Choosing the right project management software in 2025 can be overwhelming with so many options available. It’s crucial to find a tool that matches your team's needs. The wrong choice can lead to wasted time and money, along with miscommunication and delays.
If you’re unsure whether Smartsheet is the right fit or if it’s just not working for you, this article is here to help. We’ll take a look at 10 great Smartsheet alternatives that might be a better match for your business.
What is Smartsheet?
Image source: smartsheet.com
Smartsheet is an enterprise work management platform that manages projects and processes for your company. It was based originally on a powerful spreadsheet app that had project management and other features built on top of it.
It’s a cloud-based app for data management and automation. As the name suggests, spreadsheets are where it shines. It can manage large amounts of data, and its automation features make input and export data easy.
The next section will delve into the pros and cons of Smartsheet. Then, we’ll review some alternatives to Smartsheet that may be more suitable for your company.
What Smartsheet does right and what it lacks
Smartsheet has garnered mixed reviews from users, with some praising its simplicity and automation features, while others find it challenging and limited in scope. Here’s a breakdown of what Smartsheet does well and where it falls short.
Smartsheet benefits
Simplicity and ease of use
Many users appreciate Smartsheet for its intuitive design, making it easy to onboard teams without a steep learning curve. Its base features are simple to navigate, which is great for teams with straightforward project needs.Ideal for simple projects
Smartsheet works well for smaller projects or less complex workflows. It’s a solid choice for teams needing basic project management features like task tracking, deadlines, and basic collaboration.Powerful project management tool
Smartsheet offers a wide range of project management features, including Gantt charts, task dependencies, and timeline views. These help streamline project tracking and ensure teams stay on the same page.Automation capabilities
Smartsheet stands out for its automation features, which can save time on tasks like time tracking and progress reporting. This can significantly reduce the manual workload for project managers and teams.
Smartsheet limitations
Spreadsheet-centric
Smartsheet is essentially a supercharged spreadsheet. While that works well for certain use cases, it can feel limiting if you're looking for a more versatile project management solution. Some users have even struggled to use it for tasks outside of project management, such as customer relationship management (CRM).High learning curve for advanced features
While Smartsheet is easy to use at a basic level, the more advanced features can be difficult to master. Teams may face challenges when trying to leverage Smartsheet’s full potential, especially if they lack prior experience with similar tools.Data Entry Issues
Some users have pointed out issues with data entry, particularly the need to save after every input. This can be frustrating for teams working with large amounts of data.Limited scope of capabilities
While Smartsheet excels in project management and automation, it’s still essentially a spreadsheet tool with added features. As such, it has limited capabilities outside of those core areas. Teams looking for a more robust, all-in-one project management solution may find it lacking.
Smartsheet is a great tool for small teams or simple projects, especially if you need automation and basic project tracking. However, its spreadsheet-like interface and other limitations may not make it the best choice for larger teams or more complex projects. If you need a more comprehensive project management solution, exploring alternatives may be worth your while.
What to consider when choosing a Smartsheet alternative
Selecting the right alternative to Smartsheet requires careful evaluation of several factors to ensure the new platform supports your team’s project management needs.
1. Project complexity and customization
Look for a tool that can manage complex workflows and offer customizable project views. Smartsheet has a wide variety of project management features, so when considering alternatives, ensure they can handle task dependencies, dynamic timelines, and provide customizable templates.
2. Collaboration and communication
Effective collaboration is key to project success. Choose a platform that integrates communication features such as real-time updates, file sharing, and team discussions in one place. This minimizes the need for multiple tools and ensures seamless coordination across your team.
3. Ease of use and onboarding
A user-friendly interface is crucial to ensure quick adoption and maximize productivity. Look for tools that are easy to navigate with a minimal learning curve and offer onboarding support to help your team transition smoothly.
4. Integration capabilities
Your team likely uses various tools (e.g., CRM systems, time tracking, and document management). Ensure the alternative integrates easily with other software to streamline workflows and reduce data silos. Alternatively, choose software that provides an all-in-one experience, limiting the need for costly third-party tools.
