The practical answerA spreadsheet is the best free, portable starting point. A dedicated app becomes more useful when the friction of adding photos, finding exact product details, updating values, and calculating collection P&L keeps you from maintaining the sheet.
| Need | Spreadsheet | Closet app |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Usually free | Often free with optional paid features |
| Custom fields | Unlimited control | Limited to fields the app supports |
| Photos | Possible, but awkward on mobile | Built into each piece record |
| Market evidence | Manual links and updates | Can retrieve and organize evidence |
| P&L | You build the formulas | Calculated from cost and value records |
| Portability | Excellent with CSV | Depends on export support |
| Privacy | Depends on where the file is stored | Depends on the app’s controls and policy |
Choose a spreadsheet if…
- You have a small collection and update it only occasionally.
- You want unusual custom fields the app may never support.
- You prefer to enter every identity and price manually.
- CSV ownership matters more than presentation.
Choose a closet app if…
- You add pieces from your phone and want photos attached immediately.
- You track more than outfits: purchase price, current value, sold price, receipts, and wishlist status.
- You want collection totals and P&L without maintaining formulas.
- You want to share selected pieces while keeping purchase records private.
Use both when the record matters
An app and a spreadsheet can complement one another when the app supports a usable export. Check which fields and files it exports before relying on that workflow. The downloadable Pieces CSV is a standalone template, not an export or backup of your Pieces app data. If you maintain it alongside an app, update the spreadsheet separately and keep copies of the underlying receipts and photos.
Before choosing any app
Check whether you can delete your account, control public visibility, export your data, distinguish purchase cost from current value, and inspect the evidence behind estimates. If an app presents a number without explaining what it represents, treat that number cautiously.
Start without committingDownload the free Pieces CSV template first. If maintaining it feels easy, keep it. If it becomes a chore, you have learned exactly which app features matter to you.