Notes in Google Sheets are primarily used for adding additional information or context to a cell. They are non-interactive, meaning they are designed for one-way communication without the expectation of a response or discussion.
Non-Interactive: Notes serve as simple annotations attached to cells. They are intended for adding extra information or context. Users can view a note by hovering over the cell.
Visibility: Notes are displayed as a small, colored triangle in the corner of a cell. They are visible to anyone with access to the spreadsheet but are less prominent and do not prompt user interaction.
No Notification: Adding or editing a note does not send notifications to other users. This makes notes suitable for passive information that does not require immediate attention.
Single Layer: Notes are straightforward annotations without the ability to reply or create a thread. They are best used for static information, explanations, or quick reminders.
Google Sheets comments offer a dynamic and collaborative layer to spreadsheets, making them an essential tool for teams and projects that require communication and task management within the document.
Interactive: Comments are designed for collaboration and communication. They allow users to mention others with "@name," triggering an email notification to the mentioned user. This feature facilitates active discussions and feedback directly within the spreadsheet.
Threaded Conversations: Comments support replies, allowing for a threaded conversation within a cell. This enables a back-and-forth discussion that is directly linked to specific data or analysis within the spreadsheet.
Notification System: Users receive notifications for new comments and replies, especially if they are mentioned directly. This ensures that users are promptly informed of discussions relevant to them, enhancing collaboration.
Actionable: Comments can be resolved, acting as tasks or issues that can be marked as completed. This feature helps teams track the progress of feedback or action items directly within their workflow.
Comments: Interactive, designed for collaboration, allowing users to mention others, receive notifications, and engage in threaded discussions.
Notes: Non-interactive, meant for adding supplementary information or context to a cell without initiating a dialogue.
Comments: Displayed with a small yellow indicator in the cell's corner and can assign tasks and send notifications to users.
Notes: Displayed with a small black indicator in the cell's corner, no notifications sent upon addition or edit.
Comments: Suited for dynamic interaction, such as asking questions, providing feedback, or discussing data within the spreadsheet.
Notes: Ideal for static information like clarifications, definitions, or additional details that do not require feedback.
Comments: Can be resolved, which hides the comment from the default view, helping teams track issues, feedback, or tasks and their resolution status.
Notes: Cannot be "resolved" or tracked; they remain in the spreadsheet until manually removed or edited.
We hope that this article has helped you and given you a better understanding of the difference between Google Sheets notes vs comments. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our articles on how to show comments in Google Sheets and how to use the FLATTEN function in Google Sheets.
