Quotely Pro vs Excel for Quotations
Excel is where most small businesses make their first quotation template, and for good reason: it is flexible, many people already have it, and it does the maths. Quotely Pro is a quotation maker built for one thing, making item-wise quotations quickly on a phone. Neither is right for everyone.
This page compares the two honestly, so you can decide which suits the way you work.
Side by side
| Excel template | Quotely Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Often already available; free alternatives like Google Sheets exist | Free for 7 days, then from ₹999/month (final price, no hidden charges) |
| Setup | Build or download a template, set up formulas | We set up your account, logo and terms with you |
| On a phone | Possible, but editing cells on a small screen is slow | Built for phone use in the browser |
| Totals | Correct if formulas are right; easy to break by mistake | Calculated automatically |
| Reusing items | Copy and paste from old files | Saved items, Copy quotation, AI Quick Create |
| Sharing | Export to PDF, then send | Download PDF, then send on WhatsApp |
| Without internet | Works offline | Needs an internet connection |
| Flexibility | Any layout or calculation you can build | A fixed, professional quotation layout |
Where Excel is the better choice
- You send a few quotations a month, at a computer.
- Your quotations need unusual calculations, such as complex area or load formulas, that a fixed layout cannot handle.
- You often work without internet.
- You do not want to pay for a tool, and a template works well for you.
If this is you, keep using Excel. Make one master template with your logo, terms and a numbered item table, and copy it for each new customer. Our quotation format guide lists what the template should contain.
Where Quotely Pro saves time
Excel starts to slow you down when you quote often and away from a desk. Finding the right old file, copying rows, fixing a formula that broke, adjusting column widths so the PDF looks right, and doing all of it on a phone screen, takes minutes per quotation that add up over a month.
In Quotely Pro, your items and rates are saved once. You copy a previous quotation or type what you need in plain words, and AI Quick Create picks the matching items, quantities and prices from your saved catalogue. The PDF always comes out with the same clean layout, your logo, terms, signature and payment QR, ready to send on WhatsApp.
Common Excel quotation mistakes
- A formula that does not include a newly added row, so the total is wrong.
- An old customer's name left in the header of a copied file.
- Different versions of the same quotation saved with confusing names.
- Rates that are out of date because each file has its own copy of the price list.
Trying both
You do not have to choose blindly. 7-day free trial. No payment needed. Make your next few quotations in both and compare the time taken. If you also need invoices, read quotation vs invoice; if you are looking for no-cost options, see the free quotation maker page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Excel good enough for making quotations?
Yes, for many businesses. If you send a few quotations a month at a computer, an Excel or Google Sheets template with your details, an item table, totals and terms works well. A dedicated tool helps when you quote often or on a phone.
What is the main advantage of a quotation app over Excel?
Speed for repeat work. A quotation app saves your items and rates, lets you copy old quotations, calculates totals automatically and produces a consistent PDF, which is much faster than editing spreadsheets, especially on a phone.
Does Quotely Pro work offline like Excel?
No. Quotely Pro is a web app and needs an internet connection. Excel works offline, which matters if you often quote in places without mobile data.
Can I move from Excel to Quotely Pro easily?
Yes. Add the items and rates you use most into Quotely Pro once, and when we set up your account we add your logo and terms. After that, new quotations reuse those saved items.
Can I use Quotely Pro for free, like Google Sheets?
No. Quotely Pro is free for 7 days, then it is a paid tool from ₹999 per month. Final price. No hidden charges. Google Sheets is free, and it is a good choice if you send few quotations.
Microsoft Excel is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation, and Google Sheets is a trademark of Google LLC. Quotely Pro is not affiliated with them.