Keeping up with real-time stock prices or currency exchange rates doesn’t have to involve complex apps or paid platforms. With Google Sheets and the GOOGLEFINANCE function, you can automatically pull current financial data right into your spreadsheet—no coding, no add-ons, just a simple formula.
This function is a game-changer for anyone managing investments, monitoring forex trends, or building dynamic dashboards. Whether you’re a beginner or a casual investor, you’ll love how easy it is to start tracking your favorite assets in real time.
In this guide, we’ll explore how GOOGLEFINANCE works, how to use it, and how it can be combined with other Google Sheets tools like QUERY for smarter reporting.
What is the GOOGLEFINANCE Function?
The GOOGLEFINANCE function allows you to retrieve real-time (or historical) data from Google Finance directly into your spreadsheet. You can pull in live stock quotes, currency rates, market indices, and more.
Syntax:
=GOOGLEFINANCE(ticker, [attribute], [start_date], [end_date|num_days], [interval])- ticker: The symbol of the stock, currency pair, or index (e.g.,
"NASDAQ:GOOG","CURRENCY:USDINR") - attribute (optional): The type of data (e.g.,
"price","volume","name") - start_date / end_date: For historical data
- interval: Daily or weekly
The function refreshes automatically at intervals, keeping your data up to date without lifting a finger.
Real-Life Example: Track Your Stock Portfolio
Let’s say you have a few favorite stocks you like to watch. You want to build a quick dashboard showing the latest price and daily change.
Sample Table:
| Company | Ticker | Current Price | Price Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASDAQ:GOOG | =GOOGLEFINANCE(“NASDAQ:GOOG”, “price”) | =GOOGLEFINANCE(“NASDAQ:GOOG”, “changepct”) | |
| Apple | NASDAQ:AAPL | =GOOGLEFINANCE(“NASDAQ:AAPL”, “price”) | =GOOGLEFINANCE(“NASDAQ:AAPL”, “changepct”) |
Google Sheets will pull live prices and daily changes straight from Google Finance.
Tracking Currency Exchange Rates
You can also use GOOGLEFINANCE to monitor currency conversions in real time.
Example:
=GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY:USDINR")This will return the current exchange rate from USD to INR (US Dollar to Indian Rupee). You can replace it with any pair, like:
"CURRENCY:USDEUR"– USD to Euro"CURRENCY:GBPUSD"– British Pound to US Dollar
Useful Attributes You Can Pull
Here are some of the most helpful attributes you can use with GOOGLEFINANCE:
- “price” – Current price
- “name” – Full company name
- “volume” – Trading volume
- “changepct” – Percentage change in price
- “high” – Day’s high
- “low” – Day’s low
- “marketcap” – Market capitalization
Pull Historical Data (Bonus Tip)
Want to analyze stock performance over time? Use a date range and interval to get a historical price chart.
=GOOGLEFINANCE("NASDAQ:GOOG", "close", DATE(2024,1,1), TODAY(), "daily")This returns Google’s daily closing prices from January 1, 2024, until today.
Combine with QUERY for Powerful Analysis
You can filter or sort GOOGLEFINANCE results with the QUERY function for better reporting. Example:
=QUERY(GOOGLEFINANCE("NASDAQ:AAPL", "close", DATE(2024,1,1), TODAY(), "daily"),
"SELECT Col1, Col2 WHERE Col2 > 150", 1)This filters Apple’s closing prices to only show days where the price was above $150.
Tips to Keep in Mind
- GOOGLEFINANCE data is delayed: It may lag by up to 20 minutes for stock prices
- Not all global exchanges are supported
- Limit the number of formulas to avoid hitting usage caps
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
| Purpose | Formula |
|---|---|
| Get current price of Google | =GOOGLEFINANCE("NASDAQ:GOOG", "price") |
| USD to INR exchange rate | =GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY:USDINR") |
| Stock name | =GOOGLEFINANCE("NASDAQ:AAPL", "name") |
| Historical data for Apple | =GOOGLEFINANCE("NASDAQ:AAPL", "close", DATE(2024,1,1), TODAY(), "daily") |
The GOOGLEFINANCE function transforms your Google Sheets into a live market dashboard. Whether you’re tracking investments, building currency converters, or analyzing trends, this function puts the power of financial data at your fingertips—without any special tools or add-ons.
Start with a few formulas, expand as you go, and build your own financial tracking system with the power of Google Sheets.