11 of the Best Google App Add-Ons for Docs and Sheets

Published on April 8, 2014

Google rolled out an online marketplace for third-party apps last months, and there are a lot of great apps to choose from.

The apps, known by Google as "add-ons", are available to users through Google Docs and Sheets - Google's free online word-processor and spreadsheet generator.  The add-ons essentially provide added functionality or some missing features to what the programs already provide.

Here are some add-ons that we love.

1. Charts - Insert data from Sheets directly into to Docs

Making a Google spreadsheet in Sheets hasn't yet been easily transferred over to Docs without some issues.  With this add on by Charts, however, it is now exceptionally easy to do so.

2. Track Changes - Review and approve changes to your documents. 

The desktop competitors, like Microsoft Word, feature this handy tool to help collaborators propose changes and give the author ultimate discretion to review and accept or reject those changes.  Now this functionality is available in Docs.  Killer.

3. HelloFax - Fax documents for free from Docs

HelloFax is a fantastic free service that lets you fax your documents to any number, anywhere in the world directly from Google Docs.  The free version of HelloFax lets you fax up to 5 pages.

4. Avery's Label Merge - Create labels within Docs

Sheets and Docs work well together with Avery's Label merge add-on.  It allows users to take data found in Sheets and transform it into labels and name tags within Docs for printing.  Avoid the "copy+paste" stage of your process by using this neat add-on.

5. EasyBib (as in bibliography)- A citation service within Docs

High School and College students may be well acquainted with EasyBib's citation service on the web - a fantastic program that cites books, websites, and journal articles in MLA, APA, or Chicago style citations.  This functionality is now directly functional with Google Docs, and will add the citations into your paper.

6. Sudoku - Create (and solve) this puzzle in Sheets

There is a fun add-on that allows users to create and solve Sudoku puzzles right within Sheets.  Nice!

7. UberConference - Join a conference call with collaborators within Docs

You know how multiple people can work on a shared Google Doc at the same time?  Well, now you can be on a conference call with them too - within the Google Doc.

8. MailChimp - Create a "mail-merge" in Docs

Creating a mail-merge was not an easy task before this add-on, involving knowledge of apps script.  Luckily, the process has been simplified with the add-on by MailChimp, which allows you to send an email to a large group of people pulled from a template directly from Google Docs and contact info from Google Sheets.

9. TextHelp - A smart highlighter for Docs

Highlight your Google Docs, add annotations, and they will be saved in a separate document with TextHelp.

10. MindMeister - A bulleted list becomes a mind map in Docs

Create a bulleted list in order of importance within your Google Doc, and MindMeister will create that list into a "mind map."  It is a great way to get a visualized version of your list without much thought.

11. Analytics Canvas - Import Google Analytics into Sheets

This add-on takes the data Google Analytics has obtained from your website and creates spreadsheets for you that are easily sharable, and usable for further analysis.

What are your favorite Google add-ons?