10 Amazing Smartsheet alternatives & competitors in 2024

Introduction

Are you feeling overwhelmed by Smartsheet and craving for a better solution? Whether you’re looking for something more affordable, customizable, or just different, there are plenty of Smartsheet alternatives to explore.

Smartsheet is a great project management tool to streamline tasks and simplify project tracking and collaboration. However, just like every other tool, Smartsheet has its limitations.

In this article, we will explore the best alternatives to Smarsheet and check their feature, pros and cons, and pricing.

What are the limitations of Smartsheet?

1. Overwhelming features – With too many features, users are bound to get confused, especially the first-timers.

2. Confusing user interface – You want a user-friendly interface for comfort while using the app. However, users have complained about Smartsheet’s complex user interface, which creates confusion.

3. Lack of automation – Project management tools should minimize repetitive tasks to save time. However, Smartsheet makes it a hassle for users by forcing them to invite the same people repeatedly!

4. Steep learning curve – There is a very steep learning curve, especially for 1st-time users. With overwhelming features, it is difficult for users to get used to the software quickly.

5. Poor customer support – With a confusing interface, Smartsheet should have had a strong and quick customer support team.

Sometimes, Smartsheet is Dumbsheet. I get a bit annoyed with our Smartsheet support team. – Savannah S.

Whether you’re using Smartsheet or not, this article offers project management options to explore.

10 Best Smartsheet alternatives and its competitors

1. ProofHub

ProofHub is an easy-to-use, all-in-one project management and team collaboration tool that helps you to plan, communicate, execute, and monitor projects efficiently – all in one place.

It is an excellent option for those considering Smartsheet alternatives mainly because ProofHub covers all the biggest cons of Smartsheet. Unlike Smartsheet, ProofHub boasts a comprehensive project management solution with essential features for task management, time tracking, proofing, reporting, and more.

Key features

1. Eliminate the need for multiple tools

ProofHub is an all-in-one project management and team collaboration tool. Unlike Smartsheet, which focuses primarily on data organization and spreadsheets, ProofHub offers features ranging from task management and instant communication to time tracking.

2. Centralized platform for collaboration and communication

ProofHub becomes your centralized platform for discussions, documents, feedback, etc. Online proofing eliminates the need to switch between different apps.

Robust collaboration and quick communication bring your team on the same page, so you can rest assured that the project will be completed on time.

3. Customizable workflow

With custom fields, you can modify your workflow according to your project’s needs. This helps your team to plan tasks and execute them effectively.

Creating custom workflows, setting templates, and personalizing the platform to match your team members’ preferences sets ProofHub apart.

4. Transparent & access control

Transparency is an integral part of building a successful team. ProofHub provides built-in chats, ensuring your team members can coordinate effectively. Discussions, comments, @mentions, and file sharing are all possible on the same platform.

You have complete control over modifying the permissions/roles of any user. This comes in handy to ensure that different users get to view only the essential things that are directly related to them.

5. Reporting at its best

While Smartsheet offers an activity log and customizable dashboards with dynamic data and metrics, ProofHub takes reporting to the next level. With ProofHub, you can create a wide range of customizable reports effortlessly.

From burn-up charts for tracking task progress to detailed lists of open and overdue tasks, ProofHub provides visual reports based on labels and assignees.

With additional workflow task reports, time reports, workload reports, roadmap timeline reports, and project progress reports, ProofHub empowers teams to easily track progress, identify areas for improvement, and stay on top of projects with unparalleled clarity and efficiency.

6. Value for money

The primary point of discussion is always based on money! You do not want to invest resources in a tool that does not solve the primary purpose of simplifying project management.

Smartsheet is outright costly compared to ProofHub. This is because ProofHub offers you flat pricing. This comes in handy when you are scaling your business. You can add as many users as you want without any additional charges. Hence, ProofHub is best suited for businesses of all sizes, making it one of the best Smartsheet alternatives.

Pros

• Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
• Complete control over tasks and team.
• Simple learning curve.
• Online proofing.
• The announcement feature can be used for recognition and appreciation.
• Quick response from customer support.
• Flat rate pricing.

Cons

• Notifications are sometimes overwhelming.
• Built-in client invoicing is not available.

Pricing

For details, visit the pricing page.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

2. Workzone

Workzone is a great alternative to Smartsheet, particularly for teams that need a balance of simplicity and robust project management features. Unlike Smartsheet, which can be complex to use at times, Workzone offers an intuitive interface that’s easier to navigate, making it an ideal choice for teams with less tech expertise.

Key features:

• Powerful collaboration features for ensuring your team members are all on the same page.
• Effective analysis using automated reports helps identify areas that require improvement.
• Transparent workflow with dependencies for quickly identifying bottlenecks and eliminating delays.

Pros

• Quick response from the support team.
• Customization options are available.
• A vast number of project templates.

Cons

• Comments are not available.
• The mobile application is not up to the mark.
• Hourly tracker not streamlined.

Pricing 

• The basic plan costs $24 per user per month,
• The enterprise plan costs $34 per user per month.