5. Scalability and pricing
As your team grows, you’ll need a tool that can scale with your business. Evaluate pricing models to ensure they are affordable at your current size and will remain cost-effective as you expand, while still offering the features your team needs.
Top 10 Smartsheets alternatives at a glance
10 best Smartsheet alternatives in 2025
We did the research and reviewed nine of the best alternatives to Smartsheet. We’ll walk you through each app, who it’s best suited for, what integrations it offers, and share the features and benefits of each. You’ll also learn what users have said about each app and how much it costs, ranging from a limited free trial to an enterprise level with unlimited users and projects.
1. Lark - Best overall Smartsheet alternative
Lark is the ultimate Smartsheet alternative for 2025, providing an all-in-one collaboration platform for teams of all sizes.
Lark combines project management, communication, and productivity tools into one seamless experience, providing the same features as Smartsheet—and more. With Lark, you can manage chats, meetings, calendars, documents, emails, and projects all in one integrated solution. Plus, with the Lark mobile app, your team can stay connected and productive on the go, syncing seamlessly with your desktop for an intuitive, efficient workflow.
Key Features:
Base: Create custom workflows and dashboards without coding, tailoring project management to your team’s needs for streamlined task tracking and clear milestones.
Sheets: A spreadsheet tool for teams who prefer working with traditional spreadsheets, offering collaborative editing and project tracking in a familiar format.
Messenger: Integrated team chat for real-time communication. Organize discussions by project or task, share files, and improve collaboration by reducing email reliance.
Docs: Real-time collaboration on project documents, allowing teams to edit, provide feedback, and maintain version control for seamless teamwork.
Meetings: Efficient virtual meetings with content sharing and built-in translations, making project discussions accessible to teams across different locations.
Email: Integrated business email simplifies communication, allowing you to switch between email, chat, meetings, and document sharing within one platform.
Calendar: Schedule and share project deadlines, meetings, and milestones. The synced calendar ensures everyone stays aligned and avoids scheduling conflicts.
OKR: Align and track project goals, ensuring tasks focus on broader business objectives and keeping your team on track and productive.
Meegle: Comprehensive project management from start to finish, enabling teams to track timelines, assign tasks, and monitor progress for on-time delivery.
Open Platform: Customize Lark with APIs to integrate other tools or build custom apps, adapting to your team’s unique project management needs.
Pros:
The comprehensive feature set makes it an all-in-one collaboration suite ideal for project managers.
User-friendly, attractive interface makes it easy to keep up with your work whether you prefer managing projects through spreadsheets or project management software.
Integrated chat, email, and calls enable smooth collaboration for your team.
Cons:
Steep learning curve for some advanced features.
Integrations:
As an all-in-one solution, you can find all the project management tools you need within Lark. However, there’s a variety of integration options, including those found in the Lark App Directory.
Pricing:
The free plan includes over 11 products including project management features
Paid plans start at $12 per user/month
2. Asana - Best for streamlining project management
As a Smartsheet alternative, Asana offers a user-friendly platform for remote teams to manage complex projects.
Image source: g2.com
With features like task assignments, deadlines, and multiple project views, it helps teams stay organized and aligned. Asana’s ability to integrate with other tools and automate repetitive tasks ensures teams can focus on what matters most, regardless of project size.
Key Features:
Project management
Task management
Calendar
Gantt chart
Resource management
Time tracking
Pros:
Free for up to 10 users, with a wide variety of features in the free version.
Clean, intuitive interface makes it easy to collaborate and track tasks and projects.
Simple to set up and easy to learn to use.
Cons:
Notifications get lost because of excessive notifications and emails. Email notifications are automatically opted-in and clutter your inbox.
Lacks the ability to schedule recurring tasks.
High price for the full version.
Integrations:
Google Sheets, Gmail, Looker, and Google Drive
Zoom
Slack
Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook
Salesforce and Tableau
Pricing:
Offers free version and free trial
Paid plans start at $13.49 per user per month
3. Trello - Best for Kanban boards
For remote teams managing multiple tasks and workflows, Trello offers a visual, intuitive solution.
