Smartsheet vs. Asana
Smartsheet and Asana are popular task management tools, but they suit different working styles. Smartsheet combines spreadsheet-like views with project and work management, while Asana focuses on organizing tasks, coordinating projects, and tracking team progress.
Teams often compare them when they need clearer ownership, deadlines, and visibility across work. The right choice depends on how your team works, so this comparison looks at features, pricing, ease of use, integrations, and flexibility.
Smartsheet VS Asana: Which tool is the most popular?
| Tool | Reviews | Average rating | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asana | 99 | 3.31/5 | Most popular: it has the most reviews and the slightly higher average rating. |
| Smartsheet | 29 | 3.21/5 | Least popular: it has fewer reviews and a slightly lower average rating. |
Asana leads on both review volume and average rating, though the rating difference is small.
Smartsheet and Asana: Quick Comparison Overview
| Category | Ahrefs | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Primary features | SEO research tools for backlink analysis, keyword research, site audits, rank tracking, and content research. | Broader digital-marketing suite covering SEO, competitor research, site audits, rank tracking, content marketing, local SEO, PPC, and social media. |
| Target audience | SEO specialists, content teams, and agencies focused on organic search and link building. | In-house marketing teams, agencies, and businesses managing several digital-marketing channels. |
| Main advantages | Strong backlink and competitor research, with a focused toolkit for finding SEO and content opportunities. | Wider range of marketing tools in one platform, especially useful for combining SEO with paid, local, and social campaigns. |
| Core value proposition | Make organic-search research and link-building workflows more effective. | Manage and measure a broader digital-marketing program from one platform. |
| Ideal use cases | Analyzing competitors’ backlinks, researching keywords and content gaps, auditing a site, and tracking organic rankings. | Coordinating SEO with PPC, local visibility, content, and social efforts; conducting cross-channel competitor research. |
Sources: Ahrefs features · Semrush features
Feature availability varies by plan and may change.
Most liked vs most disliked features of Smartsheet and Asana
| Platform | Overall sentiment | What users value | Common concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Generally positive, especially for organizing projects and coordinating team work. Users also see it as good value. | Collaboration tools, task assignments and dependencies, centralized project tracking, and an accessible interface for non-technical users. | The free profile feels limited; new users may need more guidance. Some report a learning curve, difficulty fitting Smartsheet into existing workflows, and a desire for smarter integrations. |
| Asana | Generally positive for team project and task management, with users appreciating its flexibility and responsive support. | Clear roles and collaboration, cross-device updates, customizable workflows, and effective project organization. | Users want more control over the “My Tasks” view, clearer file navigation, automatic due-date assignment, and a more integrated view of task content. Some also need time to learn the platform. |
Key Features of Smartsheet vs Asana
Smartsheet
Smartsheet combines spreadsheet-style work tracking with project and workflow tools. Its feature set is especially suited to teams that like organizing work in grids but need more structure and automation.
| Feature | How it benefits users | What’s distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Grid, Gantt, board, and calendar views | Teams can track tasks in a familiar table, visualize schedules, or organize work by status and date. | The spreadsheet-like grid is central to the experience, while Gantt charts make it easy to see timelines and dependencies. |
| Task and project tracking | Users can assign owners, set dates, track status, and organize related work in sheets and projects. | Flexible sheets can be adapted to many kinds of work, rather than requiring teams to follow one fixed project structure. |
| Automation and workflows | Automated alerts, reminders, and actions help reduce repetitive coordination and keep work moving. | Automation is built around sheet data and workflow triggers, so teams can automate processes linked to the information they already track. |
| Dashboards and reports | Teams can bring project information together to monitor progress, risks, and key metrics. | Dashboards can summarize data from multiple sheets, giving managers a high-level view without replacing the underlying trackers. |
| Forms and data collection | Forms let people submit requests or updates in a consistent format, which can feed directly into a sheet. | This makes Smartsheet useful for turning intake processes—such as project requests—into tracked work. |
| Integrations and collaboration | Connections with other business tools and shared workspaces help teams coordinate without keeping every update in one place. | Smartsheet is designed to support organization-wide work management, not only individual task lists. |
Asana
Asana is built around tasks, projects, and the relationships between them. It helps teams coordinate ownership, deadlines, dependencies, and progress across shared work.
| Feature | How it benefits users | What’s distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks, subtasks, and projects | Teams can break work into manageable steps, assign responsibility, set due dates, and keep related tasks together. | Asana’s task-focused structure makes ownership and the next action easy to identify. |
| Multiple project views | List, board, calendar, and timeline views let teams choose how to plan and follow work. | Different views show the same project in formats suited to different working styles and planning needs. |
| Dependencies and milestones | Dependencies show which tasks must happen first, while milestones highlight important checkpoints. | These features help teams understand how one task affects the rest of a project schedule. |
| Rules and workflow automation | Rules can automate routine actions, such as assigning work or updating task details when conditions are met. | Automation is closely tied to tasks and projects, helping standardize recurring team processes. |
| Goals, portfolios, and reporting | Teams can connect projects to broader objectives, monitor multiple initiatives, and review progress. | Asana links day-to-day work with higher-level goals, giving teams a way to track how projects contribute to organizational priorities. |
| Workload and capacity planning | Managers can review assigned work and spot potential imbalances across a team. | This adds a people-capacity view to project tracking, helping teams plan work against available resources. |
| Integrations and AI features | Integrations connect Asana with other tools; AI features can help users summarize or manage work, depending on availability. | Asana emphasizes coordination across connected work and uses its Work Graph to represent relationships among tasks, projects, people, and goals. |
In short
- Smartsheet stands out for its spreadsheet-like flexibility, Gantt planning, and sheet-based data collection and automation.
