17 Smartsheet Alternatives and Competitors (+ Pricing)
Though it’s most famous for its spreadsheets, Smartsheet can do a lot more than that. The cloud-based app offers a light project management tool with a lot of collaboration and spreadsheet capabilities.
However, if you need more from a spreadsheet app, there are plenty of Smartsheet alternatives. We’ve put together a list of apps you can use instead of Smartsheet.
Smartsheet: Pros & Cons
Smartsheet isn’t the right tool for every situation. There are several downsides users noted, including:
- It’s expensive – the cost can go up very quickly depending on how many users you have and which plan you choose.
- The sheets part of Smartsheet is often much simpler than frequent spreadsheet users expect.
- It can also be complex and challenging for users to understand more than the basic features.
It’s up to you if that outweighs the benefits, such as:
- Smartsheet can scale from small business to enterprise level use cases.
- Its spreadsheet features are easy for most users to pick up.
- It offers multiple views to help you understand your data.
Smartsheet Costs
Prices in Smartsheet are based on the number of editors – people making changes within the system. A Free Plan will only get two editors; a Pro user gets ten. Business and Enterprise Plans get unlimited editors.
Here’s a rundown of their current pricing:
- Free: Limited to 2-step automations
- Pro: $7 per user per month (annual plan)
- Business: $25 per user per month (annual plan)
- Enterprise: Contact Smartsheet for pricing
While you can use the Free and Pro Plans, many of the most valuable features are kept to the Business and Enterprise Plans. For instance, automations and significant storage are limited to Business and Enterprise, and data analysis and proofing are confined to Enterprise. As a result, if you need those tools and have a tight budget, Smartsheet may be out of your price range.
Smartsheet Alternative #1: Visor
Visor is a spreadsheet-inspired workspace, though it offers more than just a spreadsheet view. Visor also offers Gantt chart, Board, and Timeline chart views.
Visor is a popular Smartsheet alternative amongst project managers because unlike Smartsheet’s Jira integration, Visor integrates to Jira for free. (Smarthsheet’s Jira Connector is an expensive add-on.)
Visor offers bi-directional integrations with many SaaS apps like Jira, Salesforce, and HubSpot, making it easy for users to visualize and share accurate data with stakeholders, clients, and collaborators.
Unlike many more complicated tools, Visor is easy for anyone to jump in and understand how to use it. Because there is minimal training required for Visor, users often create different views designed for different stakeholders and teams. Visor offers unlimited view-only access for free, making it significantly cheaper than Smartsheet.
So, if you want to shorten your learning curve for a lower price point, Visor is the way to go.
Visor features
- Multiple views, including Table, Gantt, Board, and Timeline.
- Hierarchies from outside sources, like Jira, are preserved
- Single source of truth for data
- Intuitive, drag-and-drop interface
- Offers custom fields, conditional formatting, and filtering
Visor pros and cons
Pros:
- Visor lets you create a two-way sync between Jira and other apps
- Data is presented in a way that’s colorful and simple to customize
- Users can easily learn how to use Visor
- The app lets you engage is straightforward, secure collaboration
Cons:
- Visor is mostly focused on building connections with Jira at the moment
- If you are looking for a full-featured project management software, you may not find everything you’re looking for.
Visor pricing
Visor’s pricing is based on the number of editors in a Workspace, along with how many Workbooks and records you want to work with. You can also add unlimited viewers – people who look at your data but don’t change it – for free.
- Free: Offers a limited number of Workbooks and records
- Pro: $9 per editor per month (annually)
- Ultimate: $18 per editor per month (annually)
Visor reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 5.0 out of 5 on G2
Reviewers praised Visor’s quick customer success team and the company’s openness to customer suggestions.
Smartsheet Alternative #2: Wrike
Wrike is a popular project management tool that is designed to be used by multiple departments. It’s a good tool for project management, but less useful if you’re more focused on spreadsheets or sharing data.
As an alternative to Smartsheet, Wrike is a good choice for small or medium-sized teams, since its Free Plan has no user limit (Smartsheet limits you to one free editor). It offers similar features, including multiple views and time tracking.
