Referaly vs a spreadsheet for tracking referral partners and commissions
Many businesses track their referral partners in Excel or Google Sheets: one row per contact, one column for the partner, another for the commission. To get started, it works. Here is what a spreadsheet does well, where it breaks as your network grows, and when to switch to Referaly.
Its strengths
It costs nothing extra: Google Sheets opens with a Google account, and Excel is often already installed. You pick your columns and formulas, and you already know how to use it.
Where it breaks
Partners cannot see their contacts, nobody remembers the follow-ups, commission formulas get copied by hand, the signed agreement sits in another folder, and nothing proves who introduced a client first.
What Referaly does
Every partner has their own space in the app: their contacts, the steps and their commission. The referral agreement is generated for them, and the commission is worked out when you enter the sale amount.
What it costs
Free up to 5 contacts received and 1 referral agreement, no card needed. Then €49.90 excl. VAT per month for an independent professional, or €79.90 for an agency, no commitment.
Point by point
| What to track | Excel or Google Sheets | Referaly |
|---|---|---|
| What the partner sees | Nothing, unless you share the file. Then they also see the other partners' contacts, or you keep one file per partner. | Their own free space: their contacts, the steps completed and the commission they will earn. |
| How a contact arrives | By text, call or email, then you copy it into a row. | The partner sends it from the app. They can also use a web form, with nothing to install. |
| Tracking | A "status" column you update when you remember. | You tick the steps you chose, and the partner sees them move. |
| Follow-ups | Up to your memory. And the partner calls you to ask where their contact stands. | The partner sees the progress without calling you. On paid plans, you send reminders to your partners from the app. |
| Commission maths | One formula per row, copied down and fixed whenever a rate changes. | A percentage, a fixed amount or nothing, set once in the referral agreement. The commission is worked out when you enter the amount. |
| The signed agreement | In another file, a PDF or an email, if it exists. | A referral agreement generated for each partner, accepted online and time stamped. On paid plans, you can upload your own. |
| Payment | A separate bank transfer, then a "paid" box to tick. | You pay the commission from the app, or mark it as paid if you settle another way. |
| History | Google Sheets keeps a version history. The date a contact arrived and the partner's name are whatever you typed. | Every contact arrives dated, under the name of the partner who sent it. |
| Who brings you the most | A pivot table to build and keep up to date. | Per-partner and overall statistics, on paid plans. |
| Two levels of partners | Possible, with one more formula per sponsor. | If you want it, two-level referrals: the sponsor's share is calculated on top. Paid plans. |
| Price | Nothing extra if you already have Google Sheets or Excel. | Free up to 5 contacts received and 1 referral agreement, then €49.90 excl. VAT per month, no commitment. |
Referaly features as of 23 October 2026, from its pricing page. Google Sheets: Google product page and help centre checked on 23 October 2026.
When a spreadsheet is enough
It is free or already paid for, it fits the way you work, and you can take your data out whenever you like. For three or four partners and a handful of deals a year, it is enough. Keep it as long as you can find, without effort, who introduced each client and what you owe them.
When to switch to Referaly
A few signs that the spreadsheet is no longer enough:
- your partners call you to ask where their contact stands;
- you have already forgotten a commission, or paid the wrong amount;
- two partners say they introduced the same client;
- you have no written agreement with each partner;
- you cannot tell which partner brings you the most business;
- part of your network speaks French or Spanish.
Moving from a spreadsheet to Referaly
- Create your free account, no card needed.
- Write your referral agreement: a percentage, a fixed amount or nothing. On paid plans, you can upload your own.
- Invite your partners with a link or a QR code. They join your agreement in two minutes, for free.
- New contacts arrive in Referaly. Keep your spreadsheet for the history.
Free plan with no card: 5 contacts received and 1 referral agreement. Independent at €49.90 excl. VAT per month, Agency at €79.90 excl. VAT per month, no commitment.
Frequently asked questions
Is a spreadsheet enough to manage referral partners?
For three or four partners and a handful of deals a year, yes. Beyond that, a spreadsheet proves neither who introduced a client nor when, and it warns nobody when a commission falls due.
Can I share a Google Sheet with my referral partners?
Yes, but each partner then sees the whole file, including other partners' contacts, or you keep one file per partner. In Referaly, each partner sees only their own contacts and commissions.
Does Referaly work out commissions like my spreadsheet?
Yes, from the rule written in the referral agreement: a percentage, a fixed amount or nothing. You enter the sale amount and the commission appears for you and for the partner.
How much does Referaly cost?
The free plan needs no card: unlimited partners, 5 contacts received and 1 referral agreement. Independent costs €49.90 excl. VAT per month, or €480 excl. VAT a year. Agency costs €79.90 excl. VAT per month, then €9.99 per extra account. No commitment.
Do my partners have to pay or install an app?
They pay nothing. They follow their contacts in the iOS or Android app, or in the web portal. They can also send you a contact through a web form, with nothing to install.
Sources
Google Sheets, product page checked on 23 October 2026
Google Docs Editors Help: find what changed in a file, checked on 23 October 2026
Referaly pricing, pricing page of this site, as of 23 October 2026
Something changed? Write to hello@referaly.fr and we will correct the page.