{"id":16675,"date":"2026-03-02T12:38:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/?p=16675"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:41:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T10:41:22","slug":"project-management-software-vs-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/project-management-software-vs-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Management Software vs. Excel: Make the Right Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As someone who has spent way too much time creating <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/work-tools-and-templates\/project-management-excel-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project management templates for Excel<\/a> without any kind of techy background, I can confidently claim 4 things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Excel is <em>not<\/em> easy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excel is <em>not<\/em> a project management tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excel <em>can <\/em>function as a project management tool, but you <em>will<\/em> need an \u201cExcel person\u201d to make sure everything works right. (What happens when they get sick or \u2014 god forbid \u2014 leave the company?)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It takes a stupid amount of time and effort to make Excel do what project management software can do from the get-go in a more intuitive, collaborative, and secure way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So in my mind, deciding between <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/project-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project management software<\/a> vs. Excel primarily comes down to whether your job is to manage people and tasks, or analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allow me to explain.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-management-software-vs-Excel.jpg\" alt=\"Project management software vs Excel\" class=\"wp-image-16694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-management-software-vs-Excel.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-management-software-vs-Excel-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-management-software-vs-Excel-1110x555.jpg 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-management-software-vs-Excel-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Project-management-software-vs-Excel-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e5f6fe\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>WHY TRUST US?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Human reviewers try out each app and follow strict guidelines while writing the reviews. We follow a transparent, clear, and systematic methodology, so that every review is objective and accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/our-software-review-methodology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our review methodology \u279c<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"key-differences-between-pm-software-and-excel\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key differences between PM software and Excel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Excel is an analytics tool meant for gathering, manipulating, visualizing, and analyzing raw data.<\/strong> It\u2019s essential for data analysts, financial analysts, supply chain analysts, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Project management software is a tool meant for coordinating people, tasks, and resources<\/strong>. It allows teams to organize work and collaborate in one secure place. This makes PM software invaluable for project managers and team leaders who manage people and tasks instead of numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although you can technically use both to manage projects, PM software and Excel serve fundamentally different purposes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the biggest differences between using PM software like <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/\">Plaky<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\">CAKE.com<\/a> and Excel for project management:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Features<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Plaky by CAKE.com<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Microsoft Excel<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Collaboration<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Built for collaboration<br>&#8211; Clear visibility across teams and departments<br>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/comments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comments, threads, and @mentions<\/a> directly on tasks<br>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/notifications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Notification system<\/a><br>&#8211; Viewer permissions for collaborations with external stakeholders<\/td><td>&#8211; Has the option for co-authoring, but it only works in conjunction with a cloud storage partner<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Security<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; GDPR<br>&#8211; ISO\/IEC 27001:2022<br>&#8211; SOC 2 Type II<br>&#8211; Public bug bounty program<br>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/user-roles\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Advanced user roles and permissions<\/a><br>&#8211; OAuth 2.0 SSO<\/td><td>&#8211; Password protected files&nbsp;<br>&#8211; Read-only permissions<br>&#8211; Restricted access for organizations that have permissions set up using Information Rights Management (IRM)<br>&#8211; Digital signatures<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Automation<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Lets you <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/automations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">automate repetitive tasks<\/a> using a simple, no-code \u201cwhen X happens, then do Y\u201d formula<br>&#8211; Lets you automate recurring tasks<br>&#8211; Enables visual reminders with the <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/conditional-coloring\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Conditional coloring<\/a> feature<\/td><td>&#8211; Has limited automations that you have to program yourself<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ease of use<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Intuitive<br>&#8211; Can be used by anyone, regardless of experience or professional background<\/td><td>&#8211; Steep learning curve for anyone without a background in programming<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Price<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Free with the option for paid upgrades<\/td><td>&#8211; Free with the option for paid upgrades<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-reasons-you-shouldnt-use-excel-for-project-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4 reasons you shouldn\u2019t use Excel for project management<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Excel\u2019s flexibility <em>does<\/em> allow it to function as a project management tool, but in a very limited capacity. As soon as your business grows into a group of teams rather than individuals, its downsides become glaringly apparent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Excel is not