XLOOKUP vs. VLOOKUP: Why It Is Time to Switch (2025 Comparison)

For decades, VLOOKUP was the king of Excel formulas. It was the first thing you learned in any job interview. But in recent years, Microsoft introduced a game-changer: XLOOKUP.

Many users are asking: “Is VLOOKUP dead?” or “Should I stop using it?”

The short answer is yes. XLOOKUP is faster, more powerful, and harder to break. In this guide, we will compare both functions and show you exactly why (and how) to upgrade your skills.

Feature	VLOOKUP	XLOOKUP
Direction	Vertical only (Left to Right)	Any direction (Left, Right, Up, Down)
Column Index	Requires a manual number (e.g., “3”)	Dynamic selection
Broken Formulas	Breaks if you insert a column	Does not break
Defaults	Approximate match (Dangerous)	Exact match (Safe)

1. Searching to the Left (The Biggest Problem)

The biggest limitation of VLOOKUP is that it cannot look to the left. Your “ID” column must always be on the left side of your data.

XLOOKUP solves this instantly. It can look anywhere.

The Old Way (VLOOKUP workaround): You had to rearrange your columns or use a complex INDEX/MATCH formula.

The New Way (XLOOKUP):

=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array)

Just select what you are looking for, where to find it, and what to return. Simple.

2. No More “Column Counting”

With VLOOKUP, you had to count columns manually: “1, 2, 3… okay, the price is in column 4”. =VLOOKUP(A2, B:E, 4, FALSE)

If you later inserted a new column in the middle of your table, your formula would break or show the wrong data.

XLOOKUP uses direct references, so you can insert or delete columns freely without breaking your spreadsheet.

3. Handling Errors Automatically

What happens if VLOOKUP doesn’t find a name? It gives you an ugly #N/A error. To fix this, you usually have to wrap it in another formula like IFERROR.

XLOOKUP has error handling built-in. It has a specific argument called [if_not_found].

Example: =XLOOKUP(A2, B:B, C:C, "Not Found") If the value isn’t there, Excel will cleanly display “Not Found” instead of an error code.

When Should You Still Use VLOOKUP?

Even though XLOOKUP is superior, VLOOKUP is not completely useless yet. You should use it if:

1. Older Excel Versions: You are sending a file to someone who uses Excel 2016 or older (XLOOKUP is only available in Excel 2021 and Office 365).
2. Legacy Files: You are maintaining an old dashboard that was built years ago.

Conclusion

If you have Office 365, stop using VLOOKUP today. XLOOKUP is safer, easier to read, and much more flexible. It is the modern standard for data analysts.

Ready to visualize your data? Once you have pulled your data with XLOOKUP, try visualizing it. Check out our guide on How to Create a Scatter Plot in Excel.