ClickUp vs Smartsheet: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of ClickUp and Smartsheet to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
ClickUp
7.1/10
ClickUp is a work management platform with tasks, docs, chat, automations, AI agents and a CRM layer for contacts, companies and deals, aimed at business teams.
Smartsheet
6.8/10
Spreadsheet-based work management platform that teams and enterprises use to plan projects, automate workflows, and report on portfolios.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.1/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Cost | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $12/user/mo Core | $12/user/mo Pro |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free Forever | $120/mo Pro |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | Not listed | |
| Client collaboration | Not listed | |
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| Dashboards | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Kanban boards | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Spreadsheet interface | Not listed | |
| Task management | Not listed | |
| Timeline view | Not listed | |
| Workflow automation | Not listed | |
| More features | ||
| Collaboration | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | Not listed | |
| Integrations | Not listed | |
| Sales Automation | Not listed | |
| Opportunity Management | Not listed | |
| Contact Management | Not listed | |
| Reporting & Analytics | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
ClickUp vs Smartsheet cost by team size
ClickUp costs less at every team size we checked.
| Team size | ClickUp | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree Forever | $12/moPro |
| 5 users | FreeFree Forever | $60/moPro |
| 10 users | FreeFree Forever | $120/moPro |
| 25 users | FreeFree Forever | $600/moBusiness |
| 50 users | FreeFree Forever | $1,200/moBusiness |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose ClickUp
- Has a free plan (Smartsheet does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $120/mo
- Higher Cost score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 8/10)
- Better fit for startups (8/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Smartsheet
- Higher Scalability score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for healthcare (7/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
ClickUp
Pros
- Deals can become delivery projects in the same workspace, which suits agencies and consultancies that sell and deliver client work.
- The free plan allows unlimited members and unlimited tasks, so small teams can try the platform before paying.
- Custom fields, task types, many views and automations let teams model most pipelines and processes without code.
- Enterprise security options include SAML, SCIM, audit logs, data residency and HIPAA support with a BAA.
Cons
- It is not a dedicated CRM. Reviewers report needing Zapier automations for CRM workflows, and the CRM page does not confirm email sync or native calling.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and say new users need hours of training to become proficient.
- G2 and Capterra reviewers report bugs, slow performance and support replies that do not resolve problems.
- The late-2026 pricing change raised per-user list prices for new workspaces, and heavy AI use requires buying extra credits.
Smartsheet
Pros
- The spreadsheet grid feels familiar to Excel users and supports strong formulas across sheets.
- One sheet can be viewed as a grid, Gantt chart, board or calendar.
- Its compliance record is strong, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, FedRAMP and HIPAA support under a BAA on Enterprise.
- Dashboards can be shared with stakeholders who cannot open the underlying sheets.
- Bi-directional Jira and Salesforce connectors plus a well-documented API suit larger IT estates.
Cons
- There is no free plan, and reviewers on Capterra repeatedly call pricing high and restrictive for small teams.
- The 2024 to 2025 move to paid Member licensing ended free collaborators and raised costs for many existing customers.
- Advanced automations are complex to set up, according to reviewers.
- Key capabilities such as Dynamic View, Data Shuttle and Resource Management are sold as extra-cost add-ons or held for top tiers.
- Some users report slow dashboards and performance problems on large sheets.
- Pro allows 250 automations per month and caps teams at 10 Members.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
ClickUp scores higher on our Project Management criteria: 7.1/10 against 6.8/10 for Smartsheet. The largest gap is in Cost: 7/10 for ClickUp and 4/10 for Smartsheet.
ClickUp costs less for 10 users: free on its Free Forever plan, against about $120/mo on its Pro plan for Smartsheet, billed monthly.
ClickUp has a free plan; Smartsheet does not list one.
ClickUp is the better fit for startups: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 4/10 for Smartsheet.
