Smartsheet vs. Trello
Smartsheet and Trello help teams organize tasks, track progress, and collaborate, but they suit different workflows. Smartsheet uses spreadsheet-style sheets, dashboards, and reporting for structured projects and larger work processes. Trello centers on visual Kanban boards and cards, making it easy to manage tasks and see what’s in progress.
Users often compare them because both support team collaboration, automation, and integrations, while offering different levels of structure and complexity. The choice often comes down to features, pricing, ease of use, and whether a team needs detailed project tracking or a simpler visual task board.
Smartsheet VS Trello: Which tool is the most popular?
| Tool | Reviews | Average rating | Popularity assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trello | 42 | 3.43/5 | Most popular: it has more reviews and a higher average rating. |
| Smartsheet | 29 | 3.21/5 | Least popular of the two: it has fewer reviews and a lower average rating. |
Trello leads on both review volume and average user rating.
Smartsheet and Trello: 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 Trello
| Product | Overall sentiment | What users value | Common concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Generally positive, particularly for teams seeking a central place to coordinate and track projects. | Collaboration tools, task assignments, file sharing, and project-tracking features. Users also appreciate its approachable design and perceived value for the price. | New users may need more guidance, and some find the learning curve challenging. Others report difficulty fitting Smartsheet into existing workflows, limited free-profile functionality, and a desire for smarter integrations. |
| Trello | Generally positive, especially among individuals and small teams looking for a visual, flexible way to manage work. | Boards and cards make tasks easy to organize, while customization and collaboration features support different workflows. Users also value the free plan and ongoing product improvements. | The Atlassian login experience can be frustrating, and some tools—particularly automation—are restricted on the free plan. Users also cite limited advanced capabilities for larger teams and concerns about data privacy; some prefer competitors for features such as offline access or pricing. |
Key Features of Smartsheet vs Trello
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is well suited to teams that need structured task tracking, reporting, and coordination across larger projects.
| Key feature | How it benefits users | What’s distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple project views — including grid, Gantt, card, and calendar views | Teams can choose a view that suits the work: a spreadsheet-style grid for tracking details, Gantt for timelines, or cards for visual task tracking. | Combines familiar spreadsheet-like work with visual project views. |
| Automated workflows | Teams can automate recurring steps—such as reminders, alerts, or approval requests—so fewer tasks rely on manual follow-up. | Automation is designed around structured workflows and sheet data. |
| Forms | Forms make it easier to collect task requests, updates, or other information from colleagues and external contributors. | Submissions can feed directly into a Smartsheet workflow. |
| Reports and dashboards | Reports gather information from work, while dashboards provide a high-level view of progress and status for stakeholders. | Offers a path from detailed task data to broader project or portfolio visibility. |
| Collaboration and integrations | Teams can share work, coordinate updates, and connect Smartsheet with other tools in their workflows. | Its feature set supports both day-to-day task work and broader organizational coordination. |
In short: Smartsheet’s distinctive strength is its blend of spreadsheet-style tracking, several project views, and reporting for larger or more structured work. Smartsheet features
Trello
Trello is centered on visual boards and cards, making it easy for teams to organize and move work through a process.
| Key feature | How it benefits users | What’s distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Boards, lists, and cards | Teams can arrange work by project or workflow, with lists representing stages and cards representing tasks. Cards can hold details such as descriptions, checklists, attachments, and due dates. | The board-and-card format makes task status easy to see at a glance. |
| Butler automation | Teams can automate routine actions, such as moving cards or applying rules, reducing repetitive board maintenance. | Butler provides automation within Trello’s board-and-card workflow. |
| Board views | Additional views, such as calendar, timeline, table, dashboard, or map, help teams examine work in different ways. | Users can add perspectives beyond the standard Kanban-style board; availability can depend on the plan. |
| Power-Ups and integrations | Power-Ups connect boards with other apps or add capabilities, helping teams adapt Trello to their existing tools and processes. | Trello’s extensibility lets teams customize boards without changing their core workflow. |
| Templates | Teams can start from a ready-made board structure rather than building every workflow from scratch. | Templates make it quick to set up common project and task workflows. |
In short: Trello’s distinctive strength is its straightforward, visual Kanban-style approach, with automation and add-ons available as teams need more capability. Trello features
Quick comparison
- Choose Smartsheet if you want structured tracking, spreadsheet-style work, multiple project views, and reporting across projects.
- Choose Trello if you want an approachable visual board for organizing tasks and moving them through workflow stages.
