Logwo vs
Spreadsheets.
Spreadsheets are free to start. But the hidden cost — in manual hours, comparison errors, and missed vendor accountability — adds up fast. Here's the honest breakdown.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Logwo | Spreadsheets |
|---|---|---|
| RFQ creation time | 2–5 minutes (structured form) | 15–30 min (draft + format email) |
| Send to multiple vendors | 1 click, all vendors at once | Individual emails, one by one |
| Quote comparison | Automatic side-by-side dashboard | Manual copy-paste into spreadsheet |
| AI quote outlier detection | ✅ Included (Business+) | ✗ Not available |
| Vendor response tracking | Real-time inbox, email alerts | Manual follow-up required |
| Shipment tracking | Live carrier API (UPS/DHL/FedEx) | ✗ Manual status updates |
| Document management | Attached to each shipment | Files in shared drive, not linked |
| Freight spend analytics | Dashboard + CSV/PDF export | Build your own pivot tables |
| Team access & roles | Admin / Manager / Viewer roles | Shared file — no permissions |
| Audit trail | Full activity log | ✗ None |
| PDF → RFQ extraction (AI) | ✅ Upload cargo PDF, AI fills form | ✗ Manual data entry |
| Vendor accounts | Free vendor accounts with analytics | ✗ Not applicable |
| Setup time | 15–30 minutes | Build your own system |
| Monthly cost | $0 (free) or $0 (one-time licence) | $0 (Excel) or ~$13/mo (Google Workspace) |
When spreadsheets are still okay
To be fair: if you run fewer than 4–5 RFQs per month, work with a single forwarder you trust completely, and have no team beyond yourself — a spreadsheet is fine.
But the moment your team grows, your vendor base expands, or you need to explain freight decisions to finance or management — a spreadsheet becomes a liability, not a tool.
Common questions
Why not just use Excel or Google Sheets for freight management?
Spreadsheets work for a few shipments per month with a single forwarder. When your volume grows, your vendor base expands, or you need team access and audit trails, spreadsheets become a liability. Manual data entry errors, inconsistent quote formats, and zero automation mean you spend hours on work that Logwo completes automatically.
How much time does Logwo save compared to spreadsheets?
For a team running 15 RFQs per month, Logwo typically saves 15–20 hours per month in manual data work — drafting RFQs, chasing vendors, copying quotes into comparison sheets, and updating shipment logs. At $40/hour fully loaded staff cost, that's $600–$800/month in labour savings — compared to a one-time Logwo licence of $299–$699.
Can I still use my existing spreadsheet reports alongside Logwo?
Yes. Logwo exports to CSV and Excel at any time — filtered by date range, mode, or status. You can continue running your existing finance or management reports in Excel, fed by Logwo data exports.
What if my team is used to spreadsheets?
Logwo is designed to feel intuitive — most users are productive within their first RFQ. The free plan lets your team test the workflow with real shipments at zero cost before committing.
Try Logwo with your next RFQ.
Free plan: 3 RFQs/month, 2 vendors, no credit card. See the difference in your first cycle.