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Smartsheet is worth keeping on the shortlist when a PMO needs portfolio reporting, cross-sheet rollups and resource planning. But that structure can feel like overkill if your team mainly needs straightforward task tracking. Reddit users point to weak rich-text support, clunky folder management and a UI they find dated; one PMO commenter also described licensing and purchasing as frustrating. The alternatives below range from lighter board tools to enterprise portfolio planning, so match the replacement to the work you actually need.
01Why people leave Smartsheet
The interface feels dated
Some Reddit commenters describe the interface as dated and rich-text support as weak; another says folder management is clunky.
Licensing can frustrate buyers
One PMO commenter calls licensing complex and says buying licenses or getting quotes can take too long.
Simple tracking may not need it
Smartsheet's cross-sheet rollups and portfolio features suit PMOs, but simple tracking teams may find the structure and setup heavier than they need.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Cross-project coordination
AsanaAsanaChoose Asana if you want a project-and-workflow hub for cross-project coordination, goals and dependencies. That stated fit makes it a plausible replacement for teams managing shared work, without assuming you need to reproduce every PMO feature in Smartsheet. Asana starts at $10.99 and has a free plan; the higher tiers and custom enterprise pricing need scrutiny.
Trade-off: Higher tiers and custom enterprise pricing need scrutiny.
7.0/10from
$10.99/mofree plan - Visual shared workflows
monday.commonday.commonday.com is worth comparing if your team wants customizable shared workflows and visual dashboards rather than Smartsheet's spreadsheet-like structure. Its stated fit includes marketing and operations teams, and it has a free plan with pricing from $8. Check the seat price and plan limits before moving a whole team.
Trade-off: Check seat pricing and plan limits before switching.
6.5/10from
£8/mofree plan - Enterprise portfolio planning
PlanviewPlanviewFor a large organization replacing Smartsheet's portfolio and resource-planning role, Planview is the enterprise-oriented option here. Its stated fit includes coordinating portfolios, modeling capacity and investment trade-offs, and connecting strategy to outcomes. Cost is listed as n/a, so get pricing before treating it as a viable shortlist option.
Trade-off: Cost is unclear, and user reports are rough.
4.8/10from
Custom - Client-team capacity
Teamwork.comTeamwork.comTeamwork.com is a better fit than a general project tool if your work is client-facing and you need to plan staff capacity or forecast from logged hours. Those are its stated strengths, making it relevant to teams moving away from Smartsheet resource planning. It starts at $9.99 and has a free plan.
Trade-off: Minimum seats and plan caps can raise the bill.
7.2/10from
$9.99/mofree plan - Consolidating work tools
ClickUpClickUpClickUp suits teams leaving Smartsheet because they want project flexibility and fewer separate work tools. Its stated bundle includes projects, docs, chat and time tracking, with a free plan and pricing from $9. That breadth may appeal if you want tasks and documents together, but users report complexity and reliability concerns.
Trade-off: Users report complexity and reliability concerns.
6.7/10from
$9/mofree plan - Projects and docs together
NiftyNiftyNifty is worth a look if your team wants projects and docs together, plus forms and roadmaps. Those stated features make it a possible alternative for coordinating work without choosing another tool solely for portfolio dashboards. It has a free plan and starts at $10, but the free plan is tightly capped.
Trade-off: Its free plan is tightly capped; user sentiment is unclear.
7.2/10from
$10/mofree plan - Simple visual task tracking
TrelloTrelloIf Smartsheet feels like too much structure for basic tracking, Trello is the simpler board-based option in this list. It is aimed at individuals and small teams that prefer visual boards, with automation and integrations also listed. Trello has a free plan and starts at $5, with scaling costs described as clear.
Trade-off: Board-based tracking may not fit portfolio planning.
7.3/10from
$5/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Smartsheet Smartsheet (current) | 6.7 | $9/mo | No | PMOs coordinating multiple projects |
| Asana Asana | 7.0 | $10.99/mo | Yes | Teams coordinating cross-project work |
| monday.com monday.com | 6.5 | £8/mo | Yes | Teams building shared workflows |
| Planview Planview | 4.8 | Custom | No | Large enterprises coordinating portfolios |
| Teamwork.com Teamwork.com | 7.2 | $9.99/mo | Yes | Agencies tracking project margins |
| ClickUp ClickUp | 6.7 | $9/mo | Yes | Teams consolidating work tools |
| Nifty Nifty | 7.2 | $10/mo | Yes | Teams wanting projects and docs together |
| Trello Trello | 7.3 | $5/mo | Yes | Individuals and small teams |
Questions people ask
Is there a free version of Smartsheet?
The published Smartsheet listing gives a starting price of $9 but doesn't say whether a free plan is available. We can't confirm a free version from this information. The alternatives list explicitly marks free plans for Asana, monday.com, Trello, ClickUp, Teamwork.com and Nifty.
What is the difference between Excel and Smartsheet?
The Reddit threads we read say Smartsheet should not be treated as an Excel replacement: one commenter describes its sheets as database tables and recommends reports or dashboards for presentation. The published material doesn't detail Excel's features, so it can't support a full feature-by-feature comparison.
Are Smartsheet and Jira similar?
The published material doesn't establish them as direct equivalents. It positions Smartsheet around PMOs, portfolio dashboards and resource planning, while Linear is listed as an option for Jira switchers and focused product teams. If you need product issue tracking, check whether Linear's reporting fits before switching.
Is Smartsheet a good tool?
It can fit PMOs coordinating multiple projects, building portfolio dashboards and planning resources across teams. Reddit users also point to rough edges, including weak rich-text support, clunky folder management and licensing frustrations. It is less compelling if your team mainly wants simple, low-cost project tracking.