Feature availability can vary by subscription plan.
Smartsheet vs Trello Pricing Comparison
Prices are in USD. Per-user prices are monthly equivalents; annual plans are billed annually.
| Brand | Tier | Month-to-month price | Annual-billing price | Main offerings and limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Free | $0 | $0 | A limited plan for individuals and small projects, with a restricted number of sheets and editors and core work views and collaboration features. |
| Smartsheet | Pro | $12 per member/month | $9 per member/month | Adds more project capacity and collaboration features, including forms, dashboards, and automation. The Pro plan is capped at 10 members. |
| Smartsheet | Business | $24 per member/month | $19 per member/month | Adds expanded team and project capacity, along with advanced administration and collaboration features. Requires at least 3 members. |
| Smartsheet | Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | Tailored plan for larger organizations, with enterprise-level security, administration, integrations, and support. |
| Trello | Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 10 collaborators and 10 boards per Workspace; unlimited cards; unlimited Power-Ups; and 250 Workspace automation runs per month. |
| Trello | Standard | $6 per user/month | $5 per user/month | Adds unlimited boards, advanced checklists, custom fields, unlimited storage with a 250 MB per-file limit, and 1,000 Workspace automation runs per month. |
| Trello | Premium | $12.50 per user/month | $10 per user/month | Adds Workspace views such as Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard, and Map; unlimited automation runs; and additional administration and security features. |
| Trello | Enterprise | Starts at $17.50 per user/month* | Starts at $17.50 per user/month* | Adds organization-wide administration, permissions, and security features for larger deployments. Pricing varies by seat count. |
Annual-billing savings and trial offers
| Brand | Annual-billing savings versus month-to-month | Trial or other pricing notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Pro: about 25% less; Business: about 21% less. | Smartsheet offers a 30-day free trial. Enterprise pricing is custom. |
| Trello | Standard: about 17% less; Premium: 20% less. | Trello offers a 14-day Premium trial. The Enterprise starting price is based on an annual subscription and a qualifying seat count. |
*Trello’s Enterprise starting rate is subject to the number of users and applicable plan terms. Prices and plan limits can change; confirm current details on the Smartsheet pricing page and Trello pricing page.
Support Options Comparison: Smartsheet vs Trello
| Support option | Smartsheet | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | The support page does not list live chat as a standard contact option; it directs users to its support resources and contact channels. | The contact page does not advertise live chat. It directs users to Trello’s support resources and contact process. |
| Phone support | The page does not present a general phone-support number. Users are directed to contact Smartsheet through its support channels. | The contact page does not list phone support as an option. |
| Documentation | Offers a Help Center with product guidance and support information. | Directs users to Trello’s help and support resources for product guidance. |
| Additional resources | Includes learning and training resources, such as Smartsheet University and educational content. | Provides self-service learning resources, including Trello guides and related support materials. |
| Overall | Offers a broader mix of documentation and structured learning resources; the linked page does not indicate standard live chat or phone support. | Emphasizes self-service help and online contact routes; the linked page does not indicate standard live chat or phone support. |
Sources: Smartsheet Support · Trello Contact
Unique Features of Smartsheet Vs Trello
| Brand | Uncommon features | Added value | Why they may decide the choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet | Portfolio and program management — tools such as Control Center help teams standardize and roll out projects while tracking work across a portfolio. | Gives organizations a way to manage repeatable projects and see how they fit together, rather than coordinating each project separately. | A strong fit when a company runs many similar projects or needs consistent processes and portfolio-level oversight. |
| Smartsheet | Controlled sharing with Dynamic View — teams can give people access to specific information or actions without exposing the entire underlying sheet. | Lets external partners or cross-functional teams update relevant work while limiting what they can see or change. | Useful when collaboration involves sensitive data, clients, vendors, or teams with different access needs. |
| Smartsheet | WorkApps — role-based, no-code apps can bring together relevant sheets, reports, dashboards, and other resources in a tailored interface. | Makes complex workspaces easier to use by presenting each audience with the tools and information meant for them. | May appeal to organizations that want tailored work portals without building a custom application. |
| Smartsheet | Proofing and content review — reviewers can comment on and mark up creative files as part of a workflow. | Keeps feedback and approvals attached to the work, reducing scattered comments and version confusion. | A deciding factor for marketing, design, and other teams with frequent asset-review cycles. |
| Trello | Power-Ups — boards can be extended with integrations and added capabilities, including connections to other work tools. | Lets teams adapt a simple board to their workflow instead of switching to a more complex system for every additional need. | Attractive to teams that want an easy-to-learn tool but still need to connect their existing apps or add specialized functions. |
| Trello | Multiple board views — depending on plan and setup, work can be viewed in formats such as Timeline, Calendar, Table, Dashboard, or Map. | The same card-based work can be understood in different ways—for example, by schedule, workload, or location—without maintaining separate lists. | Helpful when a team likes Kanban boards but also needs a schedule or higher-level view. |
| Trello | Butler automation — built-in automation can trigger actions from rules, buttons, and scheduled commands. | Automates routine board upkeep, such as moving cards or assigning work, with little or no coding. | A good fit for teams seeking lightweight automation without adopting a dedicated workflow-automation platform. |
These features are less typical of basic task lists, though availability and limits can vary by plan. Smartsheet’s feature set is geared more toward structured, cross-project operations; Trello’s distinctive appeal is extending a straightforward visual board as a team’s needs grow.
