Home / Guides / MileIQ vs Excel

Guide · Mileage

MileIQ vs Excel mileage log

MileIQ auto-captures drives on your phone. An Excel IRS log is quieter, export-ready, and free once you own the file. For 2026’s split rates, the right pick depends on trip volume — not branding.

May earn commissions. SoloDesk may earn a commission if you buy through affiliate links on this page. Recommendations are based on what we think fits the use case. See our affiliate disclosure.

Side-by-side

	MileIQ	Excel / Sheets log
Capture	Automatic GPS + swipe classify	Manual entry or CSV import
2026 split rates	App-dependent; verify mid-year update	Date-aware rows you control
Export for tax prep	Reports / CSV (plan-gated)	Native spreadsheet columns
Cost	Free tier then subscription · affiliate placeholder	Free / one-time template
Best if	Dozens of short trips; you forget to log	Low–medium volume; already in Excel

When MileIQ wins

• Client visits and errands stack up and you cannot remember every mile
• You want push reminders to swipe business vs personal weekly
• Phone-first workflow beats opening a laptop after each drive

When Excel wins

• You want columns that match Schedule C / mileage worksheets (date, purpose, miles, rate)
• 2026 mid-year rate change — date-aware sheets beat a single “cents” cell
• You share one file with a bookkeeper and do not want another login

Hybrid that works

Some freelancers use MileIQ for capture, then paste monthly totals into a spreadsheet that applies Jan–Jun vs Jul–Dec rates. That keeps GPS convenience without trusting the app alone for the deduction math. See also our broader mileage apps vs Excel guide and 2026 rate explainer.