Smartsheet — Independent Software Review

AI-powered intelligence for smarter work management.

Compliance Transparency Index

Grade: A — Score: 90/100

Best For

• Spreadsheet-savvy teams needing collaborative project management with a familiar interface.
• Mid-to-large enterprises requiring enterprise-grade security and governance for complex projects.
• Departments needing high customization for workflows, such as marketing and HR.

Not Ideal For

• Teams seeking simple, out-of-the-box solutions for day-to-day task tracking.
• Organizations needing highly visual tools for task management, like Kanban boards.
• Small teams on a tight budget looking for robust free plans compared to competitors.

Operational Overview

Pricing Structure

Business: $25

• Collaboration tools
• Reporting features
• Integration options

Alternative Consideration

Consider switching to Asana: Asana offers a more user-friendly interface for smaller teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smartsheet the same as Excel?

Smartsheet is not the same as Excel; it offers project management features that Excel lacks. For instance, Smartsheet includes Gantt charts for visual project timelines, automated workflows, and collaboration tools like comments and attachments directly within rows.

Is Smartsheet a CRM tool?

Smartsheet is not primarily a CRM tool, but it can be customized to manage customer relationships through its project management capabilities. Users can create templates for tracking leads and customer interactions, but dedicated CRM features like sales forecasting and customer segmentation are not built-in.

Is Smartsheet difficult to learn?

Learning Smartsheet can be straightforward for users familiar with spreadsheets, but it does have a learning curve due to its advanced features. The platform offers extensive resources, including templates and tutorials, to help users get accustomed to functionalities like automated workflows and dashboard creation.

What are the limitations of Smartsheet?

Smartsheet does not support complex data analysis like pivot tables, which are available in Excel. Users often work around this by exporting data to Excel for advanced analysis or using Smartsheet's reporting features to summarize data.

What are the main features of Smartsheet?

Key features of Smartsheet include Gantt charts for project scheduling, automated workflows for task management, and real-time collaboration tools like comments and file attachments. Additionally, it offers integrations with tools like Google Drive and Microsoft Teams for enhanced productivity.

Who is Smartsheets' biggest competitor?

Smartsheet's biggest competitor is Asana, which focuses on task management and team collaboration. While Smartsheet offers robust project management features like Gantt charts and resource management, Asana excels in user-friendly task assignments and project tracking.

What can Smartsheet do that Excel cannot?

Smartsheet can automate workflows through its automated alerts and reminders feature, which Excel does not offer natively. Additionally, Smartsheet allows for real-time collaboration with multiple users, enabling simultaneous editing and commenting, which Excel lacks without using SharePoint.

Does NASA use Smartsheet?

This is not publicly documented by Smartsheet.

What are the disadvantages of Smartsheet?

One disadvantage of Smartsheet is its pricing model, which can be costly for small teams compared to other project management tools. Additionally, while it offers many features, some users find the interface less intuitive than simpler tools, which may slow down initial adoption.