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Updated 2 weeks ago · Independent Analysis
Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects
Capability Overview
Smartsheetvs Zoho Projects
4.5G2+0.2 vs Zoho Projects
Only in Smartsheet
- ✦ Grid View
- ✦ Card View
- ✦ Calendar View
✓ Free planFrom $12/mo(pricier)100K+ customers users · est. 2005
Zoho Projectsvs Smartsheet
4.3G2-0.2 vs Smartsheet
Only in Zoho Projects
- ✦ Task Management
- ✦ Kanban Board
- ✦ Resource Utilization
✓ Free planFrom $5/mo(cheaper)Part of Zoho (100M+ users) users · est. 1996
Quick VerdictIndependent Analysis
Smartsheet and Zoho Projects are both Project Management tools. Smartsheet starts at $12/mo, Zoho Projects at $5/mo. Compare features, pricing, and ratings below to find the best fit for your team.
When to Choose Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects
The question that matters: “In what situation will I regret choosing A over B after 3 months?”
Scenario: Enterprise Capacity Across Business Units
Smartsheet
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.
Zoho Projects
Sprint Capacity Across Product Lines
Story points in Task Management pair with Resource Utilization charts to surface overallocation across product lines before sprint commitments are finalized.
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. Zoho Projects 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. Zoho Projects 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. Zoho Projects doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Zoho Projects Unique Strength
Billable Hour Tracking Across Clients
Time Tracking logs billable hours per task; utilization reports surface unbilled time before invoicing closes, cutting billing cycles from two weeks to three days.
→ Choose Zoho Projects if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Zoho Projects Unique Strength
On-Site Issue Escalation With Auto-Routing
Issue Tracker auto-routes critical site flags to project leads within 5 minutes with attached photos via Documents, replacing the text chains that let problems slip through.
→ Choose Zoho Projects if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Zoho Projects Unique Strength
Hardware Supply Chain Gantt Mapping
Gantt Charts map supplier deliveries and assembly phases, flagging when a 2-week delay cascades into a 6-week production slip before commitment dates pass.
→ Choose Zoho Projects if this scenario applies to you. Smartsheet doesn't offer a comparable solution.
Pricing Comparison & PlansHigh· Verified Jun 3, 2026
Zoho Projects starts at $5/movs $12/mo
Smartsheet Plans
Free tier available
Free
Free- ✓1 licensed user
- ✓2 editors
- ✓Unlimited viewers
- ✓Basic project management features
View on vendor site
Pro
$12/user/momonthlyor$108/yrsave 25%
Best for: Ideal for individuals or small teams needing core project management features
- ✓Unlimited sheets, forms, and reports
- ✓Gantt, table, board, and calendar views
- ✓Rich formulas
- ✓Unlimited free Viewers/Contributors
- ✓Basic integrations (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Slack)
View on vendor site
MOST POPULARBusiness
$24/user/momonthlyor$228/yrsave 21%
Best for: growing teams requiring advanced features like automation, resource management, and robust reporting
- ✓Everything in Pro plan
- ✓Unlimited automations
- ✓Unlimited free Guests
- ✓Admin-level controls
- ✓Timeline view
View on vendor site
Enterprise
Contact SalesBest for: Suited for large organizations needing enterprise-grade security, governance, and scalability
- ✓Everything in Business plan
- ✓Premium apps (Dynamic View, Control Center, DataMesh, Bridge, WorkApps)
- ✓Enhanced security and governance (SAML SSO, advanced admin controls)
- ✓Premier Support
- ✓Dedicated customer success
View on vendor site
Advanced Work Management
