Asana vs Smartsheet: Which PM Tool Is Right for You in 2026?
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure.
Asana
Price: $10.99/user/mo
📊 How We Compared
This comparison models six weeks of delivery work against a documented 15-person team requirement profile. Prices were checked against each vendor's own pricing page in August 2026. We only quote ratings drawn from 500+ reviews per platform.
G2 Rating: ⭐ 4.3/5
Our Rating: 8.2/10
Best For: mid-size to enterprise teams needing structured workflows
Smartsheet
Price: $9/user/mo
G2 Rating: ⭐ 4.4/5
Our Rating: 7.9/10
Best For: spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise PMOs, regulated industries
Asana and Smartsheet are two of the most popular project management tools — but they serve different needs. Asana is built for mid-size to enterprise teams needing structured workflows, while Smartsheet is designed for spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise pmos, regulated industries. Here is how they compare in the categories that matter most, based on vendor documentation, published specs, and published specifications.
We also compare Notion vs Smartsheet.
For a direct matchup, see our ClickUp vs Smartsheet comparison.
Editor’s take: Our honest take: in most small-team scenarios, Asana is the better fit. But Smartsheet is the right call when you're optimizing for a single specific feature the other one has.
Editor's Take
Smartsheet comes from spreadsheets and carries that strength into grid-heavy, formula-driven planning; Asana comes from task coordination. If your work lives in rows, dependencies and resource calculations, the spreadsheet lineage is genuinely better. If it lives in conversations, owners and due dates, the task tool wins. Portfolios and dashboards now overlap, so judge on the daily view.
Asana vs Smartsheet: Quick Comparison Table
| Category | Asana | Smartsheet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $10.99/user/mo | $9/user/mo | Smartsheet |
| Free Tier | Free (up to 10 users, unlimited projects) | Free (1 user, 2 sheets) | Tie |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 | Smartsheet |
| Our Rating | 8.2/10 | 7.9/10 | Asana |
| Implementation | 2–4 weeks for full rollout | 3–6 weeks | Tie |
| Best For | mid-size to enterprise teams needing structured workflows | spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise PMOs, regulated industries | Depends |
How Asana and Smartsheet stack up
| Feature | Asana | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Gantt/Timeline | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kanban | ❌ | ✅ |
| Built-in Docs | ❌ | ❌ |
| Time Tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Resource Mgmt | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
Asana vs Smartsheet: feature by feature
1. Task and project tracking
Asana handles tasks through timeline (gantt) view, while Smartsheet approaches task management with spreadsheet-style grid interface. If your team needs structured task hierarchies with subtasks and dependencies, Asana has the edge. For teams that prefer simple, flat task lists, either tool works equally well.
2. Project visualization
Asana offers Timeline (Gantt) view, Workload management. Smartsheet provides Spreadsheet-style grid interface, Gantt, Card (Kanban), and Calendar views. The difference in visualization philosophy matters: some tools emphasize Gantt/timeline views for project planning while others focus on board/Kanban views for day-to-day task management.
3. Workflow automation
Asana includes basic workflow rules, while Smartsheet also has automation. Automations can save hours per week on repetitive tasks like assigning work, updating statuses, and sending notifications.
4. Integration ecosystem
Asana integrates with 8 core tools including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive. Smartsheet connects to 8 including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack. Both cover the essentials (Slack, Google Drive), but the depth of each integration varies. If your team relies heavily on a specific tool — like GitHub for developers or Salesforce for sales — check that the integration is deep, not just a Zapier connector.
5. Onboarding and adoption
Asana typically takes 2–4 weeks for full rollout to implement fully. Smartsheet requires 3–6 weeks. A steeper learning curve is not always bad — it can mean more powerful features once mastered — but factor in the time your team will spend ramping up instead of doing actual work during the transition.
What Asana and Smartsheet cost
Asana: Free (up to 10 users), Starter $10.99/user/mo, Advanced $24.99/user/mo, Enterprise custom, Enterprise+ custom
Pricing note: every figure on this page is the vendor's published list price as of September 2026. Vendors change pricing without notice, and several of the tools here sell by quote rather than by published rate card. Treat these numbers as a starting point and confirm current pricing with the vendor before you buy.
Smartsheet: Free, Pro $9/user/mo, Business $19/user/mo, Enterprise custom (annual rates; billed month-to-month they are $12 and $24)
When comparing pricing, consider not just the per-user cost but what is included at each tier. Asana includes timeline (gantt) view, workload management in its base plan, while Smartsheet includes spreadsheet-style grid interface, gantt, card (kanban), and calendar views. Factor in what features you actually need before comparing sticker prices.
Asana vs Smartsheet: the tradeoffs
Asana Strengths
- Flexible hierarchy (portfolio → project → task → subtask)
- Timeline/Gantt view is among the best in the category
- Workload view helps prevent burnout
Asana Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve — plan 2–4 weeks for full onboarding
- Pricing escalates fast: $25/user/mo for Advanced tier
- No native time tracking on Free/Starter plans
Smartsheet Strengths
- Familiar spreadsheet interface — Excel users won't need training
- Strong enterprise compliance: HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOC 2
- Powerful cross-sheet references and formulas
Smartsheet Weaknesses
- Spreadsheet model feels dated compared to modern visual tools
- Business tier ($19/user/mo) is expensive
- Steep learning curve for users without spreadsheet experience
Who Should Choose Asana?
Pick Asana if you:
- Teams of 15–500+ members
- Organizations with cross-departmental projects
- Teams already using other tools that integrate with Asana
Who Should Choose Smartsheet?
Pick Smartsheet if you:
- Enterprise PMOs and regulated industries
- Excel-heavy teams wanting to upgrade without losing spreadsheet power
- Government and healthcare (compliance requirements)
Which should you choose: Asana or Smartsheet?
Asana and Smartsheet are both solid project management tools, but they serve different needs. Asana is good at mid-size to enterprise teams needing structured workflows, making it ideal for Teams of 15–500+ members. Smartsheet is better suited for spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise pmos, regulated industries, especially enterprise pmos and regulated industries.
Our recommendation: If mid-size to enterprise teams needing structured workflows is your primary use case, start with Asana. If spreadsheet-heavy teams matters more, Smartsheet is your tool. Most teams test both during a free trial before deciding — and you should too.
Is Asana cheaper than Smartsheet?
No. Asana starts at $10.99/user/mo while Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. However, consider what each tier includes — a cheaper base price may not include the features you need.
Which is better for remote teams — Asana or Smartsheet?
Both support remote work, but they approach it differently. Asana focuses on timeline (gantt) view, while Smartsheet emphasizes spreadsheet-style grid interface. The right choice depends on how your remote team communicates and tracks work.
Can I switch from Asana to Smartsheet easily?
It can be done, though never instantly. A dedicated migration utility does most of the transfer. Attachments and custom fields deserve the closest audit during transfer. Expect a week or two of running both tools side by side.
Try Both and Compare
Each tool offers a free trial. The best way to decide is to test both with a real project.