Image source: startupstash.com
Built around customizable Kanban boards, it allows teams to track progress, assign tasks, and stay aligned with ease. Its drag-and-drop interface and simple features make it ideal for teams seeking a straightforward way to manage projects and deadlines.
Key Features:
Kanban boards
Task management
Project management
Automation
Customizable templates
Pros:
Simple design and user-friendly interface.
Quick and easy to set up.
Inexpensive and affordable pricing.
Cons:
Limited tools and few advanced features compared to other task management tools.
Integrations:
Slack
Zendesk
Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Gmail
Dropbox
Zapier
Salesforce
Pricing:
Free plan available with up to 10 boards
Standard: $5 per user per month
Premium: $10 per user per month
Enterprise: $17.50 per user per month
4. Basecamp - Best for remote teams
Basecamp is a straightforward project management and team collaboration tool that consolidates all your work needs into a single platform, including to-do lists, file storage, messaging, and scheduling.
Image source: ar.inspiredpencil.com
Having been around for over 15 years, Basecamp has built a reputation for its simplicity and effectiveness in streamlining team communication. Its easy-to-use interface makes it great for teams that want to stay organized without the clutter of too many features, and it’s especially ideal for remote teams looking for seamless collaboration.
Key Features:
Document and file storage
Group message boards and chat
Task management
Pros:
Simple, easy-to-use interface and features
Great customer support
Easy visibility and organization of teams and projects. This clarity makes progression simple and ensures no detail gets missed.
Cons:
Lacks comprehensive features like video conferencing.
Doesn’t do well with complex projects and large teams. Projects with many contributors, tasks, or milestones would be better off in a different app.
Integrations:
Zapier
Zoom
Dropbox
Google Drive and Google Sheets
Microsoft OneDrive and Teams
Salesforce
Slack
Pricing:
Free trial available
Paid version starts at $15 per user per month
Unlimited users for $299 per month
5. ClickUp - Best for customizable workflows
If you’re looking for an alternative to Smartsheet, ClickUp offers a versatile all-in-one productivity platform with extensive customization options.
Image source: clickup.com
With ClickUp, you can tailor workflows to fit your team’s unique needs using multiple task views. This makes it easy to manage everything from project timelines to team collaboration.
Key Features:
Stores project information in a tree-like structure.
There are 14 task views, including list, board, and calendar view.
Create documents and collaborate with your colleagues together.
Access ClickUp through your browser, the desktop app, or mobile.
AI tools that connect your tasks, docs, people, and more.
Pros:
It’s easy for non-technical users to learn and use.
Automations are easy to set up.
The chat features simplify communication.
Cons:
Initial setup is challenging, and there’s a learning curve to keeping everything organized.
For an all-in-one platform, there are better alternatives on the market.
Integrations:
Slack
Hubspot
Google Sheets, Gmail, and Google Calendar
Zoom
Dropbox
Loom
Zendesk
Pricing:
Free plan available for personal use
Paid plans start at $7 per user/month
6. Jira - Best for software development teams
Jira, developed by Atlassian, is one of the most popular project management tools, especially for software development teams.
Image source: infoq.com
It's a robust platform that provides detailed issue and project tracking, offering tools like Scrum and Kanban boards, backlog prioritization, and sprint planning. Over the years, Jira has evolved to support both agile project management and traditional project workflows, making it suitable for teams working in various industries, not just software development.
Key Features:
Kanban boards
Scrum boards
Timelines
Reports and insights
Workflow management
Task management
Time tracking
Project roadmaps
Pros:
User-friendly and easy-to-navigate interface and features.
Optimized to manage software development roadmaps.
Helpful integrations and customer service.
Cons:
Collaborating on projects can be complex and difficult for communicating.
Initially difficult to implement for teams and companies.
Integrations:
Gmail, Google Sheets, and Google Drive
Microsoft Teams, Excel, and Outlook
Slack
Salesforce
Trello
Pricing:
Offers free trial and free version
Starts at $7.75 per user per month
7. Monday - Best for visual project management
Monday.com is a work operating system that allows teams to build customized workflows for their projects, track tasks, and measure productivity.
