Smartsheet Review: Pros, Cons, Features and Pricing

Smartsheet excels in flexibility and collaboration, making it a strong choice for teams seeking versatile marketing workflow solutions.

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By Amanda Jacques

Marketing ops leader specializing in strategy, systems, and audience growth.Last updated on Sep 10, 2026

We review tools independently, and commissions help fund our testing. See our transparency policy, our methodology, or suggest a tool.

Why Trust Our Reviews?

Smartsheet is a marketing workflow software built around a spreadsheet-style grid that marketing teams use to manage campaigns, content calendars, and multi-step approvals. It's worth a close look if your team juggles complex, multi-phase projects across multiple stakeholders. Compared to monday.com, Smartsheet gives you more control over formula-based logic, advanced reporting, and structured data—making it a stronger fit for teams who need more than visual boards and basic task tracking.

Smartsheet Evaluation Summary

Coordinates tasks, plans, and collaboration across marketing projects.

Customer rating

4.4/5

Pricing

From $9/user/month (billed annually)
30-day free trial

Why Trust Our Software Recommendations

6,700+

Reviews

Industry experts

16+

Evaluation factors

Years

Our team has been testing and reviewing software since 2012. As marketing leaders ourselves, we know how difficult—and important—it is to choose the right software.

For this guide, we evaluated tools using hands-on testing and independent research, scoring tools using our selection criteria.

Our reviews reflect our human editorial judgment, not a sales pitch.

Expert reviewers:

Gui DrusinaCreative Director
Shriya GhateSenior Marketing Lead
Amanda JacquesMarketing Ops Leader

Smartsheet Overview

In my opinion, Smartsheet is a solid choice for teams needing a flexible marketing workflow platform. Its spreadsheet-like interface offers powerful features, though it might feel outdated compared to more intuitive tools. Smartsheet excels in integrations and handling complex projects, making it great for project managers and marketing departments dealing with extensive data or requiring advanced reporting.

However, the onboarding process could be smoother, and its pricing might not suit smaller teams. If you're looking to compare, other tools might offer sleeker interfaces, but Smartsheet's functionality and scalability can be hard to match for those who value depth over aesthetics.

Pros

You can manage complex projects with ease using its powerful project management tools.
The spreadsheet-like interface makes it easy for your team to adopt.
It offers extensive customization options for tailoring workflows to your needs.

Cons

Your team might find the interface feels outdated compared to newer tools.
The learning curve can be steep if you're new to project management software.
It lacks some intuitive features found in other marketing workflow tools.

Is Smartsheet Right For Your Needs?

Who Would be a Good Fit for Smartsheet?

Smartsheet is great for marketing teams and project managers in industries like advertising and event planning. If your work involves managing large projects with many moving parts, Smartsheet's powerful project management tools and customization options help you stay organized and on track. Its spreadsheet-like interface is familiar and easy for your team to adopt, making it an excellent choice for teams that need detailed tracking and reporting.

Marketing Agencies
Smartsheet helps your agency manage multiple client projects with its detailed task tracking and reporting features.
Event Planning
You can coordinate complex schedules and logistics easily with Smartsheet's customizable workflows and timelines.
Construction Projects
Smartsheet's project management tools allow you to track budgets, timelines, and tasks effectively in construction projects.
Product Development
Your team can manage product launches and track progress with Smartsheet's robust project planning features.
Human Resources
HR teams can benefit from Smartsheet's ability to track recruitment processes and employee onboarding efficiently.
IT Departments
IT teams can use Smartsheet to manage projects and track IT infrastructure changes with its detailed task management capabilities.

Who Would be a Bad Fit for Smartsheet?

Smartsheet might not suit small businesses or startups with limited budgets and simple project management needs. If your team prefers visually appealing interfaces or needs intuitive, easy-to-learn software, Smartsheet's spreadsheet-like format could feel cumbersome. Creative teams seeking advanced design collaboration tools might also find it lacking. Its learning curve can deter teams looking for quick setup and immediate ease of use.

Small Startups
Smartsheet’s extensive features might overwhelm small startups looking for simple solutions without a steep learning curve.
Design Agencies
Agencies focusing on design might find Smartsheet lacking in visual tools for creative collaboration.
Retail Stores
Retail operations needing quick, day-to-day task handling might find Smartsheet’s functionality unnecessarily complex.
Non-Tech Savvy Teams
Teams unfamiliar with project management software may struggle with Smartsheet’s interface and require simpler tools.
Freelancers
Freelancers needing basic task management might find Smartsheet's features excessive for their needs.
Education Institutions
Educational settings that require user-friendly interfaces may find Smartsheet’s layout less appealing for educators and students.

