Smartsheet vs Trello — Which One Wins?
Pick Smartsheet if: Teams that live in spreadsheets but need real project management features layered on top
Pick Trello if: Small teams and individuals who think in kanban and want zero friction
Our take: Smartsheet for simplicity, Trello for power users.
| Smartsheet | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | No free plan (30-day trial) | Pro $9/user/mo | Free with unlimited cards and up to 10 boards | Standard $5/user/mo |
| Features | Spreadsheet-style project management, Gantt, card, and calendar views, Automated workflows, Resource management, Dashboards and reports | Kanban boards, Power-Ups (integrations), Butler automation, Card templates, Calendar and timeline views (Premium) |
| Best for | Teams that live in spreadsheets but need real project management features layered on top | Small teams and individuals who think in kanban and want zero friction |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Easy |
The Real Difference
Both offer free tiers, so the real question is what you get when you start paying.
Smartsheet stands out with Spreadsheet-style project management and Gantt, card, and calendar views. Trello counters with Kanban boards and Power-Ups (integrations).
Smartsheet's Achilles heel: it’s a spreadsheet pretending to be a pm tool — power users love it, everyone else gets confused. Trello's: falls apart for complex projects — no native gantt, limited reporting, and boards get unwieldy past 50 cards. Pick whichever weakness you can live with.
Bottom Line
If you value spreadsheet-style project management and teams that live in, go with Smartsheet. If small teams and individuals matters more, Trello is your pick. Neither is a bad choice — but one will fit your workflow better.