Best Excel Alternative for Investors 2026
Quick summary
- ▸DonkyCapital: best all-in-one alternative — CSV import, real-time prices, multi-broker
- ▸Portfolio Performance: best free desktop alternative — full control, no subscription
- ▸Google Sheets + templates: cheapest option — still manual, still error-prone
- ▸Delta App: best mobile alternative — limited broker import
- ▸Excel works for 1 broker and 10 positions — it breaks at scale
Most investors start with Excel or Google Sheets. It feels familiar, it's free, and for a small portfolio with one broker it gets the job done. But as soon as you add a second broker, a second currency, or a second year of transaction history, the spreadsheet starts to crack: formulas break, prices go stale, and reconciling dividend reinvestments becomes a weekend project.
This guide compares the best alternatives to Excel for tracking investments in 2026 — from purpose-built portfolio apps to enhanced spreadsheet solutions — so you can choose the right tool for your situation.
Why Do Investors Outgrow Excel?
Excel is a general-purpose tool. It has no live price feeds, no broker import, no automatic currency conversion, and no built-in concept of a portfolio. Every piece of data must be entered or fetched manually. This creates three recurring problems. Time: manually updating prices, dividends, and FX rates takes hours per month. Even with STOCKHISTORY() or API calls, maintaining the formulas is a maintenance burden. Errors: a mistyped ISIN, a formula that doesn't account for a stock split, a dividend reinvestment entered twice — these errors compound silently and are hard to catch. Scale: Excel works reasonably well for a single broker and a handful of positions. Add a second broker, fractional shares, withholding tax, and multi-currency transactions and the complexity becomes unmanageable for most users. The question is not whether to replace Excel, but when.
DonkyCapital: Best All-in-One Replacement
DonkyCapital is the closest thing to "Excel but automated" for European investors. You import your transaction history from CSV files (DEGIRO, Scalable Capital, Trade Republic, Fineco, Revolut, Interactive Brokers and 15+ more) and the app does the rest: real-time price updates, automatic FX conversion, portfolio performance calculation (TWR and IRR), sector and geographic breakdown, dividend tracking, and rebalancing alerts. No formulas to maintain. No manual price updates. No reconciliation headaches. The free plan supports up to 5 dashboards — enough for most retail investors. Unlike Excel, DonkyCapital handles multi-broker portfolios natively, meaning your DEGIRO and Scalable Capital positions appear in the same consolidated view.
Portfolio Performance: Best Free Desktop Alternative
Portfolio Performance is a free, open-source desktop application that replicates — and significantly extends — the analytical capabilities of a well-built Excel portfolio. It calculates TWR, IRR, internal benchmark comparisons, and handles complex events like stock splits, spin-offs, and dividend reinvestments automatically. The trade-off is setup time: expect to spend 2-4 hours importing your transaction history and configuring the application correctly. There is no web or mobile version, so you can only access your portfolio from your computer. For investors who want maximum analytical depth and are willing to invest setup time, Portfolio Performance is excellent and completely free.
Google Sheets Templates: The "Enhanced Spreadsheet" Option
If you are committed to spreadsheets but want to reduce manual work, community-built Google Sheets templates for portfolio tracking can help. The best ones use GOOGLEFINANCE() for automatic price updates and structured transaction logs that calculate performance automatically. The main advantage is that it stays in the spreadsheet paradigm — no new tool to learn. The main disadvantages are the same as Excel: no broker CSV import, no multi-broker consolidation, prices only available for certain exchanges, and the template still breaks when your situation grows complex. A Google Sheets template is a good transitional tool if you are not ready to switch platforms, but it is not a long-term solution for a growing portfolio.
How to Choose the Right Excel Alternative for Your Portfolio
If you have 2+ brokers or 30+ positions: DonkyCapital. The CSV import and multi-broker consolidation eliminate the biggest pain points of Excel at scale. If you have 1 broker, want maximum analytical control, and are comfortable with setup: Portfolio Performance (free desktop). If you primarily check your portfolio on your phone: Delta App — but verify that it supports your specific broker's CSV format before switching. If you are not ready to switch platforms yet: a Google Sheets portfolio template with GOOGLEFINANCE() is a low-friction improvement over a hand-built Excel file. The most important criterion is reliable data import. Test any tool with your actual transaction history before committing — the difference between a tool that handles your specific broker and one that doesn't is enormous in practice.
Excel Alternatives for Investors: Comparison 2026
| DonkyCapital | Port. Perf. | Google Sheets | Delta App | Excel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic price updates | ✓ | ✓ | ⚠ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Broker CSV import | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ⚠ | ✗ |
| Multi-broker support | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ⚠ | ✗ |
| Web access | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| TWR / IRR calculation | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ⚠ | ✗ |
| Free plan / free version | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ⚠ | ✓ |
| Best for | Multi-broker EU | Desktop power | Flexibility | Mobile | Custom models |
✓ = supported · ⚠ = partial / limited · ✗ = not available
Key takeaways
- ✓Excel works for small, single-broker portfolios — it breaks at scale or with multiple brokers
- ✓The biggest gain from switching is automatic price updates and broker CSV import
- ✓Always test the CSV import with your actual broker files before committing
- ✓Portfolio Performance is the best free option if you are willing to invest setup time
- ✓DonkyCapital requires no setup — import your CSV and you are done in minutes
- ✓No tool replaces a good record of your original purchase prices — keep your broker statements
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my existing Excel portfolio into DonkyCapital?
Not directly from an Excel file, but you can export your transaction history from your broker as a CSV and import it into DonkyCapital. If you have manual transactions in Excel, you can also create a CSV in the DonkyCapital format and import it.
Is Portfolio Performance really free?
Yes, Portfolio Performance is completely free and open-source. There is no premium version, no subscription, and no ads. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Can Google Sheets automatically update stock prices?
Yes, using the GOOGLEFINANCE() function. However, it only covers stocks listed on exchanges that Google Finance tracks (mainly US and major European exchanges). ETFs, bonds, and less liquid instruments may not be available or may have stale data.
What is the biggest advantage of switching from Excel to a dedicated app?
Automatic price updates and broker CSV import. These two features alone eliminate the most time-consuming and error-prone parts of managing a portfolio in Excel. Most investors reclaim 2-4 hours per month after switching.
Can DonkyCapital handle fractional shares?
Yes. DonkyCapital handles fractional shares, dividend reinvestments, stock splits, and multi-currency positions — all scenarios that are complex to manage correctly in Excel.
Does switching mean losing my historical data?
No. Most dedicated tools — including DonkyCapital and Portfolio Performance — import your full transaction history from broker CSV files, so you keep all historical data. The key is that your broker's export covers the full history, not just the last 12 months.
Is it safe to upload my transaction history to a portfolio app?
With DonkyCapital, you import CSV files — no bank login or credential sharing required. Your transaction data is handled under GDPR. If privacy is a priority, Portfolio Performance is a fully offline desktop app — nothing leaves your computer.
Switch from Excel in minutes — not weeks
Import your broker CSV and get a live, consolidated view of your entire portfolio. No formulas, no manual updates, no reconciliation headaches.
Try DonkyCapital free