How to Make a Comparison Chart in Google Sheets?

Comparison Charts highlight the differences, similarities, and relationships between two or more quantities based on certain metrics.

How to make a comparison chart in Google Sheets? You may use two options either you can go with default charts available in Google Sheets or you can use the add-on to use a third-party library. Keep reading this blog you will find awesome visualizations which you should not ignore while choosing comparison charts in Google Sheets.

Table of Content :

• What is a Comparison Chart in Google Sheets?
• Video Tutorial for Comparison Chart in Google Sheets
• Benefits of Using Google Sheets for Comparison Charts
• How to Make a Comparison Chart in Google Sheets?
• Comparison Chart Case Studies and Examples

What is a Comparison Chart in Google Sheets?

A comparison chart in Google Sheets is a visual representation that allows for the side-by-side evaluation of different data sets, attributes, or variables. It enables users to analyze and contrast information efficiently by organizing it into rows and columns. Typically, comparison charts in Google Sheets utilize different graphical elements such as bar graphs, pie charts, or tables to showcase similarities, differences, trends, or patterns among the data being compared. These charts serve as valuable tools for decision-making, trend analysis, performance assessment, and highlighting key insights within a dataset. Through easy customization and manipulation of data, users can create dynamic and illustrative comparison charts in Google Sheets to aid in their analysis and presentations.

Video Tutorial for Comparison Chart in Google Sheets

Comparison charts in Google Sheets are very easy to build if you pick the right tool and approach. In the following video, we will teach you how to create Comparison charts in Google Sheets without coding in a few clicks.

Later in the blog, we also have a complete step-by-step guide to create 5 different comparison graphs which you can use as per your need, so stay with us.

Benefits of Using Google Sheets for Comparison Charts

Google Sheets offers numerous advantages:

Accessibility and versatility: Access your charts from any device with internet access and collaborate in real-time.
Integration with other tools: Seamlessly integrate with other Google Workspace apps and third-party tools for enhanced functionality.

How to Make a Comparison Chart in Google Sheets?

To access Comparison Chart, you need to install ChartExpo, a cloud-hosted add-on. Remember, you won’t be installing anything on your device.

Suppose you own a restaurant and it is famous in the city. You have some benchmark to analyze your staff performance so that you can evaluate later how they are going play role in the reputation of the restaurant. For this purpose, you prepare the data.

Years	Staff	Performance Score
2018	Reception	48
2018	Waiter	86
2018	Customer Experience	62
2018	Professionalism	64
2018	Valet parking	56
2018	Behaviour	48
2018	Poor Service	93
2018	Cleaning	60
2018	Availability	39
2018	Booking	51
2018	Cook	78
2018	Management	63
2018	Time	41
2019	Reception	79
2019	Waiter	75
2019	Customer Experience	92
2019	Professionalism	41
2019	Valet parking	40
2019	Behaviour	84
2019	Poor Service	71
2019	Cleaning	69
2019	Availability	89
2019	Booking	65
2019	Cook	39
2019	Management	64
2019	Time	37
2020	Reception	40
2020	Waiter	60
2020	Customer Experience	75
2020	Professionalism	92
2020	Valet parking	91
2020	Behaviour	58
2020	Poor Service	42
2020	Cleaning	79
2020	Availability	83
2020	Booking	90
2020	Cook	74
2020	Management	62
2020	Time	85

You can fill the sheet with your data and select the desired visualization for this.

Comparison Bar Chart is the best option here to visualize this data side by side. You can find this chart under the category of Comparative Analysis Charts. For creating this chart you need 2 dimensions and 1 metric.

To draw this chart you need two dimensions and one measure. Once you have selected these then
you can click on Create Chart button to view your data in a visualized form.

Insights

Based on the analysis, it can be judged that poor services was high in 2018 but in 2019 there came some improvement on this segment and again in 2021 this poor service was improved to satisfaction level as compared to other segments.