Image source: monday.com
It offers a highly visual interface, making it easy for users to see the status of their projects at a glance. Monday.com is designed for both project management and team collaboration in one unified platform.
Key Features:
Dashboards
Kanban
Docs
Automations
Gantt Chart
Files
Forms
Pros:
Customizable dashboards and workflows to suit the needs of your business.
Simple, intuitive, easy to use, and easy to set up.
Powerful for organizing projects and tracking progress collaboratively.
Cons:
Limited set of features for specific use cases, such as HIPAA compliance.
Customization is sometimes not flexible enough to suit a user’s needs.
Integrations:
Slack
Google Drive, Google Sheets, Gmail, and Google Calendar
Microsoft Outlook and Teams
Zoom
Microsoft OneDrive
Pricing:
Free for up to 2 users
Basic: $9 per user per month
Standard: $12 per user per month
Pro: $19 per user per month
Enterprise: contact Monday for details
8. Wrike - Best for complex projects
Wrike is a robust project management tool designed to streamline complex workflows and keep teams organized, making it a strong alternative to Smartsheet.
Image source: ctesolutions.com
With its intuitive features and versatile tools, Wrike excels in managing multi-step projects and ensuring team alignment. Whether you're tracking tasks, collaborating on documents, or managing deadlines, Wrike offers the flexibility and structure needed to stay on top of your projects, making it suitable for both small and large teams.
Key Features:
Dashboards
Automation
Dynamic request forms
Proofing and collaboration
Kanban boards
Gantt charts
Project resource planning
Pros:
Wrike’s free plan is open to unlimited users.
Easy-to-use interface and user-friendly design.
Great and responsive customer support.
Cons:
Onboarding is challenging, and initial setup needs to be done carefully.
Reporting and analytics tools are lacking.
Integrations:
Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Calendar, and Gmail
Microsoft Outlook and Teams
Salesforce
Facebook and Instagram
Google Analytics
Pricing:
Free version
Team: $9.80 per user per month
Business: $24.80 per user per month
9. Microsoft Projects - Best for teams in the Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft Project is a powerful project management tool that is well-suited for teams working on large-scale projects.
Image source: softwareadvice.co.uk
It is particularly popular among industries like architecture and construction, where managing complex projects is crucial.
Key Features:
Visualize tasks, milestones, and project timelines.
Allocate and track the availability and usage of resources.
Create task dependencies.
Track project budgets and costs in real time.
Pros:
Offers advanced tools for managing large-scale projects.
Integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office tools, providing a unified experience.
Highly customizable to meet specific project needs.
Cons:
Steep learning curve for new users.
Can be more expensive compared to simpler project management tools.
Integrations:
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Excel
OneDrive
SharePoint
Other Microsoft products
Pricing:
No free plan is available.
Microsoft Project provides a 30-day free trial to explore its features.
Paid plans begin at $10 per user/month for the cloud-based version.
10. Miro - Best for designers that manage projects
Miro is an intuitive, collaborative online whiteboard that serves as a unique alternative to Smartsheet.
Image source: miro.com
While Smartsheet excels in managing tasks and timelines, Miro shines when it comes to team collaboration and brainstorming. It offers a versatile, visual platform for teams to plan, brainstorm, and map out ideas using infinite canvases.
Key Features:
Whiteboard layout
Visual project management
Diagramming & process mapping
Product development workflows
Content & data visualization
Workshops & async collaboration
Artificial intelligence tools
Pros:
Intuitive freehand and real-time visual collaboration dashboards.
Useful templates that make it easy to set up a new dashboard.
Powerful collaborative features help your team stay on the same page.
Cons:
Has a steep learning curve that makes it tough for new users to start.
Free version has limited features and lacks customer support.
