Smartsheet vs Trello

by Gralio Mar 10, 2025

Smartsheet and Trello are both project management tools, but they cater to different needs. Smartsheet is better for complex projects and automation, while Trello is better for visual task management and smaller teams. Both offer integrations with popular business apps.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 7480 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 18 hours, 3 minutes of reading.

Smartsheet

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Trello

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About

Smartsheet is a work management platform used by companies to manage projects, automate tasks, and track progress. Its spreadsheet-like interface makes it easy to plan, schedule, and delegate work, while dashboards and reports provide real-time visibility into project status and team performance. Smartsheet also offers automation features, allowing you to streamline repetitive processes and improve efficiency. It integrates with popular business apps and prioritizes data security, making it a trusted choice for businesses of all sizes.

Trello is a visual project management tool that helps teams organize tasks and collaborate more effectively. Using boards, lists, and cards, teams can easily track progress on projects, from simple to-do lists to complex workflows. Trello offers a high level of customization with features like templates, integrations with other popular apps, and no-code automation. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for anyone to use, regardless of technical skill. Trello offers various pricing plans to suit different team sizes and needs, including a free plan for small teams.

Summary

Main difference

Smartsheet offers a robust spreadsheet-like interface ideal for managing complex projects and automating workflows, especially for teams familiar with spreadsheet software. Trello excels in visual project management with its Kanban boards, making it a great choice for smaller teams or those who prefer a simpler, more visual approach to task management.

Relative strengths of Smartsheet (compared to Trello)

Superior project management capabilities with Gantt charts and resource management tools.
Robust automation features for streamlining complex workflows.
Integrates with Salesforce for enhanced CRM capabilities.

Relative weaknesses of Smartsheet (compared to Trello)

Less intuitive user interface compared to Trello's Kanban-style approach.
Limited free plan functionality.
Can be overwhelming for smaller projects or individual use.

Who should use Smartsheet VS. Trello

Smartsheet is a versatile work management and automation platform ideal for businesses of all sizes. Users praise its intuitive interface, real-time collaboration features, and customizable dashboards for tracking KPIs. However, some users have noted limitations with row capacity and occasional latency issues. Consider Smartsheet if you need a powerful, user-friendly platform to manage projects, automate tasks, and gain valuable insights into team performance.

Trello is a visual project management tool ideal for individuals and teams looking to organize tasks and boost collaboration. Its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it easy to learn, while customizable boards and integrations offer flexibility. Users praise Trello's simplicity and visual approach to project tracking, but some find the free version limiting.

Best for small to large businesses (1-1000+ employees).
Suitable for most industries, particularly effective in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and professional services.

Ideal for teams of all sizes, from individuals to large enterprises.
A good fit for IT and marketing teams, but versatile enough for any industry.

Smartsheet and Trello features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Automated workflows

Supported

Smartsheet supports automated workflows, which can be customized for onboarding processes.

Supported

Trello offers automated workflows suitable for onboarding processes, such as automated task assignments and notifications.
Visual project views

Supported

Smartsheet offers Grid, Gantt, Card, Calendar and other views.

Supported

Trello offers Timeline, Table, Calendar, Dashboard, and Map views for visualizing projects.
File sharing

Supported

Smartsheet allows users to upload and share files in a variety of ways, including direct links, publishing, and email attachments.

Supported

Trello supports the ability to upload and share files with team members, both through direct uploads and integrations with cloud storage services.
Time Tracking

Partially supported

Smartsheet can be integrated with time tracking software but does not have this functionality natively. It offers a Resource Management add-on with time tracking, but this requires a separate license.

Partially supported

Trello does not natively support time tracking but can be integrated with third-party time tracking applications to track time spent on tasks and projects.
Client portals

Supported

Smartsheet allows the creation of client portals for accessing project information and collaborating in a controlled environment through features like WorkApps, customizable dashboards, and integrations with tools like Foyer.

Partially supported

Trello does not natively support dedicated client portals but can be integrated with external tools to provide similar functionality.
Collaboration features

Supported

Smartsheet enables team members to collaborate on tasks together through features such as real-time comments, file sharing, shared workspaces, and integrations with popular collaboration platforms.

Supported

Trello supports collaboration features such as comments and file sharing, enabling team members to work together on tasks.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

-0.55

Rather negative sentiment

-0.36

Rather negative sentiment
Customer Service

+0.09

Neutral sentiment

-1

Strongly negative sentiment
Ease of Use

+0.73

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.82

Strongly positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+0.49

Rather positive sentiment

+0.59

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

-0.1

Neutral sentiment

+0.59

Rather positive sentiment
Scalability

+0.14

Neutral sentiment

-0.39

Rather negative sentiment

Smartsheet and Trello Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.55

See full Pricing page

Trello offers a free plan for up to 10 collaborators per Workspace and paid plans billed per user monthly or annually (annual billing shown).

Plans

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.36

See full Pricing page

Smartsheet and Trello review insights

7460 reviews analysed from and

Users love

Intuitive interface: Easy-to-use, even for those unfamiliar with project management tools. Many compare it favorably to Excel.
Collaboration features: Real-time collaboration capabilities, allowing multiple users to work on sheets simultaneously.
Automation features: Streamlines repetitive tasks with alerts, reminders, and automated workflows.
Customizable dashboards: Easily create visually appealing dashboards to track project progress and KPIs.

