Excel or real time-tracking software?
A spreadsheet costs nothing to buy, but every manually filled cell is a source of error and wasted time. Here, point by point, is what actually changes with dedicated software like Timealyo.
Try it for freeA concrete comparison
| Excel | Timealyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Recording hours | Each employee (or you) writes down hours by hand, often at the end of the day or week — approximate and easy to forget. | 2-second clock-in at the actual moment of arrival or departure, from any device. |
| Calculating hours and daily balance | Formulas you have to maintain yourself, which break easily if a row is misplaced or a cell miscopied. | Calculated automatically from clock-ins and each employee's contract, always up to date. |
| Overtime | Has to be spotted and calculated manually, easy to miss at the end of the month. | Detected automatically, validated in one click by a manager or the account owner. |
| Lateness and unjustified absences | No detection at all: you have to notice it yourself by re-reading the rows. | Anomalies detected automatically (minor/major lateness, unjustified absence), with or without email notifications. |
| Multi-device, multi-person access | A single file, risk of being overwritten if several people edit it at the same time. | Each employee clocks in from their own account, simultaneous access with no conflict. |
| Traceability in case of an audit | Entirely dependent on entry discipline — a row edited afterward can't be told apart from an original entry. | Every clock-in is timestamped automatically the moment it's made. |
| Real cost | Free to buy, but the time spent entering, correcting and checking has a hidden cost. | Free for a single user, from €10/month beyond that — with no manual management time. |
Questions about moving off Excel
Why change if my spreadsheet works "well enough"?
A spreadsheet doesn't detect anything on its own: errors, missed entries and uncounted overtime stay invisible until they become a real problem (incorrect payroll, an audit, a dispute with an employee).
Can I import my existing Excel data?
There's no automatic import today: your employees start clocking in as soon as they sign up on Timealyo. Your Excel history stays available on your side in parallel if needed.
How long does the switch take?
A few minutes to create your employees' accounts — they clock in from day one, with no double-entry period needed.