Wrike features
- Built-in time tracking
- Automations
- In-app commenting
- Dynamic request forms
Wrike pros and cons
Pros:
- Wrike includes lots of integrations with marketing and file sharing apps
- It includes reporting and dashboard features
- The app works for multiple departments
Cons:
- Wrike isn’t really suited to software development
- There is a steep learning curve
- You’re given limited visual customization options
Wrike pricing
If you want to give Wrike a try, they offer a free 14-day trial. This may make more sense for experimenting with Wrike than the Free plan, which has more limited functionality.
- Free
- Team: $9.80 per month (annual plan)
- Business: $24.80 per month (annual plan)
- Enterprise: Contact Wrike for rates
- Pinnacle: Contact Wrike for rates
Wrike reviews and ratings
- 4.3 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.2 out of 5 on G2
Most users cited Wrike’s ability to work as a cross-functional tool as a major selling point. While some users pointed out the learning curve, others noted it’s not that much more complicated than other project management software.
Smartsheet Alternative #3: Airtable
Airtable lets you set up relational databases – in other words, you can store data and reuse it and relate it to other data later. The system makes it easy to use, though it’s a bit less complex than other project management options on this list.
However, if you want something similar to Smartsheet’s spreadsheet-heavy interface, Airtable offers something comparable.
Airtable features
- Spreadsheet and database capabilities
- Pre-made templates
- Multiple views
- Workflow automations
Airtable pros and cons
Pros:
- Airtable boasts a very user friendly interface
- The app makes collaboration easy
- It offers a drag-and-drop builder for customizing the interface
Cons:
- Some of the more advanced features are challenging to learn
- Airtable is not good for straightforward data sharing
- The company is more focused on enterprise clients
- The Airtable Jira integration offers limited field options
Airtable pricing
Airtable offers a Free plan that lets you try out the product basics. Larger plans offer more records, attachments, and automations. If you want two-way sync or certain integrations, you’ll only find those at the Business Plan level and above.
- Free: Available up to 5 seats
- Team: $20 per seat per month (annual)
- Business: $45 per seat per month (annual)
- Enterprise: Contact Airtable for pricing
Airtable reviews and rating
- 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.6 out of 5 on G2
Users mentioned the ease of use and ability to make customizations as primary selling points for Airtable customers.
Smartsheet Alternative #4: Asana
Asana is a popular project management and collaboration tool designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. It’s an easy-to-use system that lets you connect multiple teams. If you’re looking to compare, Asana beats out Smartsheet in ease of use and collaboration features.
Asana features
- Task management system
- Collaboration tools
- Project planning and visualization:
- Variety of integrations
Asana pros and cons
Pros:
- Asana features a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate
- The app integrates with a wide range of third-party tools and services
- You can customize projects and tasks with custom fields, templates, and workflows
- Setting up a integrations (e.g., Jira Asana integration) can be challenging, requiring expertise
Cons:
- Advanced reporting and analytics capabilities are relatively limited compared to some other project management tools
- Some users may find the default email notification settings overwhelming
- Some advanced features may require additional integrations or plugins, which can add complexity to the workflow
Asana pricing
Pricing tiers affect the number of actions you can perform in Asana, and the types of integrations you have access to. For instance, if you want to connect to Adobe Creative Cloud, you’ll need at least the Advanced Plan.
- Free
- Starter: $10.99 per seat per month (annual)
- Advanced: $24.99 per seat per month (annual)
- Enterprise: Contact Asana for pricing
Asana reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.3 out of 5 on G2
Several Asana customers mentioned the biggest challenge was getting their team members to learn and use the system consistently.
Smartsheet Alternative #5: Trello
People like Trello because it provides a simple, flexible, and visually engaging solution for managing tasks and projects. If you want a simple tool that gives you the ability to collaborate on simple projects, Trello is a good choice. However, it lacks the complexity of a solution like Smartsheet, so don’t look to it to replace advanced project management features.
