I’m looking for better options than Google Sheets for managing my personal projects. Right now I use several spreadsheets to track my finances and handle various tasks related to my consulting work. While I know there are specialized apps out there that might work better, I really prefer using spreadsheets since that’s what I’m comfortable with in my line of work.
I’ve been thinking about trying LibreOffice Calc with my own server setup to get away from the big tech companies. Has anyone tried this approach? Is it really the best choice if you want to avoid Google, Microsoft and similar services? I’m curious about other people’s experiences with different spreadsheet alternatives and whether they’re worth switching to.
OnlyOffice is worth checking out. I switched from Google Sheets six months ago and it hits a sweet spot between features and privacy. The interface looks familiar if you’re used to mainstream spreadsheet apps, so the switch was easier than expected. It handles complex formulas well and has solid formatting options - I use it for professional consulting work without issues. You can self-host or use their cloud version depending on how much privacy you want. Collaboration works pretty well, though it’s not quite as smooth as Google’s setup. I’ve been using it for personal finance tracking and project management - it’s reliable and fast. Test it alongside LibreOffice to see which one clicks with your workflow.
Airtable is fun! It’s not your typical spreadsheet, but for personal stuff, it really shines. The free tier is solid, and the design is so much better than Excel. Give it a shot if you’re open to cloud options!
I’ve used LibreOffice Calc for two years after ditching Google Sheets. It’s solid for personal finance tracking and project management. Love the offline functionality - no connectivity headaches when I need quick updates. Handles my budgets and project trackers just fine. Heads up though - collaboration gets messy if you share files with others. Took me a few weeks to learn the different formula syntax, but nothing crazy. The privacy win made the learning curve worth it. If you’re comfortable with spreadsheets and want to avoid big tech, it’s a good pick.