compare two columns in excel to find differences

Method # 4: Compare two columns using conditional formatting.Method # 3: Compare two columns using EXACT Function.Method # 2: Compare two columns using IF Function.Method # 1: Compare two columns using a Simple Formula.The top four methods for comparing two columns are listed below: When comparing two cells, Excel matches each row of the first column against the second column to find the similarities or differences. It is fairly simple to use, and we have demonstrated the major ways to compare data for decision making as follows:

There are hundreds of other cases which involve comparing columns. Similarly, you can find out the share price of your stock by comparing it with the stock data in a few clicks!.If you want to know the availability of certain gadgets from a huge list of items at your store – you can fetch the data by comparing your required items with the store inventory.Perhaps you want to find out which of your favorite football players qualified for a tournament – here you can compare your favorite players with qualified players and find out.Maybe you want to find the top-selling mobile phones at your store – you can compare the sales of mobile phone data to find the top selling phone.In case you are a beginner, let’s first familiarize ourselves with what the comparison of two columns in Excel is used for. This is one of the quickest techniques in Excel and can compare any amount of data in less than a second.Ĭomparing two data columns having 5 or 10 entries is a piece of cake, but what if you have thousands of data entries in both columns? The first step to compare columns typically involves comparing data by sorting it into two or more adjacent columns. You may want to Compare Columns in Excel to find matching, or non matching data, or simply to pull out specific information. Example Of Pulling Data by Comparing Two Columns.Pulling Matching Data with Partial Match Using VLOOKUP Function.Compare Two Columns – Pull Matching Data.

Using VLOOKUP For Partially Comparing Two Columns.

2 – Finding Mismatched Data Using Conditional Formatting.

1 – Finding Mismatched Data Using Formula.

Compare Two Columns – Find Missing Data.

Compare Two Columns – Highlight Matching Data.

Compare Two Columns Using Conditional Formatting.

Comparing Two Columns Under Effect of EXACT Function’s Case Sensitivity.

Compare Two Columns Using the EXACT Function.

Compare Two Columns Using the IF Function.

Compare Two Columns Using a Simple Formula.

Compare two columns in excel to find differences