docs, Slides, Gmail—they all play nice together. I can create a report in Google Docs, link data from Sheets directly into that report, and even present everything in Google Slides without ever leaving the Suite.

No more exporting to Word or Excel to create reports, no more constant switching between apps. Everything just clicks.

💡 Pro Tip: Use Google Sheets for live, up-to-date dashboards, then link the data directly into Google Slides for easy presentations. You won’t need to manually update slides anymore.

The Not-So-Great Stuff (But It’s Not a Dealbreaker)

1. Cross-File Lookups Are a Struggle

If you’re used to Excel’s ability to pull data from multiple files with a single formula, you’ll hit a wall in Google Sheets. It’s not that it can’t be done, but it’s a pain. Here’s the formula for referencing another file in Google Sheets:

=IMPORTRANGE("URL_of_other_spreadsheet", "SheetName!Range")

Just replace “URL_of_other_spreadsheet” with the actual URL of the Google Sheet you’re referencing and “SheetName!Range” with the specific range of cells you’re pulling data from.

It’s a little clunky compared to Excel’s cross-file references, and honestly, I always forget the syntax, which is so annoying.

💡 Pro Tip: If you absolutely need to reference data from multiple files, create a “master” sheet that combines everything. It’s not as slick as cross-file lookups, but it’ll get the job done without making your brain explode.

2. Google Sheets + Large Datasets = Meh

Google Sheets can handle a lot, but when you throw a massive dataset at it, it starts to slow down. This is especially true if you have thousands of rows and lots of complex formulas.

Excel has this issue too, but it’s less noticeable because it’s built for bigger files. If you’re working with a lot of data, just know that Google Sheets might not be your best friend here.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep your datasets lean. If you’re working with large amounts of data, break them into smaller chunks. Use Google Sheets for day-to-day analysis and leave the heavy-lifting to more powerful tools (like Excel or Looker, which I’ll get into in another post).

3. Dashboards Aren’t as Sexy

If you’re a dashboard junkie (Excel charts, pivot tables, the works), you might find Google Sheets a bit… underwhelming. Sure, you can create basic charts, but the level of customization and polish just isn’t there compared to Excel.

And for anyone who loves the visual appeal of a well-designed dashboard, Google Sheets won’t satisfy that craving.

💡 Pro Tip: Use Looker for more advanced, visually stunning dashboards. It’s a more robust tool for reporting and visualizations, and I’ll share more on that in a future post.

Bonus Tip: Use the Search Bar Like a Boss

One of the coolest features of Google Sheets is the search bar. If you’re unsure where to find a function or setting, just type it into the search bar. It’ll show you exactly where the feature is located.

No more hunting around menus or Googling how to do something. This saves so much time!

💡 Pro Tip: Try typing “data validation” or “conditional formatting” into the search bar next time you can’t find something. It’ll save you a ton of time looking for features you use all the time.

Final Takeaway: It’s All About Adaptation

After spending the last 9 months with Google Sheets, I’ve gotten to the point where I feel like a pro. Is it perfect? No. But the collaboration features, seamless integrations, and cloud-based magic have made me more productive than I ever was in Excel.

There are definitely limitations (looking at you, cross-file lookups), but the pros far outweigh the cons—especially if you’re working in a team environment.

Ready to make the switch? Or just need more hacks to level up your Sheets game? Let’s chat in the comments!