Comparison

Vendor Space vs. Google Sheets

Google Sheets is great at spreadsheets. Vendor Space is built for vendors.

Quick verdict

Google Sheets is free and familiar, but it wasn't built to collect payments, send contracts, or let vendors self-register. Vendor Space replaces the spreadsheet with a purpose-built system - and it's also free until you collect payment.

Features

Feature comparison

Feature
Google Sheets
Vendor Space
Cost
Free
Free (6% on transactions)
Vendor registration
Manual entry or Google Forms
Self-serve portal - vendors apply and pay in one flow
Payment collection
None - you invoice separately (e-transfer, PayPal, cheques)
Built-in via Stripe - automatic collection and tracking
Booth mapping
Manual (draw in Slides or print a PDF)
Interactive drag-and-drop floor plans
Contracts/agreements
Separate tool (DocuSign, PDF email)
Built-in digital contracts with e-signatures
Sponsor management
Another tab in the spreadsheet
Tiered sponsorship packages with deliverable tracking
Vendor communication
Separate email threads
Built-in messaging and notifications
Payment tracking
Manual status column ("Paid" / "Pending")
Real-time automatic tracking
Analytics/reporting
Pivot tables (if you know how)
Built-in dashboards - revenue, vendor status, booth fill rate
Multi-event support
Duplicate the spreadsheet, hope nothing breaks
Unified dashboard across all events
Vendor self-service
None - you update everything manually
Vendors manage their own profile, docs, and payments
Mobile access
Google Sheets app (read-only is clunky)
Fully responsive on any device
Pricing

Pricing comparison

Google Sheets
Vendor Space
Monthly fee
$0
$0
Per-event fee
$0
$0
Transaction fee
N/A (no payment collection)
6% platform fee + Stripe processing
Setup cost
$0 (but hours of your time)
$0 (15-minute setup)

The real cost of Google Sheets: Google Sheets is free in dollars but expensive in time. Every vendor email, every payment follow-up, every manual booth assignment, every contract sent separately - that's your time. If you're managing 30+ vendors, the back-and-forth can eat 20+ hours per event. Vendor Space automates registration, payments, and contracts so you get those hours back.

Best for

Who should use what?

Google Sheets

Organizers running their first event with under 10 vendors who don't need to collect payments online. If you're just tracking names and booth numbers for a small community event, a spreadsheet is fine.

VVendor Space

Organizers managing 15+ vendors who need to collect payments, track booth assignments, and communicate with vendors without drowning in email. The moment you need to collect money from vendors, a spreadsheet isn't enough.

Summary

The bottom line

Google Sheets is where most organizers start. Vendor Space is where they go when they realize they're spending more time managing the spreadsheet than managing the event. Both are free to start - Vendor Space only charges when you collect payment through the platform.

Get Started

Ready to try Vendor Space?

Free forever. Set up in 15 minutes. We only charge 6% when you collect payment.