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Competitors

Top 20 Smartsheet Competitors and Alternatives

Kevin Johnson
July 15, 2023
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14 min read

Smartsheet is an online work management platform headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Maria Colacurcio, Brent Frei, and Eric Browne founded the company in 2005 to provide a SaaS solution for collaboration and work management.

Teams and organizations use Smartsheet to assign tasks, track project progress, manage calendars, and share docs. The platform has a tabular, spreadsheet-like user interface.

In 2023, the company released new features, including the Smartsheet desktop app, workspace panel, and capacity view for resource management. Project managers can use the app to organize their Smartsheet items in tabs. In Jan 2023, Smartsheet had 3,191 employees. [1]

Smartsheet was introduced to the public in 2006, but initial adoption was slow because the software had a steep learning curve. The company redesigned Smartsheet in 2010 and cut 60% of its features to make it more user-friendly. In the fiscal year 2023, Smartsheet added over 400 product enhancements.

The company acquired the automation platform Outfit in 2022 and released a new integration with Brandfolder. In Q4 2022, Smartsheet was named a Leader in the Forrester Wave: Collaborative Work Management Tools. However, the company faces stiff competition from Microsoft Project, Wrike, Zoho, Planview, monday.com, Clarity PPM, Workfront, and ServiceNow. [2]

Here is an in-depth analysis of Smartsheet’s top 20 competitors and alternatives:

1. Microsoft Project

Year founded: 1984
Headquarter: Redmond, Washington

Microsoft Project is a project management platform offered by Microsoft Corporation. The tech giant also provides Microsoft Planner, an interactive visual task management solution for teams. In 2022, Microsoft had around 180,000 employees. [3]

MS Project serves PMs, PPMs, and PMOs. It is an integrated and comprehensive suite of PM solutions, including Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project for the Web. Users can access Kanban board-style work organization and team collaboration apps.

They can also leverage Microsoft productivity tools such as Teams, Excel, and Outlook to streamline processes. Therefore, Microsoft Project is the top Smartsheet competitor and alternative.

2. Wrike

Year founded: 2006
Headquarter: San Jose, California

Wrike is a versatile and comprehensive work management platform. Remote and co-located teams of innovative companies like Hootsuite and Siemens use Wrike to plan, collaborate, manage, and execute work at scale. According to Gartner, Wrike has a 4.5-star rating out of 5 from 370 customer reviews.

Wrike is a configurable, all-in-one platform and can meet the needs of any team and project. In May 2022, Wrike won top project management awards from TrustRadius. Wrike is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet. [4]

3. Zoho Projects

Year founded: 2006
Headquarter: Chennai, India

Zoho is an Indian tech company that offers computer software and web-based business tools. In 2006, the company launched its project management solution known as Zoho Projects, which competes against Smartsheet. Zoho has around 12,000 employees.

The benefits of using Zoho Projects include access to comprehensive features, a native document creator, and customizable UI design. Unlike Smartsheet, Zoho Projects caters to small businesses.

Teams can use the free plan to create and manage tasks with to-do lists and integrate with internal and external apps. However, they need to upgrade to paid options to access advanced features, such as task management and Gantt charts. Zoho Projects is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for small businesses. [5]

4. Quickbase

Year founded: 1999
Headquarter: Boston, Massachusetts

Quickbase offers a low-code app development platform. Project managers and teams can use Quickbase to build, customize, and connect highly scalable and secure cloud applications to manage their tasks and processes. In 2022, the platform had around 6,000 users.

Quickbase and Smartsheet cater to teams across sectors, but Quickbase is a low-code app, while Smartsheet is a work management platform. In 2022, Quickbase posted double-digit growth in demand from real estate project managers. Quickbase is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for teams with professional app developers. [6]

5. Kantata

Year founded: 2008
Headquarter: Irvine, California

Kantata is a project management solution. In May 2022, Mavenlink merged with Kimble to create Kantata. The new company offers a comprehensive suite of SaaS-based project and work management solutions [7]

Kantata streamlines the entire project lifecycle, from planning to accounting, team and task management, invoicing, and expense reporting. Users can access advanced analytics and BI tools.

