SoftwareGlimpse

Microsoft Project vs Smartsheet

Microsoft Project fits m365 standardised pmos; Smartsheet fits spreadsheet-native portfolios.

Independently recommendedLast updated Aug 17, 20264 evidence sources3 screenshotsHow we compare
Compare another
Microsoft Project logo

Microsoft Project

7.4/10

Microsoft 365 project / Planner ladder for Gantt, resources and portfolios — Planner Plan 1 from ~$10/user/mo.

Best for

  • • M365 standardised PMOs
  • • Traditional resource scheduling

Starting from $10.00/user/mo

No free plan

Visit Microsoft Project
Read review

VS

Our verdict

Our verdict

Smartsheet is the stronger overall fit

Smartsheet is the stronger overall fit. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.

Microsoft Project is better for

  • ✓ Integrations

Smartsheet is better for

  • ✓ Automations
  • ✓ Ease of use
  • ✓ Automation & workflows
  • ✓ Reporting

Tie

  • • Timeline / Gantt
  • • Work planning depth
  • • Collaboration

Choose Microsoft Project if: M365 standardised PMOs

Choose Smartsheet if: Spreadsheet-native portfolios

See detailed comparison ↓
Stronger overall fit
Smartsheet logo

Smartsheet

7.9/10

Spreadsheet-style work management with Gantt, portfolios and automation — Pro from $9/member/mo annual.

Best for

  • • Spreadsheet-native portfolios
  • • Cross-stack grid PM

Starting from $9.00/user/mo

No free plan

Visit Smartsheet
Read review

Quick verdict

Start here — then dig into the evidence below.

Choose Microsoft Project if…

  • M365 standardised PMOs
  • Traditional resource scheduling
  • You prioritize integrations

Choose Smartsheet if…

  • Spreadsheet-native portfolios
  • Cross-stack grid PM
  • You prioritize automations
  • You prioritize ease of use

Overall recommendation

Smartsheet is the stronger overall fit. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.

Key trade-off

Microsoft Project trades toward integrations; Smartsheet trades toward automations.

Winner by category

Only dimensions with researched evidence for this pair.

DimensionWinnerWhy
Timeline / GanttTieMicrosoft Project and Smartsheet have the same researched availability on timeline gantt (Microsoft Project: supported; Smartsheet: supported).
AutomationsSmartsheet winsStronger automations workflows availability
Ease of useSmartsheet winsSmartsheet leads on ease of use (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.
Work planning depthTieMicrosoft Project and Smartsheet are close on work planning depth (9/10 vs 9/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.
Automation & workflowsSmartsheet winsSmartsheet leads on automation & workflows (6/10 vs 8/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.
CollaborationTieMicrosoft Project and Smartsheet are close on collaboration (7/10 vs 7/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.
IntegrationsMicrosoft Project winsMicrosoft Project leads on integrations (9/10 vs 8/10) from vendor documentation as of the research date — not lab testing.
AI featuresTieMicrosoft Project and Smartsheet are close on ai features (6/10 vs 6/10) from vendor documentation as of the research date — not lab testing.
ReportingSmartsheet winsSmartsheet leads on reporting (8/10 vs 9/10) from vendor documentation as of the research date — not lab testing.
Enterprise suitabilityTieMicrosoft Project and Smartsheet are close on scalability (9/10 vs 9/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.
ValueSmartsheet winsSmartsheet leads on value for money (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.

Side-by-side feature matrix

Normalized availability from product research — empty rows are not shown.

Work planning

FeatureMicrosoft ProjectSmartsheet
Task boards & work viewsStrongStrong
Timeline / GanttStrongStrong
Workload & resource managementModerateStrong
Time trackingModerateModerate

Execution

FeatureMicrosoft ProjectSmartsheet
Automations & workflowsModerateStrong
Docs & collaborationModerateStrong
AI assistanceModerateModerate

Platform

FeatureMicrosoft ProjectSmartsheet
Integrations ecosystemStrongStrong
Reporting & dashboardsStrongStrong

Adjacent productivity

FeatureMicrosoft ProjectSmartsheet
Document / PDF productivityLimitedLimited
Remote access / screen shareLimitedLimited
Desktop workspace organizerLimitedLimited

Pricing comparison

Pricing evidence last checked Aug 17, 2026.