ready-to-use for project management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excel is not built for collaboration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excel has limited security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excel is cumbersome and you will need help with maintenance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"1-excel-is-not-a-ready-to-use-tool-for-project-management\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1 Excel is not a ready-to-use tool for project management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Excel is a blank slate. To use it for managing projects, you must first <em>build<\/em> the workflows you want to use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need a <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/gantt-chart-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gantt chart<\/a>? No problem. You will need about 6 hours and a lot of confidence that you won&#8217;t make a mistake in any of the gajillion formulas you\u2019ll need to use (I exaggerate, but not too much). Using Excel can be effective, but it\u2019s just not very efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use a pre-made template, of course, but if you ever need to customize it, or if you accidentally delete a formula and you\u2019re not proficient in Excel, good luck. With PM software, everything is right at your fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"655\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Create-a-Gantt-chart-in-Plaky-in-seconds.png\" alt=\"Using a Gantt chart in Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-16681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Create-a-Gantt-chart-in-Plaky-in-seconds.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Create-a-Gantt-chart-in-Plaky-in-seconds-550x300.png 550w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Create-a-Gantt-chart-in-Plaky-in-seconds-1110x606.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Create-a-Gantt-chart-in-Plaky-in-seconds-768x419.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Create-a-Gantt-chart-in-Plaky-in-seconds-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Create a Gantt chart in Plaky in seconds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Essentially, when you use PM software like Plaky, you are a manager adapting its features to your workflow. But when you try to use Excel for project management, you become a programmer <em>building<\/em> a project management tool within Excel, and that is simply a waste of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microsoft has recently attempted to make Excel more approachable and easier to use with Copilot AI. On paper, this sounds amazing \u2014 you can ask it to automatically generate charts, create conditional formatting, formulae, etc. All this is really great, especially for people who aren\u2019t Excel wizards, except for 3 small facts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a disclaimer in Copilot that says \u201cAI-generated content may be incorrect\u201d, so trust it at your own discretion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI is notoriously bad at math, and <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/answers\/questions\/5619366\/i-had-co-pilot-go-rogue-on-me\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Copilot is no exception<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Copilot is not available on the free plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>PLAKY PRO TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t really need 6 hours to build a Gantt chart in Excel. If you can settle for a simple Gantt chart, you can use our guide to help you build it much quicker:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/how-to-make-a-gantt-chart-in-excel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How To Make a Gantt Chart in Excel (+ Free Template)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"2-excel-is-not-built-for-collaboration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2 Excel is not built for collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Excel is mainly an offline tool. When you want someone else to make changes to the document, you first have to send them your version of the sheet to edit, then they send the new version back to you. There are multiple issues with this method:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You end up with several versions that can easily get mixed up the more times you do this.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Someone can accidentally change or delete important information, and you\u2019ll be none the wiser until it creates a problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The manager has to manually inform every person related to a task when something changes, which is (again) not very efficient.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While Excel has become more collaborative in recent years, the real-time collaboration feature raises security concerns and may be cumbersome for desktop users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-landing-1 pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5  \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                How much is your time worth?            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Don\u2019t waste your most precious resource on doing redundant work. Everything you need to manage your small business is already here and ready to go in Plaky by CAKE.com.<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Try for free\" href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Try for free                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Book a demo\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/contact\/sales\/\">\n                    Book a demo                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-1@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/landing-1.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"3-excel-has-limited-security\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3 Excel has limited security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrary to popular belief, Excel has several ways to protect worksheets and formulas, such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Passwords that prevent people from opening or editing a workbook or&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Locking certain formulas to prevent accidental deletion.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Microsoft also has a prominent warning on their support page saying that just because these features exist, you should not assume that your files are secure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1110\" height=\"454\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Microsoft-warning-1110x454.png\" alt=\"Microsoft\u2019s security warning\" class=\"wp-image-16684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Microsoft-warning-1110x454.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Microsoft-warning-730x300.png 730w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Microsoft-warning-768x314.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Microsoft-warning-18x7.png 18w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Microsoft-warning.