Trello features
- Kanban-style board view
- Drag-and-drop interface
- “Power-up” integrations let you add functionality
- Color-coded labels
Trello pros and cons
Pros:
- The app makes it easy for teams to collaborate
- Trello is very easy to use
- There are plenty of upgrades or third-party power-ups available
Cons:
- This is primarily a board-making tool, though Table and Calendar Views are available for the Premium and Executive Plans.
- There are no native in-app reporting features.
- Trello has a very limited permissioning system, especially on the Free plan.
Trello pricing
If you’re just looking for a simple board view, the Free Plan works just fine. If you need integrations, additional views, and other more advanced features, you’ll need to spring for a paid plan.
- Free
- Standard: $5 per seat per month (annual)
- Premium: $10 per seat per month (annual)
- Enterprise: The per seat cost changes based on the number of users
Trello reviews and rating
- 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.4 out of 5 on G2
While some reviewers noted more complex boards could be a bit difficult to follow and maintain, most appreciated the simple, straightforward interface and ease of use.
Smartsheet Alternative #6: Monday.com
Monday.com is designed to provide teams with a flexible and customizable platform for managing projects, collaborating effectively, and optimizing workflows. Its visual interface, customization options, and integration capabilities make it a popular choice for teams across various industries and disciplines. When compared to Smartsheet, you’ll find Monday.com has more integration options and has more task management features.
Monday.com features
- Project templates
- Guided automations for simple tasks
- AI Assistant in beta
- A variety of integrations
Monday.com pros and cons
Pros:
- Monday.com is easy to use, so you can jump right in
- It has a broad assortment of integrations to connect to your existing tech stack
- The system allows for multiple editors at once and makes it easy to collaborate
Cons:
- Monday bills recurring tasks as automations
- It can be difficult to handle time tracking or expenses
- Many crucial features of locked behind the higher pricing plans
Monday.com pricing
Most of the important features are locked behind the Standard Plan. Free and Basic plans don’t have Gantt, Timeline, or Calendar views, nor can you access automations and integrations.
- Free
- Basic: $9 per seat per month (annual)
- Standard: $12 per seat per month (annual)
- Pro: $19 per seat per month (annual)
- Enterprise: Contact Monday.com
Monday.com reviews and rating
- 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.7 out of 5 on G2
Monday.com is popular with remote teams that need to collaborate on projects. However, several noted that the price can be on the high side for companies with fewer employees.
Smartsheet Alternative #7: Jira
Jira is still the number one choice for users looking to handle project management for IT and Dev teams. It far outstrips Smartsheet for Agile management. However, given its complex interface, Jira might need backup from a tool like Visor for communicating with outside teams.
Jira features
- Issue tracking
- Agile project management
- Customizable workflows and automations
- Reporting and analytics
Jira pros and cons
Pros:
- It offers a best-in-class app for Agile and Scrum management
- Jira is highly customizable and can be adapted to fit your team
- Atlassian offers a broad range of plugins and integrations
Cons:
- It can be difficult for those without Agile experience to use it
- Jira tends to be more expensive
- Administrators can have trouble with initial setup and configuration
Jira pricing
The pricing below represents Jira’s cloud product. Jira is ending support for Server licenses on February 15, 2024. You can still get a Data Center starting at $42,000 per year.
- Free
- Standard: $8.15 per user per month (estimated)
- Premium: $19 per user per month (estimated)
- Enterprise: Contact Atlassian
Jira reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.3 out of 5 on G2
Jira is the go-to software for developers, testers, and a variety of other job types. Though there may be people who don’t like the pricing or who note the steep learning curve, most learn to use it because it’s still the best system for Agile project management.
Smartsheet Alternative #8: Hive
Hive hasn’t been around as long as tools like Smartsheet or Monday.com, but it’s finding its niche as a project management system that works well for smaller, less technically savvy teams. It offers solid collaboration features, too, if that’s a priority for your organization.
Hive features
- Multiple views, including Gantt, board, and table views
- Time tracking
- In-app messaging
- Reporting and analytics
Hive pros and cons
Pros:
- It’s pretty easy to use if you don’t have project management software experience
- Hive offers a wide selection of integrations.
