Beyond Sheets-to-website. A real directory business engine.
SpreadSimple is excellent at publishing Google Sheets as catalogs and stores. Row.so focuses on niche directories — AI generation, typed fields, paid submissions, upvotes and SEO that ranks. Keep your Sheet; upgrade the public product.
Stripe · Lemon Squeezy · Polar · PayPal · 0% platform cut
Quick verdict
Use SpreadSimple for catalog/e-commerce style Sheets sites with many gateways. Use Row.so when the product is a searchable, monetizable directory with community and AI enrichment.
What you’ll pay to launch
SpreadSimple
Business tiers
from ~$14/mo
Broad Sheets→website feature set; live payments often on higher plans
Row.so vs SpreadSimple at a glance
Highlighted rows are where Row.so typically wins for directory businesses.
| Capability | Row.so | SpreadSimple |
|---|---|---|
| Google Sheets as content source | 2-way sync | Core product |
| AI generate directory Edge | Yes | Partial AI |
| Directory filters & facets Edge | Yes | Filters |
| Native paid listing plans Edge | Yes | Checkout / add-ons |
| Stripe · Lemon · Polar · PayPal | Yes | Multi-gateway ecom |
| 0% platform fee | Yes | Varies |
| Upvote list Edge | Yes | No |
| Comments | Yes | No |
| Map / multi-language focus | Translations | Strong |
| llms.txt Edge | Yes | No |
| Custom domain + SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Time to monetizable directory | Minutes | Hours + glue |
Feature details reflect public positioning as of 2026 and may change.
Built for directories that make money
Directory data model
Typed custom fields, facets, categories and moderation — not just columns rendered as cards.
AI seed + enrichment
Generate a full niche directory from a prompt, then enrich descriptions, logos and tags from URLs.
Paid listings wired to publish
Checkout becomes the submission flow. Plans can unpublish when a subscription lapses.
Community loops
Upvotes and comments create engagement that catalog sites rarely get — and fresh signals for SEO.
Honest fit — pick the right tool
Choose Row.so if
Niche directories (tools, agencies, templates, local services) that need paid submit flows, filters and ranking UX.
Choose SpreadSimple if
Menus, product catalogs, multilingual brochure sites, or Sheets-driven stores that need many regional payment gateways.
Row.so vs SpreadSimple
Is Row.so a SpreadSimple alternative for directories? +
Yes. If your goal is a directory business with paid submissions and ranking UX, Row.so is purpose-built. SpreadSimple remains strong for catalogs and multi-gateway storefronts powered by Sheets. See also the SpreadSimple alternative guide.
Does Row.so replace Google Sheets? +
No — it syncs with Sheets. Keep editorial workflows in the spreadsheet while the public site gets directory UX, payments and SEO. Walkthrough: turn Google Sheets into a directory website.
What payment providers does Row.so support? +
Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and PayPal. You connect your own account and keep 100% of listing revenue.
Can SpreadSimple users migrate listings? +
Yes. Export or reconnect your Sheet, map columns to Row.so fields, then enable paid submit and design blocks.
When should I pick a legacy full directory suite instead? +
If you need forums, events, and deep membership CRM — not just a niche listing directory — compare Brilliant Directories alternatives separately from Sheets publishers.
Row.so vs other directory builders
Switch from SpreadSimple to a directory that earns.
Generate with AI, sync Sheets, charge with Stripe and more — keep 100% of revenue.
Start making moneyYour niche is waiting. Go own it.
Launch today, charge for listings, keep 100% — no CMS, checkout, or hosting to stitch together.
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