Smartsheet Software Review 2025
Introduction: What Is Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is a cloud-based project management and collaboration software designed for teams of all sizes. It blends the familiar interface of a spreadsheet with advanced automation, reporting, and collaboration features. Used by Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike, Smartsheet has positioned itself as a leading work management platform.
But does it truly live up to the hype in 2025? Let’s dive into a full review, evaluating everything from features and ease of use to pricing and real-world performance.
Key Features of Smartsheet Software
Smartsheet is packed with functionality tailored for managing complex workflows and keeping teams on track. Here’s a breakdown of its most notable features:
1. Grid, Gantt, Calendar, and Card Views
Smartsheet allows users to view tasks and projects in different formats:
Grid View: Similar to Excel but with project tracking capabilities.
Gantt View: For timeline and dependency visualization.
Calendar View: Great for time-sensitive scheduling.
Card View: Perfect for Agile and Kanban-style workflows.
2. Automation and Workflows
Smartsheet stands out for its automation capabilities:
Automated reminders
Status updates
Approval requests
Alerts triggered by changes
These features help reduce manual effort and improve productivity.
3. Collaboration and Sharing
Real-time commenting
File attachments
Tagging teammates
Permission-based sharing
Smartsheet helps team members collaborate efficiently without endless email threads.
4. Dashboards and Reporting
Managers can build custom dashboards to visualize KPIs, progress bars, charts, and reports. This is invaluable for getting a bird’s-eye view of ongoing projects.
5. Templates and Integrations
Smartsheet includes dozens of pre-built templates for marketing campaigns, IT help desks, product launches, and more. It also integrates with tools like:
Microsoft Teams
Google Workspace
Slack
Salesforce
Jira
Zapier
Pros of Smartsheet
Let’s look at the top reasons why businesses choose Smartsheet in 2025:
✅ Familiar Spreadsheet Interface
If you’re comfortable with Excel or Google Sheets, Smartsheet’s grid view offers an easy learning curve.
✅ Highly Scalable
From small businesses to enterprise-level operations, Smartsheet scales easily with growing teams.
✅ Custom Workflows
Automation, conditional formatting, and dynamic reports make Smartsheet highly customizable.
✅ Strong Collaboration Tools
Real-time updates and cloud-based access make it a strong choice for hybrid and remote teams.
✅ Excellent Support and Training
Smartsheet University, user forums, and direct support make onboarding smooth and efficient.
Cons of Smartsheet
No tool is perfect, and Smartsheet does come with a few trade-offs:
❌ Steep Pricing for Small Teams
While there is a free trial, pricing starts around $7 per user/month, and advanced features are locked behind the Business ($25/user/month) and Enterprise plans.
❌ Overwhelming for Beginners
The number of features and customization options may be confusing for users who are new to project management tools.
❌ Limited Real-Time Communication
Unlike apps like Slack or Microsoft Teams, Smartsheet isn’t designed for chat-heavy team communication.
Smartsheet Pricing (2025)
Smartsheet offers tiered pricing depending on business size and functionality needs:
| Plan | Price (Monthly) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Personal task tracking |
| Pro | $7/user | Small teams (max 10 users) |
| Business | $25/user | Growing teams needing automation |
| Enterprise | Custom Quote | Large organizations |
Each tier includes core features, but automation, dashboards, and integrations are more robust in the Business and Enterprise plans.
Use Cases: Who Is Smartsheet Best For?
Smartsheet is versatile enough to support many industries. Here are a few real-world use cases:
Marketing Teams: For campaign planning, social media calendars, and event tracking.
Construction and Engineering: Gantt charts help visualize timelines and dependencies.
IT Departments: Manage help desk tickets, software rollouts, and infrastructure updates.
HR Teams: Track hiring pipelines, onboarding processes, and compliance documents.
Finance Departments: Budget planning, forecasts, and expense tracking.
Smartsheet is also ideal for PMOs (Project Management Offices) that need to manage multiple large-scale initiatives.
Smartsheet vs Competitors
Let’s compare Smartsheet to a few key competitors:
| Feature | Smartsheet | Asana | Trello | Monday.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet Interface | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Gantt Charts | ✅ | Limited | ❌ | ✅ |
| Automation | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Collaboration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Templates | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ✅ |
| Pricing | Mid-range | Mid-range | Freemium | Mid-range |
Verdict:
Smartsheet shines when projects require advanced workflows, dependencies, and reporting. However, for teams prioritizing simplicity or visual task boards, tools like Trello or Asana may be more intuitive.
User Reviews & Feedback
Users on platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot consistently praise Smartsheet for:
Reliability
Customizability
Strong feature set
However, common complaints include:
Complexity for first-time users
Cost of licensing at scale
“Smartsheet helped our remote team organize better than ever. The Gantt charts and automation saved us dozens of hours every month.”
— Amelia L., Project Manager
“Took a little while to learn, but now we can’t live without it.”
— Derrick M., Operations Lead
Final Verdict: Is Smartsheet Worth It?
Smartsheet earns its reputation as a powerful project management and collaboration tool. Its combination of familiar spreadsheet functionality and advanced automation makes it suitable for teams that want more control over their workflows.
✅ Ideal for mid-size to enterprise teams
✅ Great for complex, multi-departmental projects
❌ May be too much for solo freelancers or casual users
If your business requires detailed tracking, automated workflows, and reporting in one platform—Smartsheet is absolutely worth trying.
