Monday.com vs Smartsheet — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Monday.com and Smartsheet to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Monday.com takes the lead with a 4.4 rating and is best for non-technical teams who want visual, colorful project management they will actually use.. Smartsheet (4.1) is the better pick if you need operations and pmo teams who think in spreadsheets but need project management features..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Monday.com | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.4(345) | ★★★★ 4.1(198) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | paid |
| Starter Price | $12/seat/mo (Standard, min 3 seats) | $9/user/mo (Pro) |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, mac, windows | web, ios, android |
| Learning Curve | easy | medium |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Non-technical teams who want visual, colorful project management they will actually use. | Operations and PMO teams who think in spreadsheets but need project management features. |
| Verdict | recommended | situational |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Monday.com | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Visual board-based interface | — | |
| Multiple products (CRM, Dev, Marketing) | — | |
| Automation builder | — | |
| Dashboards and reporting | ||
| Time tracking (Pro) | — | |
| Gantt and timeline views | — | |
| 200+ templates | — | |
| Spreadsheet-based interface | — | |
| Gantt charts and dependencies | — | |
| Automated workflows | — | |
| Resource management | — | |
| Proofing and approvals | — |
Monday.com
Pros
- ✓Most visually appealing and approachable PM interface
- ✓Multiple products (CRM, Dev, Marketing) on one platform
- ✓Automation builder is intuitive and powerful
Cons
- ✕3-seat minimum makes it expensive for tiny teams
- ✕Per-seat pricing adds up quickly at scale
- ✕Can feel too visual and not structured enough for complex projects
Smartsheet
Pros
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface minimizes learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Strong automation and cross-sheet formula capabilities
- ✓Excellent for operations and PMO workflows
Cons
- ✕Spreadsheet paradigm limits visual project management options
- ✕No free tier — trial is the only way to evaluate
- ✕Business plan at $32/user/mo is expensive
The Bottom Line
Both Monday.com and Smartsheet are solid tools in the Project Management space. Monday.com edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.4 vs 4.1) and is the better choice for non-technical teams who want visual, colorful project management they will actually use.. However, if you prioritize operations and pmo teams who think in spreadsheets but need project management features., Smartsheet is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.