Prose vs Excel Which is better for structural load calculations?
Excel is a powerful general-purpose spreadsheet. Prose is built specifically for structural load engineering. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
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Prose
Purpose-built for structural load development
A dedicated environment for ASCE 7 / IBC load calculations with built-in logic, live calculations with code citations, and structured documentation for professional deliverables.
Microsoft Excel
General-purpose spreadsheet
The go-to tool for engineers stepping up from hand calculations. Endlessly flexible for custom problems, data analysis, and general workflows — a valuable part of every engineer's toolkit.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How Prose compares to Excel across key areas for structural engineering workloads.
Engineering Calculation Capabilities
Built-in support for Dead, Live, Snow, Wind, Rain, and Seismic loads with granular logic.
Engineers must build and maintain spreadsheets for each load type and condition.
Recalculates results immediately with governing equations and code references.
Recalculates results immediately, but equations and code references must be built into the spreadsheet.
Automatically included where applicable.
Must manually add or link diagrams for each load type and condition.
Documentation & Reporting
Inputs on left, live calculation document on right.
Input cells and output cells often intermixed; must scroll or use separate sheets.
Real-time view of actual PDF report with one-click PDF export.
Requires manual print area setup, page breaks, and formatting; output quality depends on template author.
Each calculation automatically references governing code sections.
Code references must be manually typed and maintained as equations change.
Output designed to look like a professional engineering report.
Presentation quality depends on template design and formatting choices.
Accuracy & Reliability
Thousands of automated tests validate every calculation across all input permutations.
Flexible enough to build any calculation, but thorough testing across input combinations requires significant effort.
Every equation is shown with variables broken out and intermediate values displayed.
Formulas must be manually built and maintained in each cell.
Calculation logic is locked; only inputs can be modified.
Full flexibility is powerful but means formulas can be inadvertently modified.
Fixes are pushed to all projects automatically; every calculation stays current.
Template updates require manually propagating changes to existing project copies.
Calculations are visible, traceable, and structured for review.
Cell-based formulas offer flexibility but require careful organization for easy auditing.
Workflow & Collaboration
All structures and load types in a single project file with shared inputs where applicable.
Often requires separate spreadsheets for each load type; reviewing the full picture means opening multiple files.
Local files with automatic updates when new versions release.
Depends on file naming or external tools.
Free viewer license for anyone.
Requires reviewers to use Excel.
Floating-seat license; view-only is free.
Microsoft subscription or corporate licensing.
Automation & Integration
Full OpenAPI 3.1.0 spec for Python, C#, JS, and BIM tools.
VBA and macros available.
Same verified calculation engine across every project and building.
Office templates can be customized per project; consistency depends on template management practices.
When Prose Is Better
Choose Prose if you need:
- Code-compliant building load calculations (ASCE 7 / IBC)
- Accurate, traceable results with equation references
- Review-ready professional engineering documentation
- Standardized workflows and reduced formula risk
- API automation for BIM tools and scripted workflows
When Excel Is Better
Excel remains excellent for:
- Custom calculations and one-off engineering problems
- Stepping up from hand calcs to automated workflows
- Tabular data organization, analysis, and general engineering tasks
- Budgeting, schedules, quantities, and non-load workflows
- Maximum flexibility to build exactly what you need
The Bottom Line
Excel is an incredibly valuable tool that helps engineers move from hand calculations to automated workflows. Its flexibility makes it indispensable for custom problems and general engineering tasks.
Prose offers a more streamlined and consistent approach specifically for structural load development — with built-in testing, automatic documentation, and updates that flow to every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can Prose replace Excel?
- For structural load calculations and documentation, yes. For general spreadsheet tasks, Excel remains the better fit. Many engineers use both — Prose for load development, Excel for everything else.
- Does Prose support ASCE 7 and IBC?
- Yes — all six major load types (dead, live, snow, wind, rain, seismic) are built in, with code-aligned logic for ASCE 7-10, ASCE 7-16, and IBC 2012–2021.
- Can I export my Prose calculations to PDF?
- Yes — Prose generates a clean, structured engineering report with one click. The output is formatted for review, archival, or submittal.
- Do reviewers need a Prose license?
- No — view-only access is free forever. They just need Prose installed on their machine. Anyone can open, review, and export a Prose project without a paid license.
Also interested in how Prose compares to ENERCALC? See Prose vs ENERCALC comparison →
Build load calculations you can trust.
Create clear, traceable, code-compliant engineering documentation with Prose.