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Microsoft\u2019s security warning (source: Microsoft)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This alone should make any business that values the security and privacy of their own and their clients\u2019 data look into spreadsheet alternatives for managing projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"4-excel-is-cumbersome-and-you-will-need-help-with-maintenance\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4 Excel is cumbersome and you will need help with maintenance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people without a background in programming will find Excel difficult to navigate, especially when the spreadsheets grow in size and complexity along with the business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why most companies that use it tend to have an \u201cExcel person\u201d who maintains the formulas and makes sure everything works right. The issue is that this one employee becomes the duct tape keeping the business from collapsing into chaos.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manage projects with ease \u2014 try Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-pm-software-is-better-than-excel\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why PM software is better than Excel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The modern workplace with its many hybrid or remote teams and an increasing need for agility, speed, and compliance has made PM software the only logical option for managing teams and projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like one of Plaky\u2019s long-time users, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nikola-glintic-fincon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nikola Glintic<\/a>, owner of Fincon accounting, says:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Nikola-Glintic-quote.jpeg\" alt=\"Nikola Glintic quote\" class=\"wp-image-16686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Nikola-Glintic-quote.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Nikola-Glintic-quote-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Nikola-Glintic-quote-12x12.jpeg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201c<em>Early on, we used Excel tables, but I constantly felt that this \u2018wasn\u2019t it\u2019 and that I\u2019d prefer a different way to keep track of our work.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This remains the general sentiment for most businesses looking to make their workflow more efficient, which is why small businesses inevitably search for <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/excel-alternatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Excel alternatives<\/a> once their numbers start growing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So here are some of the main reasons why PM software wins over Excel when it comes to managing work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pm-software-is-easy-to-use-and-customize\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PM software is easy to use and customize&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike Excel, where you need to <em>make<\/em> your project management work because it wasn\u2019t meant for it in the first place, PM software just <em>works<\/em>. As one of our users, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/matev%C5%BE-lovko-7389ab159\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matevz Lovko<\/a>, production manager at Lepton-Quark<em>,<\/em> aptly put it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e5f6fe\"><em>\u201cYou could be a cook in a restaurant or a production manager, and you could create a task management board that suits your needs. The most important thing is that you can always change or add another fixture to it if you need it, it takes just a minute of your time.\u201c<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can still customize workflows with Table views, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/kanban-tool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kanban boards<\/a>, Gantt charts, <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/fields\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">custom Fields<\/a>, etc., or <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">use some of Plaky\u2019s editable templates<\/a> to get started. But neither you nor any of your employees will need any kind of prior knowledge or tech experience to understand how to use it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All you need to do is create an account, and you\u2019re good to go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try Plaky by CAKE.com for free<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pm-software-is-useful-for-both-leadership-and-teams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PM software is useful for both leadership and teams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>PM software gives managers a clear overview of who is doing what, how the tasks are divided and how they are progressing. This allows them to effectively distribute workloads, resources, and spot <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/project-management\/risk-management-in-project-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">project risks<\/a> before they escalate.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"668\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Use-Plaky-to-keep-your-work-neatly-organized-and-accessible.png\" alt=\"A board in Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-16688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Use-Plaky-to-keep-your-work-neatly-organized-and-accessible.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Use-Plaky-to-keep-your-work-neatly-organized-and-accessible-539x300.png 539w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Use-Plaky-to-keep-your-work-neatly-organized-and-accessible-1110x618.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Use-Plaky-to-keep-your-work-neatly-organized-and-accessible-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Use-Plaky-to-keep-your-work-neatly-organized-and-accessible-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Use Plaky to keep your work neatly organized and accessible<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Unlike spreadsheets that are mostly ever available to managers, project management platforms connect your entire workforce in one place. This supports independent work and frees up the manager\u2019s time for more important tasks, just like it did for 1st Platinum Freight, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/milos-s-39b8a2184\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Milos Stanic<\/a> shares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Milos-Stanic-quote.jpg\" alt=\"Milos Stanic quote\" class=\"wp-image-16685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Milos-Stanic-quote.jpg 400w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Milos-Stanic-quote-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Milos-Stanic-quote-12x12.jpg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThere\u2019s no need to ask redundant questions when you have the answer right in front of you in Plaky.<\/em> <em>Even our company owner jumps in from time to time to see what&#8217;s going on in Plaky.