Comparison

PlanMaker vs HomeLab Watcher

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PlanMaker

This app offers a full-featured spreadsheet program for mobile devices, compatible with Excel files. Work on your spreadsheets anywhere with a comprehensive set of tools, including extensive calculation functions, data analysis, and charting capabilities. Seamlessly exchange data with desktop versions and save files locally or in the cloud.

Highlights
  • Excel file compatibility (XLSX, XLS)
  • Over 430 calculation functions
  • 1 million rows and 16384 columns
  • Conditional formatting
  • 80+ chart types
  • Cloud storage integration
Features
Read full description

■ PlanMaker ► The only complete Office spreadsheet program for your Excel files ► Work on your Excel spreadsheets wherever and whenever you want. ► When working on the go, take advantage of a feature set that you would otherwise only know from your PC or Mac. ► Almost all features can be used permanently free of charge. The complete set of features that you know from Microsoft Excel or PlanMaker on your Mac or PC is now offered by PlanMaker on your iPhone and iPad. Compatibility without compromise: PlanMaker uses the Microsoft Office XLSX format as its native format. This guarantees seamless data exchange. You can open your spreadsheets directly in Microsoft Excel without having to convert them. Intuitive operation on iPhone and iPad: PlanMaker always provides an ideal user experience, regardless of whether you're using it on your iPhone or an iPad. On an iPhone, you can use the practical toolbars with just one finger. On an iPad, you work with ribbons similar to those on your Mac or PC. Save locally or in the cloud: PlanMaker not only enables you to open and save documents stored on your device, but it also allows you to access your files in iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive and all other cloud storage services. The PlanMaker user interface is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and more than 20 other languages. PlanMaker brings the features of a desktop spreadsheet program to your iPhone and iPad. You shouldn't settle for less. ■ Working with files ► Worksheets can be losslessly exchanged with PlanMaker for Windows, Mac and Linux. ► Open and save XLSX and XLS files with full fidelity from Microsoft Excel 5.0 to 2021 and Excel 365, also with password protection ► Import and export assistant for text files ■ Extensive calculation capabilities ► More than 430 calculation functions ► 1 million rows and 16384 columns ► Complex numbers and array functions ► AutoSum, AutoProduct, AutoFill, etc. ► External references ■ Editing and formatting ► Conditional formatting ► Format painter for the rapid transfer of formatting ► Borders, shading, fill patterns ► Cell styles ► Forms with input fields, checkboxes, dropdown lists, etc. ► Syntax highlighting ► Input validation (data validation) ► Sheet, workbook and document protection with encryption ■ Analyzing data ► AutoFilter ► Data grouping (outliner) ► Detective ("formula auditing") for troubleshooting worksheets ■ Comprehensive graphics functions ► Draw and design directly in the worksheet ► Excel-compatible AutoShapes ► Insert images ► Crop pictures, change brightness, contrast and gamma ► TextArt function for striking font effects ■ Presenting and visualizing data ► More than 80 types of 2D and 3D charts, for example, column and pie charts ► Impressive effects on charts: soft shadows, rounded edges, etc. ■ Other features Almost all features of PlanMaker for iOS can be used free of charge. The following additional features are available to you via an inexpensive subscription: ► Printing ► Export to PDF and PDF/A ► Pivot tables ► Distributing text to cells ► Scenarios ► Data consolidation ► Sharing documents directly from PlanMaker ► Free customer support A single subscription unlocks these features simultaneously in PlanMaker, TextMaker and Presentations for iOS. License agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

HomeLab Watcher

Features
Read full description

HomeLab Watcher gives you one calm, private glance at the latest known health of the homelab resources you care about. ONE HONEST DASHBOARD • See HTTP services, Beszel machines, and Proxmox VE nodes together • Separate the last successful observation from the latest refresh attempt • Recognize healthy, attention, unhealthy, unknown, aging, and stale states • Refresh all resources or one system directly from your iPhone USEFUL WIDGETS • Small Home Screen status widget • Medium resource overview • Lock Screen status • Interactive refresh without automatically opening the app • Explicit observation age because iOS controls background timing PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No HomeLab Watcher account • No cloud relay or hosted backend • No analytics, ads, tracking, or remote logs • Configuration stays on device • Credentials stay in Apple Keychain • Requests go directly to systems you configure READ ONLY HomeLab Watcher checks status and metrics. It does not start, stop, restart, delete, update, or otherwise administer your infrastructure. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY Sample Lab demonstrates every important presentation state without credentials or a reachable homelab. The free app also supports two HTTP or HTTPS resources and the small widget. LIFETIME UNLOCK A one-time purchase unlocks unlimited resources, Beszel, Proxmox VE, and every widget family. There is no subscription. SUPPORTED CONNECTIONS HomeLab Watcher works with addresses reachable from your iPhone over LAN, an existing private network route, or public HTTPS. iOS system certificate trust is required; the app never bypasses TLS security. HomeLab Watcher is not affiliated with or endorsed by Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH or the Beszel project.

Screenshots

PlanMaker4 screens
HomeLab Watcher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: HomeLab Watcher at every 5 days against PlanMaker's every 2 months. PlanMaker's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PlanMaker sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and HomeLab Watcher sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PlanMaker ships an update every 2 months, HomeLab Watcher every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PlanMaker versus HomeLab Watcher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlanMakerHomeLab Watcher
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (174 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings174 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoftMaker Software GmbHYANCY SHEPHERD

Bugs and requests

PlanMaker

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Spreadsheet corruption and data deletion
  • Blue line appearing in the center of the screen
  • Freezing when changing font/font size
  • Loading spinner and blue line persist after saving
  • App crashes when selecting cells and background color
Show 1 more
  • Graphical glitches/flickering with original keyboard

Requested features

10 requests
  • Support for ODS file saving
  • Ability to adjust image size within cells
  • More robust cloud support (OneDrive, Dropbox)
  • Numeric keyboard integration
  • Drag and drop cells functionality
Show 5 more
  • PDF import and annotation
  • Dark theme/mode
  • Improved zoom functionality for better column visibility
  • Option for one-time purchase instead of subscription for printing
  • Ability to import/export files via more cloud services

HomeLab Watcher

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

PlanMaker

Subscriptions2
  • Unlock all features7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Unlock all features7 Days trial$13.491 Year
1 purchases

HomeLab Watcher

One-time1
  • HomeLab Watcher Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is PlanMaker free?
PlanMaker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HomeLab Watcher free?
HomeLab Watcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PlanMaker or HomeLab Watcher have ads?
Neither PlanMaker nor HomeLab Watcher shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PlanMaker or HomeLab Watcher?
PlanMaker ships an update every 2 months, and HomeLab Watcher every 5 days. Most recently, PlanMaker was updated on September 30, 2026 and HomeLab Watcher on September 29, 2026.

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