The FUZZY_LOOKUP function provides the ability for Google Sheets to find and retrieve data similar to VLOOKUP, but based on approximate string matches instead of exact matches.

With FUZZY_LOOKUP, users can specify a search term, a range where the search will be conducted, a percentage similarity threshold, and an optional output column from which to retrieve related data. The function searches the first column of the designated range for the best match to the provided search term based on the threshold. The similarity threshold is flexible and ranges from 0 (no similarity) to 1 (exact match), allowing you to fine-tune the sensitivity of your search according to your specific data.

If a suitable match is found, FUZZY_LOOKUP returns a value from the specified output column that corresponds to the same row as the match, similar to VLOOKUP. FUZZY_LOOKUP is ideal for users who need to manage large datasets within Google Sheets and require a simple, robust, and flexible solution for navigating and extracting data based on partial or fuzzy matching criteria.

And best of all, it's entirely free to download and use!