This page compares the three honestly, including where a notebook or a spreadsheet is enough.
At a glance
| Notebook (bahi khata) | Excel or Sheets | Rozbahi app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Almost free | Free | Free |
| Speed of adding an entry | Fast if the notebook is at hand | Slow on a phone | A few seconds, always in your pocket |
| Totals and category split | You add them up yourself | Formulas you must build | Done for you |
| Monthly budget and limits | Manual | Possible with effort | Built in, with a progress bar |
| Shared with family | One notebook, one place | Shared file, easy to break | Groups with an invite code and settle-up |
| Recurring bills | You must remember | You must remember | Tracked, with reminders |
| If you lose it | Gone | Depends on where it is saved | Synced, with an encrypted backup option |
When a notebook is enough
If you only want to jot down a few daily spends and you carry the notebook everywhere, a bahi khata works. It is simple and private. The limits show up at month end, when you have to add everything up by hand and you cannot easily see which category took the most.
When Excel is enough
If you like building your own sheet and you sit at a computer when you record expenses, a spreadsheet gives you full control. It strains on a phone, when several people edit it, and when you want a quick category chart without writing formulas.
When an app makes sense
- You buy small things all day and want to add them in seconds, wherever you are.
- You want to know how much of the month's budget is left right now.
- You share costs with family or flatmates and need to know who owes whom.
- You want rent, subscriptions and EMIs tracked without remembering them.
How to switch without losing your habit
- Keep writing as usual for a few days, but also add each spend in the app.
- Set a monthly budget for the two or three categories you spend most on.
- At month end, compare the app's totals with your notebook. Then stop doing both.
- Keep the old notebook for history.
Rozbahi is free. Download the app and try one week.
Common questions
Is a notebook good enough for tracking expenses?
For a few entries a day, often yes. It starts to strain when you want totals, a category split or a budget without adding everything up by hand.
Is Excel better than an app for expenses?
Excel gives you control if you enjoy building a sheet, but it is slow to use on a phone and needs formulas for totals and charts. An app does those for you.
Is Rozbahi free?
Yes. Rozbahi is free to download and use, with no ads.
Does Rozbahi need my bank details?
No. Rozbahi does not read SMS or connect to your bank. You enter what you spend.
Can I use Rozbahi without internet?
Yes. Entries are saved on your phone first and sync when you are back online.
