Karchu vs Excel & Google Sheets
Spreadsheets are the default tool for bank statement analysis for a reason: they're free, flexible, and everyone knows how to use them. Karchu isn't trying to replace Excel for one-off jobs. It replaces the recurring work - rewriting the same formulas every month, cleaning up merchant names, deduping overlapping statements, and rebuilding pivot tables when the categories change.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Karchu | Excel / Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| PDF statement import | Yes | No |
| OCR for scanned PDFs | Yes | No |
| CSV / Excel import | Yes | Yes |
| Rule-based categorization | Yes | Partial |
| Rules apply retroactively | Yes | No |
| Multi-statement dedupe | Yes | No |
| Pre-built dashboards | Yes | No |
| Team roles & audit | Yes | Partial |
| Cost | Free trial, then $9/mo | Free (Sheets) or bundled |
| Best for | Recurring statement analysis | One-off, custom analysis |
When Excel & Google Sheets is the better fit
- You need a one-off analysis with unusual columns and custom logic.
- The workflow is a throwaway and doesn't need to be repeated next month.
- You already have a mature spreadsheet template you're happy maintaining.
When Karchu is the better fit
- You process statements every month and are tired of repeating the same cleanup.
- You need to handle PDF or scanned statements without a converter.
- You want rules that apply to every past and future transaction automatically.
- You want a shared workspace with permissions instead of emailed spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
Why not just use Excel for bank statements?
Excel works fine for a single statement. The pain shows up on statement two, three, and twelve - the same VLOOKUPs, the same merchant cleanup, the same pivot tables. Karchu automates that recurring work.
Can I still use Excel with Karchu?
Yes. Karchu exports any view to CSV or Excel with one click, so you can drop categorized data into your existing spreadsheet.
Does Karchu handle Google Sheets exports?
Yes. CSV exports open natively in Google Sheets; you can also paste transactions from the Karchu grid directly.
Is a spreadsheet more private than Karchu?
Only if it never leaves your device. Once you email a spreadsheet or share it in Drive, it lives in a place with different privacy rules. Karchu keeps statement data in a private, RLS-scoped workspace with role-based access.
Popular bank statement analyzers
Bring a real statement to see how Karchu handles it. These bank pages walk through export steps and quirks for the most searched banks in this comparison's market.
- Chase statement analyzer
Export and analyze Chase PDF, CSV, and Excel statements.
- Wells Fargo statement analyzer
Export and analyze Wells Fargo PDF, CSV, and Excel statements.
- Bank of America statement analyzer
Export and analyze Bank of America PDF, CSV, and Excel statements.
- Citibank statement analyzer
Export and analyze Citibank PDF, CSV, and Excel statements.
- Capital One statement analyzer
Export and analyze Capital One PDF, CSV, and Excel statements.
- TD Bank statement analyzer
Export and analyze TD Bank PDF, CSV, and Excel statements.
See Karchu on your own statement
30-day free trial. No credit card. Upload a CSV, Excel, or PDF and get categorized results in minutes.