As a project management software, Smartsheet offers a unique combination of spreadsheet-like features that make it a versatile tool for intelligent work collaboration.
However, I think some users may find it has a steeper learning curve to utilize its more advanced features. So, I'll share my best Smartsheet alternatives to help optimize your team's workflow.
» Keep everyone on the same page with interactive to-do lists.
Our 5 Best Smartsheet Alternatives in 2024:
- monday.com - Best Smartsheet alternative overall
- ClickUp - Best for small teams and businesses
- Asana - Best for teams that need flexibility
- Wrike - Best for deadline management
- Jira Software - Best for software development teams
A Closer Look at the Best Smartsheet Alternatives in 2024
1. monday.com
A highly customizable and visually intuitive project management program
Best for - At-a-glance views of project progress and workload
Starting price - $8/user/month
Storage size - 5GB–1,000GB
Free trial - 14 days
Team collaboration tools - Collaborative docs, updates, Zoom integration, whiteboards
Views - Dashboards, Kanban, timeline, Gantt, charts, calendar
I believe that monday.com is ideal for efficient problem-solving since it easily helps you identify hurdles in your pipeline. I can manage my team’s work all in one place, visualize project progress with Gantt charts and Kanban boards, and pinpoint areas that need support.
My favorite thing about monday.com is I don't have to worry about finding and sifting through long email threads to stay in the loop. All communication and updates are kept within the project environment—down to the individual tasks assigned to team members.
What Makes monday.com a Good Alternative to Smartsheet?
monday.com's unique automation builder makes project setup seamless and personalized. This can provide much value for freelancers and startups looking to boost productivity. Smartsheet, on the other hand, is much more manual and technical in its design.
» Check out these monday.com alternatives if you want something similar.
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface
- Customizable workflows
- Real-time collaboration
Cons
- Limited reporting capabilities
- Higher pricing compared to some competitors
2. ClickUp
An intelligent and hierarchical task structuring tool
Best for - Small businesses
Starting price - $7/user/month
Storage size - 100MB-unlimited
Free trial - 14 days
Team collaboration tools - Real-time editing, comments, discussions, chat, workspaces
Views - Lists, boards, calendars, Gantt charts, tables, timelines, mind maps, workloads, boxes, activities, maps
ClickUp has a wide range of view types, including list, board, box, calendar, Gantt, activity, mind maps, and timelines. It also has simple drag-and-drop features, so customizing your workflow is easy.
Additionally, ClickUp's collaboration capabilities are incredibly comprehensive, with features like team reporting and real-time editing. This makes it ideal if you're willing to invest time in training and explore its full potential.
What Makes ClickUp a Good Alternative to Smartsheet?
ClickUp's automation builder streamlines project setup, making it a fantastic choice for boosting productivity, particularly for freelancers and remote startups. Smartsheet leans more towards manual processes and might suit you better if you're already spreadsheet-savvy.
» Want more options? Try these Asana alternatives.
Pros
- Wide range of features
- Customizable views
- Seamless integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve for complex setups
- Occasional performance issues
3. Asana
A seamless team collaboration hub with 200 native integrations
Best for - Breaking down complex projects into achievable tasks
Starting price - Free, $10,99/user/month
Storage size - Unlimited
Free trial - 30 days
Team collaboration tools - Comments, chat, file-sharing, subtasks
Views - List, board, timeline
If you're serious about staying organized and boosting your team's productivity, Asana could be precisely what you need. It's all about flexibility. You can tailor it to suit your needs with custom fields, templates, and workflows.
You can create tasks, set deadlines, and assign them to team members, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. I particularly enjoy Asana's timeline view, which helps you see the big picture, while Gantt charts keep dependencies in check. Its Kanban boards also give you that satisfying visual overview of your tasks.
What Makes Asana a Good Alternative to Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is more for complex data management and highly customizable environments. Asana, however, is better for smaller teams with its straightforward and user-friendly way of managing projects.
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- Robust task management features
- Extensive integrations
Cons
- Limited reporting options
- Complex setup for large teams
4. Wrike
Scale your business flexibly and effectively
Best for - Large teams
Starting price - $9.80/user/month
Storage size - 2GB–15GB/user
Free trial - 14 days
Team collaboration tools - Live editing, file sharing, cross-tagging, proofing
Views - Kanban, Gantt, charts, tables, calendar
Wrike is designed for you to manage interdependent tasks without stress. You can easily assign tasks and chat with your teammates so you're always on the same page. For me, the user interface is the cherry on top, as it allows me to prioritize tasks while keeping my eye on project timelines efficiently.
I also really like that if there are task delays, it automatically updates your deadlines without needing you to track down and update manually.
What Makes Wrike a Good Alternative to Smartsheet?
Both Smartsheet and Wrike excel in project management, but their strengths differ. Smartsheet primarily caters to businesses that rely heavily on spreadsheets. In contrast, Wrike offers a high degree of flexibility with over 20 different file types, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of business types.
Pros
- Customizable workflows
- Advanced project analytics
- Easy file sharing
Cons
- Complex navigation for beginners
- Higher pricing for additional features
5. Jira Software
An Agile collaboration powerhouse
Best for - Technical teams, including IT specialists and engineers
Starting price - From $7.75/user/month
Storage size - 250GB–unlimited
Free trial - Seven days
Team collaboration tools - Confluence, Bitbucket, goal tracking, task reporting
Views - Dashboards, Kanban, timeline, lists, scrum boards
Atlassian's Jira software is a feature-rich project management software. Its flexibility lets you tailor it to your development methodologies, whether Agile—which over a third of software teams use—Scrum, Kanban, or a hybrid approach.
To me, what truly sets Jira apart from its competitors is its deep integration capabilities with other Atlassian products like Bitbucket and Confluence. This makes it a cohesive ecosystem for product development. Additionally, its marketplace boasts thousands of add-ons and integrations, enabling you to expand Jira's functionalities to fit your unique needs.
What Makes Jira Software a Good Alternative to Smartsheet?
Unlike Smartsheet, Jira's unique Agile capabilities are specifically tailored to software development projects, particularly when it comes to meticulously tracking bugs and issues.
Pros
- Powerful Agile features
- Extensive customization options
- Seamless integration with development tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Limited non-software project management capabilities
Smartsheet Alternatives: Tailored Solutions for Your Project Needs
Each of these alternatives brings its unique strengths to the table, catering to a wide range of project management needs. For example, monday.com excels at seamless project organization, while Wrike distinguishes itself with its adaptable and scalable approach. At the same time, Jira is my top choice for technical teams.
The possibilities seem limitless—you just need to discover the perfect fit for your work style and goals, whether that's among Smartsheet alternatives or within the broader spectrum of monday.com alternatives.
» Need to juggle multiple tasks at the same time? Try using Gantt charts.
