The GridDojo Team
The GridDojo editorial team writes and reviews every guide, checking the steps against the current versions of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. We focus on the exact steps, the errors people actually hit, and honest comparisons — never filler.
Articles
- Best AI Tools for Small Businesses (2026)
The best AI tools for a small business are the ones that save real time on a real job — writing, meetings, design, support, or data. This is a short, honest shortlist chosen by the work they do, not by how many features they list.
- How to Use ChatGPT to Write Excel Formulas
Describe the result you want in plain English — your column layout and one example — and ChatGPT returns a formula you paste into Excel and verify. Here is how to prompt it well, and how to check the formula before you trust it.
- ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini for Work
There is no single best AI — there is a best one for each job. This compares ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini across real work tasks: writing, research, spreadsheets, coding, and living inside your existing tools, with a clear pick for each.
- AI Tools for Data Analysis (No Coding)
You no longer need Python or SQL to analyse a spreadsheet. Upload a file, ask a question in plain English, and these AI tools return charts and answers. Here is how they work, which to pick, and how to keep the results trustworthy.
- Best AI Tools for Spreadsheets (Excel & Google Sheets)
Some AI tools write formulas from a description; others live inside the sheet and edit it for you. This guide sorts the best AI tools for spreadsheets by how they actually work — so you pick the right kind for your data and your app.
- Best AI Writing Tools for Work
The best AI writing tool depends on the job — drafting, marketing copy, SEO content, or editing. But there is a catch most roundups skip: many tools wrap the same models, so for most people a general chatbot plus an editor covers almost everything. Here is how to choose, honestly.
- Airtable vs Excel: Which Should You Use?
Excel is a true spreadsheet for calculations and analysis; Airtable is a database with spreadsheet looks, built for organizing and linking records. Use Excel for numbers, Airtable for structured data and workflows. Here is how they compare.
- Airtable vs Google Sheets: Which Should You Use?
Choose Google Sheets for free, flexible number-crunching and formulas. Choose Airtable when your spreadsheet has become a database — tasks, projects, or inventory that need linked records and multiple views. Here is the honest breakdown.
- Apple Numbers vs Excel: Which Should You Use?
Apple Numbers is free, elegant, and great for Mac and iPhone users; Excel is the paid, cross-platform standard with far more power. Numbers suits simple, good-looking spreadsheets, Excel suits serious data work. Here is how they compare.
- Best Spreadsheet Software for Small Business (2026)
For most small businesses, Google Sheets is the best value for collaboration and Excel wins for analysis. Zoho, LibreOffice, WPS, OnlyOffice, Numbers, Airtable and Coda round out the best free and paid alternatives. Here is how to choose.
- Best CRM for Small Businesses (2026)
The best CRM for a small business is the one your team will actually use every day — not the one with the longest feature list. This guide picks by real fit: how many people, what you sell, and what you already use, with an honest note on who each tool is wrong for.
- Best Free CRM for Small Businesses (2026)
A free CRM can run a small business well — until you hit a wall you did not see coming. This guide covers what "free" really means, which free CRMs are genuinely useful, and the exact limits (users, contacts, automation) that tell you it is time to pay.
- How to Choose a CRM for a Small Business
Choosing a CRM is not about finding the "best" one — it is about matching a tool to your problem, team, and budget. This is a practical ten-step framework that gets you to a confident decision, without a demo call or a feature spreadsheet.
- HubSpot vs Zoho vs Pipedrive: CRM Compared
These three CRMs win at three different jobs: HubSpot for an all-in-one platform, Zoho for value and customization, and Pipedrive for pure sales focus. This compares them by the decision that actually matters — which one fits how your team works, with an honest note on who each is wrong for.
- Best CRM for Freelancers & Solo Owners
A freelancer does not need the same CRM as a sales team. The best CRM for a solo business is the one that tracks clients and follow-ups in minutes, not the one with the most features. Here are the tools that fit a one-person operation — and which to avoid.
- CRM vs Spreadsheet: When to Switch
A spreadsheet is a perfectly good first CRM — until it quietly starts costing you deals. This guide shows exactly where a sheet stops being enough for managing customers, and how to know when a real CRM will pay for itself.
- How to Make a Chart in Excel (Step by Step)
To make a chart in Excel, select your data, open the Insert tab, and pick a chart type from the Charts group — or use Recommended Charts to let Excel choose. Here is how to build, choose, and format the right chart.
- How to Use Conditional Formatting in Excel
Conditional formatting changes a cell's color automatically based on its value — to highlight, rank, or flag data. Select your cells, open Home > Conditional Formatting, and pick a rule. Here is how to use every type, step by step.
