How to Set Up Email Alerts in Google Sheets (3 Methods)
Google Sheets is one of the best tools for tracking data. But it has a glaring weakness: it can not send you an email when something changes or goes wrong. At least not by itself.
The good news is there are three solid ways to add email alerts to any Google Sheet. I have tested all three. Here is exactly how each one works, what it costs, and where it breaks down.
Method 1: Google Apps Script (Free, DIY)
Apps Script is Google's built-in scripting language. It runs JavaScript inside your Google account and has full access to your spreadsheets, Gmail, and more.
This is the most flexible option. You can write a script that checks for literally any condition and sends an email when that condition is met.
Step-by-Step Setup
Open your Google Sheet. Click Extensions > Apps Script. Delete whatever is in the editor and paste this:
function sendAlertEmail() {
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("Sheet1");
var data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
var alerts = [];
for (var i = 1; i < data.length; i++) {
var value = data[i][2]; // Column C
var threshold = 100;
if (value > threshold) {
alerts.push("Row " + (i + 1) + ": " + data[i][0] + " = " + value);
}
}
if (alerts.length > 0) {
MailApp.sendEmail(
"[email protected]",
"Google Sheets Alert: " + alerts.length + " items over threshold",
"The following items exceeded the threshold:
" + alerts.join("
")
);
}
}
Replace "[email protected]" with your email. Change column references and the threshold to match your data.
Click the play button to test. Google will ask for permissions. Accept them. If any rows match, you will get an email within seconds.
Setting Up Automatic Triggers
You do not want to run this manually every day. Click the clock icon in the left sidebar (Triggers). Click "Add Trigger."
Set the function to sendAlertEmail. Event source: "Time-driven." Type: "Day timer." Time: pick your preferred window, like 7am-8am.
Now it runs every morning automatically. If your conditions are met, you get an email. If not, nothing happens.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Completely free. Unlimited customization. You can check any condition, across any tab, using any logic. No third-party tools required.
Cons: You need to write and maintain code. Column positions are hardcoded, so rearranging your sheet breaks the script. Triggers fail silently sometimes. Google has daily email quotas (100 for free accounts). If you are not a developer, debugging is frustrating.
I used this approach for 6 months to monitor late rent payments. It broke twice and I did not notice either time for over a week. Silent failures are the real risk here.
Method 2: Google Sheets Add-ons
Several Google Workspace Marketplace add-ons let you set up email alerts without writing code.
Form Notifications
If your data comes from Google Forms, the built-in form notifications can email you when a new response arrives. Go to the form editor, click the three dots menu, and select "Response receipts." You can also install add-ons like "Email Notifications for Google Forms" for more control.
Notification Rules
Google Sheets has a basic built-in option: Tools > Notification settings. You can set it to email you when "any changes are made" or "a user submits a form."
This is extremely limited. It tells you a change happened but not what changed or whether it matters. If your sheet gets edited 20 times a day, you get 20 emails. Not useful for monitoring specific conditions.
Third-Party Add-ons
Add-ons like "Sheet Monitor" or "Sheetgo" can watch for changes and send notifications. They typically offer a visual interface where you set conditions (if Column C > 100, email me).
Pros: No code required. Visual setup. Some handle complex conditions well.
Cons: Most have limited free tiers (5-10 alerts). Paid plans range from $5-25/month. They add another layer of permissions to your Google account. Some are poorly maintained and break after Google updates.
Method 3: Purpose-Built Monitoring Tools
The third approach skips both code and generic add-ons. Instead, you use a tool designed specifically for the type of monitoring you need.
For example, if you are tracking due dates, payments, or deadlines in a spreadsheet, a purpose-built tool understands the context. It knows what a "due date" column means. It knows that a blank "date paid" cell after the due date is a problem. You do not have to teach it with code or configure complex rules.
This is the approach I eventually landed on for tracking rent payments. I had tried Apps Script (broke twice), Zapier (expensive and fragile), and add-ons (limited free tiers). Each worked for a while, then failed in some way. The full story is in how to monitor a Google Sheet automatically.
Pros: No code. No configuration beyond "which column is what." Built-in reliability because monitoring is the core product, not a side feature. Text and email alerts.
Cons: Monthly cost (typically $15-50/month depending on the tool). Less flexible than custom code since it is designed for specific use cases.
Which Method Should You Pick?
Use Apps Script if you are comfortable writing JavaScript, your monitoring needs are simple, and you are willing to check your triggers periodically to make sure they are still running.
Use add-ons if you need basic change notifications and do not want to write code. Good for "email me when a form is submitted" or "email me when a cell changes."
Use a purpose-built tool if you need reliable daily monitoring for specific conditions (overdue payments, past-due dates, aging items) and do not want to maintain code or troubleshoot failures.
If you are tracking rent, maintenance requests, or any kind of deadline-based data, I built RentGuard for exactly this. It connects to your Google Sheet in 5 minutes, checks daily, and texts you when something is overdue. Free forever, Pro $15/month for unlimited.
For more on automating your spreadsheet workflow, check out how to automate your landlord spreadsheet and our full Apps Script email tutorial.
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