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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 7.8, while Atlassian is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.3. Smartsheet holds a 4.5% mindshare in PMS, compared to Atlassian’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Smartsheet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Atlassian users who would recommend it.
Smartsheet
Read 41 Smartsheet reviews
  • 3,561 Views
  • 1,261 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
Trello
Read 41 Trello reviews
  • 1,440 Views
  • 641 Comparison Views
90% 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
March 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
Smartsheet streamlines operations, reduces administrative tasks, enhances collaboration, and boosts productivity with an easy-to-use, cost-effective interface.
Sentiment score
7.8
Trello boosts ROI by streamlining task management and communication, enhancing productivity and organization for free.
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 customer support is praised for responsiveness and resources but criticized for ticket tracking and lacks phone/chat options.
Sentiment score
5.1
Trello users mainly use online resources, finding them sufficient, with generally positive views on support despite occasional delays.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Smartsheet excels in scalability and integration but faces challenges with large tasks, depending on user proficiency and adoption.
Sentiment score
7.0
Trello suits small to medium teams but may struggle with scalability in larger organizations, prompting some to consider alternatives.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Users praise Smartsheet's stability and reliability, noting minor issues that don't significantly affect their overall satisfaction.
Sentiment score
8.2
Trello is highly rated for stability and performance, known for reliability and consistent updates, ensuring user confidence.
 

Room For Improvement

Smartsheet requires UI improvements, better integrations, enhanced functionality, and increased user-friendliness, with superior training and support.
Trello users seek better time tracking, notifications, task management, integrations, UI/UX, and enhanced onboarding for improved user experience.
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.
For more quotes and insights, download the Trello report
 

Setup Cost

Smartsheet offers flexible pricing with various plans, seen as cost-effective compared to competitors, with customizable features and support.
Enterprise users find Trello's pricing reasonable, with flexible options appealing to startups and mid-sized companies for integration.
 

Valuable Features

Smartsheet excels with cloud accessibility, real-time collaboration, and robust integrations, offering customizable project management and intuitive interfaces.
Trello offers user-friendly project management with features like Kanban boards, automation, and online accessibility for team collaboration.
We were looking for a tool that allowed for repeatable projects and process-oriented governance.
For more quotes and insights, download the Smartsheet report
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
 

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
7.1
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Project Management Software category, the mindshare of Smartsheet is 4.5%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Trello is 3.1%, up from 2.8% 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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Akshat Prakash - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers not just a free version but also a mobile version that is easy to use
The product has features to support project management workflows and team collaborations. I was using a free version for my personal use and for managing my private activities, and both times, I saw that the tool did the job. I used Trello's board and card system of training with Kanban task management format to handle work in progress and to see whether it has already been completed. I would say that the tool was decent in the aforementioned area. I used the product's mobile version and the handheld device version, and I can say that it was easy to use. In general, the tool's app was quite easy to use. It is definitely a product which is quite highly rated by others. The mobile application functionality affected my productivity in a good way. It is quite good because, if I remember correctly, I could set some reminders for pending tasks. The tool did improve my productivity. The tool did help me deal with my personal backlog and to-do activities. As a beginner-level user, I found the tool very helpful and intuitive. From my friends, I came to know that it is an application that can be used in a wide enterprise setup. If you have an option, you can try it. I rate the overall tool a nine to ten out of ten.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
44%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Healthcare Company
6%
Government
5%
Educational Organization
81%
Computer Software Company
3%
Financial Services Firm
2%
Manufacturing Company
2%
 

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?
I did not evaluate Trello's pricing model since it was provided by my organization.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Trello?
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 fe...
See all answers
 

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Product Reports

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