Project management tools · Comparison
ClickUp vs Smartsheet (2026): Which Is Better?
ClickUp is best value for feature-rich teams; Smartsheet is best for spreadsheet-style enterprise planning. We compare pricing, features, ease of use and G2 and Capterra ratings to help you choose.
Key takeaways
- Overall winner: ClickUp (8.9/10 vs 8.6/10), winning 3 of 7 categories.
- Choose ClickUp for budget-conscious teams that want tasks, docs, goals, sprints and dashboards in one tool.
- Choose Smartsheet for organisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reporting.
- Price: ClickUp Free; paid from $7/user/month; Smartsheet From $9/member/month (no free plan).
Quick verdict
ClickUp offers the most features for the money. Wrike remains the stronger choice for structured resource, portfolio and approval management at scale.
Smartsheet is excellent for spreadsheet-minded enterprises. Wrike offers a broader all-in-one experience with stronger collaboration and proofing.
ClickUp vs Smartsheet at a glance
| ClickUp | Smartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.9/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Best for | Budget-conscious teams that want tasks, docs, goals, sprints and dashboards in one tool | Organisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reporting |
| Starting price | Free; paid from $7/user/month | From $9/member/month (no free plan) |
| Free plan | Yes | No (30-day free trial) |
| Free trial | Free plan available | 30-day Business plan trial, no credit card |
| Vendor | ClickUp | Smartsheet Inc. |
Pricing compared
| ClickUp | Smartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Free Forever: $0 Unlimited: $7/user/month annual ($10 monthly) Business: $12/user/month annual ($19 monthly) Enterprise: Contact sales AI add-ons: $9 or $28/user/month | Pro: $9/member/month annual ($12 monthly) Business: $19/member/month annual ($24 monthly) Enterprise: Contact sales Advanced Work Management: Contact sales |
Checked on vendors' pricing pages on 5 October 2026. Read the full ClickUp pricing and Smartsheet pricing breakdowns.
Features compared
| Feature | ClickUp | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Gantt / timeline | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Kanban boards | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Time tracking | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Resource & workload management | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Portfolio management | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Docs & wiki | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Automations | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Agile / sprint tools | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Proofing & approvals | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Built-in AI | + Add-on | ✓ Yes |
| Guest / client access | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Flat (non per-user) pricing | ✕ No | ✕ No |
Category winners
| Category | ClickUp | Smartsheet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Feature depth | 10/10 | 8/10 | ClickUp |
| Planning & resource management | 8/10 | 9/10 | Smartsheet |
| Collaboration | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Agile & software teams | 9/10 | 6/10 | ClickUp |
| Value for money | 9/10 | 7/10 | ClickUp |
| Scalability & enterprise readiness | 8/10 | 10/10 | Smartsheet |
User ratings
| ClickUp | Smartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.6/5 (14,714 reviews) | 4.4/5 (22,768 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.6/5 (4,634 reviews) | 4.5/5 (3,559 reviews) |
| Top praise (G2) | Easy and simple to use once set up | Ease of use for spreadsheet users |
| Top complaint (G2) | Some missing features | Steep learning curve for advanced use |
ClickUp has the higher G2 rating. ClickUp has the higher Capterra rating. See reviews on G2 for ClickUp, G2 for Smartsheet, Capterra for ClickUp and Capterra for Smartsheet.
Which should you choose?
Choose ClickUp if…
- Start-ups and SMBs wanting maximum features per dollar
- Software and product teams wanting sprints and docs together
- Teams consolidating several tools
- Very strong value for money matters to you
Choose Smartsheet if…
- Enterprises and PMOs standardising project portfolios
- Operations and finance teams who think in spreadsheets
- Familiar spreadsheet interface for Excel users matters to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, ClickUp or Smartsheet?
In our review, ClickUp scores 8.9/10 and Smartsheet 8.6/10. ClickUp wins on feature depth, agile & software teams, value for money; Smartsheet is better for planning & resource management, scalability & enterprise readiness.
Is ClickUp cheaper than Smartsheet?
ClickUp: Free; paid from $7/user/month. Smartsheet: From $9/member/month (no free plan). Compare total cost at your team size, including seat minimums and add-ons.
Do ClickUp and Smartsheet have free plans?
ClickUp: Yes. Smartsheet: No (30-day free trial).
Which is easier to use, ClickUp or Smartsheet?
Neither (tie) scores higher for ease of use in our review (ClickUp 7/10, Smartsheet 7/10).
Which is better for Agile teams, ClickUp or Smartsheet?
ClickUp is stronger for Agile and software teams in our scoring.
ClickUp vs Smartsheet: which has better resource and portfolio management?
Smartsheet scores higher for planning and resource management (ClickUp 8/10, Smartsheet 9/10).
ClickUp vs Smartsheet: which is better for large enterprises?
Smartsheet scores higher for scalability and enterprise readiness.
How do ClickUp and Smartsheet compare on G2 and Capterra?
ClickUp: 4.6/5 on G2 (14,714 reviews) and 4.6/5 on Capterra (4,634). Smartsheet: 4.4/5 on G2 (22,768) and 4.5/5 on Capterra (3,559). Checked 5 October 2026.
Do ClickUp and Smartsheet have Gantt charts?
ClickUp: yes. Smartsheet: yes (plan-dependent).
Can I switch from Smartsheet to ClickUp (or the reverse)?
Yes. Both support importing data, typically via CSV or built-in importers. Pilot with one project before migrating everything.
What are alternatives to ClickUp and Smartsheet?
See our lists of ClickUp alternatives and Smartsheet alternatives, or the top 10 project management tools.