Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects Comparison
Compare Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Smartsheet
6.8/10
Spreadsheet-based work management platform that teams and enterprises use to plan projects, automate workflows, and report on portfolios.
Zoho Projects
7.3/10
Cloud project management software with tasks, Gantt charts, timesheets, issue tracking and automation, built for small and mid-sized teams using the Zoho suite.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.8/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Scalability | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 4/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $12/user/mo Pro | $4/user/mo Premium |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $120/mo Pro | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Task management | ||
| Spreadsheet interface | Not listed | |
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Client collaboration | ||
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | ||
| Kanban boards | ||
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Timeline view | ||
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Team messaging | Not listed | |
| Whiteboards | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Smartsheet
- Higher Scalability score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Security score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (9/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Zoho Projects
- Has a free plan (Smartsheet does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for startups (8/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
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.
Zoho Projects
Pros
- Paid plans start at $4 per user per month on annual billing, which reviewers rank among the cheapest in the category.
- The free plan supports 5 users and 3 projects, enough for very small teams to run real work.
- Built-in timers, timesheets with approvals, and budgeting serve teams that bill for their time.
- Blueprints, automation rules and custom functions allow detailed workflow control.
- Integrates closely with other Zoho apps such as Desk, Analytics and Sprints.
Cons
- Reviewers say the learning curve is steep, especially for blueprints and custom functions.
- Client and guest access cost extra on top of the plan price.
- Users report weaker portfolio and multi-project management than enterprise-focused rivals.
- Some reviewers find the configuration screens crowded and say support can be slow to respond.
- The free plan has no project templates, and its automation limit is low at 50 actions per month.