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pm-software-keeps-your-information-safe\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PM software keeps your information safe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>PM software generally has robust security features that guarantee the safety of your data. For example, Plaky by CAKE.com protects your data with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>OAuth 2.0 SSO,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data encryption,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GDPR and ISO\/IEC 27001:2022 compliance,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SOC 2 Type II certificate, and a<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public bug bounty program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, Plaky lets you <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/permissions-restrictions-in-plaky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manage access to boards<\/a> and spaces to safeguard sensitive data. If you want to get more granular, you can specify user roles and edit role permissions to make sure only the right people access the right information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And even if a blunder does occur, all you need to do is check Plaky\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/activity-log\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Activity log<\/a> to find out what was changed and who did it.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keep-all-your-work-transparent-with-Plakys-Activity-log.png\" alt=\"Plaky\u2019s Activity log\" class=\"wp-image-16683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keep-all-your-work-transparent-with-Plakys-Activity-log.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keep-all-your-work-transparent-with-Plakys-Activity-log-600x300.png 600w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keep-all-your-work-transparent-with-Plakys-Activity-log-1110x555.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keep-all-your-work-transparent-with-Plakys-Activity-log-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keep-all-your-work-transparent-with-Plakys-Activity-log-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Keep all your work transparent with Plaky\u2019s Activity log<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pm-software-improves-cross-team-collaboration\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PM software improves cross-team collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Teams rarely work in isolation. So knowing how tasks are progressing and who to contact when your output depends on the work of another team is crucial to keep the ball rolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Excel, the manager is the only one who has access to this information and has to mediate communication, let people know when things progress, when assignees change, etc. But with PM software, the information is right there for anyone who needs it. You can even tag colleagues or leave comments and they\u2019ll receive a notification immediately \u2014 no need for follow-ups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is exactly what helped <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/v-milic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vladimir Milic<\/a> and VM Digital increase the efficiency of their business:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vladimir-Milic-quote.jpg\" alt=\"Vladimir Milic quote\" class=\"wp-image-16689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vladimir-Milic-quote.jpg 400w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vladimir-Milic-quote-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vladimir-Milic-quote-12x12.jpg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI try to reach that point where I don&#8217;t have to say anything and instead have employees find solutions on their own.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What we would otherwise have to discuss on a 30-minute call, in this case, I can open Plaky, tag the person I need, ping them, Plaky notifies them, and that&#8217;s it. Basically, it made us more efficient and saved our time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Plaky also supports collaboration with stakeholders outside of the organization with viewer access. This enables clients to see relevant boards, without the fear of accidentally changing something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pm-software-supports-business-growth\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PM software supports business growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While Excel sheets become more complicated and difficult to navigate as your staff and workload increases, PM software keeps things organized at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Plaky offers unlimited users, spaces, boards, items, and views, all on the <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/pricing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free plan<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/plaky\/organization-and-hierarchy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Plaky\u2019s organizational hierarchy<\/a> to divide Workspaces into Spaces and spaces into <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/board\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Boards<\/a> that you can then group together or further divide into Items, <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/updates\/subitems\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subitems<\/a> and Item groups. Keep everything neatly organized and at your fingertips regardless of the size of your company or the complexity of the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jessetutt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jesse Tutt<\/a>, founder of Guru SEO Services, explains how Plaky has helped ground his growing business:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jesse-Tutt-quote.jpeg\" alt=\"Jesse Tutt quote\" class=\"wp-image-16682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jesse-Tutt-quote.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jesse-Tutt-quote-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jesse-Tutt-quote-12x12.jpeg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cAs our organization grew, keeping up with constant changes and plans became too time-consuming and impractical. Plaky has helped keep all of our projects, tasks, and projections in one place.