Smartsheet vs. ClickUp
Smartsheet and ClickUp are popular task management tools that help teams plan work, track progress, and collaborate. Smartsheet centers on spreadsheet-style project and work management, while ClickUp offers a more customizable workspace for tasks, projects, and team workflows.
Users often compare them to find the right fit for their team’s size, work style, and budget. This comparison looks at key differences in features, pricing, ease of use, integrations, and customization.
Smartsheet VS ClickUp: Which tool is the most popular?
| Tool | Reviews | Average rating | Positive reviews | Popularity and rating summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClickUp | 137 | 4.31/5 | 118 | Most popular, with the most reviews and the highest average rating. |
| Smartsheet | 29 | 3.21/5 | 17 | Least popular, with fewer reviews and a lower average rating. |
ClickUp leads both in review volume and average user rating. Smartsheet ranks lower on both measures.
Smartsheet and ClickUp: Quick Comparison Overview
I can’t perform a live web search in this chat, so this overview reflects established product positioning; features and plan limits may change.
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary features | Backlink and competitor analysis; keyword research; site audits; rank tracking; content research. | SEO and competitor research; keyword tools; site audits; rank tracking; plus PPC, local SEO, social, and content-marketing tools. |
| Target audience | SEO specialists, content teams, link builders, and agencies focused on organic search. | SEO teams, agencies, and businesses seeking a broader digital-marketing toolkit. |
| Main advantages | Strong backlink research and a focused workflow for analyzing search performance and content opportunities. | Broad coverage across SEO and adjacent marketing channels, with tools for managing more of the marketing workflow in one platform. |
| Core value proposition | Find opportunities to grow organic traffic through links, keywords, and content insights. | Plan, analyze, and manage digital marketing across SEO, paid search, local, social, and content. |
| Ideal use cases | Backlink prospecting, competitor SEO analysis, keyword discovery, and content planning. | Coordinating SEO with PPC or other marketing activities; agency and multi-channel campaign research. |
Most liked vs most disliked features of Smartsheet and ClickUp
| Platform | Overall sentiment | What users appreciate | Common concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Generally positive, especially for straightforward project tracking and team coordination. | Users value its approachable design, central project tracking, task assignments, dependencies, file sharing, and perceived value for the price. | Some find the free plan limiting and want more onboarding guidance and smarter integrations. Others report a learning curve and difficulty fitting Smartsheet fully into existing workflows. |
| ClickUp | Positive about its flexibility and project-management capabilities, but tempered by usability and performance issues. | Users praise customizable views and dashboards, task tracking, automation, integrations, and an intuitive experience for managing multiple projects. | Slow or laggy performance, a less capable mobile app, and the volume of features and settings can make ClickUp difficult to navigate. Users also report notification overload and confusion around task options. |
Key Features of Smartsheet vs ClickUp
Smartsheet
| Feature | How it benefits users | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet-style workspaces | Organize tasks and project details in a familiar grid, making it easier for teams to plan and update work. | The spreadsheet-like interface is a distinctive fit for teams used to managing work in rows and columns. |
| Multiple project views | Switch between formats such as grid, Gantt, calendar, and card views to plan work or see its status from different angles. | Gantt and grid views support both schedule planning and detailed tracking in the same platform. |
| Automation and workflows | Automate routine actions—such as sending alerts or updating work—so teams spend less time on manual follow-up. | Workflow automation is built around the work being tracked in sheets and projects. |
| Dashboards and reports | Summarize project data and status so teams and stakeholders can monitor progress and spot issues. | Reports and dashboards help turn information from multiple projects into a more consolidated view. |
| Forms | Collect requests or updates in a consistent format and route the information into workspaces. | Forms can provide a structured intake process without asking every contributor to work directly in a project sheet. |
| Proofing and content review | Gather feedback and approvals on creative work in context, reducing scattered review comments. | Particularly useful for teams managing content or other assets that need review and approval. |
| Resource management | Help teams plan capacity and allocate people to work. | Smartsheet offers resource-planning capabilities alongside its project and task tracking features. |
ClickUp
| Feature | How it benefits users | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks and subtasks | Break projects into trackable work items, assign owners, set priorities and due dates, and manage dependencies. | Tasks are the central building block, with a high degree of detail and customization. |
| Multiple views | View work as lists, boards, calendars, timelines, or Gantt charts to suit different planning and tracking needs. | Users can choose different ways to work with the same underlying tasks. |
| Custom fields and statuses | Capture team-specific information and reflect each team’s workflow. | Customization lets teams adapt task tracking rather than follow a single fixed process. |
| Docs, Whiteboards, and Chat | Keep project documentation, brainstorming, and conversations close to the work. | ClickUp’s all-in-one workspace approach brings collaboration tools together with task management. |
| Dashboards and goals | Track project or team performance and connect day-to-day work with broader objectives. | Dashboards and goals provide views beyond individual task lists. |
| Automations | Reduce repetitive work by triggering actions when defined conditions are met. | Automation can be used to support customized workflows across tasks and projects. |
| Time tracking | Record time spent on work to support workload review, reporting, or project planning. | Time tracking is available within the work-management environment. |
In short: Smartsheet’s distinctive strength is its spreadsheet-like project management, with strong planning, reporting, intake, and review capabilities. ClickUp stands out for its highly configurable tasks and its broad set of collaboration tools—such as Docs, Whiteboards, and Chat—within one workspace.
