[01] Side by side
| Capability | Prism | a spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Free tier; paid from $24/mo | Free |
| Per-model AI cost breakdown | Manual copy-paste from provider dashboards | |
| Finds invoices automatically | ||
| Stays current without effort | Daily sync + inbox scans | Only as fresh as your last update |
| Catches a usage spike within 24h | ||
| Renewal reminders | Calendar discipline | |
| Finds subscriptions you forgot | ||
| Fully custom analysis | CSV/JSON export to your sheet |
Based on public documentation as of June 2026. Spot an inaccuracy? Email zach@brightwayai.com and we'll fix it.
[02] The honest take
If your stack is three tools and one API key, a spreadsheet is genuinely fine — update it monthly and skip the subscription. The math changes with scale and entropy: every new tool, card, and teammate makes the sheet staler and the forgotten-renewal tax bigger. Prism's job is the part spreadsheets can't do — noticing what changed without being asked.
[03] Which one is for you
Pick a spreadsheet if…
- Your dev spend is under ~$100/month across a few tools
- You genuinely enjoy maintaining it (no judgment)
- You need analysis more custom than any dashboard
Pick Prism if…
- Reconstructing last month's spend takes more than 15 minutes
- You've been surprised by a bill in the last year
- You suspect you're paying for tools nobody uses
Decide with your own numbers in front of you.
7-day Premium trial · No credit card required