Smartsheet vs Monday.com: A data-backed comparison
Explore Smartsheet and Airtable’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 Monday.com at a glance
Both Smartsheet and Monday.com offer powerful project management capabilities, but they cater to different types of teams.
Smartsheet is a better option for detailed project tracking. It includes Gantt charts, resource management, and real-time reporting. It fits complex workflows and large teams.
Monday.com is a better option for visual project management. It offers customizable workflows, automation, and easy-to-use dashboards, and it suits creative and collaborative teams.
Metrics | Smartsheet | Monday |
|---|---|---|
Relative cost | 22% lower cost than category average | 12% higher cost than category average |
Adoption trend | 15% QoQ adoption growth | 16% QoQ adoption growth |
Primary user segment | – | 41% 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 powerful yet intuitive work management tools to coordinate projects across teams without the complexity of enterprise software. |
Smartsheet overview
Smartsheet is a project management tool with a spreadsheet-style interface that supports structured planning and collaboration. Teams can organize work using grids, Gantt charts, calendars, or boards, depending on their workflow. Built-in tools like task dependencies, automation, and real-time dashboards support detailed tracking. It suits teams that manage data-heavy projects and need flexibility without giving up structure.
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. |
Monday.com overview
Monday.com is a project management tool that offers a visual and flexible approach to organizing tasks. Teams can create custom workflows and track progress using an intuitive interface. With views like timelines, Kanban boards, and calendars, Monday.com adapts to various project needs, making it ideal for teams that value simplicity and customization.
Monday.com key features
Features | Description |
|---|---|
Dashboard reporting | Aggregates data from multiple boards into customizable dashboards with visual widgets, including charts, timelines, calendars, and metrics that update in real-time. |
Automation | Creates rule-based automations that trigger actions when specific conditions are met, such as status changes, date approaches, or assignments. |
Forms | Creates customizable intake forms that feed directly into the boards, allowing external stakeholders to submit information that automatically populates as new items. |
Integrations | Connects with over 200 external tools—including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Zoom, Salesforcento create a unified workspace. |
Custom boards | Organizes work into customizable boards with items, columns, and automations that adapt to any workflow type—from simple task lists to complex project plans with dependencies and timelines. |
Pros and Cons
Tool | Pros | Cons |
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Smartsheet |
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Monday |
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Use case scenarios
Smartsheet is ideal for teams that need structured project management with detailed data tracking, while Monday.com offers a more visual, flexible approach to task organization and collaboration.
When Smartsheet is the better choice
- Smartsheet is best for teams managing complex projects with detailed planning requirements.
- Ideal for engineering and construction teams tracking task dependencies, resources, and timelines.
- Its spreadsheet-based foundation is better for detailed scheduling and milestone tracking than visual tools.
- Teams with compliance needs benefit from Smartsheet’s security features and audit capabilities.
- Its structured approach and API integrations suit projects requiring strict governance and data integrity.
When Monday.com is the better choice
- Monday.com is ideal for teams needing flexibility and visual tools to manage complex processes.
- Creative agencies use color-coded boards to track client projects, feedback, and approvals in one place.
- Automations notify managers when updates are needed, streamlining workflows.
- Operations teams use linked boards to manage inventory, suppliers, and fulfillment.
- Dashboards provide real-time insights, and formula columns calculate key metrics, eliminating the need for spreadsheets.
Other project management tools
- Asana: Better for teams seeking a balance between visual simplicity and powerful task management without the learning curve of more complex project tools.
- Trello: Ideal for teams who prefer a pure Kanban approach to project management with visual simplicity and need less robust reporting capabilities.
- Jira: A Superior choice for software development teams using Agile methodologies who need specialized features for sprint planning and bug tracking.
- Basecamp: More suitable for teams prioritizing clear communication within projects over complex planning, with its focus on message boards and simple to-do lists.
- Wrike: Better option for teams needing approval workflows and proofing capabilities built directly into their project management system.
- Notion: Excels for teams wanting to combine project management with knowledge base functionality in a highly customizable workspace.
- Teamwork: Particularly valuable for service businesses needing client portal features for project collaboration and progress tracking.
- Zoho Projects: A More cost-effective project management solution for small businesses already using other Zoho products who want seamless integration.
- Microsoft Project: Better suited for enterprise environments deeply invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, requiring sophisticated resource management for complex projects.
- ClickUp: Offers more customization options with its "hierarchy" approach to organizing project tasks across multiple levels of organization.
- Airtable: Provides powerful project management through a flexible platform combining structured data, rich media attachments, and integration capabilities.