Breedio vs spreadsheet: follow your mares without Excel
Stop working out dates by hand: Breedio gives the foaling date and stage of each mare, alerts you at key stages and fits in your pocket, for free.
In short
Breedio works out the foaling date and stage of each mare for you, opens on your phone at the stable and alerts you at key stages with Premium. With a spreadsheet, every formula, update and reminder is down to you.
BreedioAutomatic dates and reminders
SpreadsheetAn Excel spreadsheet or notebook you maintain
At a glance
| Question | Breedio | Spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Foaling date worked out | Yes | Partly |
| Colour-coded pregnancy stages | Yes | Partly |
| Reminders at key stages | Paid | No |
| Practical on a phone | Yes | Partly |
| Synced across your devices | Yes | Partly |
| Sharing with a partner or the vet | Paid | Partly |
| Holding register in the IFCE format | Yes | Partly |
| Free | Yes | Yes |
Choose Breedio if
- You want the expected date and stage of each mare without writing formulas.
- You check your mares at the stable, on your phone.
- You want to be alerted at the key stages of pregnancy instead of remembering them.
Choose Spreadsheet if
- You only follow a mare now and then and your file is enough.
- You refuse any online account.
What Breedio does better
- No formulas to write: expected date, days elapsed and foaling window are worked out automatically.
- A colour per stage, from early to overdue, readable at a glance.
- An app built for the phone, usable at the stable.
- Your data is backed up and synced: nothing is lost with a computer.
- Reminders at key pregnancy stages with Premium, for €9.99 a year.
What Spreadsheet adds
- Completely free-form columns.
- A file that stays on your computer, with no account.
Pricing
| Plan | Breedio | Spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Tracker, Training and Stable free, unlimited mares and horses | Free with a spreadsheet you already have, or a paper notebook |
| Paid plan | Premium at €9.99 a year for notifications, history and sharing | None, but the time spent keeping the file up to date |
| 10 mares followed for a year | €0 on the free plan, €9.99 with Premium notifications | €0, as long as you work out and check every date yourself |
Switching to Breedio
- 1
Create your account with your email address: a sign-in code, no password.
- 2
Copy over your mares in foal and their covering date, about two minutes per mare.
- 3
Keep your file for older history if you like: Breedio takes over for current pregnancies.
Verdict
As soon as you follow more than one mare, a spreadsheet becomes a source of mistakes and oversights. Breedio does the maths, alerts you at the right stages and opens at the stable, for the same price: nothing.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I work out a mare's foaling date in Excel?
- Add about 340 days to the covering date, keeping in mind that a normal pregnancy runs from 320 to 370 days. Breedio does this automatically and shows the stage of each mare.
- Can I import my Excel file into Breedio?
- Not automatically yet. Adding a mare and her covering date takes about two minutes.
- Is Breedio really free?
- Yes. Pregnancy tracking with no limit on mares is free. Premium adds notifications, history and sharing for €9.99 a year.
- Is my data backed up?
- Yes. It is tied to your account and synced across all your devices.
Try Breedio on your farm
Free, no card, with 30 days of Premium included when you sign up.
Try Tracker for free