Spreadsheet alternative

How is CRMLeaf different from running your firm on spreadsheets?

Spreadsheets are free and flexible, until you rebuild invoices from timesheet exports every month and still miss hours. CRMLeaf turns tracked time into invoices, shows every project budget live, and syncs to QuickBooks, from $9 per user.

CRMLeaf leads on 6 of 6 features shownout of 12 compared in full belowSee full comparison ↓
CRMLeafSpreadsheets
Time trackingTimers and weekly approvalsTyped in at the end of the week
Resource planningLive utilization and conflictsRebuilt each week
Project budget vs. actualLive, per projectChecked at month-end
Permissions and audit trailRole-based, every change loggedAnyone can overwrite a cell
InvoicesBuilt from approved hoursBuilt by hand from exports
QuickBooksTwo-way syncRe-keyed by hand

Rated 4.3 out of 5 by services firms on the top software review sites

4.3Capterra
4.3GetApp
4.3Software Advice
Placeholder: customer quote, ideally from someone who switched from spreadsheets

“One line on why they chose CRMLeaf over Spreadsheets.”

Name, Title · Company

CRMLeaf vs Spreadsheets: full feature comparison

12 features across pricing, sales, delivery and billing.

Cost & upkeep
Price
CRMLeaf
$9 /user/mo
Spreadsheets
Included with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Upkeep
CRMLeaf
Reports update automatically
Spreadsheets
Manual updates and version checks
Sales & CRM
Sales pipeline
CRMLeaf
Built-in CRM with stages
Spreadsheets
A separate tab, updated by hand
Proposals and e-signature
CRMLeaf
Templates, e-signed via DocuSign
Spreadsheets
Word or PDF, signed over email
Delivery
Time tracking
CRMLeaf
Timers and weekly approvals
Spreadsheets
Typed in at the end of the week
Resource planning
CRMLeaf
Live utilization and conflicts
Spreadsheets
Rebuilt each week
Project budget vs. actual
CRMLeaf
Live, per project
Spreadsheets
Checked at month-end
Client updates
CRMLeaf
Branded client portal
Spreadsheets
Status emails
Control
Permissions and audit trail
CRMLeaf
Role-based, every change logged
Spreadsheets
Anyone can overwrite a cell
Billing & finance
Invoices
CRMLeaf
Built from approved hours
Spreadsheets
Built by hand from exports
QuickBooks
CRMLeaf
Two-way sync
Spreadsheets
Re-keyed by hand
Flexibility
Custom formulas
CRMLeaf
Standard reports and fields
Spreadsheets
Any formula you want

Why teams switch from Spreadsheets to CRMLeaf

Reason #1

Stop rebuilding invoices from exports

Approved hours flow straight into invoices, and invoices sync to QuickBooks. Nobody copies rows between files at month-end.

1Lead capturedCRM
2Proposal e-signedDocuSign
3Project and budget createdAutomatic
4Hours approvedTimesheets
5Invoice paidQuickBooks
Reason #2

See every project budget before it goes over

Hours burned against the fee you quoted update each time a timesheet is approved, and utilization shows who has room this week.

Team utilization · This week SAMPLE
Emma RichardsonEngagement Lead104%
Lucas BennettSenior Consultant86%
David KimDeveloper45%
Conflict: Emma is double-booked next week. David has 22 open hours.
Reason #3

One system instead of five files

Pipeline, projects, time, invoices and the client portal share one record, with permissions and a log of every change.

Included from $9 per user ALL PLANS
CRMProposalsProjectsResourcingTimeInvoicingClient portalQuickBooks
CRMLeaf: 8/8 modules on every plan
Reason #4

What unbilled hours cost you

Hours that never reach an invoice are the hidden cost of spreadsheets. Move the sliders to size it for your firm.

Unbilled per year$144,000
CRMLeaf per year$1,080
Pays for itself133x

Based on your inputs over 48 working weeks. CRMLeaf at $9/user/month.

What do users say about CRMLeaf?

Rated 4.3/5 on Capterra, GetApp and Software Advice.

Placeholder: switched from spreadsheets

“What was painful with spreadsheets, and what changed after switching.”

NameTitle, Company
Placeholder: customer result

“A measurable result: hours recovered, faster billing or tools replaced.”

NameTitle, Company
Placeholder: verified review quote

“A short quote from a Capterra or GetApp review.”

ReviewerCapterra verified user

Should you choose CRMLeaf or Spreadsheets?

Best for most services firms

Choose CRMLeaf

Owners and partnersSee margin by client and project, updated as hours are approved
Delivery managersStaff projects by capacity and catch double-bookings early
Finance and billingInvoice from approved hours and sync to QuickBooks
SalesSend proposals that become projects when they're signed
Start freeNo credit card required
Other scenario

Stay on spreadsheets only if…

  • You have one or two people and a handful of clients
  • You bill a flat monthly fee and don't track time
  • Fully custom formulas matter more than workflow
  • Your team isn't ready to change how it logs time

Still deciding between CRMLeaf and Spreadsheets?

Answer 5 quick questions and get a recommendation.

Question 1 of 530 seconds

Do you bill clients for time, milestones or retainers?

What you get with CRMLeaf on every plan

The parts of the workflow a spreadsheet leaves to copy-paste, email and memory.

Sell the work in the same place you deliver it

Track deals by stage, send proposals with your rate cards, and collect signatures through DocuSign. A signed proposal creates the project and budget.

1Lead capturedCRM
2Proposal e-signedDocuSign
3Project and budget createdAutomatic
4Hours approvedTimesheets
5Invoice paidQuickBooks
FAQ

Common questions about CRMLeaf vs Spreadsheets

The fastest way to run and bill client work

Win the work, staff it, track every hour and get paid from one PSA, starting at $9 per user. We'll migrate your spreadsheet data for free.

Free trialNo credit cardNo seat minimumFree migration

Ask AI about CRMLeaf vs Spreadsheets