Smartsheet vs Airtable: Which is Better? (2026)
Choosing between Smartsheet and Airtable for your team? Both are powerful project management platforms, but they excel in different areas. This comprehensive comparison breaks down pricing, features, ease of use, and ideal use cases to help you decide.
Last updated: January 2026
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Smartsheet if:
Teams who love spreadsheets but need project management features
- Familiar spreadsheet interface
- Powerful automation capabilities
- Excellent for data-heavy projects
From $/user/mo
Try Smartsheet Free →Choose Airtable if:
Teams needing flexible databases with project management capabilities
- Extremely flexible and customizable
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Great for content management
From $Free/user/mo
Try Airtable Free →📊 Smartsheet vs Airtable: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Smartsheet | Airtable |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $undefined/user/mo | Free plan available |
| Best For | Teams who love spreadsheets but need project management features | Teams needing flexible databases with project management capabilities |
| Ideal Team Size | 10-500 people | 5-200 people |
| User Rating | ⭐ 4.4/5 | ⭐ 4.6/5 |
| Free Plan | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Key Integrations | Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce | Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox |
💰 Pricing Comparison
Smartsheet Pricing
- Pro: $7/user/month
Airtable Pricing
- Free: $0
- Pro: $20/user/month
✅ Pros & Cons
Smartsheet
✅ Pros
- Familiar spreadsheet interface
- Powerful automation capabilities
- Excellent for data-heavy projects
- Strong enterprise features
- Great reporting and dashboards
❌ Cons
- No free plan available
- Can be expensive for small teams
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Mobile app less intuitive
Airtable
✅ Pros
- Extremely flexible and customizable
- Beautiful, modern interface
- Great for content management
- Powerful API for integrations
- Excellent mobile apps
❌ Cons
- Not purpose-built for project management
- Can get complex quickly
- Expensive for large teams
- Limited free plan (1,200 records per base)
🏆 Final Verdict
Both Smartsheet and Airtable are excellent tools. Choose Smartsheet if you prioritize teams who love spreadsheets but need project management features, while Airtable excels at teams needing flexible databases with project management capabilities.