Household budget in Excel or Okidoky?
Excel is a fantastic tool — and for some people it remains the best choice. This page puts both options side by side, including when you should stick with Excel.
Why this article?
Many people who land on okidoky.nl currently keep their household budget in Excel or Google Sheets. That makes sense — it works, it's familiar, it's flexible. Yet we get the question daily: "is it time to switch?"
The honest answer: it depends on what you want. Below we compare 15 concrete points, explicitly note when Excel remains your best choice, and if you ultimately choose Okidoky we help with a 5-step migration guide without data loss.
Direct comparison
Everything that matters for a modern budget. Green = fully supported, orange = partial or requires work, red = not available (without extra tools).
| Feature | Excel | Okidoky |
|---|---|---|
| Fully customisable Formulas and columns to your own liking | Yes | Limited |
| Live sharing with partner/family Multiple users, simultaneously, own login | No | Yes |
| Scan receipts Photo → automatically parsed + archived | No | Yes |
| Good mobile experience Fast typing on a small screen, swipe actions | Limited | Yes |
| Automatically up to date Every device always the same numbers | Limited | Yes |
| Recurring transactions Fixed costs appear automatically every month | Limited | Yes |
| Import a bank file ING + Knab automatic · other NL banks by pointing out columns · duplicates removed | Limited | Yes |
| Forecast & trends What's left on Dec 31 at current pace? | Limited | Yes |
| Categories Group expenses by type | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use Excel works without internet; Okidoky needs a connection (for now) | Yes | No |
| Automatic backup No 'oops I overwrote my file' | No | Yes |
| Data export Download everything as a file | Yes | Yes |
| Cost Per year for an average user | €7/mo (Microsoft 365 Personal) or often €0 via work/school | Free — €1.50/mo or €25 Lifetime |
| Time to value From zero to productive budget | Takes a while to learn | 5 minutes |
| You're never stuck Always a full data export available | Yes | Limited |
Stick with Excel if...
These are valid reasons
You love formulas
VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, PIVOT tables — if you enjoy this and bend it to your will exactly, no app offers that flexibility.
Your admin is uniquely complex
Multiple businesses mixed, international currencies with custom rates, complex depreciation calcs — Excel bends where apps stay rigid.
You work alone
You share nothing, don't need to sync across devices and never use your phone. Then an app's added value is limited.
You want zero dependency
Excel files are local and will still work in 10 years. With an app you trust that the maker keeps existing.
With Okidoky you can always download all your data too, so you never lose it either.
Choose Okidoky if...
These are the biggest wins
You do it together
Two or more people in the same ledger, without the "send me the file real quick" email ping-pong.
You have plenty of receipts
3-second scanning is fundamentally different from manually typing every receipt into an Excel row.
You work on your phone
Add a transaction in the supermarket? Excel Mobile works, but the experience is not designed for 10-second entry.
You don't want to think daily
Automatic alerts, recurring transactions, forecasts — Okidoky keeps calculating in the background while you live your life.
You want tax safety
Scan receipts locally, 7-year archive, and one-click export for whoever wants to keep it or pass it on. Hard to replicate in Excel.
Plus: you can always start free and keep your Excel next to it until you're sure Okidoky fits.
Migrating from Excel to Okidoky
How to do it without data loss and preserving your history. Plan: 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how much you have in Excel.
Export your Excel file as CSV
Save as a .csv file with columns for date, amount, category and description. Got multiple tabs? Then one file per tab.
5 minutes
Create a free Okidoky account
Register at okidoky.nl with your email. You get 14 days of Premium free, so you can immediately test all features with your own data.
30 seconds
Create the same categories
Copy the categories you used in Excel (Groceries, Fixed costs, Car, etc.). In Okidoky you do this via Category management, takes 5-10 minutes.
10 minutes
Import your file — or start fresh
Two options: (1) import your full Excel history via bank import if the fields match, or (2) start fresh from this month and leave Excel as archive. Option 2 is often calmer.
10–30 min
Run a week in parallel, then fully switch
Run both side by side for a week. If numbers match AND Okidoky feels comfortable, say goodbye to Excel (do keep your old file as archive).
7 days
Pro tip
The easiest migration? Just start fresh on the 1st of the month. Use Okidoky for 3 months as a parallel system alongside Excel — if it fits, switch completely and you never need to import. Less hassle, and you immediately see whether the app suits you.
Common questions about switching
Can I import my last 5 years of Excel history?
Technically: yes, via a file. Practically: often not needed. Your old Excel just stays on your computer as archive, and you use Okidoky for everything from now on. Many users find it calmer to start fresh — they rarely need those old numbers anyway.
What if in a year I want to go back to Excel?
No problem. Okidoky always lets you download all your data. You download everything, open it in Excel and rebuild your old setup. No penalty, you're never stuck.
Is Okidoky really that much faster than Excel?
For entering a new transaction: clearly yes. Scanning a receipt takes 3 seconds (camera + done) vs 30-60 seconds in Excel (insert a row, type date, type amount, pick category, description). Times 30 transactions per month that's a real time difference. For complex analyses, Excel is sometimes faster — it depends on your use.
What if Okidoky ceases to exist?
Understandable concern. Our answer: you can always download all your data. Should Okidoky ever stop, we announce well in advance (minimum 6 months), so everyone can take their data with them calmly. Plus: our Lifetime deal (€25 one-off) is designed so early customers keep working even without subscription income.
Doesn't Okidoky ultimately cost more than Excel?
Depends on your situation. If you already have Microsoft 365 via work or school, Excel doesn't cost you anything extra — then the choice is really spreadsheet vs purpose-built ledger tool. If you buy Microsoft 365 separately: Personal is €7/month (€69/year), or Office Home & Student €149 one-off. Okidoky is free at base, €1.50/month Premium, or €25 Lifetime one-off — purpose-built as a ledger, no subscription needed. The comparison is about more than just price.
Try alongside Excel?
The safest switch: use Okidoky free for 14 days alongside your Excel. No credit card, and your Excel just stays as backup.
Not using Excel anymore? Just archive the file, you don't have to delete it.