Top 10 Smartsheet alternatives in 2024

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Updated on:
February 13, 2024
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Quiz: What is the best Smartsheet alternative for your business?

Answer the following questions to assess which Smartsheet alternative is best for your business.

    What is Smartsheet? 

    Get ready to meet Smartsheet, an amazing work execution platform that’s all about helping you and your team work smarter and faster. Think of it as a fun and easy way to manage your projects and tasks.

    The best part? Smartsheet combines the best of Excel with powerful project management features. So you can customize and track your projects, tasks, and timelines like a pro!

    And guess what? You’ll get access to a variety of project management tools such as Gantt charts, dependencies, collaborative file sharing, discussions, and automated workflows. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for project management

    The flexible platform can be used by any size of business across any industry for any kind of task. Smartsheet keeps all your project details in one place, including in-sheet communication and alerts. It’s like having a virtual project room where everything is at your fingertips!

    While Smartsheet has a lot to offer, it might not be the best choice for everyone. Depending on your organization’s specific needs, you might find other Smartsheet alternatives more suitable. You can check out our comprehensive guide on the top 10 alternatives for Smartsheet on this article. Continue reading this article and explore the best alternatives to smartsheet! 

    Drawbacks of Smartsheets You Should Be Aware of! 

    Smartsheet, has been overhyped for its mediocre range of features that barely improve collaboration and organization in teams. It promises to improve collaboration and organization in teams, but sadly, it falls short. It’s like a puzzle with missing pieces, leaving users to grapple with many drawbacks.

    Complexity

    The complexity of Smartsheet is a major hurdle. Its interface is cluttered and complicated, causing frustration and confusion, especially for beginners. It’s like trying to navigate a maze without a map.

    Cost

    The cost of this tool is another sore point. Its pricing structure is exorbitant compared to other project management tools, making it a hard pill to swallow for small businesses or startups.

    Lack of Integration

    The lack of integration is another letdown. This software struggles to connect smoothly with other popular software like Office 365. It’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

    No Chat Feature

    Smartsheet does not have a chat feature, a basic functionality that other competitors have, hindering real-time communication in teams. 

    While Smartsheet is a flawed tool with some redundant features, it is far from perfect. Users need to tread carefully to avoid these pitfalls and choose a tool that meets their needs and budget.

    The Must-Have Features Of A Smartsheet Alternative

    So, you’re on the hunt for a Smartsheet alternative? Well, you’re in luck! Smartsheet is a solid tool for managing projects, but it’s not the only fish in the sea. If you’re exploring other options, there are a few must-have features you should keep an eye out for to make your project management journey easy and effective. Let’s dive in!

    Collaboration Tools

    You’ll want a tool that lets your team work together like a well-oiled machine. Think real-time editing, task assignment, chatting, and file sharing. It’s all about making teamwork a breeze!

    Integration Opportunities

    You need a tool that works well with the other apps, tools, or software you use in your business, so you don’t have to switch back and forth between different platforms.

    Advanced Security

    It is imperative that the tool you select prioritizes the security of your data and adheres to the best practices for security and compliance. But that’s not all. You also need to consider how easy, scalable, and affordable the tool is. 

    But that’s not all. You also need to consider how easy, scalable, and affordable the tool is. 

    Also, keep in mind that the tool should align with your budgetary constraints and provide the best value for your investment. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to select an alternative that strikes the right balance between features, usability, and cost.

    #1. Bonsai

    Bonsai

    Picture this: running a service business with absolute ease and confidence. Imagine having a single platform that caters to all your needs and tackles all your challenges. Envision achieving more with less effort and time. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, with Bonsai - the ultimate Smartsheet alternative for service businesses - this dream can become a reality! Here’s how Bonsai can revolutionize your business:

    Sending Professional Proposals

    With Bonsai, you can create and send professional proposals that will wow your clients and win you more deals. Plus, Bonsai lets you track the progress of your proposals, giving you insights into the status, approvals, and activities of your prospects. It’s like having your own personal sales tracker!

    Invoicing

    Say goodbye to late payments from now on. With Bonsai, you can create and send custom invoices to your clients and get paid faster. 

    Project Management

    Bonsai offers a robust project management suite that helps you manage your projects efficiently and effectively. Bonsai allows you to set tasks, track progress and deadlines, and ensure smooth collaboration within your teams. 

    Client Communication

    Keep in touch with your clients easily with Bonsai. Bonsai puts all your emails, texts, and other messages in one place, so you can see what you talked about and how to make them happy. It’s like having a personal assistant managing all your communications!

    By adopting Bonsai as your business management solution, you will gain a competitive edge and a strategic advantage. While Smartsheet is just a spreadsheet tool with some task management features, Bonsai takes service business management to a whole new level. That’s why Bonsai is the best Smartsheet alternative for you. So, are you ready to take your business to new heights with Bonsai?

    #2. Trello

    Trello

    Now, let’s talk about Trello. It’s a popular project management tool that lets you organize tasks, projects, and more in a flexible and visual way. Here are some of the fun things you can do with Trello:

    You can create boards, lists, and cards to arrange your tasks however you want. It’s like having a virtual bulletin board for all your tasks! You can collaborate with others by adding comments, attachments, and more. It’s like having a virtual meeting room for your team! You can use Trello as a Butler to automate some of the boring stuff you have to do. It’s like having a robot assistant!

    But just like Wrike, Trello isn’t perfect either. It doesn’t have built-in Gantt charts to show you the timeline of your projects, and its reporting features could use a boost to help you analyze your data.

    Trello might not work well for you if you have a large team that needs complex workflows and detailed reports. The majority of the users of Trello appreciate its simplicity, but some contend that it lacks the robustness of other software such as Smartsheet. But the good news is, you can access the basic version of Trello at no cost to see if it’s a good fit for you. So, why not give it a try?

    #3. Projectmanager

    Projectmanager

    From the domain name, you can guess the main task of the projectmanager.com tool, right? Yes, you guessed it right! Projectmanager.com is a cool handy project management tool and it enables teams to collaborate effectively and complete tasks successfully. Projectmanager.com has interactive dashboard that shows you the real-time status of your project. In-built timesheets helps users to monitor team performance and manage payroll efficiently. Easy task management with the option to add notes and attach files. 

    Projectmanager.com, despite its extensive range of features, is not devoid of limitations. For instance, task dependencies can only be set in the Gantt chart view, which may restrict flexibility in task management. Furthermore, the platform may necessitate some training for new users, adding to the initial learning curve.

    Given these complexities, Projectmanager.com may not be the ideal solution for small businesses or startups. Particularly, the pricing structure, which starts at $15 per user per month, may be prohibitive for small teams operating on a limited budget.

    On the review platform G2, Projectmanager.com has secured a rating of 4.1 out of 5. Users have commended the tool for its comprehensive feature set and its capacity to enhance productivity, suggesting it as a strong alternative to Smartsheet.

    #4. Asana

    Asana

    Asana is an amazing and comprehensive project management tool. This cool application is all about boosting team collaboration and work management. Here’s what you can do with Asana:

    It’s got these detailed project timelines. It’s like having a roadmap for your project! The task management features are top-notch. It’s like having a personal taskmaster! It’s great for team collaboration. It’s like having a virtual meeting room! And the reporting and analytics are pretty in-depth. It’s like having your own data analyst!

    But hold up, it’s not perfect. It doesn’t have advanced reporting features like some alternatives, there’s no built-in time tracking tools, and the free version is a bit limited. So, if you’re a company needing advanced reporting and budgeting tools or if you’re on a tight budget looking for a cost-effective solution with robust features, Asana might not be your best bet.

    Asana offers a free basic version, three paid tiers ranging from $13.49 to $30.49 per user/month, and customized enterprise pricing. And the word on the street? Users love its flexibility and efficient task management but aren’t too thrilled about the limited features on the free version. But hey, it’s a solid alternative to Smartsheet.

    #5. Microsoft Project

    Microsoft Project

    Have you ever given Microsoft Project a whirl? It’s this super powerful project management software that’s got your back when it comes to complex tasks. It’s packed with some pretty amazing features that make it shine. Here’s the scoop:

    You can plan and schedule your projects in detail with Microsoft Project. It’s like having your own personal project planner! You can use it with other Microsoft products that you’re already buddies with. You can check out your project’s timeline with a cool Gantt chart view. It’s like having a time machine for your project!

    But hold up, there are a few things you should know before you dive in: It can take some time to get the hang of Microsoft Project, because it’s got so many features. It’s like learning to juggle! It’s not big on collaboration features, so you might hit a few bumps when working with your team.

    If you’re up for giving it a try, you can shell out $10 per user/month for the basic plan. Or you can pay a bit more for extra features. Most folks who use Microsoft Project dig it for its features, but some reckon it’s a bit tricky to use and a tad pricey. Users who want a simpler alternative sometimes choose Smartsheet.

    #6. Monday

    Monday

    Do you know what Monday.com is? Monday.com is a popular project management tool that’s all about offering diverse features for all types of teams. It’s super versatile with a key focus on productivity and collaboration, customizable dashboards for mapping out workflows, automation features that keep redundant tasks to a minimum, seamless integration with other tools like Slack, Google Drive, and a time tracking feature for improved project management efficiency. 

    But Monday.com is not flawless. There are some things it could improve, like:

    • It doesn’t have a very generous free version.
    • It can get pricey with more features.
    • It can take some time to learn how to use it. 

    The suitability of Monday.com for one’s needs may depend on the size and nature of one’s team. For small teams or individual freelancers, the cost of the software may outweigh its benefits. The majority of the users of Monday.com praise its power, but some assert that it has a steep learning curve compared to other software such as Smartsheet.

    #7. Zoho Projects

    Zoho Projects

    Zoho Projects is a fun project management tool that you might enjoy using. It’s a versatile tool that has a lot of features that can help you with different kinds of projects. Some of the features are managing your tasks and tracking your time, sharing your documents and files with your team, seeing your project’s progress with Gantt charts, and creating custom reports with detailed analytics. 

    But Zoho Projects is not perfect. You should know that it doesn’t have advanced resource management tools, so you might have some challenges managing your team’s capacity. It can also be tricky to use sometimes, especially if you’re not familiar with it. 

    Zoho Projects might not be the right tool for you if you want a simple user interface or sophisticated resource management tools. 

    But if you want to give it a try, you can start with a free plan or pay $3 per user/month for more features. Most people who use Zoho Projects like it for its versatility, but some say it has a steep learning curve compared to other tools like Smartsheet.

    #8. Basecamp

    Basecamp

    This project management tool helps you collaborate with your team while planning and running projects. Best Features: It lets you manage your projects in one place. It helps you communicate with your team through message boards and check-in questions. It lets you track your progress and report your results. It has a simple, user-friendly interface that anyone can use. 

    But Basecamp has lots of limitations. It doesn’t have complex task management features, unlike Smartsheet. It doesn’t have Gantt charts to show you your project timeline. It doesn’t work well with other tools that you might use. It’s not very good at budgeting and invoice management. 

    Definitely, not a fit for big companies that need advanced project management tools and features. Basecamp has a fixed pricing of $99 per month after a 30-day free trial. With an average rating of 4.1 on Capterra, users like its simplicity but point out its limitations in task management.

    #9. Wrike

    Wrike

    Wrike is a project management tool that can help you and your team work faster and better. It lets you manage any kind of project, customize your dashboards, manage your resources and workload, and even connect with other tools like Google Docs, Dropbox, or Salesforce. It’s like having a personal assistant for your projects!

    But hey, nobody’s perfect, right? Wrike can be a bit tricky to learn, especially if you’re new to it. And if you’re a small team or working on a simple project, or if you’re on a tight budget, Wrike might not be the best fit for you.

    And what about the price? Wrike does offer a free version, however, it is significantly limited in its functionalities. To access a more comprehensive set of features, users are required to subscribe to a paid plan, which commences at a rate of $9.80 per user per month. While a majority of Wrike users appreciate the software for its features and collaborative capabilities, some users have expressed that it falls short when compared to other tools such as Smartsheet.

    #10. ClickUp

    ClickUp

    ClickUp encompasses a plethora of advanced features for efficacious team collaboration. Here are the features you should know about: 

    • Workflows that can be fully tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the users
    • Editing capabilities that allow for simultaneous collaboration and instantaneous updates
    • Features that enable the tracking and reporting of time spent on various tasks and projects
    • Integration with diverse web tools that enhance the functionality and compatibility of the platform

    However, like other tools, ClickUp also has its share of limitations. It may entail a considerable learning curve for novice users and may experience occasional lags in sending notifications. These factors could potentially hinder the user experience.

    Furthermore, the ClickUp application may not be a suitable fit for small teams that require a simplistic and minimalist project management tool. Despite offering a free plan that provides a limited set of features, and premium plans that commence at $5/user/month, it may not cater to the specific needs of such teams.

    Based on Capterra reviews, ClickUp has an average user rating of 4.7 out of 5. For teams that appreciate Smartsheet but desire more flexibility and customization, ClickUp could potentially serve as an optimal alternative.

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