Excel alternative
Excel CPD tracker alternative for UK practitioners
For UK practitioners who have been using Excel to track CPD hours, this page explains where a purpose-built CPD system can help with evidence, supervision, renewals and audit packs.
What Excel is known for
Flexible templates and formulas
Offline-friendly record keeping
Easy data export for users who are comfortable maintaining spreadsheets
Where Excel CPD trackers can fall short
Evidence and uploaded files are usually separate from the workbook
Audit packs require manual filtering, formatting and checking
Supervision verification, supervisor comments and renewal reminders need separate tools
Excel vs HourlyCPD
Excel is useful for raw lists. HourlyCPD is built for maintaining a professional CPD portfolio all year.
Last checked: 29 May 2026. Competitor pricing and feature availability can change, so please verify current details directly with Excel before making a purchasing decision. HourlyCPD is not affiliated with or endorsed by the alternatives named on this page.
| Area | Excel | HourlyCPD |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Build your own columns, formulas and tabs | Purpose-built CPD fields and professional-body templates |
| Deadlines | Manual date formulas or calendar reminders | Renewal and CPD-cycle reminders |
| Reflections | Free text in a cell | Dedicated reflection fields and defensive AI prompt support |
| Evidence | Stored separately from the workbook | Upload and link evidence to records |
| Audit pack | Manually copy, filter and format | Generate a structured PDF pack |
Designed around CPD audit readiness
HourlyCPD helps keep the record complete before you need it, not just formatted afterwards.
Dashboard progress by professional body
Evidence upload and manifest support
Supervision session tracking
Renewal tracking for insurance, DBS, first aid and certificates
CSV export when you still need spreadsheet data
AI spreadsheet import for supported plans
AI reflection coaching that suggests prompts without writing copy-paste reflections
Best fit
Counsellors and therapists moving away from Excel templates
Healthcare professionals who need evidence and renewal tracking
Practitioners who want a cleaner audit export
Migration from Excel
Start by exporting your existing workbook as a CSV. HourlyCPD can then help you structure activity dates, titles, hours, professional bodies and evidence so your record becomes audit-ready rather than just spreadsheet-ready.
Questions
Can I still export data?
Yes. Paid plans include data export options, and team reports include CSV exports.
Does HourlyCPD replace every spreadsheet?
No. It replaces the CPD tracking, evidence and audit workflow. You can still use spreadsheets for other business reporting.