by Smartsheet is a well-liked application for managing projects; it calls itself a “work execution platform.” This web-based tool is distinguished from others in the field by the novel approach it takes to the usage of spreadsheets in the context of project management.
Project managers often look for Smartsheet alternatives because they recognize that spreadsheets are not the optimal tool for time tracking, resource management, or task management.
There are many options for project management software, and most of them provide essentially the same set of features. No need to keep hunting for an alternative to Smartsheet when you have this one right here. We’ve reviewed some best alternatives to Smartsheet, but first, it’s worth quickly going over what makes Smartsheet so great.
Best Smartsheet Alternatives
We’ve compiled a list of top-rated Smartsheet alternatives to help you narrow down your search. Let’s look into why people are thinking about leaving Smartsheet before we discuss possible alternatives.
1. Google Sheets
Google Sheets is an alternative to Smartsheet that is free and easy to use. It’s a free Google application that may be used for a variety of purposes, including data management and even project management.
Google Sheets is based on the same idea as Excel, but it’s much easier to use and has a more streamlined design.
Although Google Sheets can be used for free, it has significant limitations as a project management tool. If you need a powerful tool to tackle complex projects in the modern era, this one may not be a good choice.
2. Hive
Regarding alternatives to Smartsheet, one of the most popular choices is Hive, a tool for managing team projects that have won widespread praise. Hive is an adaptable application designed to make project management less chore by providing its users with time tracking, reporting, and other perspectives.
Hive’s Table View style is similar to Smartsheet in that it allows you to see your projects in a spreadsheet format, but it goes much further.
It is flexible and recognizes that different people and tasks require different configurations. With Hive, users can quickly switch between multiple project views, such as Table View, Gantt, Kanban, and more, with only a few clicks.
3. Zoho
Zoho Projects is a relatively minor application in the vast Zoho suite, but it more than holds its own in terms of adaptability and user-friendliness. Collaboration, document management, Gantt charts, and even team wiki pages are all rolled into one with this project management software.
Projects can be viewed entirely or broken down into individual tasks, and the resulting data can be compiled into reports. It’s also possible to connect Zoho Projects straight to the Google Suite, Github, and Bitbucket.
With these resources, cross-departmental teams may coordinate their efforts inside their existing workflows and always have the most up-to-date information. Learn how your team spends their time and where you can save by using the built-in time-tracking tools.
4. Microsoft Project
Regarding project management software, Microsoft Project has been around for a long time and remains a popular option. This online service is integrated with Microsoft Office, so it may be used with Microsoft Planner and the rest of the Microsoft suite.
Because of this, many people find that MS Project is the ideal productivity tool because it is both familiar and easy to use. Smartsheet’s competition, Microsoft Project, has powerful project planning features.
However, these are generic capabilities, and the program does not provide many options tailored to a given business. Consequently, a software development or construction team may find it inadequate for their particular demands in terms of planning and reporting.
5. nTask
nTask caters to groups of any size in any field. Its main focus is on task management, and it also has meeting management options. Unlike other Smartsheet substitutes, nTask allows users to set up repeating tasks. Intriguing, right? nTask offers a no-cost version.
The commercial editions’ intuitive Gantt charts and dashboards make up for the free version’s lack of valuable elements. The calendar is also helpful because it may remind team members when tasks are due.
The capabilities nTask provides are powerful and available to users of all skill levels and backgrounds. However, nTask is lacking in some key areas regarding project management.
6. Asana
Asana is on the list of Smartsheet alternatives because it is also a well-known project management tool that has received significant venture capital investment. Like Smartsheet, Asana has capabilities that provide an overview of your projects at a glance.
Features like email task addition and iCal/Google Calendar syncing are also handy, as are progress reports and color-coded tasks.
Users migrating from Smartsheet to Asana may feel cheated by the latter app’s omission of some of Smartsheet’s more robust capabilities. As your team evolves, the straightforward solution becomes inadequate. Asana’s reliance on modules and plugins for expanded features limits its scalability.
7. Basecamp
When it comes to tools for coordinating and managing collaborative projects, Basecamp is unrivaled. Basecamp is a collaboration-focused platform with unique features like in-context document editing and activity feeds.
These activity streams are a window into the current state of activities, projects, and schedules. Having a central hub to record and archive all relevant correspondence and project updates is a huge time saver.
Basecamp’s built-in communications message board and chat thread are ideal for preserving all documents regarding the project within the appropriate project folder if you wish to keep track of communication outside the primary project stream.
8. Teamwork
For businesses, Teamwork develops project management, help desk, and chat software. It has everything you need to collaborate and manage projects, including tasks, milestones, calendars, invoicing, file sharing, and time tracking.
When it comes to managing large and complex teams with a significant number of contacts and projects. User permissions and administrative controls make Teamwork the superior choice for personnel mobility across teams, organizations, and projects.
These capabilities are ideal for large, complex businesses like franchises or corporations. The program’s ability to handle complexity doesn’t detract from the value of its best features for organizations of all sizes.
9. Jira
When comparing Smartsheet to other options for software development teams using an agile methodology, Jira is the clear winner. Of course, it includes kanban boards to help with scrum, sprints, and cleaning out the backlog.
For agile teams to quickly adapt to changes, robust reporting capabilities are essential. Atlassian’s Jira started as an issue-tracking system but has since expanded to include project management and software development.
Users have reported issues with a few integrations, and the graphical reports exported from Jira as photos appear to be of low resolution, making them difficult to read.
10. Podio
Podio is an online collaboration and communication platform for small and developing firms to operate the entire business and for innovative teams in large organizations to handle their internal communications.
As a Citrix product, Podio is known for its dependability (99.99% uptime) and security. It allows users to export data to spreadsheets for additional analysis. In addition, it has enhanced social functions like friend suggestions and group projects.
The unified layout of Podia can be confusing to certain users. There is no portfolio or all-projects view in Podio that would make it easier to manage multiple tasks at once.
