WPS DATEDIF is a spreadsheet function for calculating the number of days, months, or years between two dates; it includes 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 3 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 3 | Matches the number of Free rows in the How-to Index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the How-to Index |
About This Feature
Overview
DATEDIF is a built-in spreadsheet function in WPS Office for Windows that calculates the number of days, months, or years between two dates.
Core tasks covered in this guide:
- Enter DATEDIF from the Insert Function dialog for guided parameter entry.
- Type the formula directly in a cell for faster worksheet editing.
- Review the function syntax and parameter details before applying the formula.
Suitable scenarios include tenure tracking, age calculation, and contract period analysis.
It helps reduce manual date calculations and makes it easier to check formula syntax while working in a worksheet.
An advantage of WPS is that you can either use the Insert Function dialog or type the formula directly in the cell, depending on your workflow.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | No mandatory internet connection is required for local DATEDIF entry and calculation; internet access is needed for online help or software download |
| Other | You need an editable WPS Spreadsheet file, and the referenced cells should contain valid date values |
Download & Installation
Install the WPS Office Windows desktop app before using DATEDIF.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install check | Open WPS Spreadsheet and any worksheet, then confirm that the Insert Function entry is available on the Formulas tab |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Supports calculating the number of days, months, or years between two dates, with access through the Insert Function dialog or direct formula entry in a worksheet cell. | Excel provides DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,unit) to calculate the number of days, months, or years between two dates, and Microsoft notes that the function may return incorrect results in certain scenarios. | Google Sheets provides DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, unit) to calculate the number of days, months, or years between two dates, including extended units such as YM, MD, and YD. | Notion uses dateBetween() to return the difference between two dates, with units such as years, months, weeks, days, hours, and minutes. | Adobe Acrobat Sign supports dateDiff(part, date1, date2) in calculated fields to return the number of date parts such as days, hours, or minutes between two dates. |
| Official Source | — | DATEDIF function | DATEDIF - Google Docs Editors Help | Formula syntax & functions | Add calculated fields to a form |
Advantage: Works directly inside a spreadsheet workflow and supports both dialog-based entry and direct formula typing in cells.
Overall Conclusion
WPS DATEDIF is well suited to spreadsheet-based date difference calculations when your data is already organized in WPS Spreadsheet. Compared with the other tools listed here, WPS keeps the workflow close to standard spreadsheet formula entry, which is convenient for copying, filling, and adjusting formulas in the same worksheet.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable Users | Main Need | How DATEDIF Helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calculate employee tenure | HR and administrative staff | Quickly measure years of service from a start date to a current or end date | Use DATEDIF to return the year difference |
| 2 | Track contract periods | Finance and operations teams | Check contract duration by month or day | Use DATEDIF to return month or day results |
| 3 | Calculate age | Teachers, parents, and data entry staff | Calculate ages from birth dates in batches | Use DATEDIF to return the year difference |
| 4 | Review project duration | Project managers | Compare planned start and end dates quickly | Use DATEDIF to calculate the project time span |
| 5 | Fill date formulas across rows | Frequent spreadsheet users | Repeating the same date calculation row by row is slow | Enter DATEDIF once and fill the formula down |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature Area | Free Users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| DATEDIF formula entry and calculation | Available | Available |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | Available | Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB |
| Template downloads | Limited | More templates available |
| Ads | May appear | No ads |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage Scenario | Recommended Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional date difference calculations and everyday spreadsheet editing | Free | DATEDIF itself can be used without membership |
| Need more cloud storage, more templates, and a cleaner working environment | WPS Premium | Suitable when you also want added storage and broader membership benefits |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership page: Subscribe to WPS Premium
Source: WPS Office pricing page