Garden planning spreadsheet vs. app
Lots of great gardeners track everything in a spreadsheet. Here is an honest look at when a spreadsheet is enough, and when an app saves you time.
Stick with a spreadsheet if…
- You love building your own formulas and layouts.
- You mostly plan at a desk, not in the garden.
- You don't need reminders or photos.
- You want something free with no account.
Try an app if…
- You log plantings and harvests from your phone.
- You forget when to start seeds or transplant.
- You want photos tied to each plant and bed.
- You want to compare this season with last year without rebuilding a sheet.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Spreadsheet | Smart Garden Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free plan; Pro from $34.99/yr |
| Fully custom columns and formulas | ||
| Works offline with no account | ||
| Planting, germination, flowering and harvest dates | Manual | |
| Calendar of what to do this week | Build it yourself | |
| Reminder emails | ||
| Photos attached to each plant | Awkward | |
| Harvest totals in pounds and ounces | Formulas needed | |
| Season-to-season comparisons | Manual pivot tables | |
| Companion planting notes with sources | ||
| Easy to use on a phone in the garden | Fiddly | |
| Export your data any time | CSV, PDF and ZIP |
Leaving a spreadsheet? You don't lose control
You can export all your plantings, journal entries and harvests to CSV whenever you like, so your records are never locked in.
See it with sample data first
Browse a full sample garden without signing up, or start free with 1 bed and 5 plants. No card needed.