Apps Script vs VBA: Which Tool Will Really Speed Up Your Reporting in 2026

Every day I open dozens of spreadsheets: sales reports, financial models, marketing activity plans. And every time I ask myself: which program should I choose—Excel or Google Sheets? This question plagues not only me but also many analysts, financiers, and managers. In 2026, both tools have become so powerful that the choice turns into a real dilemma. In this article, I will share my experience and knowledge gained from the course 'Excel and Google Sheets' from asibiont.com, and help you understand the key differences so you can make informed decisions for automating your reports.

Why Excel and Google Sheets Are Not Just 'Spreadsheets'

When I started working with data, I thought Excel was only for simple calculations and Google Sheets for collaborative editing. But reality turned out to be much deeper. Both programs have evolved into full-fledged platforms for business analytics, automation, and data visualization. According to a 2025 Gartner study, more than 80% of companies use spreadsheets in their key business processes. And it's no wonder: with them, you can build complex financial models, manage projects, analyze large volumes of data, and even create interactive dashboards.

However, the choice between Excel and Google Sheets depends on many factors: your tasks, team size, budget, and even how much you value mobility. Let's break this down in detail.

Comparison of Excel and Google Sheets: Functionality, Collaboration, and Automation

1. Formulas and Functions: What's the Difference?

Both Excel and Google Sheets support thousands of functions, but there are important differences in syntax and implementation.

• VLOOKUP vs. LOOKUP: In Excel, the classic VLOOKUP function only works for searching columns from left to right. Google Sheets has a similar function, but there are also more powerful alternatives like INDEX+MATCH, which work in both programs.
• Arrays and Dynamic Arrays: Excel 365 and Excel 2024 support dynamic arrays that automatically expand when you enter a formula. Google Sheets also has functions like ARRAYFORMULA, but their syntax may differ.
• AI Functions: Google Sheets is integrated with Google AI, allowing you to use functions like =GOOGLETRANSLATE to translate text or =IMAGE to insert images. In Excel, such functions only appeared in recent versions through add-ins.

Example: Suppose you need to find the price of a product by its code.

In Excel:

=VLOOKUP(A2, 'Catalog'!A:B, 2, FALSE)

In Google Sheets:

=VLOOKUP(A2, 'Catalog'!A:B, 2, FALSE)

As you can see, there is no difference in this case. But if you need to do a two-way lookup, it's better to use INDEX+MATCH in both programs.

2. Macros and Automation: VBA vs. Apps Script

Excel uses Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), which has been around for many years. With it, you can create complex macros, automate repetitive tasks, and even create custom forms. VBA is a powerful tool, but it requires time to learn and only works in Excel.

Google Sheets, on the other hand, uses Apps Script—a language based on JavaScript. It is more modern and understandable for developers, and it integrates with other Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Drive). Apps Script allows you to create add-ons, automatically send emails, update data, and much more.

Example of automation in Apps Script: Suppose you want to automatically send a report by email every Monday. In Apps Script, this is done with a trigger:

function sendReport() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName('Report');
  var data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
  var subject = 'Weekly Report';
  var body = 'See attachment: ' + data;
  MailApp.sendEmail('boss@example.com', subject, body);
}

In Excel VBA, you would have to create a macro that opens Outlook and attaches a file. Both methods work, but Apps Script is easier to maintain and does not require additional software installation.

3. Collaboration and Cloud

Here, Google Sheets is unrivaled. Multiple users can simultaneously edit a document, see changes in real time, leave comments, and chat in the built-in chat. Excel is also moving in this direction with co-authoring in Office 365, but in my experience, Google works more smoothly, especially with large spreadsheets.

However, Excel has an advantage in offline work. You can open a file on your computer without internet and work with it fully. Google Sheets also supports offline mode, but it requires prior setup in Chrome.

4. Built-in AI and Analytics

In 2026, both programs are actively implementing artificial intelligence. Google Sheets uses Google AI technology to automatically create pivot tables, forecast trends, and even generate formulas in natural language. For example, you can type 'sum of sales for the last quarter' in the formula bar, and Google will suggest the correct formula.

Excel is not far behind: features like Analyze Data use AI to find patterns. However, in my experience, Google is more advanced in this aspect, especially for non-technical users.

