ClickUp vs Smartsheet: Which PM Tool Is Right for You in 2026?
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ClickUp
Price: $7/user/mo
📊 How We Compared
We compared ClickUp and Smartsheet feature-by-feature against a documented 12-person team requirement profile. Every price was verified on vendor pricing pages during August 2026. Review scores only cite tools with 500+ user reviews each.
G2 Rating: ⭐ 4.7/5
Our Rating: 8.5/10
Best For: teams that want one app to replace Asana + Notion + Slack + Loom
Smartsheet
Price: $9/user/mo
G2 Rating: ⭐ 4.4/5
Our Rating: 7.9/10
Best For: spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise PMOs, regulated industries
ClickUp and Smartsheet are two of the most popular project management tools — but they serve different needs. ClickUp is built for teams that want one app to replace asana + notion + slack + loom, 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.
Editor’s take: If you asked our team to pick one for a friend: ClickUp. The reason isn't on the comparison table — it's how the product behaves at month six, not week one.
Editor's Take
One comes from task management, the other from spreadsheets and grid-based planning. If your work is genuinely tabular — resource plans, budgets, formulas — the spreadsheet lineage wins. If it is tasks with owners and due dates, the task tool does. Dashboards now overlap, so judge on the daily working view.
ClickUp vs Smartsheet: Quick Comparison Table
| Category | ClickUp | Smartsheet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $7/user/mo | $9/user/mo | ClickUp |
| Free Tier | Free (100MB storage, unlimited tasks) | Free (1 user, 2 sheets) | Tie |
| G2 Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 | ClickUp |
| Our Rating | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 | ClickUp |
| Implementation | 2–3 weeks | 3–6 weeks | Tie |
| Best For | teams that want one app to replace Asana + Notion + Slack + Loom | spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise PMOs, regulated industries | Depends |
ClickUp vs Smartsheet: feature breakdown
| Feature | ClickUp | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Gantt/Timeline | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kanban | ✅ | ✅ |
| Built-in Docs | ✅ | ❌ |
| Time Tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Resource Mgmt | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
A closer look at ClickUp and Smartsheet
1. Managing tasks and subtasks
ClickUp handles tasks through 15+ views (list, board, gantt, calendar, timeline, mind map, workload, etc.), while Smartsheet approaches task management with spreadsheet-style grid interface. If your team needs structured task hierarchies with subtasks and dependencies, Smartsheet has the edge. For teams that prefer simple, flat task lists, either tool works equally well.
2. Board, list, and timeline views
ClickUp offers 15+ views (List, Board, Gantt, Calendar, Timeline, Mind Map, Workload, etc.), Docs, Whiteboards, and Goals built-in. 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. Automating repetitive work
Both tools offer automation capabilities. Automations can save hours per week on repetitive tasks like assigning work, updating statuses, and sending notifications.
4. Connecting to your other tools
ClickUp integrates with 11 core tools including Slack, GitHub, GitLab. 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. How hard is it to get started?
ClickUp typically takes 2–3 weeks 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.
Pricing: ClickUp vs Smartsheet
ClickUp: Free, Unlimited $7/user/mo, Business $12/user/mo, 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. ClickUp includes 15+ views (list, board, gantt, calendar, timeline, mind map, workload, etc.), docs, whiteboards, and goals built-in 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.
ClickUp and Smartsheet: pros and cons
ClickUp Strengths
- Most features per dollar of any PM tool — $7/user/mo for Unlimited
- Built-in Docs, Whiteboards, and Chat replace 3+ separate tools
- 15+ views give teams flexibility in how they visualize work
ClickUp Weaknesses
- Feature bloat — UI can feel cluttered and overwhelming
- Performance issues on large workspaces (5,000+ tasks)
- Some features (Goals) are shallow compared to dedicated alternatives
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 ClickUp?
Pick ClickUp if you:
- Teams of 2–100
- Startups wanting to minimize tool spend
- Teams currently paying for 3+ separate tools (tasks + docs + chat)
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)
Final verdict: ClickUp vs Smartsheet
ClickUp and Smartsheet are both solid project management tools, but they serve different needs. ClickUp is good at teams that want one app to replace asana + notion + slack + loom, making it ideal for Teams of 2–100. Smartsheet is better suited for spreadsheet-heavy teams, enterprise pmos, regulated industries, especially enterprise pmos and regulated industries.
Our recommendation: If teams that want one app to replace asana + notion + slack + loom is your primary use case, start with ClickUp. 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 ClickUp cheaper than Smartsheet?
Yes. ClickUp starts at $7/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 — ClickUp or Smartsheet?
Both support remote work, but they approach it differently. ClickUp focuses on 15+ views (list, board, gantt, calendar, timeline, mind map, workload, etc.), while Smartsheet emphasizes spreadsheet-style grid interface. The right choice depends on how your remote team communicates and tracks work.
Can I switch from ClickUp to Smartsheet easily?
Possible, but never a one-click affair. Both ClickUp and Smartsheet support CSV round-trips. Archived projects sometimes need a second export pass to surface. Budget 1-2 weeks of overlap so nothing gets lost.
Try Both and Compare
Each tool offers a free trial. The best way to decide is to test both with a real project.