- Asana stands out for its task-centered structure, dependencies, and links between everyday work, team capacity, and organizational goals.
Feature availability may vary by plan. See the Smartsheet features page and Asana features page for current details.
Smartsheet vs Asana Pricing Comparison
Prices are in USD per user/member per month. Annual prices are billed yearly; monthly prices are billed monthly. Enterprise pricing is quote-based. Prices and seat requirements can vary by region and may change.
| Brand and tier | Annual billing | Monthly billing | Main offerings and differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet — Pro | $9 | $12 | Entry-level paid plan for smaller teams. Includes core sheet, form, report and dashboard capabilities, plus a monthly allowance of automated actions. Limited to 10 members; suitable when teams need structured work tracking without advanced administration. |
| Smartsheet — Business | $19 | $24 | Adds capabilities for larger teams, including unlimited members, more extensive automation, resource and workload management, proofing and enhanced administration. Requires at least 3 members. |
| Smartsheet — Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | For organizations needing enterprise-scale controls, security, governance, integrations and administration. Pricing depends on the organization’s requirements. |
| Smartsheet — Advanced Work Management | Custom quote | Custom quote | A tailored offering for organizations with more complex work-management needs, combining enterprise capabilities with additional solutions and services. Contact Smartsheet for scope and pricing. |
| Asana — Personal | Free | Free | Asana’s no-cost option for individuals and small teams. Includes core task and project management, with limits on team size and access to advanced planning and administration features. |
| Asana — Starter | $10.99 | $13.49 | Adds features for teams coordinating more complex work, including timeline and workflow tools, forms, dashboards, automation and AI features. |
| Asana — Advanced | $24.99 | $30.49 | Adds portfolio and goal management, workload planning, approvals and more advanced reporting and automation capabilities for teams managing work across multiple projects. |
| Asana — Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | Adds organization-wide administration, security and control features. Pricing is set through Asana’s sales team. |
| Asana — Enterprise+ | Custom quote | Custom quote | Adds further enterprise-grade governance, compliance and security capabilities. Pricing is quote-based. |
| Discount or trial | Smartsheet | Asana |
|---|---|---|
| Annual billing | Pro costs about 25% less per month than monthly billing; Business costs about 21% less. | Starter costs about 19% less per month than monthly billing; Advanced costs about 18% less. |
| Free option or trial | A 30-day free trial is offered. The pricing page does not list a permanent free plan. | Personal is free. Paid plans may be tried through a 30-day free trial. |
| Special rates | Check directly with Smartsheet for any nonprofit or other eligibility-based rates; availability and terms may vary. | Check directly with Asana for any nonprofit or other eligibility-based rates; availability and terms may vary. |
Sources: Smartsheet pricing · Asana pricing overview
Support Options Comparison: Smartsheet vs Asana
| Support option | Smartsheet | Asana |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | The support page directs users to online support, but does not establish live chat with an agent as available to every customer. Access may depend on the account or support plan. | The support page emphasizes the Help Center and contacting support; it does not advertise live-agent chat as a universal option. |
| Phone support | Phone support may be available to eligible customers, but the page does not present it as a standard option for all plans. | No general customer-support phone line is listed on the support page. |
| Documentation | The Smartsheet Support page links to help and learning materials for product questions and how-to guidance. | The Asana Support page centers on its Help Center, with articles and guides for using the product. |
| Webinars, tutorials, and other resources | Offers learning resources alongside support, including training and community resources. | Offers additional self-service learning through Asana Academy and its community resources. |
| Overall | Provides multiple support and learning routes; access to direct assistance, particularly by phone, may vary by plan. | Leans more heavily on online documentation and learning resources; the support page does not list phone support or universally available live chat. |
Unique Features of Smartsheet Vs Asana
| Brand | Less-common feature | Added value | Why it may be a deciding factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Dynamic View — lets teams share selected information from a sheet through a tailored view, rather than exposing the full underlying sheet. | Provides a more controlled way for clients, vendors, or other teams to submit or update the information relevant to them. | A strong fit when several groups need to collaborate on shared data but should not see or edit every field. |
| Smartsheet | Control Center — supports repeatable project and portfolio setup using standardized templates and automated processes. | Reduces manual setup and helps teams apply consistent structures and reporting across many projects. | Valuable for organizations running recurring projects at scale, where consistency and reliable portfolio reporting matter. |
| Smartsheet | Data Shuttle — automates moving data between Smartsheet and other data sources or files. | Cuts down on repetitive imports and exports, helping keep project information current without manual handling. | May be important when teams rely on recurring data transfers or need to connect work tracking with existing data processes. |