Microsoft Project logo

Microsoft Project

From $10.00/user/mo

No free planFree trial available
  • Planner Plan 1$10.00/user/mo
  • Planner and Project Plan 3$30.00/user/mo
  • Planner and Project Plan 5$55.00/user/mo
Smartsheet logo

Smartsheet

From $9.00/user/mo

No free planFree trial available
  • Pro$9.00/user/mo
  • Business$19.00/user/mo
  • EnterpriseCustom

Seat-count estimates

Labeled estimates from verified starting per-seat pricing — not invoices.

SeatsMicrosoft ProjectSmartsheet
5~$50.00/mo (5 × starting seat)~$45.00/mo (5 × starting seat)
10~$100.00/mo (10 × starting seat)~$90.00/mo (10 × starting seat)
25~$250.00/mo (25 × starting seat)~$225.00/mo (25 × starting seat)
50~$500.00/mo (50 × starting seat)~$450.00/mo (50 × starting seat)

Estimate from verified starting per-seat pricing — actual total depends on plan, annual discounts, and add-ons.

MS Planner/Project ~$10/$30/$55. Smartsheet Pro/Business $9/$19 annual. Research 2026-08-17.

Open cost calculator →

Best for

Scenario picks from researched strengths — not a universal ranking.

  • → Microsoft Project

    Best for integrations

    Microsoft Project leads on integrations (9/10 vs 8/10) from vendor documentation as of the research date — not lab testing.

  • → Smartsheet

    Best for automations

    Stronger automations workflows availability

  • → Smartsheet

    Best for ease of use

    Smartsheet leads on ease of use (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.

  • → Smartsheet

    Best for automation & workflows

    Smartsheet leads on automation & workflows (6/10 vs 8/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.

The differences that actually matter

Pair-specific analysis for Microsoft Project vs Smartsheet — not generic category copy.

  • Starting pricing

    Depends

    Starting pricing: Microsoft Project — Microsoft Planner Plan 1 ~$10/user/mo; Smartsheet Pro $9/member/mo annual — similar entry, different ecosystems.. Smartsheet — Microsoft Planner Plan 1 ~$10/user/mo; Smartsheet Pro $9/member/mo annual — similar entry, different ecosystems.. Feature evidence also diverges on Workload & resource management (Microsoft Project: Moderate; Smartsheet: Strong); Automations & workflows (Microsoft Project: Moderate; Smartsheet: Strong); Docs & collaboration (Microsoft Project: Moderate; Smartsheet: Strong).

  • Seat / licence minimum

    Depends

    Seat / licence minimum: Microsoft Project — Both per-user/member seats on published plans.. Smartsheet — Both per-user/member seats on published plans..

  • Timeline / Gantt

    Tie

    Microsoft Project and Smartsheet are close on timeline / gantt. Microsoft Project and Smartsheet have the same researched availability on timeline gantt (Microsoft Project: supported; Smartsheet: supported).

  • Work planning depth

    Tie

    Microsoft Project and Smartsheet are close on work planning depth. Microsoft Project and Smartsheet are close on work planning depth (9/10 vs 9/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.

  • Automations

    Smartsheet ahead

    On automations, Smartsheet is ahead. Microsoft Project: Trails Smartsheet on this criterion. Smartsheet: Stronger automations workflows availability.

  • Integrations

    Microsoft Project ahead

    On integrations, Microsoft Project is ahead. Microsoft Project: Microsoft Project leads on integrations (9/10 vs 8/10) from vendor documentation as of the research date — not lab testing.. Smartsheet: Trails Microsoft Project on this criterion.

Pros and cons

Product-specific for this pair — derived from researched outcomes and editorial notes.

Microsoft Project logo

Microsoft Project

Pros

  • Stronger on integrations

Cons

  • Trails on automations
  • Trails on ease of use
  • Trails on automation & workflows
Smartsheet logo

Smartsheet

Pros

  • Stronger on automations
  • Stronger on ease of use
  • Stronger on automation & workflows
  • Stronger on reporting

Cons

  • Trails on integrations

Implementation & learning curve

Based on researched setup / ease criteria for this pair.

