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HomeProject ManagementSmartsheet vs Trello
Updated today · Independent Analysis

Smartsheet vs Trello

Capability Overview
Smartsheet logo - software comparison
Smartsheetvs Trello
4.5G2+0.1 vs Trello
Only in Smartsheet
  • Grid View
  • Gantt Charts
  • Card View
✓ Free planFrom $12/mo(pricier)100K+ customers users · est. 2005
Trello logo - software comparison
Trellovs Smartsheet
4.4G2-0.1 vs Smartsheet
Only in Trello
  • Kanban Boards
  • Cards & Lists
  • Power-Ups
✓ Free planFrom $6/mo(cheaper)50M+ users · est. 2011
Quick VerdictIndependent Analysis

Smartsheet and Trello are both Project Management tools. Smartsheet starts at $12/mo, Trello at $6/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.


When to Choose Smartsheet vs Trello

The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”

Smartsheet Unique Strength
Cross-Region QA Test Coordination

A master test case library in Grid View tracks real-time pass/fail status per sprint; Forms auto-populate execution data from field testers across geographies without manual.

→ Choose Smartsheet if this scenario applies to you. Trello doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Smartsheet Unique Strength
Multi-Channel Campaign Timeline View

Calendar View maps milestones across email, social, and paid channels in one timeline; Automations trigger stakeholder alerts 48 hours before each gate, cutting missed handoffs.

→ Choose Smartsheet if this scenario applies to you. Trello doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Smartsheet Unique Strength
Enterprise Capacity Across Business Units

Card View organizes staff by skill; Grid View allocates headcount across projects; Dashboards surface real-time bench percentage and capacity gaps six weeks out to inform hiring.

→ Choose Smartsheet if this scenario applies to you. Trello doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Smartsheet Unique Strength
200-Customer Implementation Tracker

Gantt Charts lock milestones; Forms capture intake; automated escalations fire on SLA drift; dashboards flag at-risk customer accounts within 24 hours of slippage.

→ Choose Smartsheet if this scenario applies to you. Trello doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Trello Unique Strength
Bug Triage With Butler Automation

Custom Fields categorize bugs by severity and product area, while Butler automation routes cards through triage stages based on customer report volume thresholds.

→ Choose Trello if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Trello Unique Strength
Async Daily Standup Log for Remote Devs

Each morning, engineers add a Card with Custom Fields for completed work and blockers; Butler automation compiles the responses and posts a team chat digest by 9 AM.

→ Choose Trello if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Trello Unique Strength
Ad Hoc Request Queue for Studios

Requests flow through Queue → In Progress → Review → Delivered on a Kanban board, with Custom Fields logging turnaround time and deliverable type per client.

→ Choose Trello if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Trello Unique Strength
Cross-Board Dependency Mapping

Card Links connect issues across multiple Kanban Boards; Timeline View renders those relationships as a Gantt chart, surfacing cross-team scheduling conflicts weeks in advance.

→ Choose Trello if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.

Pricing Comparison & Plans
High· Verified Jun 3, 2026

Trello starts at $6/movs $12/mo

Capability Breakdown

10 differences found across 20 standardized features

Feature
Smartsheet
Trello
Kanban Boards
Gantt Charts
Time Tracking
Roadmaps
Automation
Reporting/Analytics
Resource Management
Dependencies
Goals/OKRs
Forms
Total (raw)
35
18
Smartsheet Features
  • Grid View
  • Gantt Charts
  • Card View
  • Calendar View
  • Automations
  • Forms
  • Dashboards
  • Reports
  • Proofing
  • WorkApps
  • DataMesh
  • Resource Management
  • Integrations
  • Mobile Apps
  • API
  • Conditional Formatting Rules
  • Project Templates
  • Task Dependencies
  • Custom Workflows
  • Automated Reminders
  • Time Tracking
  • Budgeting Tools
  • Resource Allocation
  • Project Portfolio
  • Real Time Notifications
  • Collaborator Permissions
  • Version History
  • Cell Linking
  • Formula Builder
  • Data Validation
  • Sheet Sharing
  • Row Filtering
  • Column Freezing
  • Cell Formatting
  • Project Scheduling
Trello Features
  • Kanban Boards
  • Cards & Lists
  • Power-Ups
  • Automation (Butler)
  • Custom Fields
  • Calendar View
  • Timeline View
  • Dashboard
  • Templates
  • Mobile Apps
  • Integrations
  • AI Features
  • Checklists
  • Labels & Filters
  • Team Collaboration
  • Due Date Reminders
  • Task Dependencies
  • Board Map View

Strengths & Limitations

Evaluative strengths and weaknesses: not feature lists

Pros
  • +Combines spreadsheet UI with powerful project management automation.
  • +Extensive reporting and dashboarding capabilities for portfolio views.
  • +Advanced security and compliance features (HIPAA, FedRAMP).
  • +Highly scalable for cross-departmental enterprise workflows.
  • +Flexible grid, card, Gantt, and calendar views for diverse tasks.
Cons
  • Steep learning curve for advanced features like formulas and automation.
  • Lacks true baseline functionality for formal project variance tracking.
  • Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large, less-active teams.
  • The mobile app has limited functionality compared to the desktop version.
  • No free-forever plan, only a 30-day trial.
Pros
  • +Extremely intuitive Kanban interface with a minimal learning curve.
  • +Generous free plan with unlimited cards and up to 10 boards.
  • +Rich automation (Butler) is included even on the free plan.
  • +Vast ecosystem of Power-Ups for extensive customization.
  • +Visually appealing and simple for non-technical teams to adopt.
Cons
  • Lacks native reporting, Gantt charts, and dependency management.
  • Becomes cluttered and slow when managing many cards on a single board.
  • No built-in time tracking; requires a third-party Power-Up.
  • Limited view options beyond Kanban, Calendar, and basic lists.
  • Poor for managing complex, cross-functional projects at scale.

At a Glance

User Rating
4.5/5vs4.4/5
Smartsheet
Trello
Starting Price
$12/movs$6/mo
Smartsheet
Trello
Feature Count
35 featuresvs18 features
Smartsheet
Trello
User Base
100Kvs50.0M
Smartsheet
Trello

Oleh KemOleh KemFounder & Lead AnalystExpert verified·Updated today·Our methodology
Smartsheet · Price & Data SyncLast verified: Jun 3, 2026 · CE-PROJ-2026W21-5290D9 · ✓ Pricing updated Jun 3, 2026
Up to date
Trello · Price & Data SyncLast verified: May 28, 2026 · CE-PROJ-2026W21-7397F5 · ✓ Pricing updated May 28, 2026
Up to date

Recent Price History

Smartsheet

Smartsheet added a new "Free" plan at $0/mo (Free)

Plan added · Jun 3, 2026

Smartsheet

Smartsheet removed the "Free" plan

Plan removed · May 30, 2026

Smartsheet

Smartsheet added a new "Advanced Work Management" plan (Custom pricing)

Plan added · May 30, 2026

Smartsheet

Smartsheet raised "Pro" from $9/mo to $12/mo (+33%)

Price change · May 30, 2026

Smartsheet

Smartsheet lowered "Business" from $32/mo to $24/mo (-25%)

Price change · May 30, 2026

Trello

Trello raised "Standard" from $5/mo to $6/mo (+20%)

Price change · May 28, 2026

Trello

Trello raised "Premium" from $10/mo to $12.5/mo (+25%)

Price change · May 28, 2026


Frequently Asked Questions


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