Choose your tool
SheetLink is better if you…
- Want to try before paying: free tier, no card required
- Use Microsoft Excel (Windows, Mac or the web)
- Want manual sync: you control when your bank is accessed
- Want CLI automation, or Postgres and SQLite output (Max)
- Want to save $20 a year with annual billing
BankToSheets is better if you…
- Want fully automatic background sync, with no button to press
- Only use Google Sheets (no need for Excel)
- Are comfortable paying $5 a month without testing first
Feature comparison
| Feature | SheetLink | BankToSheets |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 (Free tier, forever) | $5/month, no free tier |
| Paid plan price | $4.99/mo or $39.99/year | $5/mo (~$60/year) |
| Annual savings vs monthly | Save $19.89/year (33% off) | No annual plan |
| Free tier | 1 bank, your last 7 days, forever | None |
| Google Sheets | Chrome extension | Google Sheets add-in |
| Microsoft Excel | AppSource add-in (Pro and Max) | Not supported |
| Sync method | Manual: you press Sync now (privacy-first) | Automatic |
| Bank connectivity | Plaid (10,000+ banks) | Plaid |
| CLI automation and databases | Max ($10.99/mo): CLI automation, Postgres and SQLite output | Not available |
| Business and freelance use | Personal focus |
When to choose SheetLink over BankToSheets
You want to test before paying
BankToSheets has no free tier. You hand over payment details before knowing whether it works with your bank, produces the columns you need or fits your workflow. SheetLink’s free tier lets you connect a bank, sync your last 7 days of real transactions and check that everything works as expected, with no credit card.
You use Microsoft Excel
BankToSheets is strictly a Google Sheets add-in. If you work in Excel, on a Windows desktop, a Mac or in Excel on the web, BankToSheets simply isn’t an option. SheetLink has a dedicated Microsoft Excel add-in on Microsoft AppSource, included with Pro and Max. It syncs your bank transactions into Excel workbooks over the same Plaid connection.
You want privacy-first sync
Automatic sync means the service keeps an active connection to your accounts in the background. With SheetLink, your Plaid connection is used only when you press Sync now: no background polling and no scheduled access. For people handling business finances, or simply cautious about ongoing data access, manual sync is the more comfortable design.
You want annual pricing or developer tools
BankToSheets has no annual plan: you pay $5 a month regardless. SheetLink Pro is $39.99 a year, saving $20 over twelve months. If you need more than a spreadsheet integration, SheetLink Max ($10.99 a month) adds CLI automation and Postgres and SQLite output, which BankToSheets has no equivalent for.
When BankToSheets might be the right fit
You want completely automatic sync
If your priority is having transactions appear in your spreadsheet every day without any action on your part, BankToSheets’ automatic sync delivers that. With SheetLink you open the extension and press Sync now: a small but real friction point if your goal is fully hands-off data ingestion.
You’re already comfortable with the Google Sheets add-in model
BankToSheets runs natively as a Google Sheets add-in: you use it entirely from inside the spreadsheet, without a separate browser extension. If you prefer keeping everything inside Sheets rather than managing a Chrome extension, BankToSheets’ workflow might feel more native to you.
Why manual sync?
SheetLink’s manual sync is a privacy feature, not a limitation. You press Sync now when you want fresh transactions, with no background access to your accounts in between. For people who review their finances weekly or monthly, manual and automatic sync give the same results. The difference is that SheetLink never reaches into your bank on a schedule you didn’t approve.
Questions
What is the main difference between SheetLink and BankToSheets?
The key differences are: (1) Free tier: SheetLink has a permanent free tier (one bank, your last 7 days of transactions, no credit card required); BankToSheets has a free 2-week trial but no permanent free plan. (2) Excel support: SheetLink works in both Google Sheets (Chrome extension) and Microsoft Excel (AppSource add-in, with Pro and Max); BankToSheets is Google Sheets only. (3) Sync method: SheetLink syncs when you press Sync now, for privacy; BankToSheets syncs automatically. (4) Price: SheetLink Pro is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year; BankToSheets is $5 a month (about $60 a year).
Is SheetLink cheaper than BankToSheets?
On a monthly basis, SheetLink Pro ($4.99 a month) is very slightly cheaper than BankToSheets ($5 a month). The bigger difference is annual pricing: SheetLink Pro is $39.99 a year, against roughly $60 a year for BankToSheets, so SheetLink saves you $20 a year. SheetLink also has a permanent free tier that never expires, so casual users pay nothing. BankToSheets has no free option.
Does BankToSheets support Excel?
No. BankToSheets is a Google Sheets add-in only. It does not support Microsoft Excel. If you use Excel, on Windows, Mac or the web, SheetLink is the better choice. SheetLink’s Excel add-in is on Microsoft AppSource and comes with Pro and Max.
Does BankToSheets have a free plan?
No. BankToSheets has a free 2-week trial, then costs $5 a month. There’s no permanent free plan. SheetLink has a permanent free tier that gives you one bank and your last 7 days of transactions, forever, with no credit card required. You can test SheetLink with your real bank account before deciding whether to upgrade to Pro.
Why does SheetLink use manual sync instead of automatic?
Manual sync is a deliberate privacy choice. BankToSheets (and similar tools) keep an ongoing connection to your bank accounts that runs in the background. SheetLink only fetches your transactions when you press Sync now: there is no background polling and no scheduled connection. For people who review their finances weekly or monthly, it works out the same as automatic sync in practice, but you stay in control of exactly when your financial data is accessed.