Project management tools · Comparison
Smartsheet vs Microsoft Planner (2026): Which Is Better?
Smartsheet is best for spreadsheet-style enterprise planning; Microsoft Planner is best for microsoft 365 organisations. We compare pricing, features, ease of use and G2 and Capterra ratings to help you choose.
Key takeaways
- Overall winner: Smartsheet (8.6/10 vs 8.1/10), winning 4 of 7 categories.
- Choose Smartsheet for organisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reporting.
- Choose Microsoft Planner for organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Price: Smartsheet From $9/member/month (no free plan); Microsoft Planner Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month.
Quick verdict
Smartsheet is excellent for spreadsheet-minded enterprises. Wrike offers a broader all-in-one experience with stronger collaboration and proofing.
Planner is the convenient default for Microsoft 365 shops. For richer collaboration, resource and portfolio management, Wrike integrates with Microsoft tools while offering far more depth.
Smartsheet vs Microsoft Planner at a glance
| Smartsheet | Microsoft Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Best for | Organisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reporting | Organisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and Teams |
| Starting price | From $9/member/month (no free plan) | Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month |
| Free plan | No (30-day free trial) | Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365 |
| Free trial | 30-day Business plan trial, no credit card | One-month trial of Plan 1 and Plan 3 (credit card required) |
| Vendor | Smartsheet Inc. | Microsoft |
Pricing compared
| Smartsheet | Microsoft Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Pro: $9/member/month annual ($12 monthly) Business: $19/member/month annual ($24 monthly) Enterprise: Contact sales Advanced Work Management: Contact sales | Planner (basic): Included in Microsoft 365 Planner Plan 1: $10/user/month (annual) Planner and Project Plan 3: $30/user/month (annual) Microsoft 365 Copilot: $30/user/month add-on (annual) |
Checked on vendors' pricing pages on 5 October 2026. Read the full Smartsheet pricing and Microsoft Planner pricing breakdowns.
Features compared
| Feature | Smartsheet | Microsoft Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| Gantt / timeline | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Kanban boards | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Time tracking | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Resource & workload management | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Portfolio management | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Docs & wiki | ✕ No | ◐ Partial |
| Automations | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Agile / sprint tools | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Proofing & approvals | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Built-in AI | ✓ Yes | + Add-on |
| Guest / client access | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Flat (non per-user) pricing | ✕ No | ✕ No |
Category winners
| Category | Smartsheet | Microsoft Planner | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 7/10 | 8/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Feature depth | 8/10 | 6/10 | Smartsheet |
| Planning & resource management | 9/10 | 7/10 | Smartsheet |
| Collaboration | 8/10 | 7/10 | Smartsheet |
| Agile & software teams | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Value for money | 7/10 | 8/10 | Microsoft Planner |
| Scalability & enterprise readiness | 10/10 | 8/10 | Smartsheet |
User ratings
| Smartsheet | Microsoft Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.4/5 (22,768 reviews) | 4.2/5 (237 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.5/5 (3,559 reviews) | 4.3/5 (298 reviews) |
| Top praise (G2) | Ease of use for spreadsheet users | Ease of use |
| Top complaint (G2) | Steep learning curve for advanced use | Limited features for complex projects |
Smartsheet has the higher G2 rating. Smartsheet has the higher Capterra rating. See reviews on G2 for Smartsheet, G2 for Microsoft Planner, Capterra for Smartsheet and Capterra for Microsoft Planner.
Which should you choose?
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
Choose Microsoft Planner if…
- Organisations already on Microsoft 365 and Teams
- Teams needing simple, integrated task management
- Included or low-cost for Microsoft 365 customers matters to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Smartsheet or Microsoft Planner?
In our review, Smartsheet scores 8.6/10 and Microsoft Planner 8.1/10. Smartsheet wins on feature depth, planning & resource management, collaboration, scalability & enterprise readiness; Microsoft Planner is better for ease of use, value for money.
Is Smartsheet cheaper than Microsoft Planner?
Smartsheet: From $9/member/month (no free plan). Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month. Compare total cost at your team size, including seat minimums and add-ons.
Do Smartsheet and Microsoft Planner have free plans?
Smartsheet: No (30-day free trial). Microsoft Planner: Basic Planner included with Microsoft 365.
Which is easier to use, Smartsheet or Microsoft Planner?
Microsoft Planner scores higher for ease of use in our review (Smartsheet 7/10, Microsoft Planner 8/10).
Which is better for Agile teams, Smartsheet or Microsoft Planner?
Neither (tie) is stronger for Agile and software teams in our scoring.
Smartsheet vs Microsoft Planner: which has better resource and portfolio management?
Smartsheet scores higher for planning and resource management (Smartsheet 9/10, Microsoft Planner 7/10).
Smartsheet vs Microsoft Planner: which is better for large enterprises?
Smartsheet scores higher for scalability and enterprise readiness.
How do Smartsheet and Microsoft Planner compare on G2 and Capterra?
Smartsheet: 4.4/5 on G2 (22,768 reviews) and 4.5/5 on Capterra (3,559). Microsoft Planner: 4.2/5 on G2 (237) and 4.3/5 on Capterra (298). Checked 5 October 2026.
Do Smartsheet and Microsoft Planner have Gantt charts?
Smartsheet: yes. Microsoft Planner: yes (plan-dependent).
Can I switch from Microsoft Planner to Smartsheet (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 Smartsheet and Microsoft Planner?
See our lists of Smartsheet alternatives and Microsoft Planner alternatives, or the top 10 project management tools.