Right now I’m using multiple spreadsheets to handle my budget tracking and various other tasks. Since I work as a freelance consultant, I really need spreadsheet functionality even though dedicated financial apps might be more efficient.
I’m trying to move away from big tech companies and wondering if running LibreOffice Calc on my own server would be the most private option available. Are there other good alternatives I should consider? I need something that can handle basic calculations, charts, and maybe some collaboration features when working with clients.
What experiences have people had with self-hosted solutions versus other commercial alternatives? Looking for something reliable that won’t lock me into another big corporation.
onlyoffice is pretty great! i switched to it, and the collab features are def better than libreoffice. plus, it doesn’t feel outdated like some other options. if privacy is a concern, self-hosting is pretty easy too. deff worth a try!
Go old school with Excel 2016 offline. I use it for all my freelance work - no cloud garbage, no data mining, just spreadsheets that work. Runs perfectly, has everything you need, and Microsoft can’t track anything when you’re offline. Bought a legit license cheap a few years ago and haven’t regretted it once.
Try Luckysheet if you want Google Sheets without Google watching. Found it after LibreOffice kept crashing during client demos. Formulas work like Excel, charts don’t look amateur, and multiple people can edit without breaking things. Takes 30 minutes to install on a cheap VPS and handles complex financial models just fine. Best part? Clients think it’s regular Google Sheets but everything runs on your server. Mobile works great too - clients can check budgets on their phones during meetings.
EtherCalc works great for my consulting - no complex server setup needed. It’s lightweight, browser-based, and handles real-time collaboration really well. I’ve had clients editing budgets at the same time with zero issues or version conflicts. The interface is clean and feels familiar if you’re used to regular spreadsheets. Charts work fine for basic financial reports, but don’t expect fancy visuals. What hooked me was how simple it is - collaborators don’t need accounts, just share a link. For privacy without self-hosting hassles, check out desktop apps like Gnumeric or older Excel versions that don’t constantly phone home. Sometimes the best solution isn’t cloud-based, especially with sensitive client financial data that doesn’t need constant syncing.
Spreadsheets barely scratch the surface for freelance workflow management.
I used to run multiple spreadsheets for budgets, invoicing, and projects. The real breakthrough wasn’t finding better spreadsheet software - it was automating everything.
Now my workflows automatically pull bank data, categorize expenses, generate invoices, and send payment reminders. No more copy-pasting numbers or fixing broken formulas.
Collaboration got easier too. Clients get automatic updates and approve invoices through simple web forms. Everything syncs without downloads or learning new software.
You control your data since it runs on your infrastructure. No big tech involved.
Automation crushes spreadsheets for freelance consulting. You’ll save hours weekly and look more professional.
See how easy setup is: https://latenode.com
I’ve been running Nextcloud with its office suite for two years - works great for freelance work. Setup needs some tech skills upfront, but once it’s running, the spreadsheets handle collaboration pretty well. Interface looks way better than LibreOffice Calc, and you own all your data. Cryptpad’s another solid option - browser-based spreadsheets with strong encryption. I use it when clients need quick access without signing up for accounts. It’s more basic than desktop apps but handles financial tracking and calculations just fine. Both keep you away from big tech while staying reliable. You’ll lose some fancy features compared to Google Sheets, but for budgeting and working with clients, they do the job.