Comparison Chart Case Studies and Examples

Now, we will discuss how can you create 20 different comparison charts in Google Sheets by using ChartExpo. You can have an easy and understandable guide on how effortless is to create charts within a few clicks. Let’s have a look at comparison charts by ChartExpo in Google Sheets. If you do not have the ChartExpo add-on installed in Google Sheets yet, you can do it from here.

in a minute to create and customize 20 types of comparison charts in a few clicks without any coding.

1. Progress Chart:

Let’s suppose you have a sales data of a mobile store. The data is of the current month and the previous month. Proper comparison visualization is required to see how sales performance is going. Below is the sample data:

Company	Previous Sale	Current Sale
Samsung	50	86
Apple	64	97
Huawei	52	78
LG	81	87
Lenovo	65	79
Motorola	72	85
HTC	59	89
Sony	84	73

In Google Sheets, you can create the respective columns and fill the data in the cells accordingly.

You can click on PPC charts to find the Progress to chart under this category. You need 2 metrics and 1 dimension for this chart.

Now you can select the sheet. Then select 2 metrics and one dimension as per the requirement of this chart.  After selecting them you can click on Create Chart to view the visualization.

How to use the properties of the charts?

All the visualizations provided by ChartExpo, give you support to change the properties according to your need.

Below are few points which can help you to understand how you can change the properties and same applies almost on all the charts.

Let’s explore how can you change some properties? You can find individual section properties when you will click on “Edit chart” button.

As soon as you will click on “Edit chart” button. You will find edit icons in different sections on the chart.

For example, you want to put dollar ($) sign with the data on bar and on the right scale. As this data is related to sale so putting this prefix before numbers will add more ease in reading this chart.

As edit icon is appearing on the bar. You can click on it to see the property details.

There will be different section available in this property detail window. You will find “Prefix” property under the “Right Bar Inner Label” section. You can fill this property box with $ sign and then click on “Apply All” button. You will notice a change on values on the bar as they started appearing with dollar sign now.

Now, let’s add $ on the right scale. Near the end of the scale you will find edit icon,

Click on highlighted edit icon to see the right scale related properties. You will find the same “Prefix” property here in section “Axis Label”.

Same you can do with left scale on chart to implement the prefix property.

You can change the font coming in the chart so that you can make them prominent where required.

Such properties are available under “Font Style” section. Let’s try to change the font size of the left scale labels. Click on edit icon on left scale to view the properties.

Once the “Apply All” button is clicked you will find a font size change in your left side of the chart text.

This chart is not appealing good without having any title or header. Let’s add title for this chart so that it can become more meaningful.

You will find title related property edit icon button on top center of the chart.

Under the section of “Text” you can add title. If you are interested to more lines you can add them too. Let’s add “Mobile Sales Performance” as line1.

Once clicked on “Save”, you will have chart below with title on top.

Please note that every chart has its own properties, but the way of doing changes in the chart properties is same as we discussed for this Progress Chart.

Insights

As per the visualization it is clear that how different brands of mobile sale went very well except the Sony brand. This definitely need some attention why the sale remained down this month.

2. Double Bar Chart:

Suppose you want to show your sales and growth data at the same time. For this double bar chart is best suited for such requirement. Because it can show two different bars. One bar shows the numerical values and second is showing percentage values side by side.

Years	Sales	Growth
2013	7000	4.2
2014	7606	7.6
2015	7895	3.8
2016	8242	4.4
2017	8327	0.7
2018	8768	5.3
2019	9337	6.5
2020	9589	2.7

Once you have the data you can put it in Google Sheets and then look for this visualization to draw.

You can find Double Bar Graph under the category of Comparative Analysis Charts. This chart needs 2 metrics and 1 dimension.

Now you will select your desired sheet and then will select 2 available metrics one is numerical value and second is percentage. For this chart you need one dimension to draw. Once these are selected now you can click on Create Chart button to view the visualization.

Insights

You can infer that 2014 was the year in which growth remained maximum and 2020 was the year with best sales so far.