- How to Use COUNTIF in Excel (with Examples)
COUNTIF counts only the cells that meet a condition. The syntax is =COUNTIF(range, criteria) — like counting how many sales came from one region. Here is exactly how it works, plus wildcards, counting duplicates, and COUNTIFS.
- How to Fix the #DIV/0! Error in Excel
The #DIV/0! error means a formula is dividing by zero or by an empty cell. The fix is to correct the denominator, or wrap the formula in IFERROR or IF so it returns a blank or a message instead. Here is how.
- How to Create a Drop-Down List in Excel
To create a drop-down list in Excel, select the cells, go to Data > Data Validation, choose Allow: List, and type your options or point to a range. Here is how to build, edit, and troubleshoot one.
- How to Freeze Rows and Columns in Excel
To freeze the top row in Excel, go to View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row. To freeze several rows and columns at once, select the cell below and to the right of them first, then choose Freeze Panes. Here is exactly how.
- How to Use the IF Function in Excel (with Examples)
The IF function returns one value when a condition is true and another when it is false. The syntax is =IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false). Here is how to use it, nest it, and avoid the usual mistakes.
- How to Use INDEX MATCH in Excel (with Examples)
INDEX MATCH is the flexible lookup that fixes VLOOKUP's biggest limits — it can look to the left and it does not break when you add columns. Here is exactly how INDEX and MATCH work together, step by step.
- How to Fix the #N/A Error in Excel
The #N/A error means a lookup could not find what it was searching for — VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, or MATCH came up empty. The fix is to check the lookup value for typos, spaces, and type mismatches, or handle it cleanly with IFNA. Here is how.
- How to Fix the #NAME? Error in Excel
The #NAME? error means Excel does not recognize something in your formula — usually a misspelled function, missing quotation marks around text, or an unknown name. Here is how to find the cause and fix it.
- How to Make a Pivot Table in Excel (Step by Step)
A pivot table summarizes a large table into a short, readable report in seconds. In Excel: select your data, click Insert > PivotTable, then drag fields into Rows, Columns, and Values. Here is the full walkthrough.
- How to Fix the #REF! Error in Excel
The #REF! error means a formula points to a cell that no longer exists — usually because a row, column, or cell it referenced was deleted. The fastest fix is Ctrl+Z; if that is too late, you rebuild the broken reference. Here is how.
- How to Remove Duplicates in Excel (3 Ways)
The fastest way to remove duplicates in Excel is Data > Remove Duplicates: select your range, choose which columns to check, and click OK. You can also highlight duplicates first or use the UNIQUE function. Here is each method.
- How to Sort and Filter Data in Excel
To sort in Excel, select your table and use Data > Sort; to filter, use Data > Filter and pick which rows to show. Sorting reorders your data, filtering hides rows without deleting them. Here is how to do both, step by step.
- How to Use SUMIF in Excel (with Examples)
SUMIF adds up only the numbers that meet a condition. The syntax is =SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range]) — like totaling sales for one region. Here is exactly how each part works, plus SUMIFS and wildcards.
- How to Fix the #VALUE! Error in Excel
The #VALUE! error means a formula is trying to do math with something that is not a number — usually text or a stray space in a cell. The fix is to find the offending cell and clean it, or use a function that ignores text. Here is how.
- How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel (with Examples)
VLOOKUP finds a value in the first column of a table and returns a value from another column in the same row. The formula is =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, FALSE). Here is exactly how each part works.
- Excel vs Google Sheets: Which Should You Use in 2026?
Choose Google Sheets for free, real-time collaboration and anywhere access. Choose Excel for heavy data, advanced analysis, and offline power. Most people are happy with Sheets; power users still need Excel. Here is the honest breakdown.
- How to Use XLOOKUP in Excel (with Examples)
XLOOKUP is the modern, all-in-one lookup that replaces VLOOKUP. The syntax is =XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array) — it looks in any direction and handles "not found" on its own. Here is exactly how it works.
- How to Make a Budget in Google Sheets
To make a budget in Google Sheets, list your income and expenses, total each with SUM, subtract to find your balance, and group spending by category with SUMIF. Here is how to build a simple, free budget from scratch.
- How to Use Conditional Formatting in Google Sheets
Conditional formatting colors a cell automatically based on its value — to highlight, rank, or flag data. Select your cells, open Format > Conditional formatting, and set a rule. Here is how to use single-color rules, color scales, and custom formulas.
- How to Use COUNTIF in Google Sheets
COUNTIF counts only the cells that meet a condition. The syntax is =COUNTIF(range, criterion) — like counting how many orders came from one region. Here is exactly how it works, with wildcards, counting duplicates, and COUNTIFS.
- How to Make a Drop-Down List in Google Sheets
To make a drop-down list in Google Sheets, select the cells, open Data > Data validation, add a rule with the Dropdown criteria, and enter your options. Here is how to build, edit, and troubleshoot one.
