Roost vs Spreadsheets

An honest comparison to help you choose the right property management solution for your needs.

Roost

AI Property Management

Pricing: Free tier, Pro from £8/month

Best for: UK landlords who want AI-powered automation

Key Strengths:

AI-powered insights & automation
UK compliance built-in
Free tier available
Open banking integration
S

Spreadsheets

Est. -

Pricing: Free (but costly in time)

Best for: DIY landlords

Pros:

No software cost
Full control over format
Familiar interface

Cons:

No automation
High risk of errors
No compliance reminders

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature
Roost
Spreadsheets
AI Property Insights
Automatic Rent Tracking
Compliance Reminders
Automated
Manual diary
Open Banking
Tenant Portal
Maintenance Tracking
Manual
Professional Reports
DIY formulas
Document Storage
Secure cloud
Local files
Mobile Access
Limited
Time to Update
Automatic
Hours/week
SA105 Generation
One click
Manual calculation
Scalability
Unlimited
Gets unwieldy

Why Landlords Choose Roost Over Spreadsheets

Here's what makes Roost the better choice for UK landlords

Save 5+ Hours Per Month

Stop manually entering transactions, chasing rent, and updating formulas. Roost automates it all with open banking integration.

Never Miss Compliance

Spreadsheets can't remind you when your Gas Safety certificate expires. Roost automatically tracks and alerts you before deadlines.

Professional Tenant Experience

Give tenants a proper portal to report issues and access documents instead of messy email chains and WhatsApp messages.

One-Click Tax Reports

Generate HMRC-ready SA105 reports instantly instead of spending hours reconciling spreadsheet data at tax time.

Our Verdict

Spreadsheets seem free but cost you hours every month and put you at risk of missing critical compliance dates. For just a few pounds a month, Roost automates everything and gives you peace of mind.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Join thousands of UK landlords who've chosen Roost. Start free, no credit card required.