Asana vs Smartsheet - Detailed Comparison 2026
Asana is rated slightly higher on SAASAF.AI (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5). Asana starts at $10.99/month and has a free tier. Smartsheet starts at $9/month and has a free tier.
Which Is Better, Asana or Smartsheet?
Asana and Smartsheet are rated very closely, with Asana at 4.4/5 and Smartsheet at 4.3/5, indicating both are well-regarded by users. When it comes to features, Asana offers 7 capabilities while Smartsheet provides 7, with both sharing core functionality like Automations. Asana differentiates with Tasks and Projects, while Smartsheet stands out with Grid View and Gantt. On pricing, Smartsheet is the more budget-friendly option at $9/month compared to Asana at $10.99/month, though both offer free tiers for users who want to try before committing. Both Asana and Smartsheet are AI-powered, making them strong choices for users who want intelligent automation.
At a Glance
Smartsheet
Enterprise work management with spreadsheet-like interface
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Visit SmartsheetFull Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Asana | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $[object Object] | $[object Object] |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| AI-Powered | Yes | Yes |
| AI Model | proprietary | proprietary |
| Platforms | web, mac, windows, ios, android | web, mac, windows, ios, android |
| Founded | 2008 | 2005 |
| Company Size | 1000+ | 1000+ |
| Integrations | 6+ | 6+ |
| Affiliate Program | Yes | Yes |
| Ai | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dashboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Forms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gantt | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✓ | ✗ |
| Grid View | ✗ | ✓ |
| Portfolios | ✓ | ✗ |
| Projects | ✓ | ✗ |
| Proofing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Resource Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tasks | ✓ | ✗ |
How Much Do Asana and Smartsheet Cost?
Asana Pricing
Freemium
$[object Object]
Free tier available
Billed monthly
Asana offers a freemium pricing model starting at $10.99/month. A free tier is available with limited features.
Smartsheet Pricing
Subscription
$[object Object]
Free tier available
Billed monthly
Smartsheet uses a subscription pricing model starting at $9/month. A free tier is also available.
Pros and Cons
Asana Pros
- Clean, opinionated UX with low cognitive overhead
- Goals tie OKRs directly to the projects delivering them
- Portfolios give executives multi-project health views
- Generous free tier supports up to 15 users
- Strong rules-based automation across projects
Asana Cons
- Limited native time tracking - requires integrations
- Custom fields and reporting are gated behind Business tier
- Less flexible than ClickUp or monday for unconventional workflows
- Mobile app omits some advanced editing features
Smartsheet Pros
- Spreadsheet UX is familiar to Excel-fluent users
- Control Center scales templates to hundreds of projects
- FedRAMP authorization for U.S. federal government use
- Strong cross-sheet formulas and automation
- Dashboards aggregate data across many sheets
Smartsheet Cons
- Per-user editing is gated - viewers consume seats differently
- Less elegant than purpose-built PM tools for non-grid workflows
- Pricing requires sales conversations at higher tiers
- Mobile experience is utilitarian at best
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Asana if...
Best for: Asana is best for marketing, operations, and program management teams who need structured workflows with clean UX. Companies running OKR programs benefit most from Goals and Portfolios.
- You need Project Planning
- You need Marketing Campaigns
- You need Product Launches
- You need Team Coordination
Ideal for: smb, mid-market, enterprise
Industries: technology, marketing, education, nonprofit
Choose Smartsheet if...
Best for: Smartsheet is best for enterprise PMOs, construction firms, and government teams who think in spreadsheets but need portfolio-grade governance. Manufacturing and operations leaders benefit from the grid-first interface.
- You need Project Planning
- You need Workflow Management
Ideal for: mid-market, enterprise
Industries: technology, healthcare, finance, construction
Platform Availability
Asana
Available on Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, providing a full cross-platform experience across desktop and mobile devices.
Smartsheet
Available on Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, providing a full cross-platform experience across desktop and mobile devices.
Get Started with Asana
Work management platform to organize and track team projects
Earn 20% first year commission
Visit AsanaGet Started with Smartsheet
Enterprise work management with spreadsheet-like interface
Earn varies commission
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Tool Profiles
Alternatives
Categories
Use Cases
- Project Planning
- Marketing Campaigns
- Product Launches
- Team Coordination
- Workflow Management
Asana vs Smartsheet: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asana or Smartsheet better?
Asana is rated slightly higher on SAASAF.AI, at 4.4/5 versus 4.3/5 for Smartsheet, but the better pick depends on your use case. Asana is best for marketing, operations, and program management teams who need structured workflows with clean UX. Smartsheet is best for enterprise PMOs, construction firms, and government teams who think in spreadsheets but need portfolio-grade governance.
How does Asana pricing compare to Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is cheaper to start, at $9/month versus $10.99/month for Asana. Asana uses a freemium model and Smartsheet uses a subscription model. Both offer a free tier. Listed figures are starting prices; seats, usage and add-ons can change the final bill.
What is the difference between Asana and Smartsheet?
Asana is a work management platform designed to help teams orchestrate their work. Smartsheet is a work management platform that uses a familiar spreadsheet-like interface. Asana lists features such as Tasks, Projects and Portfolios. Smartsheet lists Grid View, Gantt and Dashboards. Both cover Automations.
What are alternatives to both Asana and Smartsheet?
Alternatives to Asana include ClickUp (4.5/5), Monday.com (4.5/5) and Trello (4.4/5). Alternatives to Smartsheet include Monday.com (4.5/5) and Wrike (4.2/5). ClickUp has a free tier. Monday.com has a free tier. Each tool has a full alternatives page on SAASAF.AI with pricing and feature comparisons.
What platforms do Asana and Smartsheet support?
Asana and Smartsheet are both available on Web, Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. Asana integrations listed on SAASAF.AI include Slack, Google Drive and Microsoft Teams. Smartsheet integrations include Salesforce, Jira and Microsoft Teams. Asana lists 6 integrations and Smartsheet lists 6 in the SAASAF.AI directory.