Is INDEX MATCH obsolete?

No. It remains common in enterprise models and works on older Excel. XLOOKUP is the modern default when available.

Which handles two-way lookups?

Both can. INDEX MATCH separates row and column logic; XLOOKUP can use two XMATCH calls or a single XLOOKUP with wider return arrays.

Performance is similar for most business tables. Avoid full-column references on millions of rows regardless of function.

XLOOKUP vs INDEX MATCH

Compare XLOOKUP and INDEX MATCH for flexible Excel lookups, including readability, compatibility, and two-way matching scenarios.

Use XLOOKUP for most modern lookup tasks. Use INDEX MATCH when maintaining legacy workbooks or when row and column matching are already separated in the model.

XLOOKUP expresses lookup value, lookup array, and return array in one function.
INDEX MATCH requires two functions but remains very flexible in advanced models.

Is INDEX MATCH obsolete? No. It remains common in enterprise models and works on older Excel. XLOOKUP is the modern default when available.
Which handles two-way lookups? Both can. INDEX MATCH separates row and column logic; XLOOKUP can use two XMATCH calls or a single XLOOKUP with wider return arrays.
Which is faster on large data? Performance is similar for most business tables. Avoid full-column references on millions of rows regardless of function.