Comparison

SpreadsheetBroccoli vs n8n

n8n is a workflow automation platform with QuickBooks integration and CSV processing. SpreadsheetBroccoli is better for converting CSV files to accounting formats without workflow automation subscriptions or API access requirements.

Try Shopify → Zoho Books yourself

Feature Comparison

Feature Comparison

Feature n8n SpreadsheetBroccoli
Flexible pricing (pay-as-you-go)
Try without signup
No setup or learning required
Data stays on your device Cloud-based
Works on any device
Error detection before upload
Fast email support
No API tokens required
No risk of data corruption
Full data transparency
Try It Free No signup required

What n8n Does Well

To be fair, n8n has genuine strengths:

Workflow automation platform
QuickBooks Online integration
CSV file processing and conversion
Google Sheets QuickBooks integration
Open-source option (self-hosted)
Visual workflow builder
Scheduled and webhook triggers

Which Should You Choose?

Choose n8n

  • You need workflow automation platform
  • You want QuickBooks automation workflows
  • You need CSV processing in workflows
  • You want open-source option
  • You prefer workflow automation approach

Choose SpreadsheetBroccoli

  • You need CSV file conversion to accounting formats
  • You want file-based tools without workflow automation subscriptions
  • You do occasional imports rather than ongoing automation
  • You prefer browser-based conversion without API access
  • You want instant results without platform setup

How SpreadsheetBroccoli Works

1

Upload

Drop your CSV or Excel file — no signup needed

2

Preview

See exactly what your converted file looks like before paying

3

Download

Get your file in the right format, ready to import

Relevant SpreadsheetBroccoli Tools

These tools compete directly with n8n:

Connect Connect WooCommerce → Xero Convert Shopify → Zoho Books Convert Stripe → QuickBooks Integrate Stripe Payments → Xero

Ready for the simpler approach?

Try Shopify → Zoho Books yourself - no signup required.

Try It Free

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your needs. n8n is built for businesses that need advanced automation and accounting integrations. If you're a small business doing monthly imports or occasional conversions, SpreadsheetBroccoli's simpler approach may be a better fit - no subscriptions, no setup, just results.
Not for the same transactions - you'd risk double-counting. However, you could use n8n for ongoing automation and SpreadsheetBroccoli for one-off historical imports or quick ad-hoc conversions outside your normal workflow.
n8n typically requires 30-60 minutes of initial setup (account creation, API connections, mapping configuration), then runs automatically. SpreadsheetBroccoli takes under 2 minutes per conversion - upload, preview, download. Choose based on whether you need ongoing automation or quick occasional conversions.
Pick a clean cutoff date (end of month works best). Let n8n finish processing that period, then disconnect. Export your data from the source platform and use SpreadsheetBroccoli for conversions going forward. The first month needs careful reconciliation to ensure no gaps or duplicates.
Both produce accurate results when used correctly. n8n uses API connections for automated data sync. SpreadsheetBroccoli processes the exact file you provide and shows you a preview before finalizing. Our pre-upload validation catches errors before they reach your accounting software.
n8n typically charges monthly subscriptions regardless of usage. SpreadsheetBroccoli offers flexible options: free preview before commitment, pay-per-conversion, credit bundles for volume, or subscriptions for heavy users. You only pay for what you actually use.
n8n offers various support tiers depending on your plan. SpreadsheetBroccoli provides fast email support to all users. Our file-based approach also means simpler troubleshooting - if something looks wrong, you can see exactly what data was converted in the preview.
n8n processes data on their servers via API connections. SpreadsheetBroccoli processes files entirely in your browser - your data never leaves your device. There's no account to hack, no API tokens to secure, and no data stored on external servers.
SpreadsheetBroccoli is ideal for small businesses doing their own bookkeeping, occasional users who need monthly or quarterly imports, and anyone who wants instant results without learning a new platform. n8n is better suited for larger operations with dedicated bookkeepers who need ongoing automation.
n8n offers automated syncing, real-time connections, and features like multi-channel consolidation or advanced accounting automation. SpreadsheetBroccoli focuses on doing file conversion exceptionally well - fast, private, and simple. We're not trying to replace full accounting platforms, just make conversions effortless.
Absolutely not. This is a major security advantage of SpreadsheetBroccoli over n8n. n8n requires you to hand over API keys or login credentials, creating a permanent security vulnerability. We only touch the specific file you upload, process it in your browser, and forget it immediately.
It works until it breaks. Automated integrations often fail silently when platforms update their APIs, leaving you with weeks of missing or duplicated data to clean up manually. SpreadsheetBroccoli is deterministic: you verify the file right now, import it right now, and you know it's done correctly. It turns "background anxiety" into "finished work."
You can, but the cost is validation and edge cases. AI often hallucinates math or format structures, and free scripts rarely handle messy real-world data (missing SKUs, strange currency formats, tax anomalies). We have battle-tested validators specifically for n8n exports that catch issues a generic script will miss.