Feature availability can vary by plan. See the Smartsheet features page and ClickUp features page for current details.
Smartsheet vs ClickUp Pricing Comparison
| Brand and tier | Monthly billing | Annual billing | Main offerings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet Pro | $12 per member/month | $9 per member/month (billed annually) | Core work management with sheets, forms, reports, and dashboards. Includes automation and collaboration tools, with limits on members, storage, and automation usage. |
| Smartsheet Business | $24 per member/month | $19 per member/month (billed annually) | Adds capabilities for larger teams, including more advanced project and resource management, proofing, document generation, and stronger admin controls. Requires at least three members; includes expanded storage and automation capacity. |
| Smartsheet Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | Tailored plan for larger organizations, with advanced security, governance, administration, and enterprise integrations. Contact Smartsheet for pricing. |
| ClickUp Free Forever | $0 | $0 | Free plan with unlimited tasks and members, plus core tools such as collaborative Docs and Kanban boards. Storage and some feature usage are limited. |
| ClickUp Unlimited | $10 per user/month | $7 per user/month (billed annually) | Adds unlimited storage, integrations, dashboards, Gantt charts, custom fields, and expanded guest and team features. |
| ClickUp Business | $19 per user/month | $12 per user/month (billed annually) | Adds more advanced team and project-management tools, including workload management, timelines, goals and portfolios, Google SSO, and higher automation limits. |
| ClickUp Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | For organizations needing advanced security and administration, such as SSO and SCIM, custom roles and permissions, white labeling, and enterprise support. Contact ClickUp for pricing. |
Discounts and trials: Smartsheet’s annual prices are lower than its month-to-month rates: about 25% less for Pro and 21% less for Business. Smartsheet offers a 30-day free trial; its core pricing lineup does not include a free-forever tier. ClickUp’s annual rates are about 30% lower for Unlimited and 37% lower for Business than its monthly rates. ClickUp also offers the Free Forever plan. Check with each provider for any current promotions or eligibility-based discounts.
Prices are per member or user unless noted. Annual rates are billed annually, and Enterprise pricing is quoted individually. Feature limits and prices can change; confirm details on the Smartsheet pricing page and ClickUp pricing page.
Support Options Comparison: Smartsheet vs ClickUp
| Support option | Smartsheet | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | The support page directs users to contact support, but does not present live chat as a standard option for every customer. Availability may depend on the plan or support package. | The Help Center provides a route to contact support, including chat where available. Access and response options may depend on the account or plan. |
| Phone support | Phone support is not presented as a universal support channel on the public support page; it may be tied to a particular support package. | The Help Center does not list phone support as a standard customer-support channel. |
| Documentation | The support site links to product help and learning materials for using Smartsheet and troubleshooting issues. | The Help Center offers searchable product guides and troubleshooting articles. |
| Additional resources | Smartsheet also points users to community and learning resources, including training and webinars. | ClickUp offers ClickUp University, tutorials and other learning resources, alongside its Help Center. |
| Overall | Smartsheet’s support page brings together self-service learning, community resources and a route to contact support. Direct support options appear less clearly available to all customers. | ClickUp’s Help Center is centered on self-service documentation and learning. Chat may be available, but phone support is not listed as a standard option. |
Based on the Smartsheet Support page and ClickUp Help Center; specific contact options may vary by plan.
Unique Features of Smartsheet Vs ClickUp
| Brand | Uncommon feature | Added value and why it may decide the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Spreadsheet-style work management | Teams can manage projects using a grid that feels familiar to spreadsheet users, while adding features such as dependencies, automated workflows, and dashboards. This can make adoption easier for organizations that already plan work in spreadsheets. |
| Smartsheet | Portfolio and resource management | Smartsheet can roll up work across projects and help managers see capacity and workload across teams. This is useful when leaders need to coordinate multiple projects, rather than manage tasks within a single team. |
| Smartsheet | Proofing and approval workflows | Reviewers can comment on and approve creative files within a work process. This can reduce handoffs between project tracking and separate review tools, making it a deciding factor for marketing, design, and content teams. |
| Smartsheet | WorkApps for tailored workspaces | WorkApps lets organizations assemble role-based apps from Smartsheet content. It can give different groups a simpler view of the same underlying work, which is valuable when many contributors need access but not the full project setup. |
| ClickUp | A broad set of tools in one workspace | ClickUp combines tasks with features such as Docs, Whiteboards, and Chat. Teams can connect planning, discussion, and execution without moving as often between separate apps—a potential advantage for teams trying to consolidate their work software. |
| ClickUp | Built-in time tracking | Users can track time against work and compare it with estimates. This is especially useful for service teams, agencies, or managers who need to understand effort, project costs, or team capacity without relying on a separate tracker. |
| ClickUp | Extensive task and workspace customization | Custom fields, statuses, views, and workflow settings let teams adapt the workspace to different processes. This can matter when one tool needs to support several departments or project styles without forcing everyone into the same setup. |
| ClickUp | ClickUp Brain AI features | ClickUp’s AI features can help with tasks such as summarizing work, drafting content, and finding information. They may be a deciding factor for teams that want AI assistance within their project workspace rather than through a separate tool. |
Features summarized from the Smartsheet features page and ClickUp features page. Availability may vary by plan.