- How to Freeze Rows and Columns in Google Sheets
To freeze rows in Google Sheets, open the View menu, choose Freeze, and pick how many rows or columns to lock. They then stay visible as you scroll. Here is how to freeze, adjust, and unfreeze them.
- How to Use the IF Function in Google Sheets
The IF function in Google Sheets returns one value when a condition is true and another when it is false. The syntax is =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false). Here is exactly how each part works, with examples.
- How to Make a Graph in Google Sheets
To make a graph in Google Sheets, select your data, click Insert > Chart, and pick a chart type in the Chart editor. Here is how to build it, choose the right type, and customize it — step by step.
- How to Make a Pivot Table in Google Sheets
In Google Sheets, select your data, choose Insert > Pivot table, then use the editor on the right to add Rows, Columns, Values, and Filters. It summarizes thousands of rows into a clear report without a single formula. Here is the full walkthrough.
- How to Use the QUERY Function in Google Sheets
QUERY pulls, filters, and sorts data with one formula using a small SQL-like language. The syntax is =QUERY(data, "SELECT A, B WHERE C > 100", 1). Here is exactly how it works, with real examples of SELECT, WHERE, and ORDER BY.
- How to Remove Duplicates in Google Sheets
To remove duplicates in Google Sheets, select your data and go to Data > Data cleanup > Remove duplicates. To keep your original list untouched, use the UNIQUE function instead. Here is how to do both.
- How to Sort and Filter Data in Google Sheets
To sort in Google Sheets, use Data > Sort range; to filter, use Data > Create a filter and pick which rows to show. Sorting reorders your data, filtering hides rows without deleting them. Here is how to do both, step by step.
- How to Use SUMIF in Google Sheets
SUMIF adds up numbers that meet a condition. The syntax is =SUMIF(range, criterion, sum_range) — for example, total sales for one region. Here is exactly how each part works, with examples.
- How to Use VLOOKUP in Google Sheets
In Google Sheets, VLOOKUP searches down the first column of a range and returns a value from another column in the same row. The syntax is =VLOOKUP(search_key, range, index, FALSE). Here is how each part works, with examples.
- Best Invoicing Software for Freelancers
The best invoicing software for a freelancer is the one that gets you paid with the least fuss — and for many that means free. This guide picks by how you work: free-first invoicing, hands-off automation, or one tool for your whole admin, with an honest note on who each is wrong for.
- Best Free Invoicing Software
You can send professional invoices and get paid without paying a cent for the software. This guide covers what "free invoicing" really means, which free tools are genuinely worth using, and the limits that tell you when a paid plan is worth it.
- QuickBooks vs Xero vs Wave: Accounting Compared
These three accounting tools win at three different things: QuickBooks for full-featured power, Xero for multi-user collaboration, and Wave for free basic bookkeeping. This compares them on the decision that matters for a small business — how much accounting you really need — with a clear pick for each and who should skip each.
- LibreOffice Calc vs Excel: Which Should You Use?
LibreOffice Calc is a free, open-source desktop spreadsheet; Excel is the paid industry standard with deeper features. Calc covers everyday work at no cost, Excel wins on power and compatibility. Here is how they compare.
- Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace: Which Is Better?
Microsoft 365 gives you powerful desktop apps like Excel and works best offline; Google Workspace is built for real-time collaboration in the browser. Pick Microsoft for depth, Google for teamwork. Here is the full comparison.
- Notion vs Google Sheets: Which Should You Use?
Google Sheets is a true spreadsheet built for calculations and data; Notion is an all-in-one workspace with light databases. Use Sheets for numbers and analysis, Notion for notes, wikis, and tracking. Here is how they compare.
- Best Project Management Software for Small Teams
The best project management tool for a small team is the one everyone actually opens on a Monday — not the one with the most features. This guide picks by how your team works: simple task tracking, an all-in-one workspace, or structured projects, with an honest note on who each tool is wrong for.
- Best Free Project Management Tools
A free project management tool can run a small team well — until you hit a cap you did not see coming. This guide covers what "free" really means, which free tools are genuinely useful, and the exact limits (users, boards, features) that tell you it is time to pay.
- Trello vs Asana vs ClickUp: Compared
These three project tools win at three different things: Trello for simplicity, Asana for structured teamwork, and ClickUp for all-in-one value. This compares them on the decision that matters for a small team — how much power you want versus how fast you want to start — with a clear pick for each and who should skip each.
- WPS Office vs Excel: Which Should You Use?
WPS Spreadsheet is a free, Excel-like desktop app with strong .xlsx compatibility; Excel is the paid industry standard with deeper features. WPS covers everyday work at no cost, Excel wins on power and macros. Here is how they compare.