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How to compare two columns in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Duplicates & uniquenessExcel & Google Sheets
=IF(A2=B2, "Match", "Different")Try it with your data
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Step by step
- 1For a row-by-row check, use =IF(A2=B2, "Match", "Different").
- 2To find values in A that are missing from B, use =IF(COUNTIF(B:B, A2)=0, "Missing", "").
- 3Copy the formula down to flag every row.
Tips
- Text comparisons ignore case but not stray spaces — wrap cells in TRIM if matches fail unexpectedly.
- Conditional formatting can highlight differences visually instead of with a label.
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Frequently asked
How do I find items in one list that are not in another?
Use =IF(COUNTIF(B:B, A2)=0, "Missing", "") — it flags every value in column A that does not appear in column B.
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