- The app offers real-time collaboration, including in-app messaging
Cons:
- Hive keeps a 500 automation limit, regardless of the plan you choose
- It doesn’t have a very strong privacy policy and may push targeted ads or sell data
- Many key features are add-ons for lower plans and costs can add up quickly
Hive pricing
Some features, such as proofing and approvals, timesheets, and analytics aren’t available in Free and Starter Plans. They involve add-on costs for a Teams Plan, and are included in Enterprise Plans.
- Free
- Starter: $5 per user per month (annual)
- Teams: $12 per user per month (annual)
- Enterprise: Contact Hive
Hive reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.6 out of 5 on G2
Most Hive users enjoy the simplicity and ease of use Hive offers, though some users have noted that privacy can be a concern or that frequent updates sometimes lead to bugginess.
Smartsheet Alternative #9: ClickUp
Do you feel as if Smartsheet doesn’t have enough views for you? ClickUp may be the solution.
ClickUp is a tool that offers project management with plenty of different ways to visualize your data. It works best for smaller teams, since the interface can get cluttered if there are too many users.
ClickUp features
- Task management
- 15 views, including Gantt, table, and mind map views
- Automated processes and workflows
- ClickUp AI to adjust writing in the app
ClickUp pros and cons
Pros:
- ClickUp has a strong Free Plan, offering a good number of features before you have to upgrade
- The app includes a variety of collaboration tools, including in-app chat, comments, and checklists
- It’s easy to use and easy to set up automations within the app
Cons:
- The app has fewer integrations than many other project management competitors
- The features can make the app feel cluttered or overwhelming, especially as the number of users goes up
- Some users have complained of slow customer support response time
ClickUp pricing
ClickUp includes a number of features in the Free plan that are gated in most of project management softwares, including significant storage, two-factor authentication, and a wide range of views.
- Free
- Unlimited: $7 per member per month (annual)
- Business: $12 per member per month (annual)
- Enterprise: Contact Clickup
ClickUp reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.6 out of 5 on G2
Some reviewers have commented that they feel as if there are so many features that they don’t get to use the tool to its fullest abilities.
Smartsheet Alternative #10: Zoho Projects
Zoho offers an assortment of apps ranging from an office suite to a CRM. Zoho Projects is the project management side of their offering. If you’re looking to copy just the spreadsheet side of Smartsheet, you can also give Zoho Sheet a try. Both are good choices if you’re already using part of the Zoho family of products.
Zoho Projects features
- Task management
- Customizable dashboard
- Gantt, kanban, and list views
- Issue tracking
Zoho Projects pros and cons
Pros:
- This tool plays well with all the other apps in Zoho’s suite of products
- It makes it easy to collaborate, offering in-app chat and direct connections to video chat tool Zoho Meetings
- The pricing is more than competitive when compared to other tools on the market.
Cons:
- Users note there is a bit of a learning curve
- There are limited integration options for non-Zoho software
- Zoho Projects does not include pre-made templates
Zoho Projects pricing
The Free Plan here is extremely limited, with only 5 MB of space and the bare minimum of features. However, there is a free trial if you want to check out paid features.
- Free
- Premium: $4 per user per month (annual)
- Enterprise: $9 per user per month (annual)
Zoho Projects reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.6 out of 5 on G2
Many of the reviewers were also using other Zoho apps, making Zoho Projects a natural fit. The most frequent complaint was it takes some time to get the hang of Zoho Projects.
Smartsheet Alternative #11: Workfront
Adobe Workfront is a work management solution that can connect users from the CEO on down to the rank and file. It’s designed for both marketing and IT use cases and includes Agile features.
It’s a bit different from Smartsheet, which sticks to the project management side of the street, in that Workfront has proofing tools, budget planning, and more work management-focused features.
Workfront features
- Task management
- Budget planning
- Advanced proofing tools
- Process automations
Workfront pros and cons
Pros:
- The app offers advanced roles and permissions
- It’s highly customizable, allowing it to adapt to most organizations
- Workfront is part of the Adobe ecosystem, allowing you to interconnect with other Adobe products
Cons:
- Workfront can take some time to learn and may require training
- With an enterprise solution, you’re looking at more expensive enterprise pricing
- Implementation can be slow
Workfront pricing
Adobe Workfront provides pricing upon request.