The prices are too high for a tool that offers only simple and basic project management features.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

 3. Google sheets

With Google Sheets, you can create, edit, and collaborate wherever you are. Google Sheets has a productivity app suite lets you create and keep documents in Google Drive.

However, Google Sheets are basically for simple planning. If you currently use Excel, Google Sheets is just a necessary upgrade!

Key features

• Multiple users can work on the same spreadsheet, further using a single login on multiple devices simultaneously is also possible.
• Real-time sync and data updates ensure files are always up-to-date, immaterial of the device you are accessing.
• Audit logs and reports enable you to quickly revert to the previous version and review individual changes made by your team members.

Pros

• Automatic saving ensures no data is lost. 
• Unmatched security for safe storage and sharing of confidential data. 
• Accessible across devices of all sizes.  

Cons

• This is spreadsheet software and is not designed specifically for project management.
• It cannot integrate two different domains and requires a separate login. 
• Built-in chat is not available.

Pricing

• The prices are for Google Workspace, which includes Google Sheets and a host of other apps.
• The Flexible pack starts from $7.20 per user per month.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

4. Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project offers advanced project scheduling, portfolio management, and resource management features. It can be a great alternative to Smartsheet, especially for managing large teams and complex projects. Additionally, it integrates with other Microsoft Office tools, making it an ideal choice for teams in the Microsoft ecosystem.

However, the tool offers limited collaboration features compared to other project management tools.

Key features

• You can collaborate efficiently with team members using the web-based platform.
• Easily understandable Gantt chart for quickly communicating project details to team members.
• Multiple view options help quickly identify bottlenecks and rectify them early.

Pros

• Built-in customizable templates.
• Quick response from the customer support team. 
• The drag-and-drop feature makes it very easy to create and assign new tasks.

Cons

• The learning curve is steep.
• Overwhelming features may confuse first-time users.
• Limited collaboration features.

Pricing 

• The basic plan starts from $10 per user per month, while the premium plan costs around $55 per user/month.
• This tool is highly-priced for a small business, moreover, for the features offered by this tool, the prices are not justified.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4 out of 5 stars

5. Taiga.io

Taiga.io is one of the best Smarsheet alternatives for teams focused on agile project management. It is an open-source project management tool designed to support cross-functional agile teams. It offers built-in features like sprint planning, backlog management, and Kanban boards.

Taiga.io is an excellent choice for agile teams looking for a cost-effective solution.

Key features

• Effectively keep track of your test cases, bugs, and cloud data without hassles.
• Integrated bug/issue tracking with customization options based on severity, types, and priority.
• Quick and effective onboarding for a head start into agile project management!

Pros

• Import current projects from other tools.
• Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Built-in billing feature.

Cons

• No mobile app.
• The process of generating reports is a bit complex.
• The tool is slow when it comes to processing oversized cases.

Pricing

• The plan costs around $70 per month. You can add unlimited users.
• Also, a plan starts from $10 for teams working on Linux or Docker.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

6. Planview AgilePlace

Planview AgilePlace (Formely LeanKit) is a cloud-based visual management tool based on the Kanban-style platform. Like Smartsheet, it has features that include a discussion board, project management, and collaboration tools.

What sets Planview AgilePlace apart is the private cloud feature and enhanced security administration.

Key features

• Create a strategy and organize delivery plans using simple and intuitive Kanban boards.
• The tool provides you with Agile project management, and you can also effectively schedule tasks based on the waterfall methodology.
• Schedule and allocate your resources effectively by comparing the demand to your team’s capacity.

Pros

• Individual users have to-do lists. So they can view their tasks with ease.
• Set dependencies between tasks to ensure steady project progression.
• Customizable templates as per individual project requirements.

Cons

• Report generation is not up to the mark.
• The dashboard is not optimized for a user-friendly experience.
• Occasional issues with budget management, as the currency transfer rates are not updated and require manual updation.

Pricing

• Pricing details are not mentioned on their website. You have to contact their sales team for detailed pricing and quotation.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars

7. Scoro

Scoro helps you to manage a business effectively. The best part for me was the ability to send bills and quotes right from the app. This helps in saving a lot of time and the hassles of changing apps multiple times.

However, Scoro is not highly dynamic and has minimal automation options.

Key features

• Seamless workflow ensures steady project flow without any hindrance. 
• Integration with other tools like Dropbox, Outlook, Mailchimp, etc., saves time and increases productivity. 
• Get detailed insights about your team’s performance and make decisions confidently. 

Pros

• Flexible and quick set-up ensuring seamless project continuity
• Best suited for tracking orders or quotes
• Real-time overview and automated reports

Cons

• Slightly long learning curve
• Limited customization capabilities
• Exporting Gantt charts is not possible

Pricing

• The Essential plan starts from $26 per user per month.
• The Pro plan costs $63 per user per month.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

8. MindManager

MindManager is a visual project planning and brainstorming tool for individuals and organizations. It offers mind mapping and diagramming tools that can help you visualize complex ideas and workflows. This makes brainstorming easier, and you can manage and plan projects more intuitively, unlike Smartsheet, which is more spreadsheet-based.

