Project management tools · Comparison
Smartsheet vs Trello (2026): Which Is Better?
Smartsheet is best for spreadsheet-style enterprise planning; Trello is best for simple kanban boards. 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 7.8/10), winning 4 of 7 categories.
- Choose Smartsheet for organisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reporting.
- Choose Trello for individuals and small teams that want simple, visual Kanban boards.
- Price: Smartsheet From $9/member/month (no free plan); Trello Free; paid from $5/user/month.
Quick verdict
Smartsheet is excellent for spreadsheet-minded enterprises. Wrike offers a broader all-in-one experience with stronger collaboration and proofing.
Trello is perfect for simple boards. When projects grow in complexity, teams typically move to Wrike, Asana or monday.com.
Smartsheet vs Trello at a glance
| Smartsheet | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.6/10 | 7.8/10 |
| Best for | Organisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reporting | Individuals and small teams that want simple, visual Kanban boards |
| Starting price | From $9/member/month (no free plan) | Free; paid from $5/user/month |
| Free plan | No (30-day free trial) | Yes (up to 10 collaborators per workspace) |
| Free trial | 30-day Business plan trial, no credit card | 14-day Premium trial, no credit card |
| Vendor | Smartsheet Inc. | Atlassian |
Pricing compared
| Smartsheet | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Pro: $9/member/month annual ($12 monthly) Business: $19/member/month annual ($24 monthly) Enterprise: Contact sales Advanced Work Management: Contact sales | Free: $0 Standard: $5/user/month annual ($6 monthly) Premium: $10/user/month annual ($12.50 monthly) Enterprise: $17.50/user/month (annual) |
Checked on vendors' pricing pages on 5 October 2026. Read the full Smartsheet pricing and Trello pricing breakdowns.
Features compared
| Feature | Smartsheet | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| Gantt / timeline | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partial |
| Kanban boards | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Time tracking | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Resource & workload management | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Portfolio management | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Docs & wiki | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Automations | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Agile / sprint tools | ◐ Partial | ◐ Partial |
| Proofing & approvals | ✓ Yes | ✕ No |
| Built-in AI | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Guest / client access | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Flat (non per-user) pricing | ✕ No | ✕ No |
Category winners
| Category | Smartsheet | Trello | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 7/10 | 10/10 | Trello |
| Feature depth | 8/10 | 5/10 | Smartsheet |
| Planning & resource management | 9/10 | 4/10 | Smartsheet |
| Collaboration | 8/10 | 7/10 | Smartsheet |
| Agile & software teams | 6/10 | 7/10 | Trello |
| Value for money | 7/10 | 9/10 | Trello |
| Scalability & enterprise readiness | 10/10 | 5/10 | Smartsheet |
User ratings
| Smartsheet | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.4/5 (22,768 reviews) | 4.4/5 (14,063 reviews) |
| Capterra | 4.5/5 (3,559 reviews) | 4.5/5 (23,628 reviews) |
| Top praise (G2) | Ease of use for spreadsheet users | Ease of use |
| Top complaint (G2) | Steep learning curve for advanced use | Limited features |
Both have the same G2 rating. Both have the same Capterra rating. See reviews on G2 for Smartsheet, G2 for Trello, Capterra for Smartsheet and Capterra for Trello.
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 Trello if…
- Individuals and small teams
- Simple workflows such as content calendars or recruiting pipelines
- Extremely easy to learn matters to you
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Smartsheet or Trello?
In our review, Smartsheet scores 8.6/10 and Trello 7.8/10. Smartsheet wins on feature depth, planning & resource management, collaboration, scalability & enterprise readiness; Trello is better for ease of use, agile & software teams, value for money.
Is Smartsheet cheaper than Trello?
Smartsheet: From $9/member/month (no free plan). Trello: Free; paid from $5/user/month. Compare total cost at your team size, including seat minimums and add-ons.
Do Smartsheet and Trello have free plans?
Smartsheet: No (30-day free trial). Trello: Yes (up to 10 collaborators per workspace).
Which is easier to use, Smartsheet or Trello?
Trello scores higher for ease of use in our review (Smartsheet 7/10, Trello 10/10).
Which is better for Agile teams, Smartsheet or Trello?
Trello is stronger for Agile and software teams in our scoring.
Smartsheet vs Trello: which has better resource and portfolio management?
Smartsheet scores higher for planning and resource management (Smartsheet 9/10, Trello 4/10).
Smartsheet vs Trello: which is better for large enterprises?
Smartsheet scores higher for scalability and enterprise readiness.
How do Smartsheet and Trello compare on G2 and Capterra?
Smartsheet: 4.4/5 on G2 (22,768 reviews) and 4.5/5 on Capterra (3,559). Trello: 4.4/5 on G2 (14,063) and 4.5/5 on Capterra (23,628). Checked 5 October 2026.
Do Smartsheet and Trello have Gantt charts?
Smartsheet: yes. Trello: partial (plan-dependent).
Can I switch from Trello 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 Trello?
See our lists of Smartsheet alternatives and Trello alternatives, or the top 10 project management tools.