Google Sheets has no Analysis ToolPak. You can rebuild each tool with Sheets functions (table below), or install a statistics add-on from Extensions › Add-ons › Get add-ons that produces the same kind of output tables. ExplainStats is one of them: it covers the classic tools for free and adds plain-language explanations.
Why there is no ToolPak in Google Sheets
The Analysis ToolPak ships with Microsoft Excel as an add-in. Google Sheets has no equivalent built in: it has statistical functions (like T.TEST or LINEST), but no menu that produces a full output table for a t-test, an ANOVA or a regression.
For years, many students and teachers relied on third-party add-ons from the Google Workspace Marketplace to fill the gap. One well-known option is the XLMiner Analysis ToolPak. Recent user reviews on its Marketplace page report that it no longer opens correctly, so check its current reviews before relying on it for coursework.
Every ToolPak tool, and its Google Sheets equivalent
| ToolPak tool | Google Sheets formula | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Descriptive Statistics | AVERAGE, MEDIAN, STDEV.S, SKEW, KURT, CONFIDENCE.T… | Descriptive statistics |
| t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means | =T.TEST(r1, r2, 2, 1) | t-test |
| t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances | =T.TEST(r1, r2, 2, 2) | t-test |
| t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Unequal Variances | =T.TEST(r1, r2, 2, 3) | t-test |
| z-Test: Two Sample for Means | No direct function; Z.TEST is for one sample | |
| F-Test Two-Sample for Variances | =F.TEST(r1, r2) (two-tailed p-value) | |
| Anova: Single Factor | DEVSQ + F.DIST.RT | One-way ANOVA |
| Anova: Two-Factor (with / without replication) | No function; build it by hand or use an add-on | |
| Correlation | =CORREL(r1, r2), one per pair | Correlation |
| Covariance | =COVARIANCE.S(r1, r2) or COVARIANCE.P | |
| Regression | =LINEST(y, x, TRUE, TRUE) | Linear regression |
| Histogram | =FREQUENCY(data, bins) + a histogram chart | Descriptive statistics |
| Rank and Percentile | =RANK.EQ(x, data), =PERCENTRANK.INC(data, x) | |
| Moving Average | =AVERAGE() over a sliding range, filled down | |
| Exponential Smoothing | In B3: =α*A2+(1-α)*B2, filled down (the ToolPak asks for the damping factor 1 − α) | |
| Random Number Generation | RAND, RANDBETWEEN, RANDARRAY, =NORM.INV(RAND(), mean, sd) | |
| Sampling | =SORTN(data, k, 0, RANDARRAY(ROWS(data)), TRUE) (random sample of k rows) | |
| Fourier Analysis | No equivalent |
Formulas work, but they only return single numbers. You still have to lay out the table, compute the degrees of freedom, check the assumptions and work out what the result means.
Select your data, click Run: full results table, assumption checks, a plain-language interpretation and an APA line, free in Google Sheets.
What to look for in a statistics add-on
- The classic tools, with output tables you can match to your course material.
- Accuracy: results that match reference software such as R, SciPy or Excel.
- Narrow permissions: an add-on that only needs access to the current spreadsheet can't read your other files.
- Help with interpretation: which test to use, whether its assumptions hold, and what the result means.
How ExplainStats covers the ToolPak
ExplainStats is a Google Sheets add-on built for people who used the Analysis ToolPak. The free plan includes 21 classic tools, from descriptive statistics to two-factor ANOVA, regression, sampling and exponential smoothing, with the familiar output tables. On top of that it:
- checks the assumptions (normality, outliers, equal variances) and warns you when one fails;
- explains every result in plain language, in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese;
- adds non-parametric tests, post-hoc tests and a which-test Assistant (Pro, free until January 31, 2027);
- can build a “show the steps” sheet where each step is a live Google Sheets formula (Pro).
Analysis ToolPak and Excel are products of Microsoft. XLMiner is a product of Frontline Systems. Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC. ExplainStats is an independent product and is not affiliated with Microsoft, Frontline Systems or Google.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Analysis ToolPak in Google Sheets?
No. The Analysis ToolPak is a Microsoft Excel add-in. Google Sheets does not include it, but add-ons from the Google Workspace Marketplace provide similar tools.
How do I install a statistics add-on in Google Sheets?
Open a spreadsheet, choose Extensions, Add-ons, Get add-ons, search for the add-on, click Install and accept the permissions. It then appears under the Extensions menu.
Will I get the same results as Excel's Analysis ToolPak?
The standard tests (t-tests, ANOVA, regression, correlation, descriptive statistics) follow textbook formulas, so a correct implementation gives the same numbers. Small differences can come from rounding or from different definitions, for example of quartiles.
Is it safe to install a Google Sheets add-on?
Check the permissions it asks for before installing. An add-on that only needs the current spreadsheet can't open your other files. ExplainStats uses that narrowest permission.
Select your data, click Run: full results table, assumption checks, a plain-language interpretation and an APA line, free in Google Sheets.