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The Internet Compass

Comparison

Smartsheet vs Trello

Scored side by side on project-management, using the same criteria we apply across the category.

Smartsheet

Spreadsheet-driven work management aimed at construction, manufacturing and enterprise PMOs.

4.2(6,700)$9 per user / month
Trello

Kanban boards reduced to their simplest useful form.

4.4(23,100)$0 / $5 per user / month

Scored side by side

Speed and UX

Smartsheet
3.2
Trello
4.6

Workflow flexibility

Smartsheet
4.2
Trello
2.8

Reporting depth

Smartsheet
4.6
Trello
2.2

Integrations

Smartsheet
3.9
Trello
3.9

Admin controls

Smartsheet
4.5
Trello
3.1

Value for money

Smartsheet
3.5
Trello
4.7

Smartsheet verdict

The right answer for schedule-driven enterprise programmes; the wrong one for product teams.

  • Serious critical-path and resource scheduling
  • Familiar to spreadsheet-native organisations
  • Strong governance for large programmes

Trello verdict

Ideal for small, self-contained workflows. Plan to migrate once you need dependencies or cross-team reporting.

  • Immediate to learn with no training required
  • Generous free tier
  • Butler automation is genuinely capable
project-management

FAQ

Common questions

What's the difference between Smartsheet and Trello?

Smartsheet: The right answer for schedule-driven enterprise programmes; the wrong one for product teams. Trello: Ideal for small, self-contained workflows. Plan to migrate once you need dependencies or cross-team reporting.

Which has better reviews, Smartsheet or Trello?

Trello is rated higher — 4.4/5 versus 4.2/5, from 6,700 and 23,100 reviews respectively.

Does Smartsheet or Trello have a free plan?

Both do. Smartsheet starts at $9 per user / month, and Trello starts at $0 / $5 per user / month.