Spreadsheet or Qidda? An honest comparison
Most fit-out companies run their numbers on a spreadsheet, and that's not a mistake. But the sheet that's fine for one project starts to strain at the third project and the second engineer.
What spreadsheets do well
Free, flexible, familiar to everyone, offline on a computer, and genuinely enough for one small project you run alone.
Where they start to strain
Multiple versions on WhatsApp · overwritten formulas · engineers can't log from site on a phone · invoice photos live elsewhere · no permissions · petty cash in another sheet · clients get screenshots · no change history.
Comparison
| Spreadsheet | Qidda | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ✓ free | First project free with 3 users, then EGP 2,000 per project, once |
| Flexible layout | ✓ full | Fixed, built for fit-out |
| Offline | ✓ on a computer | ✓ expenses and photos on site, sync later |
| Logging from site on a phone | hard | ✓ three taps with invoice photo |
| Invoice photo with the expense | manual | ✓ |
| Several users at once | partly (Google Sheets) | ✓ each with their own sign-in |
| Per-person permissions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Engineers' petty cash and settlement | manual | ✓ |
| Subcontractor and supplier balances | manual | ✓ |
| BOQ line budgets | ✓ if you build it | ✓ with over-budget warning |
| Client-bought materials in the fee base | manual | ✓ |
| Client link | ✗ | ✓ you choose what they see |
| Branded PDF statements and receipts | manual | ✓ |
| Change history | ✗ | ✓ corrections are new entries |
| Data export | ✓ it is the file | ✓ free CSV anytime |
| Free-form analysis | ✓ pivots and charts | Qidda reports; export CSV to analyse |
When a spreadsheet is enough
One project, run by you, no petty cash, few subcontractors. Your first Qidda project is free and covers that case too, so try both. Switch when a second project opens, an engineer starts spending petty cash, or a client asks weekly what was spent.
Move from a spreadsheet in ten minutes
No spreadsheet import: create the project, enter payments and spend to date as opening entries, add subcontractors with agreed and paid amounts, invite engineers and top up their current petty cash.
FAQ
Is Qidda more expensive than a spreadsheet?
Spreadsheets are free, and Qidda is free too for one open project and 3 users with no time limit. You pay only when you open more projects.
Can I export my data from Qidda to Excel?
Yes. Export all data gives you CSV files that open in Excel, anytime, even for archived projects.
Can I import my old spreadsheet?
Not today. Start with each project's current balances as opening entries, then record new entries day by day.
My accountant lives in Excel. Will that be a problem?
They keep Excel: they export CSV from Qidda and analyse it as they like, while entries come straight from site.
Try Qidda on one project, and keep your sheet.
1 project free · No password · No waiting for activation