Best Smartsheet alternatives in 2026
These are the 6 closest tools to Smartsheet that we track, ordered by what they cost to start. Each entry says how its pricing differs from Smartsheet's — based on the numbers we hold, not on who pays us. We do not publish a quality score, because we do not have one we can stand behind.
Of the 6 alternatives on this page, 3 publish a price we could verify. The cheapest paid step among them is Trello at $6/user/mo billed monthly, while Smartsheet starts paid at $9/user/mo billed annually. 3 of them publish a free plan (Trello, Jira, Linear).
Why people leave Smartsheet
- Interface is dense
- Per-user pricing with feature gates
- Spreadsheet metaphor breaks on complex work
These are the drawbacks listed in our own Smartsheet review — not complaints we invented for this page.
- OpenProject
Open-source project management software.
vs Smartsheet: cheaper to start ($5.95/mo vs $9/user/mo).
Why switch to OpenProject
- Community edition is free with no minimum users
- Support hours and channels are published per tier
What you give up
- Paid tiers carry 25, 100 and 250 user minimums
Best for: Organisations wanting self-hostable project management with a support contract.
- Trello
Simple Kanban.
vs Smartsheet: cheaper to start ($6/user/mo billed monthly vs $9/user/mo billed annually).
First paid step: Standard at $6/user/mo billed monthly
Why switch to Trello
- Zero Training: Anyone can understand how to use it at first glance.
- Fast and Light: Low CPU usage and very responsive in both browser and mobile.
What you give up
- Complexity Cap: Can become difficult to manage for projects with hundreds of tasks.
Best for: Freelancers, Small Teams, and Personal Planners.
- Jira
Dev project management.
vs Smartsheet: cheaper to start ($8/mo vs $9/user/mo).
Why switch to Jira
- Dev Focused: Offers the exact workflows and terminology that engineers need.
- Infinite Customization: Define exactly what every button and status does in detail.
What you give up
- Difficult Setup: Configuring initial settings can require a dedicated 'Jira Admin.'
Best for: Software Engineers, Product Owners, and QA Teams.
- Monday.com
Visual workflow.
vs Smartsheet: the same starting price ($9/user/mo).
Why switch to Monday.com
- Best Visual Experience: The most understandable UI due to its color-coding and design.
- Ease of Use: Even non-technical teams can adapt to it in under 10 minutes.
What you give up
- User Minimums: Certain plans require a minimum purchase of 3 users.
Best for: Marketing Teams, HR Departments, and Teams Seeking Visual Clarity.
- Linear
Best for product teams.
vs Smartsheet: pricier to start ($10/user/mo billed annually vs $9/user/mo billed annually).
First paid step: Basic at $10/user/mo billed annually
Why switch to Linear
- Blazing Fast: The interface responds instantly to every command and keyboard shortcut.
- Keyboard Native: Manage your entire project without ever leaving your keyboard.
What you give up
- Opinionated Workflow: It forces a specific way of working that may not fit all teams.
Best for: Product Engineers and High-Growth Tech Startups.
- Asana
Work management for teams.
vs Smartsheet: pricier to start ($10.99/user/mo billed annually vs $9/user/mo billed annually).
First paid step: Starter at $10.99/user/mo billed annually
Why switch to Asana
- Intuitive Interface: Excellent UX makes for a rapid team adoption and onboarding.
- Powerful Reporting: Visualize team capacity and project progress through dashboards.
What you give up
- Can be Overwhelming: Too complex for simple personal to-do lists.
Best for: Project Managers, Agencies, and Large Corporate Teams.
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