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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 7.6, while Atlassian is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.3. Smartsheet holds a 4.5% mindshare in PMS, compared to Atlassian’s 2.6% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Smartsheet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Atlassian users who would recommend it.
Smartsheet
Read 41 Smartsheet reviews
  • 2,484 Views
  • 753 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
Trello
Read 43 Trello reviews
  • 1,041 Views
  • 381 Comparison Views
92% 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
June 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
7.3
Users find Smartsheet crucial for efficient operations, praising its automation, collaboration, simplicity, and noting productivity and time savings.
Sentiment score
7.4
Trello's free version optimizes workflow by organizing tasks, saving time, reducing meetings, and improving communication efficiency despite unquantifiable ROI.
No quotes available
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
7.4
Smartsheet's responsive email support and knowledge library are praised, though improvements in ticket management and additional support channels are suggested.
Sentiment score
4.3
Trello users often find help center sufficient, but customer service is praised for quick, mostly timely resolutions via web and email.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Smartsheet excels in scalability, integration, flexibility, and licensing, garnering high user satisfaction, especially in growing organizations.
Sentiment score
6.9
Trello is scalable for small teams, easy to use, but may not meet larger enterprise needs compared to alternatives.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Smartsheet is highly stable with rare minor issues, appreciated for reliability, cloud accessibility, and consistent high-performance ratings.
Sentiment score
8.2
Trello is praised for stability and reliability, with some slowdown on large data, but generally no major issues reported.
 

Room For Improvement

Smartsheet needs UI improvements, faster internet speed, better integrations, enhanced features, automation, and improved training for usability.
Users want Trello to improve time tracking, integrations, analytics, and customization for handling complex tasks and data effectively.
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
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.
Each card move or addition results in a new email, so a digest or a better way to receive notifications would be helpful.
More control over email notifications would also be helpful.
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
reviewer2678097 - PeerSpot reviewer
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AW
Ariel Lindenfeld - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Setup Cost

Smartsheet offers scalable pricing with essential and full features, appealing to various needs, starting from free to enterprise plans.
Trello provides a free version and scalable paid plans starting at $6 per user, suitable for various business sizes.
 

Valuable Features

Smartsheet offers real-time sharing, easy collaboration, customizable interface, automation, Gantt charts, dashboards, and tool integration for efficient project management.
Trello streamlines project management with its intuitive interface, enhancing task visualization, collaboration, and integration capabilities for efficient coordination.
We were looking for a tool that allowed for repeatable projects and process-oriented governance.
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.
The ability to tag different team members in both the description and the comments, and the due dates feature are handy.
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
reviewer2678097 - PeerSpot reviewer
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AW
Ariel Lindenfeld - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Categories and Ranking

Smartsheet
Ranking in Project Management Software
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
Project Portfolio Management (4th)
Trello
Ranking in Project Management Software
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
43
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Project Management Software category, the mindshare of Smartsheet is 4.5%, down from 5.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Trello is 2.6%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
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.
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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.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
30%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Healthcare Company
7%
Government
7%
Educational Organization
65%
Computer Software Company
5%
Financial Services Firm
4%
University
3%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

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...
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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Smartsheet?
The pricing is great and reasonable enough that I maintained my copy and bought it for my team independently.
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?
The licensing is easy to scale with a number of seats. I am not directly involved with the pricing and cost aspects.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Trello?
Trello could be improved by having a better notification system. Currently, notifications flood my inbox, making it hard to differentiate what I actually need to open. Each card move or addition re...
See all answers
 

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Compared 25% of the time
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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Smartsheet
May 2025
Smartsheet reportDownload Smartsheet product report
Buyer's Guide
Trello
May 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
June 2025
Free Report: Smartsheet vs. Trello
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