Microsoft Project

  • Trails on ease of use relative to Smartsheet

Smartsheet

  • Stronger on ease of use: Smartsheet leads on ease of use (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.

Integrations

Overlaps and exclusives from product integration data when available.

Microsoft Project: Strong. Smartsheet: Strong.

Who should not choose each product

Decision quality improves when we say who should walk away.

Don't choose Microsoft Project if…

  • You need Smartsheet's stronger automations more than Microsoft Project's strengths
  • You need Smartsheet's stronger ease of use more than Microsoft Project's strengths
  • You need Smartsheet's stronger automation & workflows more than Microsoft Project's strengths
  • Your primary fit looks closer to: Spreadsheet-native portfolios

Don't choose Smartsheet if…

  • You need Microsoft Project's stronger integrations more than Smartsheet's strengths
  • Your primary fit looks closer to: M365 standardised PMOs
  • Your primary fit looks closer to: Traditional resource scheduling

Alternatives worth considering

When neither product is the right fit.

  • monday.com logomonday.com

    Work OS / work management platform with boards, timelines, automations and AI credits — Basic from $9/seat/mo annual (3-seat minimum).

  • Asana logoAsana

    Cross-functional work management with goals, workflows and AI Studio — Starter from $10.99/user/mo annual.

  • Wrike logoWrike

    Enterprise/agency work management with proofing, intake and resourcing — Team from $10/user/mo annual.

  • Airtable logoAirtable

    Flexible database / app platform with interfaces and light project apps — Team from ~$20/user/mo annual.

Final verdict

Scenario-level close — not a repeat of the intro.

Microsoft Project wins when…

M365 standardised PMOs

Smartsheet wins when…

Spreadsheet-native portfolios

  • Best for integrationsMicrosoft Project
  • Best for automationsSmartsheet
  • Best for ease of useSmartsheet
  • Best for automation & workflowsSmartsheet

Which one should you choose?

Choose Microsoft Project if:

  • M365 standardised PMOs
  • Traditional resource scheduling

Choose Smartsheet if:

  • Spreadsheet-native portfolios
  • Cross-stack grid PM

Product screenshots

Real product UI from our media library — no placeholders.

Microsoft Project

  • Product UI frame from the official Microsoft 365 “Overview of Microsoft Project” video.

Smartsheet

  • Desktop workspace UI from the official Smartsheet platform page.
  • Project portfolio management frame from smartsheet.com.

FAQ

Is Microsoft Project better than Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is the stronger overall fit. Smartsheet is the stronger overall fit. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
Which is easier to use?
Smartsheet leads on ease of use (6/10 vs 7/10) from approved product scores grounded in vendor documentation.
Which project management fits which team?
Microsoft Project: M365 standardised PMOs Smartsheet: Spreadsheet-native portfolios
Does Microsoft Project or Smartsheet have a free plan?
Microsoft Project: No free plan. Smartsheet: No free plan.
How does Microsoft Project vs Smartsheet pricing compare?
Microsoft Project starts from $10.00/user/mo. Smartsheet starts from $9.00/user/mo. Confirm live vendor pricing before purchasing.
How did SoftwareGlimpse compare these products?
We map both products to the same category criteria, then evaluate trade-offs using verified product, pricing and feature evidence. Affiliate relationships never change outcomes.

Still deciding between Microsoft Project and Smartsheet?

Use Best project management software for a shortlist matched to your priorities, or build another side-by-side comparison.

Best project management softwareCompare another
  • Independent criterion outcomes
  • No invented scores or prices
  • Affiliate links never change winners

Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.

Affiliate disclosure: some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rankings and scores are never based on commission. Full disclosure

Methodology disclosure: scores and recommendations follow SoftwareGlimpse evaluation criteria (version 1.0.0). Affiliate relationships do not determine rankings.

How we recommend: product claims are tied to recorded research where available.

AI-assisted disclosure: drafts may be AI-assisted from approved facts and assessments. Humans approve publishable editorial judgments. AI does not invent live prices or claim hands-on testing.

Part of Software comparisons · Project Management Software hub

Try a decision tool

Interactive helpers use recommendation criteria — affiliate status never changes outcomes.