5. Pivot Tables and Visualization

Pivot tables are a powerful tool for data aggregation. In Excel, they are more flexible: you can use calculated fields, grouping, slicers, and timelines. Google Sheets also supports pivot tables, but their functionality is somewhat limited (for example, no calculated fields). However, Google Sheets compensates for this with integration with Google Data Studio (now Looker Studio), where you can create beautiful and interactive dashboards.

Example: I often build pivot tables to analyze sales by region. In Excel, I can quickly add a calculated field 'Profit' = Sales - Cost. In Google Sheets, I have to add a helper column to the source data.

Case Study: Automating Reporting in a Retail Chain

To illustrate how the choice of tool affects efficiency, let me give an example from my practice. Once I consulted a small retail chain with 15 stores. They had a problem: managers spent 3 hours a day manually creating sales reports. Data was collected from cash registers into Excel, then copied into pivot tables, then formatted into presentations for management.

Problem: Lots of manual work, errors during copying, delays in providing reports.

Solution: We developed an automated system based on Google Sheets and Apps Script. Every morning, the script automatically imported data from the cash registers via API, updated pivot tables, and sent a ready PDF report to the director's email. Managers only had to check the numbers and add comments if necessary.

Results:
- Time to create a report decreased from 3 hours to 15 minutes (95% savings).
- Number of errors decreased by 80%.
- Now reports are available at 9:00 AM instead of at lunchtime.

Conclusion: Google Sheets turned out to be the ideal solution for this task thanks to cloud integration and ease of automation. In Excel, similar automation could be implemented via VBA, but it would require installation on each computer and setting up a shared file storage.

Who Should Choose What: Decision Criteria

To make it easier for you to decide, I have compiled a comparison table based on key parameters:

Who should choose Excel?
- Financial analysts who need complex financial models and personal macros.
- Those who work in an offline environment and do not need constant collaborative editing.
- Those who already know VBA deeply and do not want to relearn.

Who should choose Google Sheets?
- Teams that work remotely or across different time zones.
- Those who want to automate reporting without programming.
- Marketers, managers, startups—anyone who values simplicity and speed.

But most importantly, you don't have to choose just one. Mastering both Excel and Google Sheets is a superpower that opens doors to solving any problem. That's exactly what I learned in the 'Excel and Google Sheets' course.

What I Learned in the Course: Skills That Really Came in Handy

I took the course to systematize my knowledge and fill gaps. Here are the key skills I now apply daily:

• Advanced formulas: I learned to combine INDEX, MATCH, SUMIFS, and other functions to create complex calculations.
• Pivot tables: Now I can build multi-level pivot tables and customize their appearance for clarity.
• Automation with Apps Script: I created scripts for automatically sending reports, updating data from external sources, and cleaning up spreadsheets.
• Data visualization: I learned to build dashboards in Looker Studio that clearly show KPIs.
• Principles of tool selection: I understood how to evaluate tasks and choose the appropriate program.

The course was built on practical tasks that simulated real business scenarios. I didn't just watch theory; I immediately applied the knowledge in practice.

Why Learning at asibiont.com Is Modern and Effective?

Asibiont.com uses artificial intelligence to create personalized learning programs. When I started, I indicated my level and goals. The AI system generated lessons that were adapted specifically to me: complexity increased gradually, and complex topics were explained in simple language.

The main advantage is the ability to learn anytime, anywhere. All materials are available in text format, which is convenient for quick review. The AI answers my questions, gives practical tasks, and helps me understand mistakes. It's like having a personal mentor 24/7.

Many studies confirm the effectiveness of adaptive learning. For example, the World Economic Forum's 'The Future of Jobs Report 2025' highlights that personalized learning using AI can increase the efficiency of acquiring new skills by 30%. And I felt this on myself: I completed the course in a month instead of three because the program didn't force me to reread what I already knew.

Conclusion: Your Next Step

In the world of data and automation, the ability to work with spreadsheets is not just a useful skill but a necessity. Whether you choose Excel or Google Sheets, you will be able to save hours of work and make decisions based on accurate data. And best of all—master both tools.

The course Excel and Google Sheets at asibiont.com will help you quickly master these tools, regardless of your current level. Thanks to AI learning, you will get only the knowledge you need and can apply it immediately. Don't put it off until tomorrow—start today, and in just a few weeks you'll be impressing colleagues with your reports and dashboards.

Remember: data doesn't wait. Master the tools that make your work easier and more efficient!