3. Grouped Bar Chart:

If you are a car lover you will love this good comparison of famous car brands’ sale of Mercedes and BMW over the past years.

Years	Mercedes	BMW
2014	0.7	1.6
2015	0.9	1.8
2016	1.8	1.9
2017	1.92	1.97
2018	2.1	2
2019	2.29	2.1
2020	2.32	2.11

Once the data is ready in Google Sheets, you can go to shortlist your visualization for this chart.

Grouped Bar chart is good way to present your data. You can find this visualization under the category of PPC Charts. For this chart you only need 1 dimension but you can have multiple metrics.

Once dimensions and metrics are selected, you can click on Create Chart button to draw this chart.

Insights

With this visualization, everyone can clearly see that Mercedes sales have growing slowly but surely. Look how beautifully Grouped Bar Chart have created bars next to each other. So, the reader easily understand what is going on?

4. Pareto Chart

Suppose you got the data of stores in different cities of USA. You want to track which store is giving most of the profit.

Cities	Current Profit	Previous Profit
Los Angeles	4723	4510
Chicago	9550	8545
Houston	3908	2399
Phoenix	7023	6533
Philadelphia	13631	12485
San Antonio	7125	6163
San Diego	11934	10485
Dallas	14444	13580
San Jose	7653	6470
Austin	13531	12267

As there are many options for visualization why not to try Pareto Chart this time? This will help you to find out which of the stores giving maximum results. Once your data is ready in Google Sheets you can go for this visualization.

You can find Pareto Bar Chart under the category of PPC Charts. 2 metrics and 1 dimension are prerequisites for this chart.

Now you can select you relevant sheet and then select the required metrics as Current Profit, Previous Profit and then click on Add new dimension as City and finally click on Create Chart button.

Insights

You can see that Dallas, Philadelphia, Austin, San Diego, Chicago, San Jose and San Antonio are the cities which are giving him 80% of profits and also they have improved sales as compared to their previous profits. Below grey lines are those cities which are 20% profits. You need to pay more attention towards these cities store.

5. Gauge Chart

Suppose you have sales revenue data and you want to visualize the comparison of current and target revenue.

Market	Current Sales Revenue	Target Sales Revenue
West	250	300

You have to put all the data in Google Sheets to visualize it.

A Gauge Chart is the best option for such data. You can easily find it under the category of General Analysis Charts. 1 metric and 2 dimensions are required for this chart.

Once relevant sheet, dimension and metrics are selected then click on Create Chart button to make a meaningful visualization out of this data.

Insights

By looking on this chart, you can judge that the target sales revenue was $300M and current sales revenue is $250M, which is very good.

FAQs:

How do you create a comparison chart in Google Sheet?

Create a comparison chart in Google Sheets is an easy task with ChartExpo that can help you create this chart within a few clicks.

Can I create comparison charts with live data in Google Sheets?

Yes, Google Sheets supports live data connections, enabling real-time updates in your charts.

Are there limitations to the number of variables I can compare in a chart?

The limit depends on the type of chart and the complexity of data. Google Sheets allows multiple variables for most chart types.

Can I export Google Sheets comparison charts to other formats?

Yes, you can export charts as image files or embed them in documents or presentations.

Wrap up:

The importance of data visualization cannot be over-emphasized.

For business people, and marketers all over the world.

It reduces your stress levels, gives you more time, and gets you exponentially better results.

And for most of us, the data to be analyzed is truly just for comparison.

Between items, products, countries, companies, services, and so much more.

In Google Sheets, we can organize data and visualize it.

However, with the complex and huge data that we have to deal with each day, the solution is to use a visualization tool.

How to Make a Comparison Chart in Google Sheets? For many, ChartExpo for Google Sheets has proven to be excellent for visuals.

And this piece has shown you the step-by-step way to draw awesome visuals for data using ChartExpo.

It has also shown you how to pick your visualization types and the things that matter in data visualization.

It’s everything you need to make data analysis a fun part of your life.

What can stop you now?

All you need to do is to ‘get cracking’!