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
Pros & cons
A balanced look at where each product shines — and where it falls short.
Hive
Strengths in greenPros
- Stronger on free plan
- Stronger on ease of use
- Stronger on collaboration
- Stronger on ai features
Cons
- Trails on timeline / gantt
- Trails on integrations
- Trails on reporting
Best for
SMB and mid-market teams wanting Work OS depth with a lower paid entry than monday
Smartsheet
Trade-offs in redPros
- Stronger on timeline / gantt
- Stronger on integrations
- Stronger on reporting
Cons
- Trails on free plan
- Trails on ease of use
- Trails on collaboration
Best for
Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs
Choose if…
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
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