| Smartsheet | WorkApps — allows teams to assemble role-specific apps from Smartsheet assets without building a custom application from scratch. | Gives different audiences a simpler, more focused way to access the tools and information they need. | A differentiator for teams that want tailored workspaces for employees or external collaborators without commissioning custom software. |
| Asana | Goals linked to day-to-day work — connects organizational or team goals with the projects and tasks intended to advance them. | Makes it easier to see how execution relates to strategic priorities, rather than tracking tasks in isolation. | A deciding factor for organizations that need to communicate priorities and monitor progress from strategy down to delivery. |
| Asana | Portfolios — groups related projects for higher-level progress and status monitoring. | Gives leaders a consolidated view across initiatives, instead of requiring them to inspect each project separately. | Useful when decision-makers need to compare project health, identify risks, and allocate attention across a program or portfolio. |
| Asana | Workflow Builder and rules-based automation — supports the creation of multi-step workflows and automated actions across work. | Helps standardize recurring processes and reduce handoffs or routine updates. | A good fit when teams want to manage repeatable processes—such as requests or approvals—without relying on manual coordination. |
| Asana | Workload — provides a view of work assigned across people and projects, helping teams assess capacity. | Makes workload imbalances easier to spot before they cause delays or overload. | May sway teams that need to plan capacity across multiple projects, not just assign and track individual tasks. |
These capabilities go beyond basic task lists, though availability can depend on the product plan. Sources: Smartsheet platform features and Asana features.
Most frequently asked questions about Smartsheet vs Asana
Which is easier to use: Asana or Smartsheet?
Reviewers commonly describe Asana as easier to pick up for everyday task management, with a visual interface and straightforward task assignment. Smartsheet can feel familiar to people who already work in spreadsheets, but reviewers often mention that its many options and sheet-based setup take more time to learn.
Which tool is better for managing tasks and projects?
Asana is often favored for coordinating individual tasks, owners, deadlines, and dependencies across teams. Review feedback tends to praise its clear task-focused workflows. Smartsheet is often preferred when project work is organized around detailed grids, structured plans, and spreadsheet-style tracking.
Is Asana or Smartsheet better for spreadsheet-style work?
Smartsheet is the more natural fit for teams that want rows, columns, formulas, and a familiar spreadsheet layout. Reviewers often value that flexibility for tracking complex work, while noting that maintaining large or heavily customized sheets can require care. Asana offers table-style views, but its core experience is less spreadsheet-centric.
Which has better project views and visualization options?
Both offer multiple ways to view work, including list or grid-style displays, timelines, and boards, though availability can depend on the plan. Asana reviews often highlight the ease of switching between task views and using boards for team workflows. Smartsheet reviews tend to emphasize its grid and project-plan views, with dashboards and other visualizations useful for summarizing structured data.
Which platform is better for collaboration?
Asana is commonly praised in reviews for keeping conversations close to tasks, making it easier for teammates to see updates and responsibilities in context. Smartsheet also supports collaboration on shared work, and reviewers appreciate its centralized tracking; some note that the experience can feel more document- or sheet-oriented than conversational.
Which offers stronger automation?
Both products support workflow automation, but reviewers often find Asana’s rules convenient for automating routine task handoffs and status changes. Smartsheet is frequently valued for automating notifications, approvals, and processes tied to sheet data. The best fit depends on whether the workflow revolves mainly around tasks or structured records; automation limits and features vary by plan.
How do Asana and Smartsheet compare for reporting?
Smartsheet is often a strong choice for teams that need dashboards and reports built from structured project data. Reviewers appreciate being able to summarize information from sheets, though advanced reporting may take setup. Asana’s reporting and portfolio features are useful for monitoring task and project progress, but some review feedback indicates that deeper reporting needs may call for higher-tier plans or integrations.
Which tool has better integrations?
Both integrate with common workplace and productivity tools, and reviewers generally value being able to connect project work with their existing systems. Asana is often selected for integrations that support team collaboration and task workflows. Smartsheet is frequently used alongside broader business processes and data sources. Check each product’s current integration catalog and plan restrictions before deciding.
Which is more affordable: Asana or Smartsheet?
There is no universal winner: total cost depends on team size, billing cadence, and the features each team needs. Reviewers often note that a free or entry-level option can be useful for testing, but advanced views, automation, administration, and reporting may require paid tiers. Compare current per-user pricing and plan limits against your actual requirements, especially for larger teams.
Should a small team choose Asana or Smartsheet?
Small teams that want a quick, visual way to assign and follow up on tasks often find Asana a comfortable starting point, according to common review themes. Smartsheet may suit a small team better if members already rely on spreadsheets or need structured tracking and reporting. Reviewers’ recurring advice is to trial the workflow with real projects, since setup preferences matter as much as feature lists.
