ppl resources · Comparisons

ppl vs. a spreadsheet for keeping in touch

When a relationship spreadsheet is enough, when a personal CRM helps, and how to try ppl without losing the original file.

Updated October 10, 2026 · ppl team

A spreadsheet can be a perfectly good way to remember people. You can add a column for anything, sort by the last time you talked and keep a small list without learning a new app. The trouble often begins when the list stops being small, or when updating it becomes one more task to postpone.

What the spreadsheet does well

It gives you control over the shape of the record. You can keep a column for an unusual detail, create a filter for a reunion or print a mailing list. If you already review the sheet regularly and your reminders live comfortably in a calendar, you may not need to replace it.

Keep a clear owner for the file, avoid sharing private notes accidentally and make a backup before a large cleanup. Those are useful habits whether you keep the spreadsheet or try a CRM.

What changes in ppl

ppl provides contact records with notes, important dates and follow-ups, so the details about a person have a place to live together. An authorized assistant can retrieve those records and help you work with them through MCP or REST. The value is in saving you a repeated search or helping you follow through, not in making the spreadsheet look old-fashioned. See how ppl organizes relationship information.

Try a real question

Find the last conversation with someone you have not seen recently. Can you tell what happened, which detail matters now and whether you promised anything? Then try the same question with a small set of records in ppl. If you connect an assistant, check that it names the right person and uses your saved information rather than filling a gap with a guess.

If the sheet already answers those questions quickly, keep using it. If notes are scattered or reminders are getting lost, a dedicated record may earn its place.

The file does not have to disappear

ppl’s CSV import accepts first name, last name, email, phone, birthday, organization and notes. Other spreadsheet columns do not automatically become custom fields. Imported notes share a short description field with the import source and organization, so preserve the original file for longer history. Prepare a spreadsheet for a careful test import.

The hosted beta is free for up to 1,000 contacts. Start with a small batch and compare the result before transferring the rest. See current limits and availability.