VLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP

Excel users have relied on VLOOKUP for ages, but Microsoft introduced XLOOKUP as a more powerful and flexible alternative. If you’re wondering which one to use, let’s break it down in a simple and conversational way.

What Are VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP?

VLOOKUP (Vertical Lookup)

VLOOKUP helps you find a value in the first column of a table and return a corresponding value from another column.

Syntax:

1

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

lookup_value: What you’re looking for.
table_array: The data range.
col_index_num: The column number to return data from.
[range_lookup]: TRUE (approximate match) or FALSE (exact match).

Example: Say column A has product codes and column B has prices. To find the price of “A101”:

1

=VLOOKUP("A101", A2:B10, 2, FALSE)

XLOOKUP (Extended Lookup)

XLOOKUP is a better, more flexible replacement for VLOOKUP.

Syntax:

1

=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

lookup_value: The value you’re searching for.
lookup_array: The range where the lookup happens.
return_array: The column/row where the result comes from.
[if_not_found]: A custom message if the value isn’t found.
[match_mode]: 0 (exact match, default), -1 (next smaller), 1 (next larger), 2 (wildcards).
[search_mode]: 1 (top to bottom), -1 (bottom to top).

Example: To find “A101” just like before:

1

=XLOOKUP("A101", A2:A10, B2:B10, "Not Found")

Key Differences Between VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP

Feature	VLOOKUP	XLOOKUP
Search direction	Only top to bottom	Top to bottom or bottom to top
Return column	Uses column index	Directly references return column
Approximate match	Uses TRUE/FALSE	More flexible match modes
Horizontal lookups?	No	Yes
Default match	Approximate (TRUE)	Exact (0)
Returns multiple columns?	No	Yes
Handles missing values	Returns #N/A	Custom [if_not_found] message
Works with tables?	Yes	Yes, even better!
Performance	Slower with large datasets	Faster and more efficient

When Should You Use XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP?

Scenario	Best Function
Need backward compatibility	✅ VLOOKUP
Want a simple function for beginners	✅ VLOOKUP
Searching vertically & horizontally	✅ XLOOKUP
Handling large datasets efficiently	✅ XLOOKUP
Avoiding column index errors	✅ XLOOKUP
Custom message for missing values	✅ XLOOKUP
Returning multiple values at once	✅ XLOOKUP
Searching from bottom to top	✅ XLOOKUP

Final Verdict

If you’re still using Excel 2019 or earlier, you’ll have to stick with VLOOKUP. But if you have Excel 365 or Excel 2019+, XLOOKUP is the clear winner. It’s faster, more versatile, and eliminates VLOOKUP’s biggest headaches.