Smartsheet vs. Asana: a data-backed comparison
Explore Smartsheet and Asana’s features, pricing, adoption trends, and ideal use cases to help you determine which project management tool is the best fit for your team.
Smartsheet vs. Asana at a glance
Both Smartsheet and Asana offer robust project management solutions, but they cater to different types of teams. Asana is best for teams that need structured workflows, task dependencies, and real-time collaboration.
Smartsheet is better suited for teams managing data-heavy projects, requiring advanced reporting, automation, and spreadsheet-style flexibility.
Metrics | Smartsheet | Asana |
|---|---|---|
Relative cost | 22% lower cost than category average | 2% higher cost than category average |
Adoption trend | 15% QoQ adoption growth | 11% QoQ adoption growth |
Primary user segment | – | 40% of users are SMB |
Best for | Organizations of all sizes that need collaborative project management and scalable workflow solutions that can grow with their business. | Teams that need to coordinate complex projects across multiple departments with adaptable workflows. |
Smartsheet overview
Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-based project management tool designed for teams that manage large-scale projects with complex workflows. It provides grid, Gantt, and card views, allowing users to track work in a structured, data-driven format.
Advanced automation, no-code workflows, and enterprise analytics make Smartsheet particularly useful for IT, construction, and operations teams handling resource-heavy projects.
Smartsheet key features
Features | Description |
|---|---|
Customizable project views | Grid, Gantt, and card views support flexible project tracking. |
Workflow automation | No-code templates streamline repetitive tasks and complex workflows. |
Enterprise reporting | Custom dashboards provide deep analytics and real-time project insights. |
Resource management | Built-in timesheets and resource tracking for project planning. |
Secure collaboration | Access controls and integrations with Microsoft 365 and Salesforce support enterprise use. |
Data connectivity | Syncs with external systems like ServiceNow, Jira, and Google Sheets. |
Asana overview
Asana is a user-friendly work management platform that helps teams organize projects through task lists, Kanban boards, and timeline views. It supports real-time collaboration, making it ideal for marketing, product, and agile teams that require task dependencies, team updates, and workflow automation.
Asana key features
Features | Description |
|---|---|
Project Timelines | Visualizes projects on a timeline to help track deadlines and dependencies |
Custom Fields | Allows teams to add specific data fields to tasks, such as budget figures or approval statuses, tailoring the platform to financial workflows. |
Workload Management | Provides insights into team capacity to prevent overloading resources, aiding in efficient allocation of financial tasks |
Automation | Automates routine tasks like assigning due dates or moving tasks between sections, reducing manual effort in financial processes |
Integrations | Connects with tools like QuickBooks and Xero for streamlined financial workflows, ensuring data consistency across platforms |
Multiple project views | Offers multiple visualization modes—lists, Kanban boards, calendars, and Gantt-style timelines—without altering your project’s underlying data. |
Pros and Cons
Tool | Pros | Cons |
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Smartsheet |
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Asana |
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Use case scenarios
Smartsheet works best for teams managing data-heavy projects with dependencies and automation, while Asana fits teams that want simple, visual task tracking and easy collaboration.
When Smartsheet is the better choice
- Data-heavy teams that need structured workflows, advanced reporting, and task dependencies.
- IT departments managing software rollouts, resource planning, and schedule tracking.
- Enterprise teams in construction or operations needing automation, dashboards, and document control.
- Organizations that prefer a spreadsheet-style interface for flexible, analytical project tracking.
When Asana is the better choice
- Teams that prioritize collaboration, task management, and real-time updates.
- Marketing teams launching campaigns, coordinating content, and tracking performance.
- Agile development teams requiring sprint tracking, DevOps tool integrations, and AI-powered planning.
- Organizations seeking a structured, flexible platform for managing both daily tasks and long-term projects.
Other project management tools
- ClickUp: A highly customizable project management tool offering multiple views, automation, and built-in time tracking. Best for teams looking for an all-in-one productivity workspace.
- Wrike: Designed for organizations managing large-scale projects, Wrike provides workload tracking, advanced reporting, and real-time collaboration with custom dashboards.
- Monday.com: A flexible work management platform with visual project tracking, automation, and templated workflows. Ideal for teams that need an intuitive and easy-to-set-up tool.
- Notion: Combines project tracking with documentation, enabling teams to centralize workflows, manage tasks, and organize knowledge in a single workspace.
- Airtable: Blends spreadsheet-style data organization with project management, offering flexible database functionality, automation, and custom workflows for structured collaboration.
- Jira: Built for agile teams, Jira provides sprint planning, backlog management, and issue tracking, making it a top choice for software development teams.
- Trello: A simple and visual task management tool using Kanban boards to help teams organize work. Ideal for teams that need a lightweight and intuitive way to track tasks.
- Teamwork: A project management platform tailored for agencies and service-based teams, featuring built-in time tracking, invoicing, and workload management for client projects.
- Zoho Projects: A scalable project management solution with automation, time tracking, and deep CRM integration, making it ideal for businesses that need an all-in-one operational system.
- Microsoft Project: A robust planning tool for enterprises, offering resource management, budgeting, and advanced scheduling for complex projects.