Submittable vs Google Sheets: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Submittable and Google Sheets comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Google Sheets is our overall pick for productivity workflows. Pick Submittable if you need grants management.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Submittable
Run grant and CSR programs efficiently without compromising on people or processes.
Best for you if:
- • You need grants management features specifically
- • Manages the full lifecycle of grant and CSR programs.
- • Features drag-and-drop form builder, multi-stage review, and fraud prevention.
Google Sheets
Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need productivity features specifically
- • Free, web-based spreadsheet program.
- • Real-time collaboration and automatic saving.
| At a Glance |  Submittable |  Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Custom | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Grants Management | Productivity |
Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Submittable or Google Sheets?
Choose Submittable if
Run grant and CSR programs efficiently without compromising on people or processes.
- Quick program launch, often within two weeks or less.
- No coding or technical background required for setup and management.
- Automations significantly reduce administrative busywork and human error.
- Your work is grants management-shaped, not productivity-shaped
Choose Google Sheets if
Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.
- Free and powerful
- Great collaboration
- Good formulas
- You want a fully free tool (Submittable requires payment)
- Your work is productivity-shaped, not grants management-shaped
| Feature | Submittable | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Free |
| User Rating | ★4.5/5 333 reviews | ★4.7/5 13,172 reviews |
| Categories | Grants ManagementNonprofit Tools | ProductivitySpreadsheets |
In-Depth Analysis
Submittable
Run grant and CSR programs efficiently without compromising on people or processes.
Strengths
- +Quick program launch, often within two weeks or less.
- +No coding or technical background required for setup and management.
- +Automations significantly reduce administrative busywork and human error.
- +Provides crystal clear budget oversight with real-time tracking.
- +Offers a great applicant experience with easy-to-navigate software and clear next steps.
Weaknesses
- -Pricing runs expensive for larger programs and growing teams, and reviewers report that capabilities pitched during sales calls turn out to require additional paid add-ons that are prohibitive for small organizations.
- -Reporting and analytics are limited, with users citing weak workflow automation and a hard cutoff that prevents pulling historical report data from before January 10, 2023, plus caps on how many times data can be exported per month on lower-tier plans.
- -The reviewer interface is widely described as overwhelming and hard to navigate once a submission is opened, forcing evaluators to scroll between the full application and scoring rather than viewing materials and scores side by side.
- -Customer support draws repeated complaints for slow or unhelpful responses, with response times worsening during high-volume application and judging windows when help is needed most.
Key features
Value 60/100. Submittable's pricing model, which requires booking a meeting for all tiers, makes it difficult to assess fairness or expense.
Watch out: Custom integration fees likely
Google Sheets
Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free.
Strengths
- +Free and powerful
- +Great collaboration
- +Good formulas
- +Apps Script for automation
- +Integrates well
Weaknesses
- -Performance with large sheets
- -Privacy concerns
- -Less features than Excel
- -Offline mode limited
- -Some formatting issues
Key features
Value 90/100. Google Sheets itself is free, which is incredibly generous and makes it accessible to everyone.
Watch out: Storage limits on free tier can be hit quickly.
Pricing: Submittable vs Google Sheets
| Plan | Submittable | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Book a Meeting Corporate Social Responsibility Platform | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | Book a Meeting Grant & Application Management Software | $6 user/month Business Starter |
| Tier 3 | Book a Meeting Enterprise | $12 user/month Business Standard |
| Tier 4 | N/A | $18 user/month Business Plus |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Submittable pricing and Google Sheets pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Google Sheets is free. Submittable is paid.
Go with: Google Sheets
Want the highest-rated option?
Submittable: 4.5/5 (333 reviews). Google Sheets: 4.7/5 (13,172 reviews).
Go with: Google Sheets
Value user reviews?
Submittable: 333 reviews (4.5/5). Google Sheets: 13,172 reviews (4.7/5).
Go with: Google Sheets
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Submittable is paid. Google Sheets is free. Go with Google Sheets if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Submittable is a grants management tool. Google Sheets is in productivity. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Google Sheets is rated higher: 4.7/5 vs 4.5/5.
Key Takeaways
Google Sheets
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.5/5
- Larger review base (13,172 reviews)
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Submittable
- Better fit for grants management
The Bottom Line
Google Sheets is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Submittable or Google Sheets better?
Google Sheets is rated in our evaluation. Submittable is paid and Google Sheets is free.
What are Submittable and Google Sheets used for?
Submittable: Run grant and CSR programs efficiently without compromising on people or processes.. Google Sheets: Create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online, for free..
What does Submittable cost vs Google Sheets?
Submittable is a paid tool. Google Sheets is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.