Smartsheet vs Airtable: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Smartsheet is built for spreadsheet power users, while Airtable suits custom project databases. For most users Airtable is the stronger default, but Smartsheet can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
Smartsheet and Airtable 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
| Smartsheet | Airtable | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | spreadsheet-based PM | spreadsheet-database hybrid |
| What it's known for | Spreadsheet-like interface scaled into enterprise work and project management, with Gantt, automation, dashboards and strong portfolio/PPM capabilities. | Flexible spreadsheet-database hybrid with relational tables, multiple views, automations and an app-building layer, used to model custom project trackers. |
| Pricing | Free (1 user, limited); Pro from ~$9/user/mo; Business ~$19/user/mo; Enterprise custom (billed annually). | Free plan; Team from ~$20/user/mo; Business ~$45/user/mo; Enterprise Scale custom (billed annually). |
| Best audience | Spreadsheet-driven enterprise teams and PMOs needing PPM, dashboards and IT/ops tracking. | No-code builders and ops/content teams wanting custom relational project databases and portals. |
| Best for | Spreadsheet power users, Enterprise PPM, Operations and IT project tracking | Custom project databases, No-code app builders, Content and ops calendars |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Biggest strength | Familiar to spreadsheet power users; fast to adopt for Excel-heavy teams. | Extremely flexible: model almost any project tracker as a database. |
| Main caveat | Pro plan caps at 10 members and 250 automation runs/month. | Free plan caps at 1,000 records per base and 100 automation runs/mo. |
Features compared
Where they really diverge is in the day-to-day feature set:
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
Airtable key features
- Relational tables with grid, Kanban, calendar, gallery, Gantt and timeline views
- Interface Designer for building internal apps/portals
- Automations (rules, scripting) with monthly run limits per tier
- Rich field types (linked records, attachments, formulas)
Pricing tiers side by side
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 |
Airtable plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 5 editors, 1,000 records/base, 100 automation runs/mo, 1 GB attachments |
| Team | $20/user/mo (annual) | 50,000 records/base, 25,000 automations/mo, Gantt & timeline views |
| Business | $45/user/mo (annual) | Unlimited workspaces, advanced admin & security |
| Enterprise Scale | Custom | Audit logs, EKM, DLP, eDiscovery APIs |
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 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.
Where Airtable wins
A flexible spreadsheet-database hybrid that lets teams build custom project trackers and internal apps.
- Extremely flexible: model almost any project tracker as a database.
- Strong Interface Designer for no-code internal apps.
That makes it the stronger pick for no-code builders and ops/content teams wanting custom relational project databases and portals.
Verdict: choose by fit
There is no single winner; it depends on where you sit.
- Choose Smartsheet if you fit its core audience — spreadsheet-driven enterprise teams and PMOs needing PPM, dashboards and IT/ops tracking.
- Choose Airtable if you fit its core audience — no-code builders and ops/content teams wanting custom relational project databases and portals.
FAQ
Is Smartsheet better than Airtable?
Airtable 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 Smartsheet and Airtable?
Smartsheet is a spreadsheet interface scaled into enterprise work management, Gantt and portfolio reporting. Airtable is a flexible spreadsheet-database hybrid that lets teams build custom project trackers and internal apps.
Which is cheaper, Smartsheet or Airtable?
Both Smartsheet and Airtable 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 Smartsheet and Airtable: