Sentralbee vs Spreadsheets

A notebook, a spreadsheet and WhatsApp cost nothing and every customer already uses them. But costs stop updating when prices change, orders get buried in chats, and studies of audited spreadsheets find errors in most of them. Sentralbee keeps costs, orders, production and payments connected.

Facts about spreadsheets and WhatsApp checked on 4 October 2026 from its public pages. Tell us if something has changed: [email protected]

Side by side

What mattersSentralbeespreadsheets and WhatsApp
Built forMade-to-order businesses: fashion, cakes, furnitureAnything, by hand
Costing from your materialsYes, per product and variant (Pro and above)Manual formulas
Materials stockYes, with suppliers and low-stock levelsManual
Production stagesYes. A board with your own stages per productManual
Measurements on each orderYes, on every made-to-order lineIn a notebook or chat
WhatsApp and Instagram inboxYes, one inbox, with Messenger and Gmail too (Pro and above)WhatsApp itself (Business app: up to 4 linked devices)
Invoices and payment linksYes. Deposits and balances on EnterpriseManual
Paystack (Nigerian payments)Yes, built inBank transfer screenshots
Mobile appYes, iOS and AndroidYes
Starting priceFree. Pro ₦7,500 a monthFree

Where spreadsheets and WhatsApp is the better choice: You work alone, take a few orders a month, and zero cost matters more than saving time.

The short version

A notebook, a spreadsheet and WhatsApp cost nothing and every customer already uses them. But costs stop updating when prices change, orders get buried in chats, and studies of audited spreadsheets find errors in most of them. Sentralbee keeps costs, orders, production and payments connected.

Where Spreadsheets is the better choice

You work alone, take a few orders a month, and zero cost matters more than saving time.

Where Sentralbee fits

  • You make products to order, and every order is a little different.
  • You want to know what each piece really costs before you quote.
  • Your customers order on WhatsApp and Instagram.
  • You have a team, and need to see every order at every stage.
  • You take deposits and want to know who still owes you.

Questions

Is Sentralbee cheaper than Spreadsheets?

Sentralbee starts free, with Pro at ₦7,500 a month for makers. Spreadsheets: Free. Compare what you need, not just the price.

When is Spreadsheets the better choice?

You work alone, take a few orders a month, and zero cost matters more than saving time.

Can I move my data across?

Yes. You can import products and materials from a spreadsheet, and we help with setup on a free Clarity Review.

See your real numbers. Free.

Bring one product. We’ll cost it with you, live, in 30 minutes.