What is an Excel add-in in Google Sheets terms?
Excel add-ins extend desktop Excel, often as XLAM or COM packages. Google Sheets uses Workspace Marketplace add-ons and Apps Script instead, installed per user or domain. Cloud add-ons cannot access your local disk like some Excel add-ins.
When to use it
Use Marketplace search when an Excel add-in provided connectors or wizards.
When to skip it
Skip add-ons when IMPORT functions or a short script covers the same integration.
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Google Workspace Marketplace for Sheets add-ons
The Google Workspace Marketplace is Google's directory where users discover and install Sheets add-ons and other Workspace extensions. Developers publish a listing with description, screenshots, privacy policy, and OAuth scopes; Google reviews the app before it appears in Install flows inside Sheets and admin consoles.
Read guide →Google Sheets add-ons
Add-ons are third-party extensions you install into Google Sheets from the Google Workspace Marketplace. They add menus, sidebars, and workflows for mail merge, CRM sync, charting, and more without writing your own Apps Script from scratch. Each add-on runs with permissions you approve at install time.
Read guide →COM add-in
COM add-ins are desktop Excel extensions that load through Windows. Google Sheets uses Workspace Marketplace add-ons and Apps Script libraries instead, all running in the cloud. Search the Marketplace or publish an internal add-on for team-wide installs.
Read guide →Done reading about Excel add-in?
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