Trading journal comparison
Trading journal or spreadsheet: which workflow should you maintain?
A spreadsheet gives you maximum control. A dedicated journal gives you built-in structure. The better choice depends on how much context you record and how much maintenance you want to own.
There is no universal winner. Use the simplest system that supports the review you actually perform.
Side-by-side comparison
Compare the work around the journal, not only the entry form.
The difference becomes clearer after the first few weeks, when screenshots, categories, imports and performance views need to remain consistent.
| Workflow area | Spreadsheet | Forgalis TradingJournal |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | Start quickly with your own columns and formulas. | Start with a built-in structure for trades, review context and performance views. |
| Customisation | Design the fields, formulas and layout around your own process. | Configure strategies, confluences and exit reasons within FTJ’s existing workflow. |
| Maintenance | Maintain formulas, validation, dashboards and file organisation yourself. | FTJ maintains its built-in views, calculations and relationships between journal records. |
| Screenshots and notes | Store them through links, embedded images or separate folders. | Attach screenshots, notes and self-reflection to the corresponding trade record. |
| Imports | Broker exports may need to be pasted, mapped or transformed manually. | Enter trades manually or use supported file and broker-history import workflows. |
| Analysis | Build the formulas, pivots and dashboards required by your review process. | Use built-in dashboard measures, charts, filters and grouped trade views without maintaining the analysis layer yourself. |
| Export and backup | The spreadsheet file can be opened and copied using widely available tools. | Export trade data to CSV for external analysis. Use FTJ database backups to preserve the complete journal. |
When a spreadsheet works well
Keep the spreadsheet when its flexibility is still helping you.
A spreadsheet is not an inferior journal. It can be the right tool when the process is small, the trader understands the formulas and the file remains easy to review.
- You need only a compact result log with a few columns.
- You want full control over how your analysis is built and maintained.
- Your categories and calculations change frequently.
- Screenshots and written reflection are not central to the process.
When a dedicated journal helps
Move when structure saves more effort than customisation adds.
FTJ is designed for traders who want the trade record, review context and performance views to remain connected without rebuilding the surrounding system.
- Attach screenshots, notes and reflection to individual trades.
- Reuse strategies, confluences, exit reasons and mistakes consistently.
- Import history through supported file, cTrader, MT4 or MT5 workflows.
- Review dashboard measures and grouped data without maintaining formulas.
A low-risk way to decide
Test both systems with the same small sample.
Do not migrate years of records before you know the workflow fits. Use a recent, representative set of trades and compare the effort required to capture and review them.
- 1Choose representative trades
Include wins, losses, screenshots and the review fields you normally use.
- 2Import or recreate them
Use a supported file import when available, or enter a small sample manually.
- 3Run the same review
Compare data quality, maintenance effort and how quickly you can investigate a pattern.
Make the comparison practical
Try FTJ without abandoning the spreadsheet first.
The free Demo lets you test real journaling with documented limits. Keep your existing file, add or import a small set of records and decide from the actual review experience.