Compact mode

SUMIFS vs VLOOKUP vs HLOOKUP

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

SUMIFS

Mathematical

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

VLOOKUP

Lookup & Reference

VLOOKUP belongs to the Lookup & Reference category. Excel functions for searching and referencing data across spreadsheets

HLOOKUP

Lookup & Reference

HLOOKUP belongs to the Lookup & Reference category. Excel functions for searching and referencing data across spreadsheets
Operation Type 🔧

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

SUMIFS

Calculation

SUMIFS performs Calculation operations. Excel functions for performing various calculations

VLOOKUP

Retrieval

VLOOKUP performs Retrieval operations. Functions specialized in fetching data from various sources

HLOOKUP

Retrieval

HLOOKUP performs Retrieval operations. Functions specialized in fetching data from various sources

Usage Context Comparison

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

SUMIFS

Multiple Condition Sum

SUMIFS is known for Multiple Condition Sum.

VLOOKUP

Vertical Data Search

VLOOKUP is known for Vertical Data Search.

HLOOKUP

Horizontal Data Lookup

HLOOKUP is known for Horizontal Data Lookup.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

SUMIFS

Excel 2007

SUMIFS was created in Excel 2007. Functions first introduced in Excel 2007 release Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Excel 3.0

VLOOKUP was created in Excel 3.0. Functions that originated in Excel 3.0 version Click to see all.

HLOOKUP

Excel 95

HLOOKUP was created in Excel 95. Functions that came with Excel 95 release Click to see all.
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

SUMIFS

Enhanced version of SUMIF

VLOOKUP

Often confused with HLOOKUP

HLOOKUP

Often confused with VLOOKUP
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

SUMIFS

When one condition isn't complicated enough

VLOOKUP

The function everyone pretends to understand

HLOOKUP

The forgotten sibling of VLOOKUP

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

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

For all*

Intermediate

Excel functions with moderate complexity for various tasks

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

For all*

Number

Excel functions specifically designed for numerical calculations

SUMIFS

Array

SUMIFS accepts Array as input data. Excel functions designed to work with arrays and ranges of data Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Text

VLOOKUP accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.

HLOOKUP

Text

HLOOKUP accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.
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

SUMIFS

Microsoft 365

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

Excel Online

SUMIFS is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform

Excel 2007

SUMIFS is compatible with Excel 2007 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2007 version

Excel 2010

SUMIFS is compatible with Excel 2010 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2010 version

VLOOKUP

Microsoft 365

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

Excel Online

VLOOKUP 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

SUMIFS

Web Excel

SUMIFS runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions

VLOOKUP

Web Excel

VLOOKUP runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

SUMIFS

3

SUMIFS needs 3 required arguments Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

4

VLOOKUP needs 4 required arguments Click to see all.

HLOOKUP

4

HLOOKUP needs 4 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

For all*

Range

Excel functions that operate on cell ranges for calculations

Number

Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs

SUMIFS

Array

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

VLOOKUP

Text

VLOOKUP accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing

Boolean

VLOOKUP accepts Boolean as input types Excel functions that work with true/false logical inputs for decision-making

HLOOKUP

Text

HLOOKUP accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

SUMIFS

Multiple Conditions

Accurate Calculations

Flexible For Multiple Criteria

Handles Large Datasets

Functions optimized for processing and analyzing large amounts of data efficiently

Easy To Understand

Functions with clear and intuitive syntax that are simple to learn

Multiple Conditions Support

Excel functions handling multiple conditions enable complex logical operations and flexible data filtering

Accurate Results

Functions that provide precise and reliable computational results

Flexible

Versatile Conditional Summing

Excel functions that can perform flexible conditional sum calculations based on multiple criteria

Supports Multiple Criteria

Powerful For Multiple Criteria

Flexible Conditions

VLOOKUP

Powerful Search Capability

Flexible Matching

Powerful Search

Common In Business

HLOOKUP

Flexible Horizontal Search

Good For Wide Datasets
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

SUMIFS

Complex For Beginners

Needs Sorted Data

Functions that only work correctly when the data is pre-sorted in a specific order Click to see all.

Complex Syntax For Beginners

Limited To Sum Operations

Performance Issues With Large Ranges

Cannot Use OR Conditions

Complex Syntax

Can Be Slow With Large Datasets

Functions that process large amounts of data may significantly impact spreadsheet performance Click to see all.

Limited To Sum Operation Only

Functions that can only add values without other mathematical operations Click to see all.

Requires Sorted Data

VLOOKUP

Left To Right Only

Can Be Slow With Large Datasets

Functions that process large amounts of data may significantly impact spreadsheet performance Click to see all.

Right-Only Search

Functions that can only search from right to left in text Click to see all.

Can Be Slow

HLOOKUP

Limited To Horizontal Data

Less Common Than VLOOKUP