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Smartsheet vs Trello comparison

Smartsheet and Atlassian are both solutions in the Project Management Software category. Smartsheet is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.7, while Atlassian is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.4. Smartsheet holds a 4.3% mindshare in PMS, compared to Atlassian’s 2.3% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Smartsheet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Atlassian users who would recommend it.
Smartsheet
Read 43 Smartsheet reviews
  • 2,507 Views
  • 1,630 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
Trello
Read 46 Trello reviews
  • 1,006 Views
  • 845 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Smartsheet and Trello compete in the project management category, offering distinct strengths tailored to various user needs. Smartsheet holds an advantage for complex project management tasks due to its robust features and integrations, while Trello's intuitive Kanban boards are preferred for straightforward task management, appealing to non-technical users.

Features: Smartsheet includes Gantt charts, workflows, and automation capabilities, along with extensive integrations with Jira and Microsoft Teams. Its cloud-based nature enhances data sharing and customization. Trello features intuitive Kanban boards that provide a visual task management approach, easy drag-and-drop functionality, and a user-friendly interface conducive to non-technical users.

Room for Improvement: Smartsheet could benefit from enhancements in real-time collaboration, a more intuitive interface, and better security settings. Users also seek improved Excel integration and expanded formula capabilities. Trello could improve its automation features, integration with other tools, task linking capabilities, and notification handling, alongside updates to its mobile app and export options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Smartsheet provides public and hybrid cloud deployment options and offers essential resources, though customer service quality varies. Trello’s straightforward public cloud deployment is complemented by generally helpful customer support, despite limited on-site options. Trello is perceived as slightly more user-friendly in terms of deployment and support.

Pricing and ROI: Smartsheet's pricing includes varied licensing options and can become expensive as it scales, especially for the enterprise version. Trello, with a strong free tier, is budget-friendly and attractive to small teams or individual users. While both have capable free versions, Trello stands out in accessibility, whereas Smartsheet provides greater ROI through advanced project management capabilities at a higher cost.

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Buyer's Guide
Smartsheet vs. Trello
September 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.9
Smartsheet enhances productivity and collaboration, automates processes, manages timelines, and is cost-effective compared to Microsoft Project alternatives.
Sentiment score
4.2
Trello enhances task organization and communication, saving time and offering significant ROI, though exact financial benefits often remain unclear.
Compared to Microsoft Project, which is more expensive, we save costs using Smartsheet.
For more quotes and insights, download the Smartsheet report
Sometimes we can have a back-and-forth conversation in the comments, which helps minimize some meetings.
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.8
Smartsheet's customer service feedback is mixed, with praise for responsiveness and resources but concerns over response delays and ticket management.
Sentiment score
2.1
Trello is intuitive, but while customer support is mostly satisfactory, users desire quicker, more effective assistance for specific issues.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.4
Smartsheet is praised for scalability, integration features, and cost-effectiveness, with some concerns over task tracking in larger projects.
Sentiment score
6.1
Trello is scalable for small teams but faces limitations with larger enterprises, prompting some to prefer alternatives.
Smartsheet is pretty flexible and scalable.
For more quotes and insights, download the Smartsheet report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Users find Smartsheet stable, with minor issues, high reliability ratings, and minimal disruptions enhancing overall satisfaction.
Sentiment score
6.6
Trello is praised for its reliable performance, with minimal issues like slowing or downtime, despite minor flexibility challenges.
 

Room For Improvement

Users want better data management, UI, integration, security, support, and Excel-like features in Smartsheet.
Trello users seek improved time-tracking, integrations, notifications, and features like video conferencing, with better stability and mobile app enhancements.
I have a novice understanding of Smartsheet, so I sought a solution more suited to repeatable projects and process-oriented governance.
For more quotes and insights, download the Smartsheet report
More control over email notifications would also be helpful.
A way to manage an overall project with all the specifications, and then managing all the sub-cards related to that project.
It would be beneficial to have a search system that can pull up topics using keywords or AI-driven capabilities, making it easier to find relevant cards.
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
reviewer2678097 - PeerSpot reviewerAriel Lindenfeld - PeerSpot revieweraklessin - PeerSpot reviewer
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Setup Cost

Smartsheet pricing is user-based, varies by plan, and advanced features can increase costs compared to competitors like Microsoft Project.
Trello's free version is appreciated, but opinions on the cost-effectiveness of its paid plans vary among users.
Licensing might be cheaper per user.
For more quotes and insights, download the Smartsheet report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
 

Valuable Features

Smartsheet offers real-time collaboration, customizable dashboards, automation, and integration, making it ideal for efficient project management.
Trello combines user-friendly design, customization, and real-time collaboration tools, enhancing task management and adaptability for diverse teams.
Automation helps by simplifying some manual work, saving time and facilitating communication.
We were looking for a tool that allowed for repeatable projects and process-oriented governance.
What I appreciate best about Smartsheet is the straight Gantt chart and its flexibility.
For more quotes and insights, download the Smartsheet report
Trello's interface is aesthetically pleasing for project management, and it enhances collaboration with other team members.
It replaces ping-ponging emails back and forth with a board where people can follow a task from start to finish and see when it's done.
Trello has impacted my organization positively by keeping everything very organized and allowing people to keep track of their tasks.
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
DS
reviewer2678097 - PeerSpot reviewer
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AD
Ayelet Wexler - PeerSpot revieweraklessin - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Categories and Ranking

