PulseRosterPulseRoster vs Google Sheets
Most FiveM servers start their roster in Google Sheets. It works, until you have 50 members, several departments and Discord roles to change by hand after every promotion.
Side by side
Why servers are moving their roster to PulseRoster.
| Feature | PulseRoster | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Discord | ||
| Sign in with Discord | ||
| Discord roles change on promotion | ||
| Roster news posted to Discord | ||
| Discord bot commands | ||
| Roster | ||
| Several departments | Tabs you keep by hand | |
| Your own rank ladder | Rows you keep by hand | |
| Subdivisions (SWAT, K9 and more) | ||
| Certifications | Columns you keep by hand | |
| Custom fields | ||
| Public roster page | Themed pages | Share link |
| Activity and records | ||
| Activity hour tracking | ||
| Requirements by rank | ||
| Leave requests and approval | Automatic | By hand |
| Leave that starts and ends by itself | ||
| Discipline records | ||
| Appeals | ||
| Running it | ||
| Permissions | 35 separate permissions | Whole sheet only |
| Record of every change | Up to unlimited | Edit history |
| Bringing members in | CSV import | Copy and paste |
| Announcements | ||
| Works on a phone | Partly | |
| Time to set up | Under 30 minutes | Hours of formatting |
What a free spreadsheet really costs
Google Sheets costs nothing, but the staff time it takes adds up fast. This is what servers usually live with.
Changing Discord roles by hand
Every promotion means opening Discord, finding the member, taking off the old roles and adding the new ones. With 50 members across several departments, that is hours every week. PulseRoster does it straight away, by itself.
No activity tracking
A spreadsheet cannot count patrol hours or hold anyone to a requirement. Servers either ignore activity, and departments go quiet, or add yet another tool. PulseRoster has activity tracking with requirements by rank included.
How activity tracking worksLeave in a cell
Leave on a spreadsheet means notes in cells, hoping someone remembers to clear them when the leave ends, and no way to approve anything. PulseRoster handles leave from start to finish: the request, the approval, and the dates it starts and ends.
All or nothing access
Google Sheets sharing works on the whole sheet. You cannot let a department head run their own roster without handing them everything. PulseRoster has 35 separate permissions across community, department and staff roles.
Bring your sheet over in minutes
Switching does not mean starting again. Save your Google Sheet as a CSV file, upload it to PulseRoster, match the columns to fields such as name, rank and badge number, and your whole roster comes across with nothing lost.
Import works on every plan, including Free.
When a spreadsheet is still fine
We will not pretend Google Sheets is always wrong. If your server has fewer than 10 members, one department, and no need for Discord roles or activity tracking, a simple spreadsheet does the job.
The moment you add a second department, pass 25 members or get tired of changing Discord roles by hand, PulseRoster saves you hours every week.
Common questions
Anything not covered here, ask us in Discord. The people who make PulseRoster read it.
Ask on DiscordCan I bring my Google Sheets roster into PulseRoster?
Yes, on every plan. Save your Google Sheet as a CSV file, upload it to PulseRoster, match the columns, and your whole roster is in within minutes.
Is PulseRoster free? How does that compare with Google Sheets?
PulseRoster has a free plan with 3 departments, 20 members, Discord sign-in, Discord roles that follow the roster, duty and activity tracking, the full leave calendar, discipline, documents and a public roster page. Google Sheets is free too, but the time spent changing Discord roles, counting hours and handling leave by hand costs your staff every week.
Why move my roster off Google Sheets?
A spreadsheet cannot change Discord roles, track activity, run leave, keep discipline records, record who changed what, or give people only the access they need. PulseRoster does all of it: promotions reach Discord straight away, requirements are checked for you, leave starts and ends on its dates, and every action is on record.
Ready to leave the
spreadsheet behind?
Start free, bring your roster in, and be running in under 30 minutes.