Integrations:
Microsoft Teams
Zoom
Slack
Asana
Notion
Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Gmail
Pricing:
Free version with unlimited team members
Starter plan - $8 per user per month
Business plan - $16 per user per month
Enterprise plan - contact Miro for details
Why Lark is the best Smartsheet alternative
Lark is more than just a project management platform. It's a comprehensive solution that combines multiple tools in one, streamlining your team's workflow and replacing several software products. Here’s why Lark stands out as a better alternative to Smartsheet:
More comprehensive suite of features
Lark
Lark includes a variety of tools that extend far beyond project management including:
For the full list of Lark tools that come with your plan, visit Lark.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is great for project management but primarily functions as a spreadsheet tool, limiting its range outside of task tracking.
Better collaboration tools
Lark
Lark offers robust collaboration features, including:
Messaging and video calls: Easy communication and video meetings, supporting up to 500 users in video meetings.
Global collaboration: Real-time translation and seamless communication across time zones.
Call recording: Record meetings or training sessions for later review.
AI summaries: Lark AI summarizes your project discussions and gives you action items based on what you need to do next.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet lacks integrated collaboration features such as video calls. Therefore, you’ll need to rely on external apps for communication.
Advanced project management capabilities
When it comes to project management, Lark offers advanced capabilities that set it apart from Smartsheet. While Smartsheet has its merits, Lark’s project management software, Lark Base, takes project management to the next level. It offers more flexibility and control, allowing you to streamline tasks, automate workflows, and collaborate seamlessly—all within a single interface.
With Base, you can create highly tailored project tracking systems that fit your specific needs. In addition, Base helps you to automate routine processes like data entry and task follow-ups, freeing up your team to focus on what really matters. Plus, its intuitive tables, customizable views, and real-time dashboards ensure you can visualize and manage project data with ease, whether you’re tracking progress, monitoring team performance, or adjusting timelines.
What truly makes Lark stand out is that Lark Base is integrated directly within the Lark app. This means you can manage your projects, communicate, share documents, and track tasks all in one place—no need to switch between multiple apps or tools. Unlike Smartsheet, which often requires additional integrations or third-party software to fully function, Lark keeps everything streamlined within the platform. With Base embedded in Lark, you get a seamless, all-in-one solution that ensures your team stays organized, productive, and focused—without ever leaving the app.
Value for money
Lark
Lark offers a powerful free plan that supports up to 20 users. Paid plans start at just $12 per user per month for up to 500 users. Higher-tier plans offer unlimited users.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet doesn’t offer a free plan for businesses with more than one user. In addition, its pricing can become expensive as your team grows. To accommodate more than 10 users, you’ll need to pay $24 per user per month.
Source: smartsheet.com
FAQs about Smartsheet alternatives
Who are the top Smartsheet competitors?
Smartsheet competes with tools like Trello, Monday.com, Asana, and ClickUp. However, Lark stands out by offering an all-in-one collaboration platform that combines task management, real-time communication, and document sharing—ideal for teams looking for a comprehensive solution.
Is there a Microsoft equivalent to Smartsheet?
Microsoft Project is the closest equivalent. If you’re a fan of Microsoft or currently use it in your business, Microsoft Project is worth considering.
Is there a Google equivalent of Smartsheet?
While Google Sheets can be customized for project tracking, it lacks many of the key features of project management software such as Monday.com, Lark, Asana, and more.
What is the best free alternative to Smartsheet?
The best free alternatives include Trello, Airtable, and ClickUp. However, for the best value for money, you can’t look further than Lark. With the free plan, Lark gives you over 11 products designed with project management in mind.
Final thoughts on finding the best Smartsheet alternative
When it comes to choosing the best alternative to Smartsheet, Lark stands out as the top choice for teams that want to enhance collaboration and boost productivity.
Lark is more than just a project management tool—it’s an all-in-one collaboration platform that brings communication, task management, and document sharing together in a single, easy-to-use interface. With its advanced features, real-time collaboration capabilities, and robust security, Lark is the perfect solution for teams of all sizes, from growing startups to large enterprises.
Whether you're seeking a free Smartsheet alternative, a platform with fewer constraints, or a more intuitive, integrated solution, Lark delivers it all.
Ready to transform the way your team collaborates? Try Lark today and experience a smarter, more efficient workflow.
Table of Contents