Workfront reviews and rating
- 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.1 out of 5 on G2
Reviewers note the price is very expensive, but some exclusive features, like proofing, make it worth it.
Smartsheet Alternative #12: Celoxis
Celoxis is a project management tool that offers robust reporting options for high-level views of projects. With its complex capabilities, it’s more a choice for mid-to-large-sized companies.
Celoxis features
- Resource management
- Customizable dashboards
- Task management
- Analytics and reporting
Celoxis pros and cons
Pros:
- You can turn off the features you don’t need
- The app allows you to combine resource management with project management
- You have plenty of reporting options, including financial insights
Cons:
- Celoxis doesn’t offer a Free Plan
- There is a more limited selection of integrations than you’ll find with many competitors
- Customer support can be a bit slow
Celoxis pricing
Celoxis provides pricing upon request.
Celoxis reviews and rating
- 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.4 out of 5 on G2
While most reviewers were happy with Celoxis, there were also frequent mentions of the app not integrating with all the tools they needed.
Smartsheet Alternative #13: Teamwork
If you want an easy-to-use alternative to Smartsheet, Teamwork could be what you’re looking for. The app also includes client operations, making it a good choice for Sales teams.
Teamwork features
- Billing and invoicing
- Task management
- Time tracking
- Resource scheduling
Teamwork pros and cons
Pros:
- Teamwork is easy to use, allowing you to jump right in
- It including billing and invoicing, which most project management tools don’t
- You can bulk edit sections
Cons:
- Email notifications can be overwhelming
- Most features don’t get unlocked until the higher-priced plans
- The app slows down as you add more tasks to it
Teamwork pricing
If you want to test out Teamwork before buying, it offers a Free Plan and a free 30-day trial. Bigger plans give you access to more automations, more projects, and additional integrations.
- Free
- Starter: $5.99 per user per month (annual)
- Deliver: $9.99 per user per month (annual)
- Grow: $19.99 per user per month (annual)
- Scale: Contact Teamwork
Teamwork reviews and rating
- 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.4 out of 5 on G2
Reviewers often mention the app has a learning curve and the cost. However, most seem happy with Teamwork’s functionality overall.
Smartsheet Alternative #14: Google Sheets
Unlike many of the other apps on this list, Google Sheets really just includes the spreadsheet functionality that makes Smartsheet so unique. If you’re looking for a low-cost spreadsheet alternative, Google Sheets is free and easy to use.
Google Sheets features
- Formats and organizes data
- Computes statistics
- Creates charts or graphs
- Generates pivot tables
Google Sheets pros and cons
Pros:
- Google Sheets is free, letting you save money more complicated tools
- You can easily connect to other Google apps
- Users can collaborate on spreadsheets, since the app is cloud-based
Cons:
- The app doesn’t always do well with large data sets
- Customization options for spreadsheets are limited
- When users collaborate, version control can get complicated
- Jira Google Sheets integration can be tricky to setup and maintain
Google Sheets pricing
You can use Google Sheets for free. However, there are paid business plans for the Google suite of products. These include custom email addresses, additional storage, etc. The actual functionality of Google Sheets doesn’t really change, regardless of whether you have a Personal or Business Plan.
- Personal: Free
- Business: $12 per user per month (annual)
Google Sheets reviews and rating
- 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.6 out of 5 on G2 (for Google Workspace)
Reviewers inevitably compare Google Sheets to its main rival, Microsoft Excel. Usually they find it an accessible, user-friendly Excel alternative.
Check out our post on Google Sheets alternatives for more spreadsheet options.
Smartsheet Alternative #15: Excel
If you were brought to Smartsheet by its spreadsheet capabilities, Microsoft Excel is a natural alternative. There’s both an online version of the software and a desktop version, though the desktop version offers more features.
