Is xlookup better than VLOOKUP?

Generally, XLOOKUP is considered more powerful and flexible than VLOOKUP, making it the superior choice for most modern Excel users. While VLOOKUP remains a foundational function, XLOOKUP addresses many of its limitations and offers enhanced capabilities.

XLOOKUP vs. VLOOKUP: A Direct Comparison

XLOOKUP significantly improves upon VLOOKUP by offering greater versatility and solving common pain points.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	VLOOKUP	XLOOKUP
Lookup Direction	Limited to looking right (column to the right of lookup value)	Can look left or right (flexible array selection)
Match Type Default	Approximate match (TRUE) is default; exact match (FALSE) requires explicit setting	Exact match is default (match_mode = 0)
Return Array	Returns value from a specified column number	Returns value from a specified return array (range)
Error Handling	Requires IFERROR or ISNA for "not found" errors	Built-in if_not_found argument for custom error messages
Insertion/Deletion	Breaks if columns are inserted/deleted between lookup and return columns	Robust; adjusts automatically if columns are inserted/deleted
Performance	Can be slower on large datasets, especially with approximate matches	Generally more efficient, especially with approximate matches and binary search
Search Mode	Only top-to-bottom search	Multiple search modes: top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top, binary search, reverse binary search
Availability	All Excel versions	Excel 2021 and newer, Microsoft 365

Why XLOOKUP is Often Better

• Flexibility in Lookup Direction: One of VLOOKUP's most frustrating limitations is its inability to look left. If your lookup value is in column B and the return value is in column A, VLOOKUP simply cannot handle it without workarounds (like combining with INDEX-MATCH). XLOOKUP allows you to specify a lookup array and a return array independently, meaning you can look up a value to its left, right, or even in a completely separate range.
• Exact Match by Default: VLOOKUP's default approximate match often leads to errors if users forget to specify FALSE for an exact match. XLOOKUP defaults to an exact match, reducing potential mistakes and making it more intuitive.
• Built-in Error Handling: Instead of wrapping your VLOOKUP in an IFERROR function, XLOOKUP includes an if_not_found argument. This allows you to specify a custom message or value to display if no match is found, streamlining your formulas.
• Enhanced Robustness: VLOOKUP relies on a fixed column index. If you insert or delete columns within your lookup range, VLOOKUP can break or return incorrect values. XLOOKUP uses dynamic ranges for both the lookup and return arrays, making it much more resilient to structural changes in your worksheet.
• Multiple Search Modes: XLOOKUP can search from top to bottom (default), bottom to top, or even perform binary searches for faster performance on sorted data, which is especially useful for very large datasets.

When VLOOKUP is Still Useful

Despite XLOOKUP's advantages, VLOOKUP remains a viable and sometimes necessary tool, particularly in these scenarios:

• Older Excel Versions: If you are working with Excel 2019 or older versions, or sharing files with users who have these older versions, XLOOKUP will not be available. In such cases, VLOOKUP (or the INDEX-MATCH combination) is your only option for lookup operations.
• Simplicity and Familiarity: For very basic lookups where the return value is always to the right of the lookup column and you need an exact match, VLOOKUP's simpler syntax might be preferred by those deeply familiar with it.

Practical Advantages and Solutions

Let's illustrate with some common challenges and how XLOOKUP solves them:

1. Looking Up Data to the Left:

   • VLOOKUP Solution (Workaround): INDEX(A:A, MATCH(D1, B:B, 0)) (where D1 is lookup value, B:B is lookup column, A:A is return column)
   • XLOOKUP Solution: =XLOOKUP(D1, B:B, A:A) – much cleaner and direct.

2. Handling "Not Found" Errors:

   • VLOOKUP Solution: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP(E1, A:C, 2, FALSE), "Not Found")
   • XLOOKUP Solution: =XLOOKUP(E1, A:A, B:B, "Not Found") – built-in error handling simplifies the formula.

3. Finding the Last Occurrence:

   • VLOOKUP: Not natively possible.
   • XLOOKUP: =XLOOKUP(E1, A:A, B:B, "", 0, -1) – the last argument -1 specifies to search from the last item to the first, finding the last match.

In conclusion, for those with access to Excel 2021 or Microsoft 365, XLOOKUP is definitively better than VLOOKUP due to its enhanced flexibility, robustness, and powerful features. However, VLOOKUP still holds its place for compatibility with older Excel versions and for users who prefer its simpler (though less flexible) syntax for basic tasks.