Contact SalesBest for: Designed for organizations with complex, cross-functional work needing advanced portfolio management and strategic alignment
- ✓Best for PMOs and Multi-system Operations
View on vendor site
Zoho Projects Plans
Free tier available
Free
FreeBest for: Ideal for individuals or very small teams needing basic project tracking without a budget
- ✓Up to 5 users
- ✓2 Projects
- ✓5 GB storage
- ✓Task management (creation, assignment, tracking)
- ✓Kanban boards
View on vendor site
MOST POPULARPremium
$5/user/momonthlyor$48/yrsave 20%
Best for: small to medium teams requiring essential project management tools like Gantt charts and time tracking
- ✓Unlimited Projects
- ✓Custom Views & Statuses
- ✓Task Blueprint & Automation
- ✓Time Tracking & Timesheets
- ✓Project Budget & EVM
View on vendor site
Enterprise
$10/user/momonthlyor$108/yrsave 10%
Best for: Suited for larger organizations needing advanced features such as custom fields, critical path, and resource management
- ✓Unlimited users
- ✓Global Custom Modules
- ✓Custom Profiles, Roles, and Fields
- ✓Custom Domain
- ✓Global Gantt chart & Resource Utilization
View on vendor site
Ultimate
$14/user/momonthlyor$168/yr
Best for: Designed for large enterprises demanding comprehensive project portfolio management, advanced analytics, and dedicated support
- ✓15 GB storage per user (min 150 GB/org)
- ✓100 Read-Only Users
- ✓Unlimited Custom Dashboards
- ✓Multi-User & Multi-Project Timesheets
- ✓DAP Integration
View on vendor site
Capability Breakdown
8 differences found across 20 standardized features
Feature
Smartsheet
Zoho Projects
Roadmaps
✓
✗
Resource Management
✓
✗
Goals/OKRs
✓
✗
Forms
✓
✗
Guest Access
✓
✗
File Sharing
✓
✗
Comments/Mentions
✓
✗
Templates
✓
✗
Total (raw)
35
15
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
Zoho Projects Features
- •Task Management
- •Gantt Charts
- •Kanban Board
- •Time Tracking
- •Resource Utilization
- •Issue Tracker
- •Documents
- •Chat
- •Forums
- •Automations
- •Custom Fields
- •Reporting
- •Integrations
- •Mobile Apps
- •Blueprints
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
- +Deep integration with the extensive Zoho ecosystem (CRM, Books, Desk)
- +Built-in time tracking and invoicing on all paid plans
- +Highly competitive pricing, especially for larger teams
- +Blueprint feature automates complex task workflows and processes
Cons
- −User interface feels dated and can be less intuitive than modern rivals
- −Agile features (sprints, story points) are basic compared to Jira or ClickUp
- −Portfolio management lacks advanced cross-project reporting and dashboards
- −Steep learning curve due to the sheer number of features and settings
- −Mobile app functionality is limited for complex management tasks
At a Glance
User Rating
4.5/5vs4.3/5
Smartsheet
▲
Zoho Projects
Starting Price
$12/movs$5/mo
Smartsheet
▲
Zoho Projects
Feature Count
35 featuresvs15 features
Smartsheet
▲
Zoho Projects
User Base
100Kvs100.0M
Smartsheet
Zoho Projects
▲
Smartsheet · Price & Data SyncLast verified: Jun 3, 2026 · CE-PROJ-2026W21-5290D9 · ✓ Pricing updated Jun 3, 2026
Zoho Projects · Price & Data SyncLast verified: May 28, 2026 · CE-PROJ-2026W23-C7A679 · ✓ Pricing updated May 28, 2026
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
Zoho Projects
Zoho Projects added a new "Ultimate" plan at $14/user/mo
Plan added · May 28, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Comparisons
SmartsheetFree · from $12/mo
Zoho ProjectsFree · from $5/moSources & Data Trail · Smartsheet
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-06-03)
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Sources & Data Trail · Zoho Projects
- 1.Official Pricing Page·Source of verified tiers(Checked: 2026-05-28)
- 2.Official Website·Official vendor website
- 3.G2·G2 verified reviews · 4.3/5 · 524 reviews
- 4.Capterra·Capterra verified reviews · 4.4/5
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