However, the main selling point of Kantata is its robust financial management capabilities that streamline project accounting with real-time visibility, reports, and dashboards. Kantata is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for project finance managers. [8]

6. Monday.com

Year founded: 2012
Headquarter: Tel Aviv, Israel

Monday.com is a project and work operating platform. Users can create custom workflow applications and project management software. In 2023, the company served over 186,000 customers across 200 business verticals in more than 200 countries.

Monday.com connects people, processes, and systems to enhance efficiency and transparency in business. Teams can use its low-code/no-code platform to develop the tools to manage their tasks. In May 2023, the company launched a beta version of the Monday AI Assistant. Monday.com is one of the top competitors for Smartsheet. [9]

7. Workfront

Year founded: 2001
Headquarter: Lehi, Utah

Workfront is a cloud-based work management platform owned by Adobe. It is the fastest-growing work management solution at the enterprise level. In 2022, Workfront had over 1,000 employees and around 3,000 customers.

Workfront caters to marketing, content management, and IT teams. It simplifies project and portfolio management, issue tracking, and doc collaboration and addresses the challenges of working with disconnected tools and apps. In Q4 2022, Workfront was recognized in the Forrester Wave: Collaborative Work Management Tools report. Workfront is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for enterprises. [10]

8. Basecamp

Year founded: 1999
Headquarter: Chicago, Illinois

Basecamp is a project management tool offered by 37signals, Inc. Users can manage their to-dos, files, messages, tasks, and milestones in a single platform. According to G2, Basecamp has a 4.1-star rating from 5,218 customer reviews.

Basecamp is a web-based solution that eliminates complexities in organizations’ projects. In Sep 2022, 37signals launched Basecamp 4 with advanced project management features. This latest version provides customizable home pages and notifications. Basecamp is one of the best Smartsheet alternatives. [11]

9. Planview

Year founded: 1989
Headquarter: Austin, Texas

Planview is a global enterprise software company. It offers an award-winning enterprise work management tool with robust in-built capabilities and features. As of Apr 2023, Planview served over 4,500 customers worldwide, including 59 Fortune 100 companies.

Planview is a platform for connected work. It streamlines the entire project lifecycle, from portfolio planning to budgeting, securing files, managing resources, and delivery. In Apr 2023, Planview was named a Leader in Strategic Portfolio Management for the second year. Plainview is a formidable competitor for Smartsheet. [12]

10. Broadcom Clarity

Year founded: 1961
Headquarter: San Jose, California

Clarity is an all-in-one project and portfolio management platform created by Broadcom, Inc., a leading hardware and software company. According to TrustRadius, Broadcom Clarity has a 7.7-star rating out of 10.

Broadcom Clarity helps organizations streamline workflows, improve operational efficiency, and enhance strategic decision-making. Users can process payroll in-house, reducing the risk of delayed payments.

The main selling point of Broadcom Clarity is its features, including a customizable interface, robust functionality, and resource allocation tools. Broadcom Clarity is one of the top competitors for Smartsheet. [13]

11. ClickUp

Year founded: 2017
Headquarter: San Diego, California

ClickUp is a project management platform. It is an intuitive and customizable solution that replaces all workplace productivity tools with a single app. In 2022, ClickUp served over 8 million users across 1.6 million teams.

ClickUp offers robust features like project management, chat, document collaboration, whiteboards, spreadsheets, and goals. Users can manage projects, track tasks and progress, share data, and set goals in one interface.

In Mar 2023, ClickUp was included in the Most Innovative Companies list by Fast Company and is one of the top competitors for Smartsheet. [14]

12. ServiceNow

Year founded: 2004
Headquarter: Santa Clara, California

ServiceNow is a leading digital workflow company that offers a cloud computing platform. It helps organizations digitize and unify enterprise operations and connect their employees and customers. In 2023, the company announced a new RiseUp with ServiceNow partner courses to skill one million individuals on the platform by 2024.

ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management competes against Smartsheet, but ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management covers all phases of the product lifecycle. In May 2023, the company expanded the capabilities of its Now Platform with new features. Users can now leverage finance and supply chain workflows to automate mission-critical business processes. ServiceNow is a worthy alternative to Smartsheet. [15]

13. Asana

Year founded: 2008
Headquarter: San Francisco, California

Asana is a well-known work management platform. Users can create projects, assign tasks to teammates, set deadlines, and manage everything in a single location. In 2022, the company had around 1,000 employees.

Asana offers reporting tools, file attachments, calendars, and tracking features to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. It integrates with several productivity tools, including Microsoft Power BI, Google’s Gmail, Jira, Tableau, Salesforce, Vimeo, and Splunk.

In 2022, Asana was named a Leader in the Forrester Wave: Collaborative Work Management Tools report and is a worthy alternative to Smartsheet. [16]

14. KeyedIn Enterprise

Year founded: 2011
Headquarter: Bloomington, Minnesota

KeyedIn Enterprise is a project portfolio management platform offered by KeyedIn Solutions, an international business software company. It streamlines the project execution process and boosts teams’ efficiency and productivity. According to Gartner, KeyedIn Enterprise has a 4.3-star rating from 110 customer reviews.

KeyedIn caters to PMOs of enterprise organizations across industries, including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, technology, and automotive services.

In Aug 2022, the company announced KeyedIn Enterprise 7.5 with new features. This latest version has a user-friendly UI with a light and dark mode interface and updates to improve agile project management. KeyedIn Enterprise is the best alternative to Smartsheet for teams that use top-down, bottom-up, and SAFe methodologies. [17]

15. Planisware Enterprise

Year founded: 1996
Headquarter: San Francisco, California

Planisware is a French software firm that offers project portfolio management (PPM) apps. Customers can access Planisware Enterprise and Planisware Orchestra through Planisware’s Business Innovation Cloud. In 2022, the company had around 600 employees.

Planisware provides cloud project management solutions to several global clients, including Pfizer and the French bank Societe Generale. In May 2023, Reuters revealed that Planisware partnered with BNP Paribas and Citigroup to arrange a possible initial public offering (IPO). Planisware is one of the fastest-growing Smartsheet competitors. [18]

16. Tempus Resource

Year founded: 2007
Headquarter: Beachwood, Ohio

Tempus Resource is a resource management solution developed by ProSymmetry. It supports project and resource managers better than conventional PPM, work management, and pure Agile tools. According to Gartner, Tempus Resource has a 4.5-star rating from 42 customer reviews.

Tempus Resource and Smartsheet cater to project management professionals, but Tempus Resource is purpose-built to address resource management challenges and intricacies. In Sep 2022, Tempus Resource was added to the Gartner Quadrant for Adaptive Project Management and Reporting. Tempus Resource is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for managing projects’ resources. [19]

17. Trello

Year founded: 2011
Headquarter: Sydney, Australia

Trello is a project management platform. It is one of the best Kanban-style list-making apps for managing projects, teams, and progress. Australian tech giant Atlassian acquired Trello in 2017 to expand its project management portfolio.

Trello users can organize projects into cards and boards, track progress, and streamline team interactions. However, Trello cannot match Smartsheet as a standalone project management platform. Users have to power up Trello with add-ons to execute complex projects. Trello is one of the top competitors for Smartsheet. [20]

18. Teamwork.com

Year founded: 2007
Headquarter: Blackpool, Cork, Ireland

Teamwork.com is a project management platform. It offers a suite of add-ons to support organizations’ internal teams, clients, and projects. In 2022, Teamwork.com had around 300 employees.

Teamwork.com users can manage the entire project lifecycle, from planning to execution and reporting. In Apr 2022, Teamwork.com launched an integration feature for Microsoft’s Outlook.