Most frequently asked questions about Smartsheet vs ClickUp
What is the main difference between ClickUp and Smartsheet?
ClickUp is an all-in-one work management platform built around tasks, with features such as Docs, goals, multiple project views, and team collaboration. Smartsheet is organized around a spreadsheet-like grid and is often used for structured project plans, timelines, and tracking work across teams. Reviewer feedback commonly reflects this distinction: ClickUp is praised for its breadth and flexibility, while Smartsheet is valued by people who prefer a familiar spreadsheet-style way to manage projects.
Which is easier to use, ClickUp or Smartsheet?
It depends on what feels familiar. Reviewers who are comfortable with spreadsheets often find Smartsheet’s rows, columns, and forms intuitive to get started with. ClickUp’s many options can make it flexible, but user feedback also commonly mentions a learning curve as teams configure spaces, views, and workflows. For a simple rollout, Smartsheet may feel more approachable to spreadsheet users; teams wanting a configurable workspace may be willing to spend more time learning ClickUp.
Which tool is better for day-to-day task management?
ClickUp is often a stronger fit for teams managing individual tasks, owners, priorities, statuses, and work across several views, such as lists, boards, and calendars. Smartsheet can handle task tracking too, particularly when tasks sit within a structured plan or spreadsheet-based process. Reviewers tend to appreciate ClickUp’s task-focused flexibility, while Smartsheet feedback often highlights its usefulness for organizing and monitoring work in a clear grid.
Which is better for project planning and Gantt charts?
Smartsheet is a natural fit for projects planned around dependencies, dates, and spreadsheet-like schedules; its Gantt-style planning and reporting are recurring strengths in user feedback. ClickUp also supports timelines and project views, and can suit teams that want schedules connected to everyday task work. If formal project plans and familiar spreadsheet workflows are central, Smartsheet may be the better match. If the priority is linking project planning to a broader task workspace, ClickUp may suit better.
Which tool offers more customization?
Both are configurable, but in different ways. ClickUp offers multiple ways to organize and view work, along with customizable statuses and workflows; reviewers often praise that flexibility but note that extensive options can make setup feel complicated. Smartsheet customization tends to center on sheets, columns, forms, and reports, which can be effective for structured processes. Review themes suggest ClickUp fits teams seeking a highly configurable task workspace, while Smartsheet fits teams shaping spreadsheet-based workflows.
How do ClickUp and Smartsheet compare for collaboration?
ClickUp brings task management and team communication together through features such as task comments, mentions, and shared workspaces. Smartsheet supports collaboration through shared sheets, comments, forms, and dashboards, which can work well when teams coordinate around project data. Reviewers generally value ClickUp for keeping discussion close to tasks, while Smartsheet is often appreciated for making project information easy to share and track. The better choice depends on whether collaboration is more task-centered or sheet-centered.
Which has better automation and integrations?
Both products offer workflow automation and integrations, but the best fit depends on the process you need to connect. ClickUp automation can help teams manage task-based workflows, while Smartsheet automation is often used to trigger alerts, requests, or updates tied to sheet data. Review feedback on both products highlights time savings from automating repetitive work, alongside the need to configure rules carefully. Compare the specific integrations and automation limits in each plan before choosing.
Which has better reporting and dashboards?
Smartsheet is often favored for reporting across structured sheets and for dashboards that summarize project information for stakeholders. ClickUp offers dashboards and reporting connected to task activity, which can be useful for teams tracking work in the platform. In review feedback, Smartsheet’s reporting is commonly associated with project tracking and visibility, while ClickUp’s is more closely tied to team tasks and workload. Reporting needs, data sources, and plan features are worth testing with a real project.
Which is better value for money?
Value depends on which features your team will actually use and how many people need access. ClickUp is often viewed by reviewers as offering a wide range of capabilities in one platform, though the breadth can require time and administration to make useful. Smartsheet may provide stronger value for teams that need structured project tracking, dashboards, or spreadsheet-based workflows. Compare current plan limits, paid add-ons, user requirements, and the cost of any tools each product would replace; pricing and packaging can change.
Who should choose ClickUp, and who should choose Smartsheet?
Choose ClickUp if your team wants a flexible, task-centered workspace and values having several work views and collaboration features in one place. Choose Smartsheet if your team is comfortable with spreadsheets and needs structured project plans, sheet-based tracking, or stakeholder-facing reports. A recurring theme in user feedback is that ClickUp’s feature depth can be powerful but takes configuration, while Smartsheet’s familiar grid can make structured work easier to follow. A pilot with representative projects is the best way to confirm the fit.
