Where Spreadsheets & email fits
If you hire very rarely and only ever handle a handful of candidates, a spreadsheet and your inbox may be all you need.
Spreadsheets & email vs Rolefern.
Plenty of small teams start out tracking candidates in a shared spreadsheet and handling everything else over email. It is familiar, free and flexible, and for the occasional role it can be enough. The difficulty tends to appear as applications, replies and feedback spread across inboxes and tabs.
Where Rolefern fits
- Applications, files, notes and feedback live with the candidate instead of across inboxes and tabs.
- Candidate email threads stay in one place, so a reply is not lost in a personal inbox.
- GDPR tools for consent, retention, export and erasure are built in, rather than something to remember by hand.
- We migrate your existing spreadsheet for you at no extra cost.
| What to compare | Spreadsheets & email | Rolefern |
|---|---|---|
| Where things live | Spread across spreadsheet tabs and individual inboxes. | One workspace where each candidate carries their full history. |
| Cost | Free to start, with the cost showing up as manual effort. | €45 per company each month, all taxes included. |
| Collaboration | Feedback is easy to lose in replies and forwarded messages. | Shared reviews, scorecards and notes against each candidate. |
| Candidate experience | No dedicated place for candidates to see or apply for roles. | A branded careers page with configurable application forms. |
| Privacy and GDPR | Consent, retention and erasure are tracked by hand, if at all. | Built-in consent, retention, export and erasure tools. |
| Moving over | Data stays wherever you last left it. | Free assisted migration of your existing spreadsheet. |
The honest take
A spreadsheet and your inbox can carry you through an occasional hire, and there is no shame in starting there. When applications and feedback start slipping through the cracks, Rolefern gives a small team one calm place to hire from.
This comparison reflects our understanding of Spreadsheets & email’s general approach and is for orientation only — it isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Spreadsheets & email. Products change; check Spreadsheets & email’s own website for its current features and pricing. Last reviewed 22 October 2026.
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