Smartsheet vs Trello
Compare Smartsheet and Trello on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
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
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Smartsheet and Trello. Choose Smartsheet when Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs. Choose Trello when Small teams needing simple Kanban. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet is better for
- ✓ Timeline / Gantt
- ✓ Automations
- ✓ AI features
- ✓ Reporting
Trello is better for
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Ease of use
- ✓ Value for money
Tie
- • Collaboration
- • Integrations
Choose Smartsheet if: Excel/spreadsheet-native PMOs
Choose Trello if: Small teams needing simple Kanban
Trello
Lightweight Kanban boards (Atlassian) — Free; Standard from $5/user/mo annual.
Best for
- • Small teams needing simple Kanban
- • Personal/team board workflows
- • Atlassian-adjacent lightweight entry
Starting from $5.00/user/mo
Free plan available
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for Smartsheet and Trello. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- Depends
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
Smartsheet researched starting price from $9/mo; Trello researched starting price from $5/mo; a free plan is researched. Seat minimums and AI credits can change TCO.
SmartsheetDependsTrelloDepends - Depends
Seat / licence minimum
Minimum billed seats and how that changes small-team cost.
Check paid seat floors for Smartsheet and Trello on current vendor packaging.
SmartsheetDependsTrelloDepends - Trello
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
Smartsheet does not research a free plan; Trello researches a free plan.
SmartsheetWeakerTrelloStronger - Trello
Ease of use
How quickly teams become productive.
Trello leads on ease of use (7/10 vs 10/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet7/10Trello10/10 - Smartsheet
Timeline / Gantt
Native timeline, Gantt, or dependency planning.
Smartsheet leads on timeline gantt (9/10 vs 5/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet9/10Trello5/10 - Smartsheet
Automations
Rules, recipes, and workflow automations in the work OS.
Smartsheet leads on automations (8/10 vs 6/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet8/10Trello6/10 - Tie
Collaboration
Docs, comments, chat, proofing, and guest collaboration quality.
Smartsheet and Trello are close on collaboration (7/10 vs 7/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet7/10Trello7/10 - Tie
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
Smartsheet and Trello are close on integrations (8/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet8/10Trello8/10 - Smartsheet
AI features
Useful AI for the primary job — not marketing fluff.
Smartsheet leads on ai features (6/10 vs 4/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet6/10Trello4/10 - Smartsheet
Reporting
Reporting and forecasting quality.
Smartsheet leads on reporting (9/10 vs 4/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet9/10Trello4/10 - Trello
Value for money
Capability relative to total cost of ownership.
Trello leads on value for money (7/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Smartsheet7/10Trello9/10
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