Sort Admin vs a spreadsheet for household renewals
In short: a spreadsheet is a good list. It can sort by date and add up costs. But Excel and Google Sheets don’t send date reminders on their own: you’d need an add-on or a script, or you have to remember to open it. Sort Admin is the list and the reminder in one, on your phone.
Side by side
| Excel or Google Sheets | Sort Admin | |
|---|---|---|
| Reminders | Not built in; needs add-ons, scripts or a calendar | Built in, at the times you choose for each item |
| On your phone | Possible, but fiddly on a small screen | Made for iPhone, with a widget and Siri |
| Costs and savings | Any formula you like | Monthly or yearly costs, and a running total of what you’ve saved |
| Paperwork | Links to files stored elsewhere | Scan the policy or certificate into the item, encrypted |
| Getting started | Build your own columns | A Household checklist and your top 3 picked for you |
| Sharing | Easy to share with a partner | Not yet; each person has their own vault |
When a spreadsheet is the better choice
If you love a formula, want to budget every bill in one place, or need to share one sheet with a partner, a spreadsheet is hard to beat.
When Sort Admin is the better choice
A spreadsheet only helps on the day you open it. Sort Admin comes to you: a reminder at the right time, then the steps to pay less, such as getting car insurance quotes around 25 days before renewal.