Project managers working on Teamwork.com can now create tasks, add files, and manage projects without leaving Outlook. Teamwork.com is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for small businesses. [21]

19. Citrix Podio

Year founded: 2009
Headquarter: Raleigh, North Carolina

Podio is an online workspace and project management platform. In 2012, Citrix Systems, Inc. acquired Podio and integrated it into the Citrix ecosystem. According to G2, Podio has a 4.2-star rating out of 5 from 365 customer reviews.

Podio caters to teams of all sizes. Users can collaborate on tasks and consolidate content, conversations, and processes in a single platform. The company offers a free plan for up to 5 employees. Teams with over five members can choose from three paid options – Basic, Plus, or Premium. Podio is one of the best alternatives to Smartsheet for SMBs. [22]

20. Airtable

Year founded: 2012
Headquarter: San Francisco, California

Airtable is a cloud collaboration service. In 2022, the company had around 1,200 employees. But Airtable’s management laid off 20% of its workforce in Dec 2022 due to an industry-wide economic downturn. [23]

Airtable and Smartsheet are hybrid project management solutions based on spreadsheets. But Airtable applies a database on a spreadsheet, while Smartsheet combines spreadsheets with Gantt charts, file sharing, and workplace automation. Airtable is a unique alternative to Smartsheet.

 References & more information

  1. Canning, B. (2022, Dec 22). The next evolution of Smartsheet is coming. Smartsheet.com
  2. Smartsheet Inc. (2023, Mar 14). Smartsheet Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2023 Results. Business Wire
  3. Santos, D. (2023, May 15). Microsoft Planner 2023. ProjectManagement.com
  4. Wrike (2022, May 12). Wrike Wins Top Project Management Awards from TrustRadius. Business Wire
  5. Ginn, D. (2023, May 20). Zoho Projects Review. Cloudwards
  6. Quickbase, Inc. (2022, Nov 8). Quickbase sees demand double from real estate customers. Business Wire
  7. KMW News (2022, May 20). Mavenlink and Kimble Applications emerge as Kantata. KMWorld
  8. Santos, J. M. D. (2023, Feb 7). Kantata for 2023. ProjectManagement.com
  9. Monday.com (2023, Apr 19). monday.com unveils plans to incorporate transformative AI capabilities in 2023. Business Wire
  10. AMA (2023, Jan 20). Why Adobe Workfront remains the leader in the market. AMA.org
  11. 37signals (2022, Sep 27). Helping small businesses cut complexity: 37signals launches Basecamp 4. Business Wire
  12. Planview (2023, Apr 28). Planview Named a Leader in the April 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Strategic Portfolio Management for Second Consecutive Year. Business Wire
  13. TrustRadius Insights (2023, May 12). About Broadcom Clarity PPM. TrustRadius.com
  14. ClickUp (2023, Mar 2). ClickUp Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the Most Innovative Companies for 2023. ClickUp.com
  15. ServiceNow (2023, May 16). ServiceNow unveils transformative innovations at Knowledge 2023. Business Wire
  16. Asana (2023, Mar 8). Asana Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Revenues. Asana.com
  17. Brooks, S. (2022, Aug 25). KeyedIn Enterprise shines brightly with dark mode release. Enterprise Times
  18. Cerqueiro, P. M. (2023, May 18). French software firm Planisware explores options, including IPO. Reuters
  19. PM Contributor (2022, Sep 7). ProSymmetry’s Tempus Resource Recognised in Gartner Magic Quadrant. PM Today
  20. O’Sullivan, F. (2023, May 17). Best Trello Power-Ups in 2023: Add free features to your Trello Boards. Cloudwards
  21. Wellin, J. (2022, Apr 27). What’s new in Teamwork. Teamwork.com
  22. Santos, D. (2023, Feb 7). Podio Software for 2023. ProjectManagement.com
  23. Mascarenhas, N. (2022, Dec 8). Airtable, last valued at $11 billion for its no-code software, laid off over 250. TechCrunch
  24. Featured Image by KOBU Agency

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