Relicara vs. Spreadsheets
Most collections start in a spreadsheet, and that’s fine. Here’s where a spreadsheet holds up, where it doesn’t, and what Relicara does differently.
| Capability | Spreadsheet | Relicara |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free for 1 collection and 10 items; Pro $9.99/mo, Premium $19.99/mo |
| Setup | Build your own columns | Condition, value and photo fields ready; add your own custom fields |
| Photos per item | Links or a separate folder | ✓ Several per item, with thumbnails; more on paid plans |
| Condition | Whatever you type | ✓ A set condition scale on every item |
| Value history | Manual | ✓ Each value change is logged by date |
| AI value estimate | — | ✓ From your photos and details (Pro 10/mo, Premium 50/mo) |
| Wishlist | A separate tab | ✓ Other collectors can offer you matches (Pro and up) |
| Price-trend alerts | — | ✓ Premium |
| Export | It’s already a file | CSV or PDF (Premium) |
| Sharing | Send the file | ✓ Public collections and share links |
| Works offline | ✓ | — |
Where spreadsheets work
They’re free, flexible, they work offline, and the file is yours. For a small collection, or if you like building your own system, a spreadsheet can be enough.
Where they break down
Somewhere around a few hundred items. The photos are in a camera roll, the values are from 2019, and the receipts are in a shoebox. Keeping it current turns into a chore you skip.
When it’s worth switching
You’ll know. You’re re-pricing items by hand, digging through your phone for the photo of that one figure, or standing at a show table unsure whether you already own the variant in front of you. Relicara keeps your records in one place with the photos attached, and the value history builds itself as you update it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a spreadsheet good for tracking a collection?
For a small collection, yes. It’s free, it works offline, and the file is yours. It gets harder as the collection grows: photos live somewhere else, values go stale, and nobody remembers which row is the variant.
What can Relicara do that a spreadsheet cannot?
Keep photos on the item, log every value change with its date, estimate values from your photos with AI (Pro and Premium), and share a collection with a link. It can’t work offline, and if you love building your own formulas, a spreadsheet will still feel more flexible.
How should I track collectible values over time?
Check sold listings, not asking prices, and write down the date you checked. Values drift, so a number with no date is a guess. Relicara logs each value you enter with its date, so you can see the trend.
Is Relicara free?
Yes. Relicara has a free plan with 1 collection and 10 items, plus Pro and Premium plans for more collections, items, and AI valuations.
Outgrow the spreadsheet
If your spreadsheet has a photos column full of file names, try one collection in Relicara. The Free plan covers 1 collection and 10 items.
Start your free collection