Here are what I see to be the pros and cons of both databases and spreadsheets from personal experience and from Stephen Ramsay’s article:
Spreadsheets:
-Pros:
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Automatically compensates for arithmetic adjustments
Pivot Tables/VBA
Formatting and data selection
-Cons
Simple query options
No security for data protection or data integrity
Tough to relate multiple data pieces
Text is limited and inconvenient
Databases:
-Pros:
Very powerful and able to handle large amounts of information
Reduces duplication
Simple access for multiple people to use the same file
Long term storage
Large storage capacity
Reporting, analysis and raw data can be kept separate
High data integrity
Powerful and simple queries
Complexity of the data is not an issue
-Cons
High learning curve to be able to use the full potential of a database
Structural changes are hard to put into effect
Not usually very intuitive