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"pm-software-makes-automating-repetitive-tasks-easy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PM software makes automating repetitive tasks easy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>PM software typically lets you create a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/features\/automations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">board automations<\/a> to streamline repetitive tasks such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Automatically adding, removing, or changing assignees when task status changes,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moving tasks to a different group,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating new items or subitems,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sending custom notifications, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Save-tons-of-time-by-automating-repetitive-tasks-in-Plaky.png\" alt=\"Setting automations in Plaky\" class=\"wp-image-16687\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Save-tons-of-time-by-automating-repetitive-tasks-in-Plaky.png 1200w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Save-tons-of-time-by-automating-repetitive-tasks-in-Plaky-450x300.png 450w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Save-tons-of-time-by-automating-repetitive-tasks-in-Plaky-1110x740.png 1110w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Save-tons-of-time-by-automating-repetitive-tasks-in-Plaky-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Save-tons-of-time-by-automating-repetitive-tasks-in-Plaky-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Save tons of time by automating repetitive tasks in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Plaky makes it very easy to automate repetitive and recurring tasks by only using a simple formula:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e5f6fe\">\u201cWhen X happens, then do Y\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All you need to do is specify the variables and your automation is ready.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Excel, on the other hand, requires you to write much more complicated formulas to execute even the most basic of automations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"when-to-use-excel-vs-project-management-software\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to use Excel vs. project management software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re still wondering whether you should use PM software or Excel to manage work, the conclusion is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use project management software like Plaky for task management, collaboration, coordination, and security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use Excel for data manipulation and analysis.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>PM tools and spreadsheets have fundamentally different purposes. Most likely, you will need to use both in some capacity for optimal results. But depending on the nature of your work, one will be dominant and the other supplementary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you\u2019re a project manager, you can use Plaky for task and resource management and Excel for budgeting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-transfer-excel-files-into-pm-software\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to transfer Excel files into PM software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite its many disadvantages, many project managers still use Excel to manage tasks. If you\u2019re one of these people, but you\u2019re ready to move on to something simpler, you\u2019ll be happy to know that you can easily transfer your data from Excel spreadsheets into PM software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plaky Tutorial: Import Data Into Plaky\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CkP5eDvlV_E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/manage-project-in-plaky\/board\/import-csv-to-a-board\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">import your Excel data into Plaky<\/a> in just 4 simple steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Convert your Excel file into a CSV file. (You can easily do this with the <em>save as<\/em> function.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to your Plaky board and choose <em>Import from CSV<\/em> from the dropdown in the top right corner (three dots).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select your CSV file and make sure everything looks good.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Map the data (decide how your columns will connect to the fields in Plaky) and click <em>Finish import<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/help\/manage-project-in-plaky\/board\/create-board-from-csv\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">importing Excel data into a completely new Plaky board<\/a>, all you need to do is to choose <em>Create from file<\/em> when creating a new board and then choose your desired CSV file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"make-project-management-easier-with-plaky-by-cake-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make project management easier with Plaky by CAKE.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At its core, project management is about relationship management and coordination. So there are no real advantages to using Excel instead of PM software in this case.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asking if you should use Excel to manage your projects is like asking if you should use a frying pan to cook soup \u2014 you definitely <em>could<\/em>, but why make your life difficult when pots exist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, don\u2019t use a frying pan to cook soup, and don\u2019t use a data analytics program to manage projects if you want to make your life a little easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you\u2019re ready to move on from Excel to something more intuitive, try Plaky by CAKE.com.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.plaky.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sign up for free<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"container plaky-gradient-bundle pt-5 ps-lg-5 z-0 mb-5  \" >\n    <div class=\"d-flex flex-column flex-lg-row align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-between gap-1 gap-lg-5\">\n        <div class=\"banner-text text-center text-lg-start text-white\">\n            <span class=\"translation-block lh-1 fs-16 text-white\">\n                Don\u2019t settle for mediocre, strive for the top!            <\/span>\n            <p class=\"translation-block mw-300 fs-12 mb-2\">Enhance your performance by combining all 3 pieces of CAKE.com \u2014 Plaky for project management, Clockify for timekeeping, billing, and invoicing, and Pumble for easy workplace communication.<\/p>\n            <div class=\"cta-btns pt-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-lg-start gap-4 mb-4 mb-lg-0\">\n                <a aria-label=\"Sign up\" href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/try\" class=\"btn rounded py-1 px-2 fs-12 btn-light\">\n                    Sign up                <\/a>\n                                <a aria-label=\"Learn more\" class=\"text-white px-2 fs-12\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/bundle\">\n                    Learn more                <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/bundle@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Plaky logo\" media=\"(min-width: 998px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"max-w-350 img-fluid \" src=\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/bundle.png\" alt=\"Plaky screenshot\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You don&#8217;t have to choose between project management software vs. Excel: Use PM software for project management and Excel for data analytics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":16693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-comparisons"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16675"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17307,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16675\/revisions\/17307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plaky.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}