Snowball vs Spreadsheets
Your spreadsheet is where contacts go to die. Snowball keeps them alive.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Snowball | Excel & Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Capture contacts | 2-second scan | Manual typing |
| Available at events | Always in your pocket | Laptop required |
| Voice notes | ||
| Follow-up reminders | Built-in | Manual calendar entries |
| Search | Tags, filters, full-text | Basic text search |
| Context over time | Preserved | Decays |
| Team sharing | Real-time sync | File sharing chaos |
| Mobile-first |
The Spreadsheet Trap
We get it. Spreadsheets are flexible, free, and familiar. When you started tracking contacts in Google Sheets or Excel, it made sense. A few columns: Name, Company, Email, Notes. But then reality happened.
- The file lives on your laptop (not your phone at events)
- Manual data entry takes forever
- You forget to update it
- Notes become cryptic ("met at thing, follow up")
- No reminders, no workflow
- Sharing means version control nightmares
Key Differences
Capture in 2 Seconds
Point your camera, tap, done. The contact is in your phone before the conversation ends. No typing. No "I'll add this later."
Always in Your Pocket
At a conference, at a coffee meeting, at a networking event. Your spreadsheet is at home on your laptop. Snowball is wherever you are.
Context That Sticks
Voice notes, smart tags, relationship goals. Remember not just who people are, but how you can help each other. Spreadsheet "Notes" columns become cryptic within days.
Reminders That Work
"Follow up next week" becomes an actual notification, not a broken promise. No more forgotten contacts.
When Spreadsheets Make Sense
- You have fewer than 50 contacts total
- You never attend events or meet people in person
- You have unlimited time for data entry
- You don't need reminders—you never forget anything
When to Upgrade to Snowball
- You meet new people regularly
- You attend conferences or networking events
- You want to actually follow up
- You value your time at more than $0/hour
- You want your team to share contacts without file chaos
The Migration is Easy
Export your spreadsheet to CSV
Download Snowball from the App Store
Import your CSV in Settings > Import Contacts
All your existing contacts, plus a system that actually works
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Export as CSV and import directly into Snowball. Map columns to fields, and you're done in minutes.
What if I need to export back to a spreadsheet?
Snowball exports to CSV anytime. Your data is never locked in.
Is Snowball more expensive than free spreadsheets?
Snowball's free tier handles most users. But even Pro pricing costs less per month than the time you waste on manual data entry.
Can my team collaborate in Snowball like in Google Sheets?
Better. Snowball Teams provides real-time sync, role-based permissions, and no version conflicts. Everyone sees the same contacts instantly.