Compact mode

COUNTA vs AVERAGE vs COUNTIF

Table of content

Basic Classification Comparison
Usage Context Comparison
Basic Information Comparison
History Comparison
Facts Comparison

Usage Information Comparison
Technical Details Comparison
Evaluation Comparison
Ratings Comparison

Basic Classification Comparison

Function Category 📊

Primary classification of the Excel function based on its main purpose and usage domain, helps users quickly identify function types

For all*

Statistical

Excel functions for statistical analysis and calculations
Operation Type 🔧

Fundamental type of operation or action that the Excel function performs on its inputs

COUNTA

Calculation

COUNTA performs Calculation operations. Excel functions for performing various calculations Click to see all.

AVERAGE

Calculation

AVERAGE performs Calculation operations. Excel functions for performing various calculations Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Aggregation

COUNTIF performs Aggregation operations. Excel functions for combining and summarizing data Click to see all.

Usage Context Comparison

For whom 👥

Target user groups who would benefit most from using this Excel function

For all*

Data Analysts

Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation

COUNTA

Business Managers

COUNTA is designed for Business Managers. Excel functions helpful for business management and decision making Click to see all.

AVERAGE

Students

AVERAGE is designed for Students. Excel functions helpful for academic work and learning Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Statisticians

COUNTIF is designed for Statisticians. Excel functions designed for statistical analysis and probability calculations Click to see all.
Purpose 📝

Primary purposes and use cases of the Excel function

COUNTA

Data Analysis

COUNTA is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

AVERAGE

Statistical Analysis

AVERAGE is used for Statistical Analysis. Excel functions designed for statistical calculations and data analysis Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Data Analysis

COUNTIF is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

Statistical Analysis

COUNTIF is used for Statistical Analysis. Excel functions designed for statistical calculations and data analysis Click to see all.

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

COUNTA

Count Non-Empty Cells

COUNTA is known for Count Non-Empty Cells.

AVERAGE

Basic Statistical Calculation

AVERAGE is known for Basic Statistical Calculation.

COUNTIF

Counting With Conditions

COUNTIF is known for Counting With Conditions.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

COUNTA

Excel 2.0

COUNTA was created in Excel 2.0. Functions introduced in the Excel 2.0 version release Click to see all.

AVERAGE

Excel 2.0

AVERAGE was created in Excel 2.0. Functions introduced in the Excel 2.0 version release Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Excel 97

COUNTIF was created in Excel 97. Functions first available in Excel 97 version Click to see all.
Created By 👤

Organization or team responsible for developing the function

For all*

Microsoft Excel Team

Functions officially created by the Microsoft Excel development team

Facts Comparison

Interesting Fact 💡

Unique or lesser-known information about the Excel function

COUNTA

Originally designed for counting attendance in spreadsheets

AVERAGE

Most basic statistical function

COUNTIF

Counting made fascinating
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

COUNTA

Makes counting feel like a thrilling adventure in cell exploration

AVERAGE

Making averages average since Excel began

COUNTIF

The function that makes counting harder than it should be

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

Indicates the difficulty level and complexity of using the Excel function effectively

For all*

Simple

Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

For all*

Number

Excel functions specifically designed for numerical calculations

COUNTA

Text

COUNTA accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.

Array

COUNTA accepts Array as input data. Excel functions designed to work with arrays and ranges of data Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Text

COUNTIF accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.
Version Compatibility 💻

Indicates which Excel versions and platforms the function is compatible with < including Office 365< Excel 2019< 2016< etc.

For all*

Excel 2019

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version
Excel 2016

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version
Excel 2013

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version

AVERAGE

Microsoft 365

AVERAGE is compatible with Microsoft 365 Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform Click to see all.

Excel Online

AVERAGE is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Microsoft 365

COUNTIF is compatible with Microsoft 365 Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform Click to see all.

Excel Online

COUNTIF is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform Click to see all.
Operating System 💾

Specifies the operating systems where the function can be used < including Windows< macOS< and web platforms

For all*

Windows

Excel functions optimized for Windows operating system
MacOS

Excel functions optimized for MacOS users
Web Excel

Excel functions available in web-based versions
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

COUNTA

1

COUNTA needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.

AVERAGE

1

AVERAGE needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.

COUNTIF

2

COUNTIF needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

For all*

Range

Excel functions that operate on cell ranges for calculations

COUNTA

Array

COUNTA accepts Array as input types Excel functions that specifically work with array inputs for calculations Click to see all.

AVERAGE

Number

AVERAGE accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs Click to see all.

Array

AVERAGE accepts Array as input types Excel functions that specifically work with array inputs for calculations Click to see all.

COUNTIF

Text

COUNTIF accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing Click to see all.

Number

COUNTIF accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs Click to see all.

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

COUNTA

Easy To Use

Fast

Non-Zero Values Only

Versatile

AVERAGE

Simple To Use

Common Function

Universal

COUNTIF

Easy Conditional Counting

Flexible Criteria

Simple To Use

Efficient
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

COUNTA

Counts Text As Valid

Includes Errors

Functions that consider error values in their computations, affecting results Click to see all.

Format Sensitive

AVERAGE

Ignores Text

Includes Zero Values

Functions that consider zero values in calculations, impacting statistical results Click to see all.

Numbers Only

No Weights

COUNTIF

Limited To Single Condition

Case Sensitive

Functions where text matching is affected by letter case can cause unexpected results Click to see all.

Limited Criteria Options

Ratings Comparison

Ease of Use Score 📊

User-rated score for function's ease of use

COUNTA

9.5

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.

AVERAGE

9

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.

COUNTIF

8

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.
Versatility Score 📈

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios

COUNTA

8

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.

AVERAGE

7.5

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.

COUNTIF

7.5

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.
Performance Score ⚙

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency

COUNTA

9.5

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.

AVERAGE

9.5

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.

COUNTIF

8.5

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.
Reliability Score 🛠

Rating for function's consistency and error handling

COUNTA

9.8

Rating for function's consistency and error handling (25%) Functions with higher reliability scores produce more consistent results and handle edge cases better. Click to see all.

AVERAGE

9.5

Rating for function's consistency and error handling (25%) Functions with higher reliability scores produce more consistent results and handle edge cases better. Click to see all.

COUNTIF

9

Rating for function's consistency and error handling (25%) Functions with higher reliability scores produce more consistent results and handle edge cases better. Click to see all.
Score ⭐

Overall rating combining all scoring attributes

COUNTA

9.2

The overall score for COUNTA is 9.2. Click to see all.

AVERAGE

8.9

The overall score for AVERAGE is 8.9. Click to see all.

COUNTIF

8.2

The overall score for COUNTIF is 8.2. Click to see all.

Alternatives to COUNTA

Known for Basic Arithmetic Calculations

📈 is more versatile than COUNTA

Known for Counting Numeric Cells

Known for Converting Row Data To Columns

Known for Multiple Criteria Counting

🔢 needs fewer arguments than COUNTA

📈 is more versatile than COUNTA

Known for Empty Cell Detection

⚙ performs better than COUNTA

🛠 is more reliable than COUNTA

Known for Finding Highest Value

Known for Finding Lowest Value

Known for Simple Vertical And Horizontal Lookups

🔢 needs fewer arguments than COUNTA

Known for Round Numbers

🔢 needs fewer arguments than COUNTA

Known for Conditional Average Calculations

🔢 needs fewer arguments than COUNTA