Smartsheet
Ranking in Project Management Software
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
43
Ranking in other categories
Project Portfolio Management (3rd)
Trello
Ranking in Project Management Software
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
46
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Project Management Software category, the mindshare of Smartsheet is 4.3%, down from 5.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Trello is 2.3%, down from 2.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Project Management Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Smartsheet4.3%
Trello2.3%
Other93.4%
Project Management Software
 

Featured Reviews

PaulDiaz - PeerSpot reviewer
Needs to improve baselines and changing dates can be frustrating
I like the dashboarding feature best, as it lets me assemble a workspace with source sheets, dashboards, and reports simultaneously. The standard reports and worksheets are most useful for team collaboration. People look at dashboards during presentations, but they go to the sheets to update projects, add comments, or make notifications. It's automated, so changes come to me or whoever needs to see them. I can send notifications from specific line items. The worksheet is key for tracking project progress, though we track it at a higher level rather than detailed work breakdown structures. Subject matter experts say when they'll deliver things, and that's what we track.
Read full review
Ariel Lindenfeld - PeerSpot reviewer
Customizable labels and the ability to modify cards streamline task management and save time
There can be bugs sometimes. When more than one person tries to edit the description at the same time, it can do some unexpected things. I would like to see that improved. Sometimes they add new features, which can be either welcome or odd. More control over email notifications would also be helpful.
Read full review
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
15%
Government
10%
Healthcare Company
9%
University
7%
Educational Organization
8%
Insurance Company
8%
Computer Software Company
7%
Performing Arts
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business19
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise22
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business35
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise11
 

Questions from the Community

Has anyone moved from Microsoft Project to Smartsheet? How has your experience been with Smartsheet?
Hi @Eire Zimmermann, I helped an organization evaluate both MS-Project and Smartsheet when they were conducting their PM tool RFP. The short of it is this, MS Project is not caught up with the mo...
See all answers
What do you like most about Smartsheet?
The tool creates shareable dashboards. These dashboards allow us to display project deliverables' status, their position in the queue, expected delivery timelines, and more. The best part is that t...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Smartsheet?
Licensing might be cheaper per user. I rate it as seven or eight due to its demanding nature. For personal use, I have a monthly subscription, while the company uses an annual basis.
See all answers
What do you like most about Trello?
The solution is very user-friendly, where you have everything you need.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Trello?
I do not know about the pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Trello because this part was handled by another coworker, and I never worked with that part.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Trello?
I would like to see Trello improved with more options for integration with other platforms, a way to manage an overall project with all the specifications, and then managing all the sub-cards relat...
See all answers
 

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Smartsheet
October 2025
Smartsheet reportDownload Smartsheet product report
Buyer's Guide
Trello
October 2025
Trello reportDownload Trello product report
 

Overview

Smartsheet is a dynamic platform with features like real-time data sharing, Gantt charts, and integration with Jira and Microsoft Teams, offering valuable tools for efficient task management.

Smartsheet combines Excel-like functionality with cloud accessibility, making it efficient for tracking, reporting, and workflow management. Users benefit from its scalability and robust security, making it ideal for enterprise-level projects. However, improvements in data visibility, real-time collaboration, and user-friendliness can enhance its utility. Customizable dashboards, project management features, and seamless integrations offer great flexibility, though there is a demand for better automation, API enhancements, and new templates.

What are Smartsheet's most important features?
  • Real-time Data Sharing: Facilitates seamless collaboration between users.
  • Project Management Tools: Includes Gantt charts and task prioritization for efficient project tracking.
  • Integration: Works with major platforms like Jira and Microsoft Teams for comprehensive data flow.
  • Automation Capabilities: Reduces manual work with robust automation functionalities.
  • Customizable Dashboards: Allows users to tailor dashboards to meet specific needs.
What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?
  • Efficiency: Streamlines workflows with tools that enhance project tracking and collaboration.
  • Scalability: Supports growing enterprise demands with its scalable architecture.
  • Security: Provides robust, secure environments for data management.
  • Adaptability: Offers flexibility to customize workflows for improved resource management.

Smartsheet is utilized by organizations in industries like engineering, education, and IT for project management, task tracking, and data integration. It enables planning, scheduling, and team collaboration, facilitating dashboard creation and automation of processes. Its flexibility in customizing workflows is appealing to those managing projects and programs.

Smartsheet

Trello is the visual collaboration tool that creates a shared perspective on any project. Trello’s boards, lists and cards enable you to organize and prioritize your personal and work life in a fun, flexible and rewarding way.

Atlassian
 

Sample Customers

Sony Music, ESPN, Hilton, Unisource, Colliers, Extreme Networks, Groupon, Netflix
Pixar, Google, PayPal, Kickstarter, National Geographic, Viewbox Holdings
Buyer's Guide
Smartsheet vs. Trello
September 2025
Free Report: Smartsheet vs. Trello
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