Compare
Ledger vs. spreadsheets
A spreadsheet is free, flexible and familiar. Here is where it works well, where it gets hard, and what Ledger adds.
Best for
spreadsheets
Simple tracking, one-off calculations and people who enjoy building their own system.
Ledger
People whose finances have outgrown a sheet: several accounts, a business, receipts, bills, invoices and tax time.
Side by side
| Feature | Ledger | spreadsheets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year, with a 7-day free trial | Free or low cost |
| Setup | Add accounts and Ledger sorts the transactions | You build the columns, categories and formulas |
| Bank data | Bank connections through Plaid, manual entry, or statement import (PDF and CSV) | Download and paste, or import files each time |
| Receipts | Photograph or upload receipts; the merchant, date and total are read and matched to the transaction | Store files separately and link them yourself |
| Bills and reminders | Repeating bills found for you, a Money Calendar and email reminders | Manual calendar or formulas |
| Business reports | Profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow built from your transactions | Built and checked by you |
| Estimated taxes | Quarterly estimates from your real business profit, safe harbor amounts, due dates, payments tracked and reminders | Your own formulas |
| Errors | Totals come from the transactions, with reports always current | A broken formula or sorted range can change totals without a warning |
| Multiple businesses | Up to 20 businesses, each separate | One workbook per business, if you maintain them |
| Security | Encrypted data and required two-factor sign-in | Depends on where you store the file |
Pricing
A spreadsheet costs nothing to start, and your time is the cost. Ledger starts with a 7-day free trial.
Switching to Ledger
- Export your sheet as a CSV file.
- Add your accounts in Ledger and import the transactions.
- Check that the totals match, then keep the sheet as an archive.
Common questions
Can I import my spreadsheet?
Yes. Export it as CSV and import the transactions into the matching account.
Can I still export my data?
Yes. You can download your data from Account & security at any time.
spreadsheets is a trademark of its owner. Ledger is not affiliated with or endorsed by spreadsheets. This comparison is meant to help you choose and is based on public information.