Compact mode

SUM vs NOW vs MONTH

Table of content

Basic Classification Comparison
Usage Context Comparison
Basic Information Comparison
History Comparison
Facts Comparison

Usage Information Comparison
Technical Details Comparison
Evaluation Comparison
Ratings Comparison

Basic Classification Comparison

Function Category 📊

Primary classification of the Excel function based on its main purpose and usage domain, helps users quickly identify function types

SUM

Mathematical

SUM belongs to the Mathematical category. Excel functions for performing mathematical calculations Click to see all.

NOW

Date & Time

NOW belongs to the Date & Time category. Excel functions for working with dates and time calculations Click to see all.

MONTH

Date & Time

MONTH belongs to the Date & Time category. Excel functions for working with dates and time calculations Click to see all.
Operation Type 🔧

Fundamental type of operation or action that the Excel function performs on its inputs

SUM

Calculation

SUM performs Calculation operations. Excel functions for performing various calculations

NOW

Information

NOW performs Information operations. Functions that focus on retrieving and displaying data in various formats

MONTH

Information

MONTH performs Information operations. Functions that focus on retrieving and displaying data in various formats

Usage Context Comparison

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

SUM

Basic Arithmetic Calculations

SUM is known for Basic Arithmetic Calculations.

NOW

Current Date And Time Retrieval

NOW is known for Current Date And Time Retrieval.

MONTH

Month Extraction

MONTH is known for Month Extraction.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

For all*

Excel 2.0

Functions introduced in the Excel 2.0 version release
Created By 👤

Organization or team responsible for developing the function

For all*

Microsoft Excel Team

Functions officially created by the Microsoft Excel development team

Facts Comparison

Interesting Fact 💡

Unique or lesser-known information about the Excel function

SUM

Most commonly used function in Excel

NOW

Updates approximately 86400 times per day

MONTH

Essential for monthly reporting
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

SUM

Making adding numbers look complicated since 1985

NOW

The function that never lets you forget you're late

MONTH

January is 1 not 0 thankfully

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

Indicates the difficulty level and complexity of using the Excel function effectively

For all*

Simple

Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

SUM

Number

SUM accepts Number as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for numerical calculations

NOW

Date

NOW accepts Date as input data. Excel functions for working with dates and time values

MONTH

Date

MONTH accepts Date as input data. Excel functions for working with dates and time values
Version Compatibility 💻

Indicates which Excel versions and platforms the function is compatible with < including Office 365< Excel 2019< 2016< etc.

For all*

Excel 2019

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version

Excel 2016

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version

Excel 2013

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version

SUM

Microsoft 365

SUM is compatible with Microsoft 365 Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform

Excel Online

SUM is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform
Operating System 💾

Specifies the operating systems where the function can be used < including Windows< macOS< and web platforms

For all*

Windows

Excel functions optimized for Windows operating system

MacOS

Excel functions optimized for MacOS users

Web Excel

Excel functions available in web-based versions
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

SUM

1

SUM needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.

NOW

~
MONTH

1

MONTH needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

SUM

Number

SUM accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs

Range

SUM accepts Range as input types Excel functions that operate on cell ranges for calculations

Array

SUM accepts Array as input types Excel functions that specifically work with array inputs for calculations

NOW

Date

NOW accepts Date as input types Excel functions specialized in processing date and time calculations

MONTH

Date

MONTH accepts Date as input types Excel functions specialized in processing date and time calculations

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

SUM

Easy To Use

Widely Recognized

Versatile

Fast Calculation

NOW

No Arguments Needed

Excel functions that work without arguments provide quick results with minimal setup

Updates Automatically

MONTH

Consistent Results

Easy To Use
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

SUM

Limited To Numbers Only

Cannot Handle Text

No Text Handling

NOW

Updates With Every Calculation

Can Slow Spreadsheets

MONTH

Single Purpose

Basic Output