Compact mode

COUNTIFS vs DATEDIF vs NOW

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

COUNTIFS

Statistical

COUNTIFS belongs to the Statistical category. Excel functions for statistical analysis and calculations Click to see all.

DATEDIF

Date & Time

DATEDIF belongs to the Date & Time category. Excel functions for working with dates and time calculations Click to see all.

NOW

Date & Time

NOW belongs to the Date & Time category. Excel functions for working with dates and time calculations Click to see all.
Operation Type 🔧

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

COUNTIFS

Calculation

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

DATEDIF

Calculation

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

NOW

Information

NOW performs Information operations. Functions that focus on retrieving and displaying data in various formats Click to see all.

Usage Context Comparison

For whom 👥

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

For all*

Business Managers

Excel functions helpful for business management and decision making

COUNTIFS

Analysts

COUNTIFS is designed for Analysts. Excel functions essential for data analysis and reporting Click to see all.

Data Analysts

COUNTIFS is designed for Data Analysts. Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation Click to see all.

DATEDIF

Analysts

DATEDIF is designed for Analysts. Excel functions essential for data analysis and reporting Click to see all.

NOW

Administrative Staff

NOW is designed for Administrative Staff. Excel functions useful for administrative tasks and data management Click to see all.
Purpose 📝

Primary purposes and use cases of the Excel function

COUNTIFS

Data Analysis

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

DATEDIF

Date Calculations

DATEDIF is used for Date Calculations. Functions for working with dates and time calculations Click to see all.

NOW

Date Calculations

NOW is used for Date Calculations. Functions for working with dates and time calculations Click to see all.

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

COUNTIFS

Multiple Criteria Counting

COUNTIFS is known for Multiple Criteria Counting.

DATEDIF

Date Difference Calculations

DATEDIF is known for Date Difference Calculations.

NOW

Current Date And Time Retrieval

NOW is known for Current Date And Time Retrieval.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

COUNTIFS

Excel 2007

COUNTIFS was created in Excel 2007. Functions first introduced in Excel 2007 release Click to see all.

DATEDIF

Excel 97

DATEDIF was created in Excel 97. Functions first available in Excel 97 version Click to see all.

NOW

Excel 2.0

NOW was created in Excel 2.0. Functions introduced in the Excel 2.0 version release 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

COUNTIFS

Enhanced version of COUNTIF

DATEDIF

Not listed in Excel's function wizard

NOW

Updates approximately 86400 times per day
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

COUNTIFS

The function that makes counting feel like detective work

DATEDIF

The function Microsoft tried to hide but failed

NOW

The function that never lets you forget you're late

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

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

COUNTIFS

Intermediate

COUNTIFS has a Intermediate complexity level. Excel functions with moderate complexity for various tasks Click to see all.

DATEDIF

Intermediate

DATEDIF has a Intermediate complexity level. Excel functions with moderate complexity for various tasks Click to see all.

NOW

Simple

NOW has a Simple complexity level. Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks Click to see all.

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

COUNTIFS

Array

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

Range

COUNTIFS accepts Range as input data. Excel functions that operate on cell ranges and data sets Click to see all.

Number

COUNTIFS accepts Number as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for numerical calculations Click to see all.

DATEDIF

Date

DATEDIF accepts Date as input data. Excel functions for working with dates and time values Click to see all.

NOW

Date

NOW accepts Date as input data. Excel functions for working with dates and time values 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

COUNTIFS

Excel 2013

COUNTIFS is compatible with Excel 2013 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version Click to see all.

NOW

Excel 2013

NOW is compatible with Excel 2013 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version 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

COUNTIFS

Web Excel

COUNTIFS runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions Click to see all.

NOW

Web Excel

NOW runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions Click to see all.
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

COUNTIFS

2

COUNTIFS needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.

DATEDIF

3

DATEDIF needs 3 required arguments Click to see all.

NOW

~
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

COUNTIFS

Range

COUNTIFS accepts Range as input types Excel functions that operate on cell ranges for calculations Click to see all.

Text

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

Number

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

DATEDIF

Date

DATEDIF accepts Date as input types Excel functions specialized in processing date and time calculations Click to see all.

Text

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

NOW

Date

NOW accepts Date as input types Excel functions specialized in processing date and time calculations Click to see all.

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

COUNTIFS

Flexible Criteria Options

Multiple Conditions

Easy To Use

Handles Multiple Criteria

Flexible

DATEDIF

Accurate Date Calculations

Multiple Units

NOW

No Arguments Needed

Excel functions that work without arguments provide quick results with minimal setup Click to see all.

Updates Automatically
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

COUNTIFS

Complex Syntax For Multiple Criteria

Performance Issues With Large Datasets

Limited To Equal Conditions Only

Case Sensitive

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

DATEDIF

Hidden Function

Documentation Limitations

NOW

Updates With Every Calculation

Can Slow Spreadsheets