Asana vs Smartsheet: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Asana is built for cross-functional teams, while Smartsheet suits spreadsheet power users. For most users Asana is the stronger default, but Smartsheet can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
Asana and Smartsheet look similar on the surface; the differences show up in practice. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Asana | Smartsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | work management | spreadsheet-based PM |
| What it's known for | Polished, widely adopted work-management platform with strong task tracking, timelines, portfolios and a deep automation/AI layer for cross-functional teams. | Spreadsheet-like interface scaled into enterprise work and project management, with Gantt, automation, dashboards and strong portfolio/PPM capabilities. |
| Pricing | Free Personal plan (up to 10-15 seats); Starter from ~$10.99/user/mo; Advanced ~$24.99/user/mo; Enterprise and Enterprise+ custom (billed annually; monthly billing higher). | Free (1 user, limited); Pro from ~$9/user/mo; Business ~$19/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually). |
| Best audience | Cross-functional marketing/ops teams scaling from free to enterprise who want polish and many views. | Spreadsheet-driven enterprise teams and PMOs needing PPM, dashboards and IT/ops tracking. |
| Best for | Cross-functional teams, Marketing and ops workflows, Teams scaling from free to enterprise | Spreadsheet power users, Enterprise PPM, Operations and IT project tracking |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Biggest strength | Polished, mature UX with one of the widest view sets in the category. | Familiar to spreadsheet power users; fast to adopt for Excel-heavy teams. |
| Main caveat | Per-seat pricing climbs fast (Advanced ~$24.99/user/mo) for larger teams. | Pro plan caps at 10 members and 250 automation runs/month. |
Features compared
Beyond the spec sheet, these are the capabilities that define each tool:
Asana key features
- Task, subtask and project management with List, Board, Calendar, Timeline (Gantt) and Gantt-style views
- Workflow Builder and unlimited rule-based automations (paid plans)
- Goals, Portfolios and Portfolio Workload for cross-project tracking
- Forms for standardized intake requests
Smartsheet key features
- Spreadsheet-style grid with Gantt, card (Kanban) and calendar views
- Automated workflows (alerts, approvals, update requests)
- Dashboards and reports for portfolio roll-ups
- Forms for data collection into sheets
Pricing tiers side by side
Asana plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Personal (Free) | $0 | Capped at 2 users for accounts created after 12 Nov 2025 (older accounts up to 10); no Timeline view, custom fields or automations |
| Starter | $10.99/user/mo (annual) | $13.49 monthly; adds Timeline/Gantt, Workflow Builder, AI, unlimited automations; 2-seat minimum |
| Advanced | $24.99/user/mo (annual) | $30.49 monthly; adds Goals, unlimited portfolios, native time tracking |
| Enterprise / Enterprise+ | ~$35 / ~$45/user/mo | Custom; advanced security, data governance, more AI actions |
Smartsheet plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 user; grid, Gantt, card and calendar views, limited |
| Pro | $9/member/mo (annual) | $12 monthly; 1-10 members, 20 GB storage, 250 automation runs/mo |
| Business | $19/member/mo (annual) | $24 monthly; min 3 members, 1 TB storage, unlimited automations |
| Enterprise | Custom | Min 10 members, unlimited storage, SSO, advanced security |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Asana wins
A broad, refined work-management platform that scales from a free personal board to enterprise portfolios.
- Polished, mature UX with one of the widest view sets in the category.
- Strong free Personal plan and a clear upgrade path to enterprise.
That makes it the stronger pick for cross-functional marketing/ops teams scaling from free to enterprise who want polish and many views.
Where Smartsheet wins
A spreadsheet interface scaled into enterprise work management, Gantt and portfolio reporting.
- Familiar to spreadsheet power users; fast to adopt for Excel-heavy teams.
- Strong dashboards, reporting and PPM/portfolio capabilities.
That makes it the stronger pick for spreadsheet-driven enterprise teams and PMOs needing PPM, dashboards and IT/ops tracking.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Asana if you fit its core audience — cross-functional marketing/ops teams scaling from free to enterprise who want polish and many views.
- Choose Smartsheet if you fit its core audience — spreadsheet-driven enterprise teams and PMOs needing PPM, dashboards and IT/ops tracking.
FAQ
Is Asana better than Smartsheet?
Asana is the stronger default for most users, but Smartsheet can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Asana and Smartsheet?
Asana is a broad, refined work-management platform that scales from a free personal board to enterprise portfolios. Smartsheet is a spreadsheet interface scaled into enterprise work management, Gantt and portfolio reporting.
Which is cheaper, Asana or Smartsheet?
Both Asana and Smartsheet offer a free tier, so the real comparison is the paid plans above — pick based on the storage, features and limits you actually need.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Asana and Smartsheet: