Hive vs Smartsheet — Which One Wins?
Pick Hive if: Fast-moving teams that want a modern all-rounder with built-in email and AI features
Pick Smartsheet if: Teams that live in spreadsheets but need real project management features layered on top
Our take: Hive is easier to pick up, but Smartsheet is more powerful long-term.
| Hive | Smartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free for up to 10 users | Teams $18/user/mo | No free plan (30-day trial) | Pro $9/user/mo |
| Features | Gantt, kanban, and calendar views, Native email integration, Time tracking and resourcing, AI-powered task summaries, Proofing and approvals | Spreadsheet-style project management, Gantt, card, and calendar views, Automated workflows, Resource management, Dashboards and reports |
| Best for | Fast-moving teams that want a modern all-rounder with built-in email and AI features | Teams that live in spreadsheets but need real project management features layered on top |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
Hive stands out with Native email integration and Time tracking and resourcing. Smartsheet counters with Spreadsheet-style project management and Automated workflows.
Hive's Achilles heel: pricing jumps hard from free to paid — $18/user/mo with no mid-tier option. Smartsheet's: it’s a spreadsheet pretending to be a pm tool — power users love it, everyone else gets confused. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value native email integration and fast-moving teams that want, go with Hive. If teams that live in matters more, Smartsheet is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.