EXACT in WPS on Windows: Introduction

WPS EXACT is a spreadsheet text comparison function for Windows; this guide covers 4 core tasks, with 4 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	4	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	4	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index

About This Feature

Overview

The EXACT function in WPS Spreadsheet compares two text strings and checks whether they are exactly the same. It is useful for validating IDs, usernames, labels, imported text fields, and other data that requires precise matching.

Core capabilities include:

Compare two text values for an exact match.
Enter and use the function directly in a worksheet cell or formula bar.
Support cross-sheet references and nested formulas.
Update results automatically when referenced data changes.

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	Local formula calculation does not require a constant internet connection; downloading, installation, and account services require internet access
Other	You need an editable spreadsheet file and permission to enter formulas in cells

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Check after installation	Open WPS Spreadsheet, create or open a workbook, and type `=EXACT(` in a cell to confirm the function can be entered and calculated

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	In WPS Spreadsheet, `EXACT(text1,text2)` compares two text strings for an exact match, supports cross-sheet references and nested formulas, and recalculates when referenced data changes.	Excel EXACT compares two text strings and returns TRUE when they are exactly the same and FALSE otherwise; it is case-sensitive and ignores formatting differences.	Google Sheets EXACT tests whether two strings are identical, including case, spaces, and hidden characters.	Notion does not provide an EXACT function with the same spreadsheet behavior; its database formulas typically use `==` or `equal()` for equality checks on properties.	Adobe Acrobat can export or merge form data into spreadsheet formats, but it does not provide a cell-level EXACT function for spreadsheet text comparison.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: WPS provides direct exact text comparison inside spreadsheet cells, with formula entry, cross-sheet references, and nested calculation support for routine data checks.	Compared with WPS: Excel offers the same type of exact text comparison and clearly documents TRUE/FALSE output and case sensitivity.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets also supports exact text comparison and explicitly notes that spaces and hidden characters affect the result.	Compared with WPS: Notion can compare values in database formulas, but the workflow is property-based rather than a traditional spreadsheet cell function.	Compared with WPS: Acrobat is better suited to PDF form collection and export workflows, not spreadsheet formula comparison.
Official Source	—	Excel EXACT function	Google Sheets EXACT	Notion formula syntax	Adobe Acrobat form data

Overall Conclusion
For exact text comparison in spreadsheets, WPS, Excel, and Google Sheets all provide direct function-based workflows. Notion is better suited to database property logic, while Adobe Acrobat focuses on PDF data handling, so WPS offers a more direct path for this spreadsheet task on Windows.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable for	Main challenge	How EXACT helps
1	Checking account names or IDs	Admin, operations, finance teams	Text may look similar but differ in letter case	Use EXACT to verify whether two cells are completely identical
2	Reviewing imported data	Data cleanup users	Imported text can contain subtle differences	Compare source and target columns row by row with EXACT
3	Building conditional checks	Advanced spreadsheet users	A comparison result may need to feed another formula	Nest EXACT inside IF and related formulas
4	Validating fields across sheets	Multi-sheet workbook users	Text fields in different sheets must stay consistent	Use EXACT with cross-sheet references to compare values

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free users	WPS Premium
EXACT function	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic spreadsheet editing	✅ Available	✅ Available
Some advanced PDF, template, and AI features	Limited availability	Broader access
Cloud storage	1 GB	Higher-capacity plans available

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Scenario	Recommended plan	Why
Everyday text comparison and basic spreadsheet work	Free	The EXACT function itself is available without membership
Users who also need more PDF tools, templates, cloud storage, or AI features	WPS Premium	A better fit for broader office workflows beyond basic formula use

WPS membership center: Subscribe now