Microsoft Excel features
- Data formatting and organization
- Computing statistics
- Data charts and graphs
- Ability to create pivot tables
Microsoft Excel pros and cons
Pros:
- Excel is extremely good for calculation and analysis
- It offers plenty of data visualization options
- You have access to customizable formulas, including pivot tables and array formulas
Cons:
- Collaboration is more difficult in Excel than in Smartsheet
- Spreadsheets have few controls to prevent human error
- Because it’s part of the Microsoft Office Suite, the cost can seem a bit high if all you want is a spreadsheet.
- Data can grow stale, especially if you want to export data from apps like Jira to Excel
Microsoft Excel pricing
Microsoft Excel comes as part of a Microsoft 365 account, which also includes apps like Sharepoint, Word, Outlook, and so on. There are four Business plans to choose from:
- Business Basic: $6.00 per user per month
- Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month
- Business Premium: $22.00 per user per month
- Apps for Business (includes desktop versions of the apps): $8.25 per user per month
Microsoft Excel reviews and ratings
- 4.8 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.7 out of 5 on G2
Most reviewers point out Excel is a solid choice for users looking for a spreadsheet tool, though some note it can take a while to learn all the ins and outs of the software.
Smartsheet Alternative #16: Basecamp
Basecamp offers a simple, easy to digest project management system, where each project has its own page featuring to-do lists, chat, message boards, calendars, schedules, and board views. It’s targeted to small-to-mid-sized businesses.
Basecamp features
- Billing and invoicing
- Task management
- Time tracking
- Collaboration tools, including in-app chat
Basecamp pros and cons
Pros:
- Basecamp has an intuitive interface that’s easy to learn
- Users can create client projects and invite clients in as guests at no extra cost
- You can upload files and documents and link them to your projects to keep things organized
Cons:
- It lacks analytic tools to give you deeper insights into your data
- You won’t find advanced features like time tracking or a variety of views
- Given that many businesses allow customers into their instance of Basecamp, there aren’t really any permissions to protect project data
Basecamp pricing
There are only two price tiers for Basecamp, the per-user plan and the unlimited user plan. You can try out either with their 30-day free trial.
- Basecamp: $15 per user per month (annual)
- Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $299 per month (annual)
Basecamp reviews and rating
- 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.1 out of 5 on G2
Reviewers highlighted how the simple design boosts adoption. However, those looking for advanced features sometimes had to use additional apps.
Smartsheet Alternative #17: Scoro
Though Scoro is pricier than other software featured here, that’s because it has a whole separate functionality specifically for Sales. With built-in CRM, KPI dashboards, and other billing features, Scoro has a lot of unique features to help you boost your bottom line.
Scoro features
- Advanced dashboards
- Built-in CRM
- Automations for routine tasks
- Real-time Gantt charts
Scoro pros and cons
Pros:
- Scoro lets you combine project management and CRM functionality under one software
- It’s easy to get to their assortment of high-level reports
- There are plenty of customization options
Cons:
- It has a fairly high price tag for a project management system
- Since Scoro is fairly complicated, onboarding can be a rough process
- There is a limited set of integrations available
Scoro pricing
You’ll need a minimum of 5 people to use Scoro. Some key features, like automations and Gantt charts, aren’t available at the Essential Plan level.
- Essential: $26 per user per month (annual)
- Standard: $37 per user per month (annual)
- Pro: $63 per user per month (annual)
- Ultimate: Contact Scoro
Scoro reviews and rating
- 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra
- 4.5 out of 5 on G2
Several reviewers pointed out Scoro can take a while to get the hang of. However most were impressed with the tool’s ability to handle complex Sales needs.
Conclusion: Find a better way to manage your data
While Smartsheet offers a range of features and benefits, including its user-friendly interface and scalability, it may not meet the specific needs or budget constraints of every organization. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Among these alternatives, Visor stands out as a compelling option for those seeking a simpler, more cost-effective solution. Visor’s intuitive interface and customizable views make it easy for users to manage data effectively.
Furthermore, Visor’s pricing is significantly more affordable compared to Smartsheet, making it accessible to organizations of all sizes. With features like multiple views, connections to tools like Jira, and secure collaboration, Visor provides a compelling alternative to Smartsheet for those looking to streamline their data without breaking the bank.