Hive vs Smartsheet
Compare Hive and Smartsheet on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Hive
Work management platform with free plan (≤10 members) and Teams from $12/user/mo annual — strong monday.com peer.
Best for
- • SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
- • Teams that can start on Free (≤10) before upgrading to Teams
- • Buyers comparing monday.com as a primary Work OS peer
Starting from $5.00/user/mo
Free plan available
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Hive and Smartsheet. Choose Hive when SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday. Choose Smartsheet when Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Hive is better for
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Ease of use
- ✓ Collaboration
- ✓ AI features
Smartsheet is better for
- ✓ Timeline / Gantt
- ✓ Integrations
- ✓ Reporting
Tie
- • Automations
Choose Hive if: SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
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
Hive vs Smartsheet at a glance
Criterion-level leaders from verified research.
Scorecard preview
Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.
- Starting pricingDepends
Hive
Smartsheet
- Seat / licence minimumDepends
Hive
Smartsheet
- Free planHive
Hive
Smartsheet
- Ease of useHive
Hive
Smartsheet
- Timeline / GanttSmartsheet
Hive
Smartsheet
Which project management is better for you?
Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.
- → Hive
Best for free plan
Hive researches a free plan; Smartsheet does not research a free plan.
- → Hive
Best for ease of use
Hive leads on ease of use (8/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Hive
Best for collaboration
Hive leads on collaboration (8/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Smartsheet
Best for timeline / gantt
Smartsheet leads on timeline gantt (8/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Smartsheet
Best for integrations
Smartsheet leads on integrations (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
- → Smartsheet
Best for reporting
Smartsheet leads on reporting (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Starting pricing
DependsHive
Hive researched starting price from $5/mo; a free plan is researched; Smartsheet researched starting price from $9/mo. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
Smartsheet
Hive researched starting price from $5/mo; a free plan is researched; Smartsheet researched starting price from $9/mo. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
Seat / licence minimum
DependsHive
Check paid seat floors for Hive and Smartsheet on current vendor packaging.
Smartsheet
Check paid seat floors for Hive and Smartsheet on current vendor packaging.
Timeline / Gantt
Smartsheet winsHive
Trails Smartsheet on this criterion
Smartsheet
Smartsheet leads on timeline gantt (8/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Automations
TieHive
Hive and Smartsheet are close on automations (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet
Hive and Smartsheet are close on automations (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Integrations
Smartsheet winsHive
Trails Smartsheet on this criterion
Smartsheet
Smartsheet leads on integrations (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Reporting
Smartsheet winsHive
Trails Smartsheet on this criterion
Smartsheet
Smartsheet leads on reporting (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Which should you choose?
Choose Hive if
- SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
- Teams that can start on Free (≤10) before upgrading to Teams
- Buyers comparing monday.com as a primary Work OS peer
Choose Smartsheet if
- Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs
- Ops teams needing Gantt + portfolios
- Structured program reporting
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
monday.com
Work OS / work management platform with boards, timelines, automations and AI credits — Basic from $9/seat/mo annual (3-seat minimum).
Office Timeline
PowerPoint-native timeline / Gantt specialist (now Lucen Timeline) — Free add-in; Lite from $9/user/mo annual.
Wrike
Enterprise/agency work management with proofing, intake and resourcing — Team from $10/user/mo annual.
Asana
Cross-functional work management with goals, workflows and AI Studio — Starter from $10.99/user/mo annual.
How we compare
A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology
1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.
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- Independent criterion outcomes
- No invented scores or prices
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