Our Verdict
Smartsheet sits between a spreadsheet and a project management tool – and for the specific users who need that combination, it’s the best option available. Operations teams, project managers, and cross-functional coordinators who think in rows and columns will find Smartsheet intuitive in a way that Asana’s task cards don’t replicate. The grid interface is familiar, the automation handles complex conditional logic, and the integration with Microsoft and Google ecosystems is strong. For teams coming from Excel, the adoption curve is significantly flatter than traditional PM tools.
Who Smartsheet Is Best For
- Operations and PMO teams who think natively in spreadsheets but need real-time collaboration and workflow automation baked in
- Cross-functional project managers running complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives who need flexible views without sacrificing structured tracking
- Enterprise organizations standardizing project delivery across departments with wildly different tools, processes, and technical skill levels
- Compliance and ops teams managing recurring process workflows, audit trails, and operational checklists at serious scale
- Program managers who need robust reporting and rollup visibility across dozens of simultaneous projects without switching platforms
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Teams that want a clean task-card interface - Asana or ClickUp are more intuitive for task-focused work
- Agencies that need client billing and time tracking - Teamwork covers that better
- Small teams or startups - the enterprise orientation and pricing are more than most small teams need
- Teams that need pure database capabilities - Airtable's relational model is more powerful
Features Breakdown
Grid Interface
Smartsheet’s primary view is a spreadsheet grid where each row is a task, project item, or process step. Columns are fields – text, dates, dropdowns, contacts, checkboxes, formulas. Hierarchical indentation allows task groupings and subtasks without leaving the grid view. Multiple views of the same sheet are available: Gantt, card (Kanban), calendar, and grid. The familiarity to Excel users reduces training overhead significantly compared to card-based PM tools.
Automation
Smartsheet’s automation handles complex multi-step workflows: when a row changes to a specific status, send a notification to the assigned contact, update a field in another sheet, and create a new row in a tracking sheet. Conditional logic branches based on field values. Approval workflows route rows through defined approvers. Recurring automations run on schedules. The automation depth on Business plan is one of the strongest in this price range.
Dashboards & Reporting
Smartsheet dashboards aggregate data from multiple sheets into a single real-time view. Charts, metrics, shortcut links, and rich text blocks populate from connected sheet data. Dashboards update automatically as underlying sheets change – useful for executive status updates that would otherwise require manual report compilation. Dashboard sharing with non-Smartsheet users is available via public links.
Integrations
Smartsheet integrates natively with Salesforce, Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive), Google Workspace, Jira, Tableau, Power BI, and Slack. The Salesforce integration syncs Smartsheet data bidirectionally with Salesforce objects – useful for sales operations teams managing complex deal processes in Smartsheet. The API is robust and well-documented for custom integration builds.
Smartsheet Pricing (Verified Apr-26)
Prices verified Apr-26. Always confirm on the vendor's site before purchasing.
| Plan | Type | Starting Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Trial | $0 | 2 sheets, 30-day access to all features, limited functionality after trial |
| Pro | Individual | $9/user/mo | Unlimited sheets, 250 automations/mo, guest access, basic integrations |
| Business | Teams | $19/user/mo | Resource management, dashboards, unlimited automations, premium integrations |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | Custom | WorkApps, enterprise security, advanced admin, API access, SSO |
What We Like
- Familiar spreadsheet interface with collaboration, automation, and project management layered on
- Strong enterprise integrations - Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Jira
- WorkApps allow custom no-code apps built from Smartsheet data (Enterprise)
- Resource management and workload view on Business plan
- Robust automation with conditional logic
- Dashboards aggregate data from multiple sheets in real-time views
Watch Out For
- Steeper learning curve than Asana or Monday.com for teams not used to spreadsheet-style tools
- Pricing per user gets expensive for large teams
- Free plan is essentially a time-limited trial - not a true free tier
- Visual design is less polished than newer PM tools
- Enterprise features require custom pricing without published rates
Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Buy — Know This
- The 'free' plan is a 30-day trial with 2 sheets - not a permanent free tier. Budget for Pro ($9/user/mo) from day one if you're adopting Smartsheet for your team.
- Smartsheet's Pro plan automation is limited to 250/mo. For teams with many automated workflows, Business (unlimited automations) is the practical starting tier.
- The Microsoft 365 integration is particularly strong - Smartsheet connects natively to Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Power BI. If your organization runs on Microsoft, this integration quality is a significant advantage.
- WorkApps - custom web applications built from Smartsheet data without code - are an Enterprise feature. If building custom operational portals is part of the plan, include Enterprise in your evaluation.