Reviewal vs. a spreadsheet
Most people tracking renewals, deadlines, and seasonal tasks start with a spreadsheet — and for good reason: it's free, flexible, and already installed. This page is an honest comparison of where that works and where it breaks down.
Where a spreadsheet is enough
- You have a handful of dates and you check the file regularly anyway.
- You want custom columns, formulas, or a format nobody else dictates.
- Everything is managed by one person, on one device, with no reminders needed.
Where it breaks down
A spreadsheet stores dates; it doesn't act on them. The failure mode isn't the file — it's that nothing happens unless you open it. The renewal that lapses is almost never the one missing from the sheet; it's the one sitting in row 23 of a file nobody opened in March.
| Capability | Spreadsheet | Reviewal |
|---|---|---|
| Store dates and notes | Yes | Yes |
| Email you before each date | No (unless you script it) | Yes — reminders and a periodic digest |
| See the whole year at a glance | As rows; a timeline takes chart work | Yes — a year timeline is the interface |
| Recurring dates roll forward | Manual — edit each cell after completion | Automatic — mark done, next occurrence appears |
| Share with family | Whole file, and they must remember to look | Per-section email sharing — they get the same heads-up you do |
| Update by AI assistant | No | Yes — Claude today, other assistants as they add support |
| Multi-step processes (e.g. a move, a visa) | More columns | Steps with their own dates inside one event |
| Cost | Free | Free plan (40 events, 3 sections); Pro $6/mo or $49/yr for more capacity |
Common questions
- Is a spreadsheet good for tracking renewals and deadlines?
- It stores the dates well but doesn't act on them: no emails before due dates, no automatic roll-forward, no notifications to anyone else. It works if you reliably open and maintain it — most missed renewals happen because nobody opens the file.
- Can I move my spreadsheet into Reviewal?
- Yes — add the dates as events (or paste them to your AI assistant and ask it to add them for you). Recurring items only need entering once; Reviewal rolls them forward.
- Is Reviewal free?
- The free plan includes 40 events, 3 sections, and email reminders. Pro raises the capacity limits; the features are the same on both plans.
Keep the dates. Lose the "remember to check the file."
Start free — no password, no card