QMS2GO vs Spreadsheets and SharePoint

This is the most common comparison we see, and the honest answer is that Excel, Word and SharePoint are not disqualified by ISO 9001:2015. Clause 7.5 asks for documented information that is controlled, identifiable, current and protected. The question is what it costs you to prove that month after month.

Short answer

Spreadsheets and SharePoint can pass an ISO 9001 audit, but the controls are manual: revision history, approval evidence, training records and links between records depend on people remembering. QMS2GO enforces those controls automatically and assembles the audit evidence as work happens.

Who each system fits

QMS2GO is best for: Organizations that have been through one audit on spreadsheets and do not want to repeat the scramble.
Spreadsheets and SharePoint is best for: Very small teams with a narrow scope, one or two processes and a low change rate.

QMS2GO vs Spreadsheets and SharePoint: side-by-side

Dimension	QMS2GO	Spreadsheets and SharePoint
Revision control	Every document version, approver and timestamp captured automatically	Manual file naming and version columns maintained by the document owner
Approval evidence	Three-tier review, approval and authorization with electronic signature records	Email threads, signature pages or a SharePoint approval flow
Traceability between records	Nonconformity to root cause to corrective action to risk to objective are linked records	Cross-references maintained by hand across separate workbooks
Audit preparation	Clause-by-clause evidence pack generated on demand	Days of collecting files before each audit
Cost	From $490/month flat	Low licence cost, high recurring labour cost
Risk	Locked records after approval, with controlled unlock and full audit log	Anyone with file access can overwrite an approved record

When to choose Spreadsheets and SharePoint instead

You have fewer than ten documented procedures and almost no change traffic.
You are not certified and have no plan to be.

When QMS2GO is the better fit

Your last audit produced findings on document control, training records or evidence retrieval.
More than one person edits quality records.
You are being asked for ISO 9001 or API Q1 certification by a customer.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get ISO 9001 certified using Excel and SharePoint?

Yes. ISO 9001:2015 does not require software. It requires documented information that is controlled, current, identifiable and protected — which you can achieve manually, at the cost of ongoing discipline and labour.

What do auditors flag most often on spreadsheet-based systems?

Uncontrolled document revisions, missing approval evidence, training records that do not match the current procedure version, and corrective actions with no verified effectiveness check.

How this comparison is maintained

Statements about Spreadsheets and SharePoint are drawn from that vendor’s publicly published product, pricing and positioning pages and are reviewed periodically by the QMS2GO team. Vendors change packaging often, so confirm current pricing and module coverage directly with Spreadsheets and SharePoint before you buy. If something here is out of date, email onega@qms2go.com and we will correct it.

Schedule a demo · QMS2GO pricing · See all features · All QMS comparisons