Proto Tracker vs. the prototype spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are where most prototype tracking starts, and they're fine until the second engineer, the third revision, or the first 'when did we rework that?'.
| Question | Spreadsheet | Proto Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Who changed a status, and when | Only if someone turns on version history and digs through it | Every change recorded with person, time, before and after |
| Which units have a given rework | A column per mod, maintained by hand | Mods defined per revision; each links to every unit it's on |
| Accidental edits and deletions | Easy to overwrite a cell or delete a row | Append-only history; deleted prototypes keep their record |
| Finding a board on the bench | Search the sheet for the serial | Scan the QR label on the board |
| Serial numbering for a batch | Drag-fill and hope | Automatic, zero-padding kept, duplicates rejected |
| Access control | Anyone with the link can edit everything | Owner, admin, editor and read-only roles |
| Mobile at the bench | Fiddly | Built for phones |
| Cost | Free (plus the hours) | Free for one person, $19/month for teams of 5 |
When a spreadsheet is still the right tool
If you're one person building a handful of boards with no rework, a spreadsheet is fine, and so is Proto Tracker's free plan. The switch pays off once more than one person touches the prototypes, units start getting reworked or leaving the building, or someone needs to answer "what happened to this board?" with confidence.
Read our guide on how to track PCB prototypes for a process that works with either.
Can I import my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Save it as CSV and import it: Proto Tracker matches your columns, creates the designs, revisions, statuses and locations it finds, and checks every row before anything is saved. Extra columns like firmware version can go into custom fields on the Business plan.
Can I still get my data into a spreadsheet?
Yes. Export the change history as CSV, or everything as JSON, at any time.
Put every prototype on record.
Free for individual engineers. Business from $19 a month for 5 people, with a 1-month free trial.