Project management software · ranked #6 of 11
Smartsheet: review, pricing and alternatives
Sixth because spreadsheet-style sheets, dashboards and controls suit PMO and finance groups, but the grid model feels dated to teams that prefer boards.
Smartsheet at a glance
- Rank
- #6 of 11 in project management software
- Best for
- PMOs and spreadsheet-minded operations
- Pricing
- Per user / month
- Free option
- Free trial
- Headquarters
- Bellevue, United States
- Key features
- Sheets with grid view, Gantt, card and calendar views, Dashboards, Automated workflows, Forms
- Last checked
- 2026-11-11
Where Smartsheet wins
- Smartsheet takes the spreadsheet most project coordinators already use and adds dependencies, automations, approval flows and dashboards.
- For a PMO or a finance-led operations group that thinks in rows and columns, that familiarity cuts training time.
- Reports and dashboards roll many sheets into one view for executives.
- A 30-day trial replaces a free plan.
Where it falls short
- There is no free plan, only a 30-day trial, and the Pro tier is described as available to new customers.
- Business is required for many governance features.
- The grid metaphor feels heavy for fast-moving creative teams, and building a polished dashboard takes more effort than in boards-first tools.
- Teams that want a visual board with minimal setup should choose monday.com or Asana.
Our verdict on Smartsheet
Smartsheet takes the spreadsheet most project coordinators already use and adds dependencies, automations, approval flows and dashboards. For a PMO or a finance-led operations group that thinks in rows and columns, that familiarity cuts training time. Reports and dashboards roll many sheets into one view for executives.
A 30-day trial replaces a free plan. It ranks sixth because the grid model is less intuitive for creative or product teams, and governance features sit in the higher tiers.
Where Smartsheet falls short
There is no free plan, only a 30-day trial, and the Pro tier is described as available to new customers. Business is required for many governance features. The grid metaphor feels heavy for fast-moving creative teams, and building a polished dashboard takes more effort than in boards-first tools.
Who should look elsewhere
Teams that want a visual board with minimal setup should choose monday.com or Asana. Very small groups without a PMO will pay for control features they will not use.
Smartsheet pricing
Per member, published tiers: Pro $9 and Business $19 per member a month on annual billing, Enterprise and Advanced Work Management by quote, 30-day free trial.
Pricing as published by the vendor on the date above; check the vendor's pricing page before you buy.
Smartsheet fact sheet
| Rank | #6 of 11 in project management software |
|---|---|
| Category | Project management software |
| Best for | PMOs and spreadsheet-minded operations |
| Pricing model | Per user / month |
| Free option | Free trial |
| Headquarters | Bellevue, United States |
| Company | Smartsheet Inc. |
| Address | Bellevue, United States |
| Vendor size | Independent or mid-sized vendor |
| Website | www.smartsheet.com |
| Last checked | 2026-11-11 |
Key features
- Sheets with grid view
- Gantt, card and calendar views
- Dashboards
- Automated workflows
- Forms
- Resource management
- Reports
- Integrations
Alternatives to Smartsheet
ClickUpAll-in-one tasks, docs and views. Per user / month.
OpenProjectOpen source project management with Gantt. Open source + paid tiers.
WrikeWork management with forms, proofing and resource views. Per user / month.Also ranked in
- #6 of 11 in project management software
- #3 of 12 in Work management software
Sources checked
- Smartsheet is based in the State of Washington, United States, per the site terms Source
- Pro $9 and Business $19 per member a month on annual billing, Enterprise by quote, 30-day free trial Source
Smartsheet: common questions
What is Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is spreadsheet-style work management for PMOs. Sixth because spreadsheet-style sheets, dashboards and controls suit PMO and finance groups, but the grid model feels dated to teams that prefer boards.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Per member, published tiers: Pro $9 and Business $19 per member a month on annual billing, Enterprise and Advanced Work Management by quote, 30-day free trial.
Does Smartsheet have a free plan?
Free trial. Per member, published tiers: Pro $9 and Business $19 per member a month on annual billing, Enterprise and Advanced Work Management by quote, 30-day free trial.
What is Smartsheet best for?
Smartsheet is best for pMOs and spreadsheet-minded operations. Sixth because spreadsheet-style sheets, dashboards and controls suit PMO and finance groups, but the grid model feels dated to teams that prefer boards.
Where is Smartsheet based?
Smartsheet is published by Smartsheet Inc., headquartered in Bellevue, United States.
Who should not use Smartsheet?
Teams that want a visual board with minimal setup should choose monday.com or Asana. Very small groups without a PMO will pay for control features they will not use.
What are the best alternatives to Smartsheet?
In our project management software ranking the closest alternatives are ClickUp, OpenProject, Wrike. See the full ranking for the other options.