Trello vs Smartsheet (2024 Comparison)
Trello offers a user-friendly interface with flexible customization options, making it ideal for small teams and individuals. Its generous free plan provides essential features without any financial commitment.
- Highly intuitive interface.
- Generous free plan.
- Flexible customization options.
- Limited advanced features.
- Basic reporting capabilities.
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$5 per month per user
Smartsheet provides advanced automation and comprehensive reporting features, making it perfect for complex projects. Its robust security measures ensure data protection for organizations with strict requirements.
- Advanced automation tools.
- Comprehensive reporting features.
- Robust security measures.
- Steeper learning curve.
- Higher price point.
Free plan?
NoStarting price
$9 per month per userWhat is Trello?
Trello is a versatile project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help you organize tasks and projects. It's perfect for visual thinkers who appreciate a clean, intuitive interface. Whether you're managing a team or planning a personal project, Trello's flexibility allows you to customize workflows to fit your needs. With features like due dates, checklists, and attachments, Trello helps you stay on top of your tasks and collaborate effectively with others.
What is Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is a powerful work management and automation platform that helps teams plan, track, and manage projects in real-time. It combines the familiar interface of a spreadsheet with advanced project management features, making it ideal for complex projects. Smartsheet's automation capabilities streamline workflows, while its collaboration tools enhance team communication. Whether you're managing a marketing campaign or a construction project, Smartsheet provides the tools you need to succeed.
Pros and Cons of Trello vs Smartsheet
Pros & Cons of Trello
- Trello's interface is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy for users to navigate and manage tasks without a steep learning curve. This is particularly beneficial for teams looking for a straightforward project management tool.
- Trello offers a free plan that includes essential features, making it accessible for small teams and individuals. This allows users to experience the platform's capabilities without any financial commitment.
- With Trello, you can customize boards, lists, and cards to fit your workflow. This flexibility allows you to create a project management system that aligns with your team's unique needs and preferences.
- While Trello is great for basic task management, it lacks some of the advanced features found in other project management tools. This can be a limitation for teams with complex project needs.
- Trello's reporting features are relatively basic, which may not be sufficient for teams that require detailed insights and analytics. This can be a drawback for data-driven decision-making.
Pros & Cons of Smartsheet
- Smartsheet offers powerful automation tools that streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks. This is ideal for teams looking to increase efficiency and productivity through automation.
- With Smartsheet, you can generate detailed reports that provide valuable insights into project performance. This is beneficial for teams that rely on data-driven decision-making.
- Smartsheet prioritizes security, offering features like data encryption and compliance with industry standards. This makes it a reliable choice for organizations with strict security requirements.
- Due to its advanced features, Smartsheet can have a steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools. This may require additional training for team members to fully utilize its capabilities.
- Smartsheet's advanced features come at a higher price, which may not be feasible for smaller teams or individuals with limited budgets. This can be a consideration when choosing a project management tool.
Trello vs Smartsheet: At A Glance
Value to Price
Trello offers a great value for its price, especially for small teams and individuals who need a simple project management tool. Its free plan is generous, providing essential features without cost. Smartsheet, on the other hand, offers more advanced features and automation capabilities, which justify its higher price point. If you're looking for a tool with robust functionality and are willing to invest, Smartsheet is the better choice.
Ease of Use
Trello is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for anyone to get started quickly. Its drag-and-drop functionality and visual layout are intuitive. Smartsheet, while also user-friendly, has a steeper learning curve due to its advanced features. If you prefer a straightforward tool with minimal setup, Trello is the way to go.
Functionality
Smartsheet excels in functionality, offering a wide range of features such as Gantt charts, automation, and reporting tools. It's designed for complex project management needs. Trello, while functional, is more suited for simpler projects and task management. If you need a tool with comprehensive project management capabilities, Smartsheet is the better option.
Scalability
Smartsheet is highly scalable, making it suitable for large organizations and complex projects. Its ability to handle multiple projects and teams simultaneously is impressive. Trello, while scalable to an extent, is better suited for smaller teams and projects. If you're planning to scale your operations, Smartsheet is the more suitable choice.
Integrations
Both Trello and Smartsheet offer a wide range of integrations with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office. However, Smartsheet's integration capabilities are more extensive, allowing for deeper connections with enterprise-level applications. If integrations are a priority, Smartsheet offers more options.
Customer Support
Smartsheet provides excellent customer support, with various resources such as webinars, tutorials, and a responsive support team. Trello also offers good support, but it may not be as comprehensive as Smartsheet's. If customer support is crucial for you, Smartsheet is the better choice.
Security
Smartsheet offers robust security features, including data encryption and compliance with industry standards, making it suitable for organizations with strict security requirements. Trello also provides good security, but Smartsheet's features are more advanced. If security is a top concern, Smartsheet is the safer option.
Overall Rating
Overall, Smartsheet scores higher due to its advanced features, scalability, and robust security. It's ideal for larger teams and complex projects. Trello, while slightly behind, is perfect for smaller teams and simpler projects, offering great value and ease of use.
Trello vs Smartsheet: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Task Management
Trello excels in task management with its intuitive board and card system, making it easy to organize and prioritize tasks. You can quickly move tasks between lists, add due dates, and assign team members. Smartsheet, however, offers more advanced task management features, including Gantt charts and dependencies, which are ideal for complex projects. If you need a simple yet effective task management tool, Trello is great. But for more detailed project planning, Smartsheet is the better choice.