Sources: Smartsheet platform features · Trello features
Most frequently asked questions about Smartsheet vs Trello
What’s the main difference between Trello and Smartsheet for task management?
Trello is centered on visual Kanban boards: people move cards through lists to show progress. Smartsheet uses a spreadsheet-style grid and adds project-management features such as Gantt views, dependencies, and dashboards. Reviewers commonly describe Trello as easier to pick up, while Smartsheet is better suited to structured projects that need more planning and reporting.
Which tool is easier for beginners to use?
Trello is generally the easier starting point. Its boards, lists, and cards are familiar and quick to configure, and reviewers often praise its straightforward interface. Smartsheet can feel intuitive to people comfortable with spreadsheets, but reviewers also note a steeper learning curve as they explore its formulas, reports, automations, and project features.
Which is better for visual task tracking?
Trello is usually the stronger choice for visual, board-based tracking. Its cards make ownership, status, and next steps easy to scan, which reviewers often find useful for small teams and lightweight workflows. Smartsheet offers visual views too, including Kanban and Gantt, but its grid is central to the experience and supports more data-heavy tracking.
Which tool is better for managing complex projects and dependencies?
Smartsheet is typically better for complex projects. Its timeline and Gantt capabilities, dependencies, and structured sheets help teams coordinate tasks across schedules. Trello can handle more involved workflows with Power-Ups and automation, but reviewers commonly point out that advanced planning may require add-ons or workarounds.
How do Trello and Smartsheet compare on automation?
Both offer automation, but they suit different workflows. Trello’s Butler automation is designed for board actions, such as moving cards or assigning members when a rule is met. Smartsheet automations can support sheet-based processes, alerts, and approvals. Reviewers value the time savings in both tools, while noting that setup and available capabilities depend on the workflow and plan.
Which tool has better reporting and project visibility?
Smartsheet is generally stronger for reporting across projects. Users can build reports and dashboards from sheet data, which reviewers appreciate when they need status summaries for stakeholders. Trello gives teams clear visibility within boards, but reviewers often find that broader reporting and portfolio-level views require Power-Ups or another tool.
Which is better for team collaboration?
Both support collaboration through shared work, comments, and task ownership. Trello makes day-to-day updates easy to follow on cards, and reviewers often like its informal, visual feel. Smartsheet is well suited to teams coordinating work in structured sheets and reports, though some reviewers say its feature depth can make collaboration workflows less immediate to set up.
How do Trello and Smartsheet compare on integrations and customization?
Trello offers Power-Ups that add integrations and board features, while Smartsheet supports integrations and customization around its sheet-based workflows. Reviewers tend to value Trello’s modular approach for extending a simple board and Smartsheet’s ability to connect structured work with reporting and business processes. The best fit depends on the apps and workflows a team needs to connect.
Which tool offers better value for money?
Value depends on the work being managed. Trello can be cost-effective for teams that need straightforward visual task tracking, though paid plans or Power-Ups may be needed for additional capabilities. Smartsheet may justify its cost for teams that use its advanced project, automation, and reporting features, but reviewers sometimes note that the price is harder to justify for basic task lists. Check current plan limits and pricing before choosing.
Should I choose Trello or Smartsheet for my team?
Choose Trello if your priority is a simple, visual workflow that people can adopt quickly. Choose Smartsheet if you need spreadsheet-style tracking, timelines, dependencies, or reporting across more structured projects. A recurring theme in user feedback is that Trello feels lighter and easier to get started with, while Smartsheet offers more depth but takes more setup. Consider piloting both with a real team workflow before deciding.