How We Test & Score Tools

We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.

Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.

Core Functionality (25% of final scoring)

The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.

Standout Features (25% of final scoring)

Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.

We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.

Ease of Use (10% of final scoring)

We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.

Onboarding (10% of final scoring)

We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.

Customer Support (10% of final scoring)

We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.

Customer Reviews (10% of final scoring)

Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.

Value for Money (10% of final scoring)

Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.

Core Features

Task Management

You can easily create, assign, and track tasks, ensuring your team stays on top of deadlines. This feature helps you manage workloads and prioritize effectively.

Gantt Charts

Smartsheet's Gantt charts let you visualize project timelines and dependencies at a glance. They help you plan and adjust project schedules with ease.

Dashboards

With dashboards, you get a real-time overview of project status and metrics. They keep your team informed and aligned with project goals.

Automation

Automate repetitive tasks to save time and reduce errors in your workflows. This feature allows you to focus on more strategic activities.

Reporting

Generate detailed reports to analyze progress and performance across projects. This helps you make informed decisions based on data insights.

Collaboration Tools

Smartsheet's collaboration tools let your team communicate and share files within the platform. This feature enhances team coordination and reduces email overload.

Smartsheet screenshot — Create, assign, and track tasks to meet deadlines.

Standout Features

Customizable Templates

Smartsheet offers a range of templates that you can tailor to fit your project needs. This flexibility allows you to quickly set up projects without starting from scratch.

Resource Management

Track and allocate resources effectively to ensure your team is balanced and productive. This feature helps you avoid overloading team members and maintain project efficiency.

Ease of Use

Smartsheet's ease of use can be a mixed bag for your team. The spreadsheet-like interface offers familiarity, but it can feel clunky compared to more modern tools. While its extensive features provide depth, new users might find the learning curve steep. Once you get past the initial setup, you’ll likely appreciate its powerful project management capabilities. However, if your team prefers intuitive and sleek interfaces, Smartsheet might not be the best fit.

Onboarding

Smartsheet's onboarding process might challenge your team initially, as it requires time to get accustomed to its features. While the platform provides tutorials and guides, some users feel these resources don’t fully ease the transition. The learning curve can delay your team’s time to value, especially if they’re new to project management tools. However, once you navigate the setup, the platform's capabilities can become a strong asset for your projects.

Customer Support

Smartsheet offers decent customer support, which can be a relief when you face issues. Users report that the support team is responsive and willing to help, though some feel the resolution times could improve. You’ll find a range of support channels, including email and phone, but advanced users might wish for more in-depth assistance. The availability of comprehensive online resources can also aid your team in troubleshooting common problems.

Integrations

Smartsheet integrates with Microsoft Teams, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, Power BI, Tableau, Salesforce, Jira, Power Automate, Zapier, and Google Workspace. Smartsheet also offers an API and connects with third-party integration tools to further extend its capabilities.

Value for Money

Smartsheet uses a tiered subscription model designed to scale with team size and feature needs. It offers a 30-day free trial, allowing teams to explore paid features before committing. While pricing increases with more advanced capabilities, many organizations find the Business and Enterprise plans worthwhile for their automation, reporting, and collaboration tools.

Pro Plan: Starts at $9 per user/month (billed annually). Includes core project and task management features for individuals and small teams.
Business Plan: Starts at $19 per user/month (billed annually). Adds unlimited automations, enhanced collaboration tools, advanced reporting, and workload tracking.
Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing. Includes advanced security, enterprise-grade administration controls, integrations, and premium support.

New Product Updates from Smartsheet

October 18 2026

Smartsheet Adds Non-Plan User Management in Admin Center

Smartsheet now lists non-plan users and users deactivated from the plan for more than 30 days in a dedicated Admin Center tab. System admins can manage those users directly from the same page. Highlights include:

Non Plan Users Tab: View users who belong to the organization but are not currently on the plan.
Deactivated User Visibility: See users who were deactivated from the plan more than 30 days ago.
Add to Plan: Add eligible users to the plan directly from the page.
Remove From Organization: Remove non-plan users from the organization without switching workflows.
Centralized User Management: Manage these users from the Seat types and true-up page in Admin Center.