Collaboration Tools
Both Trello and Smartsheet offer excellent collaboration tools, allowing team members to comment, share files, and receive notifications. Trello's real-time updates and easy-to-use interface make it a favorite for teams looking for straightforward collaboration. Smartsheet, on the other hand, provides more advanced collaboration features, such as shared views and automated alerts, which enhance team communication. If your team requires advanced collaboration capabilities, Smartsheet is the way to go.
Automation
Smartsheet stands out in automation, offering powerful tools to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. Its automation features are highly customizable, allowing you to create complex workflows with ease. Trello also offers automation through its Butler feature, but it's not as advanced as Smartsheet's. If automation is a priority for your team, Smartsheet provides more robust options.
Reporting
Smartsheet offers comprehensive reporting tools, allowing you to generate detailed reports and gain insights into project performance. Its reporting capabilities are ideal for data-driven decision-making. Trello, while offering basic reporting features, doesn't match the depth of Smartsheet's reporting tools. If reporting is crucial for your projects, Smartsheet is the better choice.
Customization
Trello offers a high level of customization, allowing you to tailor boards and cards to fit your workflow. You can add custom fields, labels, and power-ups to enhance functionality. Smartsheet also provides customization options, but its focus is more on structured data and project management. If you need a tool with flexible customization, Trello is a great choice. For structured project management, Smartsheet is more suitable.
Mobile App
Trello's mobile app is highly rated for its user-friendly interface and seamless synchronization with the desktop version. It's perfect for managing tasks on the go. Smartsheet's mobile app is also robust, offering access to all features and real-time updates. However, Trello's app is slightly more intuitive and easier to navigate. If mobile accessibility is important, Trello's app is a strong contender.
Pricing Comparison of Trello and Smartsheet
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Trello and Smartsheet. This comparison will highlight the best option for managing your projects.
Trello Pricing Plans
- Up to 10 boards per Workspace for organized project management.
- Unlimited Power-Ups per board to enhance functionality.
- Unlimited storage with a limit of 10MB per file.
- 250 Workspace command runs per month for automation.
- Advanced checklists for detailed task breakdowns.
- Custom Fields to structure information on Trello cards.
- Unlimited storage with a limit of 250MB per file.
- 1,000 Workspace command runs per month for enhanced automation.
- Unlimited Workspace command runs for extensive automation.
- Atlassian Intelligence (AI) for enhanced productivity.
- Admin and security features for better control.
- Workspace-level templates for consistent project management.
- Organization-wide permissions for enhanced security.
- Public board management for broader collaboration.
- Multi-board guests for flexible team collaboration.
- Free SSO and user provisioning with Atlassian Access.
Smartsheet Pricing Plans
- Gantt, grid, board, and calendar view for versatile project management.
- Rich formulas to enhance data analysis and reporting.
- Unlimited sheets, forms, and reports for comprehensive data management.
- 250 automations per month to streamline workflows.
- Timeline view for detailed project tracking.
- Team workload tracking to optimize resource allocation.
- Admin capabilities for enhanced control and management.
- Unlimited automations for efficient process management.
- SAML-based SSO for secure access management.
- WorkApps for custom application development.
- Work Insights for comprehensive data analysis.
- Unlimited attachment storage for extensive data handling.
- Dynamic View for secure request management.
- Data Shuttle for seamless data integration.
- Salesforce and Jira connectors for enhanced integration.
- Premium Support for prioritized assistance.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each project management tool, focusing on key aspects like functionality, scalability, and security. By analyzing user feedback and conducting hands-on testing, we ensure our recommendations align with your needs. Each factor is weighted to provide an accurate final rating, helping you make informed decisions.
Trello or Smartsheet: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Trello If You Need ...
- Simple task management tool
If you are a small team or individual looking for a simple task management tool, Trello is an excellent choice. Its intuitive interface and flexible customization options make it easy to organize and prioritize tasks without a steep learning curve.
- Budget-friendly project management
If you are a budget-conscious user seeking a cost-effective project management solution, Trello's generous free plan offers essential features without any financial commitment. It's perfect for small teams and individuals looking to manage tasks efficiently.
Choose Smartsheet If You Need ...
- Advanced project management needs
If you are a large organization or team with complex project management needs, Smartsheet is the ideal choice. Its advanced features, such as automation and comprehensive reporting, provide the tools necessary for effective project planning and execution.
- Data-driven decision-making
If you are a team that relies on data-driven decision-making, Smartsheet's comprehensive reporting features offer valuable insights into project performance. Its robust analytics tools help you make informed decisions and optimize project outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for small teams, Trello or Smartsheet?
Does Smartsheet offer more advanced features than Trello?
Can Trello handle complex project management tasks?
Which tool offers better integration capabilities, Trello or Smartsheet?
Is Smartsheet more secure than Trello?
Which tool is more cost-effective, Trello or Smartsheet?
Anastasia Belyh
Anastasia Belyh is a senior tech writer with over 15 years of experience in marketing, sales, and business software. Having worked in investment banking, management consulting, and founded multiple companies, her in-depth knowledge and hands-on expertise make her software reviews authoritative, trustworthy, and highly practical for business decision-makers.
