Trello vs Smartsheet: Which is Better? (2026)

Choosing between Trello and Smartsheet 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

Trello logo

Choose Trello if:

Simple kanban-style project management and personal task tracking

  • Extremely simple and easy to learn
  • Perfect for visual thinkers
  • Strong free plan for small teams
From $Free/user/mo
Try Trello Free →
Smartsheet logo

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 →

📊 Trello vs Smartsheet: Feature Comparison

FeatureTrelloSmartsheet
Starting PriceFree plan available$undefined/user/mo
Best ForSimple kanban-style project management and personal task trackingTeams who love spreadsheets but need project management features
Ideal Team Size1-20 people10-500 people
User Rating4.5/54.4/5
Free Plan✅ Yes❌ No
Key IntegrationsSlack, Google Drive, JiraMicrosoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce

💰 Pricing Comparison

Trello Pricing

  • Free: $0
  • Standard: $5/user/month

Smartsheet Pricing

  • Pro: $7/user/month

✅ Pros & Cons

Trello

✅ Pros

  • Extremely simple and easy to learn
  • Perfect for visual thinkers
  • Strong free plan for small teams
  • Large ecosystem of Power-Ups
  • Owned by Atlassian (reliable)

❌ Cons

  • Limited features for complex projects
  • No native time tracking
  • Lacks advanced reporting
  • Not ideal for large-scale project management

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

🏆 Final Verdict

Both Trello and Smartsheet are excellent tools. Choose Trello if you prioritize simple kanban-style project management and personal task tracking, while Smartsheet excels at teams who love spreadsheets but need project management features.