Easy to use and understand, with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Highly customizable boards, cards, and lists, adaptable to various workflows.
Seamless integrations with popular apps like Google Drive and Slack.
Trello’s visual simplicity makes project and task tracking easy.

Users dislike

Limited row capacity: Maximum capacity of 20k rows is often too small, requiring backups.
Some standard Excel functions are not available or require workarounds.
Latency issues: Users have reported slow loading times and latency, especially with larger sheets.
Sharing with unlicensed users can be confusing, leading to unnecessary license requests.

Free version limits are frustrating, especially for larger teams and file uploads.
The mobile app is good, but could be more tailored to mobile use.
Retrieving archived items is difficult and could be improved.
Some find the interface cluttered, especially with multiple cards and boards.

Smartsheet and Trello Ratings

G2

4.4/5

(2570)
Capterra

4.5/5

(2425)
TrustPilot

1.9/5

(20)
Glassdoor

4.0/5

(982)

G2

4.4/5

(2489)

Company health

Employee growth

5% increase in the last year

No data

Web traffic

8% decrease in the last quarter

No data

Financing

May 2024 - $3B

No data

How do Smartsheet's automation features compare to Trello's no-code automation?

Smartsheet offers more robust automation features compared to Trello. While Trello boasts no-code automation for simpler tasks and workflows, Smartsheet provides more advanced automation capabilities, including multi-step automations, conditional logic, and integrations with a wider range of business applications like Salesforce. This makes Smartsheet better suited for complex workflows and enterprise-level automation needs, whereas Trello's automation is more geared towards basic task management and smaller teams.

Which product, Smartsheet or Trello, better handles large datasets and potential latency issues?

Smartsheet is better equipped for large datasets, although it still has limitations. While Smartsheet users complain of latency issues, especially with larger sheets, it offers a spreadsheet-like interface capable of handling more data than Trello. Trello, designed for more visual project management with Kanban boards, is not ideal for extensive datasets and its scalability is rated negatively. Trello's focus on simplicity and visual organization suggests it's better suited for smaller projects and teams, while Smartsheet, despite its latency issues, can accommodate larger datasets and more complex projects.

What are the advantages of Smartsheet?

Smartsheet offers robust automation features, including automated workflows and timesheet creation, which can significantly improve team efficiency. Its seamless integration with Salesforce allows for bidirectional data synchronization, a key advantage for sales and marketing teams. Smartsheet also provides customizable dashboards for real-time project tracking and KPI monitoring, giving teams valuable insights into their work. While it has limitations on row capacity, its spreadsheet-like interface offers a familiar and intuitive experience for users already accustomed to working with spreadsheets.

What are the disadvantages of Smartsheet?

Smartsheet's spreadsheet-like interface, while familiar, can lead to limitations, such as a 20,000-row capacity, which necessitates backups for larger projects. Some standard spreadsheet functions are missing or require workarounds, potentially hindering complex calculations. Users have reported performance issues like slow loading times and latency, especially with larger datasets. Finally, sharing with external users can be confusing and may lead to unnecessary license requests.

Alternatives to Smartsheet and Trello

Asana

Asana is a work management platform designed to help teams organize tasks, projects, and goals in one shared space. It offers tools to improve team collaboration, transparency, and accountability. Used by companies of all sizes, it's particularly beneficial for managing complex projects and keeping everyone aligned on priorities. Features include task assignments, progress tracking, deadline setting, and communication tools. Asana aims to streamline workflows, enhance team productivity, and provide a clear overview of project statuses.

Wrike

Wrike is a versatile work management platform designed to streamline workflows and improve efficiency for teams of all sizes. It centralizes work, providing a single source of truth and offering various views like Gantt charts and Kanban boards. Wrike allows automation of routine tasks, provides real-time insights through dashboards, and facilitates seamless collaboration. It features tools for proofing and approvals, resource management, and integrates with popular business applications. Wrike is a comprehensive solution suitable for various departments, from marketing and IT to operations and product development.

monday.com

monday.com is a customizable work platform designed to streamline workflows and improve team collaboration. It offers a suite of products, including monday work management, monday sales CRM, and monday dev, each tailored to specific team needs. With features like dashboards, automations, and integrations, monday.com enables businesses to manage projects, track progress, and make data-driven decisions. Its flexible and adaptable design caters to various industries and scales as organizations grow.

ClickUp

ClickUp is a comprehensive work management platform designed to consolidate various work processes into one centralized location. It offers a wide array of features including task management, project planning, document collaboration, communication tools, goal setting, and automation options. ClickUp aims to enhance team collaboration, improve visibility across projects, and streamline workflows for increased productivity regardless of team size or industry.

Kanban Zone

Kanban Zone is project management software for small, medium, and large businesses. It helps you visualize your team's work to improve collaboration and efficiency. The software offers customizable digital Kanban boards, over 100 templates, and performance metrics to help your team get more done. Kanban Zone sets itself apart by offering coaching as part of all its plans. They've worked with companies like American Express, Choice Hotels, and Mayo Clinic.

Quickbase

Quickbase is a no-code platform that helps businesses manage complex projects and workflows. It allows you to connect existing systems, automate tasks, and gain real-time insights into your operations. Quickbase is used by companies of all sizes to improve efficiency, visibility, and collaboration across various departments like project management, IT, and operations. It's known for its flexibility in tailoring solutions without needing coding skills.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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