With MindManager, you can become more adept at brainstorming, managing, and planning projects easily and quickly.

Key features

• Best suited for task managers for analyzing and delegating tasks effectively using the ideation sessions.
• Effective methodology for brainstorming to avoid overwhelming thought processes.
• Easily convert your maps into slides to easily communicate with your team members.

Pros

• Quick export option in several different formats
• Simple integration with other essential apps like Drive, etc
• Customizable options for different project ideas

Cons

• The invoicing feature does not perform well
• The learning curve is quite steep
• Lags between syncing multiple devices

Pricing

• The essential plan for an individual user costs $99 per year
• For teams, the plans start from $179 per year

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

9. Nutcache

Nutcache brings the best of Agile to your business workflow, making it a strong option among Smartsheet alternatives. It provides your team with a solution for managing the entire project delivery. It has all the Agile features to manage your project seamlessly.

However, this tool is best suited only for small businesses or individual users.

Key features

• Timesheets for efficient time tracking that provides you with an overall understanding of the project advancement.
• Customizable dashboards quickly help users to adapt to the tool with ease.
• You have complete control over the project flow and can analyze multiple options before finalizing an idea.

Pros

• Quick set-up and initial configuration.
• Track multiple projects with ease.
• Share and collaborate effectively with clients.

Cons

• The customer support team is sometimes not quick and responsive.
• The mobile application is not up to the mark and is slow to respond.
• Reporting and summaries require intuitive and simple-to-use features.

Pricing 

• The Pro plan starts from $12.49 per user per month. The Enterprise plan starts from $21.49 per user per month.
• However, you can additional users only in blocks of 5. This may impact your budget when you are planning to scale your business.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars

10. Celoxis

Celoxis is a powerful task-scheduling and portfolio management tool. For businesses, this tool helps you to manage complex projects by breaking them into smaller chunks.

However, the custom roles and access are not defined clearly. This leads to confusion, resulting in a loss of productivity.

Key features

• Powerful dashboards and reports provide an all-around view of the project progression.
• Allocate resources based on the existing workload of your team members, thereby ensuring even distribution of workload.
• Customizable fields – currency, time, and even formulas- are needed for effective working.

Pros

• Birds’ eye view of the overall workload of your team.
• Time tracking for quick invoicing and billing.
• Highly customizable and initiative dashboard.

Cons

• Reports are inflexible, and custom fields are not available when generating reports.
• Inability to limit resources that you do not want to use.
• Minor bugs in scheduling tasks happen occasionally.

Pricing 

The Team member plan starts at $15 per user per month, and the manager plan is $25 per user. This is a bit costly for a cloud-based tool.

Rating

• Capterra rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
• G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Tips for choosing the suitable Smartsheet alternative

Now that you have come this far let us conclude our exploration journey with tips to help you select the tool you desire.

These are the tips you can focus on when researching and reviewing other tools, especially when exploring Smartsheet competitors. Having a standard helps simplify the selection process and helps you in selecting the right tool.

👉 Identify your specific needs

Every team has a specific requirement. Like all our fingers are not the same size, different teams have different requirements. Therefore, when exploring Smartsheet alternatives, choose a tool that provides the features that you need the most. Owning a tool that will provide many features is unnecessary, but you need one that fulfils your basic requirements.

👉 Assess scalability and flexibility

Your team is bound to grow, and the size of projects will also get more complex. Analyse if the tool will be able to grow along with your team. It is not wise to change your PM tool, as there is a chance of losing your team’s productivity. Check if the tool is customizable and adapts to your team. Consider exploring Smartsheet alternatives if your current project management tool might not fit.

👉 User-friendliness and ease of adoption

The tool that you choose should not have a steep learning curve. You do not want your team members to spend productive hours learning how to use the tool. Select a tool that your entire team can quickly adopt.

👉 User reviews and recommendations

To understand the experience of managers using a particular tool, you can read reviews on trusted websites like G2, Capterra, and Software Advice.

👉 Free trials and demos

This is a primary requirement – “First try, then pay.” Unless and until you are not completely satisfied with the functioning of the PM tool, do not make the next move. This may end up as a huge disaster down the road.

👉 Pricing

First, decide your budget and evaluate the needs you want the PM tool to meet. Depending on the features that you specifically want, you can start looking for Smartsheet alternatives. We recommend you not compare different tools based on pricing alone. The features provided by other tools vary. Based on your team, look for a tool that meets typical project management requirements.

Conclusion

Choosing a suitable alternative is an important decision that can affect your team’s productivity and the success of the projects. While Smartsheet is a good tool, other alternatives might better suit your needs.

To wrap things up, you can try ProofHub. It offers features that can be an excellent alternative to Smartsheet. From simplified task management and real-time collaboration to efficient communication channels and comprehensive reporting, ProofHub has it all.

FAQs