Airtable vs Smartsheet
Compare Airtable and Smartsheet on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Airtable
Flexible database / app platform with interfaces and light project apps — Team from ~$20/user/mo annual.
Best for
- • Ops teams building data apps
- • Structured trackers beyond plain docs
- • Interface-driven internal tools
Starting from $20.00/user/mo
Free plan available
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Airtable and Smartsheet. Choose Airtable when Ops teams building data apps. Choose Smartsheet when Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable is better for
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Collaboration
- ✓ AI features
Smartsheet is better for
- ✓ Timeline / Gantt
- ✓ Automations
- ✓ Reporting
- ✓ Value for money
Tie
- • Ease of use
- • Integrations
Choose Airtable if: Ops teams building data apps
Choose Smartsheet if: Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style work management with Gantt, portfolios and automation — Pro from $9/member/mo annual.
Best for
- • Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs
- • Ops teams needing Gantt + portfolios
- • Structured program reporting
Starting from $9.00/user/mo
No free plan
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for Airtable and Smartsheet. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- Depends
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
Airtable researched starting price from $20/mo; a free plan is researched; Smartsheet researched starting price from $9/mo. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
AirtableDependsSmartsheetDepends - Depends
Seat / licence minimum
Minimum billed seats and how that changes small-team cost.
Check paid seat floors for Airtable and Smartsheet on current vendor packaging.
AirtableDependsSmartsheetDepends - Airtable
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
Airtable researches a free plan; Smartsheet does not research a free plan.
AirtableStrongerSmartsheetWeaker - Tie
Ease of use
How quickly teams become productive.
Airtable and Smartsheet are close on ease of use (7/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable7/10Smartsheet7/10 - Smartsheet
Timeline / Gantt
Native timeline, Gantt, or dependency planning.
Smartsheet leads on timeline gantt (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable7/10Smartsheet9/10 - Smartsheet
Automations
Rules, recipes, and workflow automations in the work OS.
Smartsheet leads on automations (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable7/10Smartsheet8/10 - Airtable
Collaboration
Docs, comments, chat, proofing, and guest collaboration quality.
Airtable leads on collaboration (8/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable8/10Smartsheet7/10 - Tie
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
Airtable and Smartsheet are close on integrations (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable8/10Smartsheet8/10 - Airtable
AI features
Useful AI for the primary job — not marketing fluff.
Airtable leads on ai features (7/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable7/10Smartsheet6/10 - Smartsheet
Reporting
Reporting and forecasting quality.
Smartsheet leads on reporting (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable7/10Smartsheet9/10 - Smartsheet
Value for money
Capability relative to total cost of ownership.
Smartsheet leads on value for money (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Airtable6/10Smartsheet7/10
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