Stop Using Excel to Chase Invoices — Here's What Works Better
Many freelancers and business owners start by tracking invoices in Excel or Google Sheets. It's free, flexible, and you already know how to use it. But spreadsheets weren't built for the follow-up workflow — no reminders, no chase history, no email templates. InvoiceGrid is purpose-built for tracking who owes you money and chasing payments. If you've outgrown your spreadsheet, here's how they compare.
What Is Excel?
Excel (and spreadsheets in general) is a flexible tool many freelancers and businesses use to manually track invoices — logging amounts, due dates, and client names in rows and columns. Visit the Excel website for full pricing and feature details.
InvoiceGrid takes a different approach. Instead of being a full accounting tool, it focuses entirely on tracking unpaid invoices and helping you follow up effectively. The visual Kanban board, chase history, and professional email generator are built specifically for chasing payments.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | InvoiceGrid | Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Kanban Board | ✓ | Manual columns |
| Today View Dashboard | ✓ | — |
| Chase History Per Invoice | ✓ | — |
| Email Generator (5 Tones) | ✓ | — |
| Follow-up Schedule Planner | ✓ | — |
| Invoice Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Status Updates | ✓ | Manual |
| Prioritization/Reminders | Today View | Manual |
| Customizability | Fixed workflow | Full |
| Offline Use | — | ✓ |
| Setup Required | Minimal | Build your own |
| Multi-Currency Display | 6 currencies | Manual |
| Cost | $12/mo | Free (with license) |
InvoiceGrid Pros & Cons
Pros
- Visual Kanban board — drag invoices between stages instead of sorting columns
- Today View shows exactly who to chase today
- Chase history logs every follow-up per invoice automatically
- Professional email generator with 5 tones — no drafting from scratch
- Follow-up schedule planner built for the chase workflow
- Designed for non-accountants — no formulas or setup
- 6 currencies supported with clean display
Cons
- Paid subscription ($12/month)
- Focused on tracking only — doesn't create invoices
- Less customizable than a blank spreadsheet
- Requires internet for the app
Excel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free (if you have Excel/Office)
- Fully customizable — add any columns you want
- Works offline
- No learning curve if you know spreadsheets
- Can combine with other data (projects, expenses)
- Export to CSV for other tools
- No subscription — one-time or existing license
Cons
- No visual pipeline — just rows and columns
- No built-in chase history or follow-up logging
- No email generator — you draft every reminder manually
- Manual sorting and filtering to find what needs attention
- Easy to forget follow-ups without reminders
- No Today View — you must build your own prioritization
The Verdict
Stick with Excel if you're comfortable and your volume is low. Upgrade to InvoiceGrid when you're chasing enough invoices that manual tracking, drafting reminders, and remembering follow-ups becomes a bottleneck. The Kanban board and email generator save real time.
Important: InvoiceGrid is Not Accounting Software
InvoiceGrid is intentionally not an accounting tool. It does not create invoices, track expenses, handle taxes, or manage payroll. Its sole focus is helping freelancers, agencies, consultancies, and businesses of all sizes track unpaid invoices and chase overdue payments — with a visual Kanban board, chase history per invoice, a today view dashboard, and a professional email generator.
If you need full accounting, InvoiceGrid is not the right tool. But if your bottleneck is knowing who owes you money and following up professionally — InvoiceGrid was built exactly for that.
Other Comparisons
- QuickBooks vs InvoiceGrid — Accounting Software vs Invoice Tracker
- FreshBooks vs InvoiceGrid — Which One Actually Helps You Chase Payments?
- Zoho Invoice vs InvoiceGrid — Which is Better for Freelancers?
- Wave vs InvoiceGrid — Best Free Option for Tracking Unpaid Invoices?
- Xero vs InvoiceGrid — Do You Really Need Accounting Software to Get Paid?
- Google Sheets vs InvoiceGrid — Why Spreadsheets Fail at Invoice Tracking
- Harvest vs InvoiceGrid — Time Tracking vs Payment Tracking, What You Need
- Monday.com vs InvoiceGrid — Project Management vs Invoice Tracking
- Square Invoices vs InvoiceGrid — Sending Invoices vs Chasing Them
- Invoice Ninja vs InvoiceGrid — Free Invoicing vs Focused Invoice Chasing
- Dubsado vs InvoiceGrid — Full Client CRM vs Focused Invoice Tracker
- InvoiceGrid vs Bonsai
- InvoiceGrid vs HoneyBook
- InvoiceGrid vs Notion for Invoice Tracking
- InvoiceGrid vs PayPal Invoicing
- InvoiceGrid vs Stripe Invoicing
- InvoiceGrid vs Airtable for Invoice Tracking
- InvoiceGrid vs 17hats
- InvoiceGrid vs Chaser
- InvoiceGrid vs Jobber
- InvoiceGrid vs AND CO
- InvoiceGrid vs Trello for Invoice Tracking
- InvoiceGrid vs Paymo
- InvoiceGrid vs GoCardless
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import my Excel invoices into InvoiceGrid?+
InvoiceGrid is designed to track invoices you've already created elsewhere. You enter key details (client, amount, due date) and use InvoiceGrid for the follow-up workflow. Check InvoiceGrid's import options for CSV support.
Is Excel enough for invoice tracking?+
For a handful of invoices, yes. For 10+ outstanding invoices or regular chasing, spreadsheets lack chase history, email generation, and a Today View — you'll spend more time managing the sheet than chasing payments.
What's the main reason to switch from Excel to InvoiceGrid?+
The email generator, chase history, and Today View. Excel forces you to draft every reminder manually and remember who to contact. InvoiceGrid shows you who needs attention today and gives you tone-controlled emails in one click.
Ready to Track Your Invoices Visually?
Stop losing track of who owes you money. InvoiceGrid gives you a visual Kanban board, chase history, and professional email reminders.