Excel and Google Sheets are the classic DIY approach to tracking real estate and finances — powerful but high-maintenance.
| Feature | Richify | Spreadsheets |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Calculations | Instant updates | Manual formulas |
| Customization | Pre-built templates | Unlimited |
| Mobile Access | Native iOS & Android | Limited mobile UX |
| AI Insights | Built-in AI agent | ✗ |
| Error-Prone | Validated inputs | Formula errors common |
| Learning Curve | Quick onboarding | Excel expertise needed |
| Cost | Free trial, then paid plans | Free (Google Sheets) |
| Portfolio Aggregation | Automatic | Manual linking |
| Real-Time Market Data | Multi-currency support | Manual entry |
| Control & Flexibility | Pre-set structure | Total control |
| Sharing & Collaboration | Personal tracking | Real-time collab |
| Backup & Sync | Cloud sync | Cloud (Google) or local (Excel) |
The Verdict
Spreadsheets give you maximum flexibility but require you to build and maintain everything yourself. Richify is faster to set up, harder to break with formula errors, mobile-friendly, and includes a built-in AI agent to interpret your data. If you love building your own systems, spreadsheets work. If you want answers and insights without the setup, Richify wins.
Last reviewed: · Reviewed by the Richify team
Track your net worth, run calculators, and get built-in AI insights — all in one app. Start with a free trial.
Try Richify — Free TrialSpreadsheets require you to build and maintain everything yourself — formulas, layout, and updates. Richify gives you ready-made tracking with automatic calculations, a built-in AI agent for insights, mobile apps, and no formulas to break. You spend time reviewing results instead of building templates.
Of course. Spreadsheets remain great for investors who love customization and want total control. Many Richify users still keep a spreadsheet for edge cases. The difference is Richify handles the everyday tracking automatically so you don't have to.
Richify offers a free trial so you can explore the full feature set, followed by affordable monthly and yearly plans. Google Sheets is free, but you lose the automatic calculations, mobile-first experience, and AI-powered insights that come with Richify.
Switching is simple — start a free trial, add your properties and other assets, and Richify handles the calculations. You don't need to import your spreadsheet; most users find it faster to re-enter key data through the quick onboarding.
The biggest issue is error-proneness. A single broken formula can silently corrupt months of data, and mobile access is painful. You also miss out on AI-guided insights, portfolio-level analytics, and automatic multi-currency handling.