Airtable vs Smartsheet: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Airtable and Smartsheet.
Spreadsheet-database hybrid for building custom workflows
Enterprise work management platform built on a spreadsheet
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Airtable | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/mo | $9/mo ✓ Cheaper |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Pricing model | freemium | paid |
| G2 rating | 4.6/5 ↑ | 4.4/5 |
| Capterra rating | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Founded | 2012 | 2005 |
Airtable: pros & cons
- ✓Extremely flexible
- ✓Great for custom workflows
- ✓Strong automation
- ✓Visual and intuitive
- ✗Gets expensive at scale
- ✗Record limits on free plan
- ✗Performance with large datasets
- ✗Learning curve for databases
Smartsheet: pros & cons
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface
- ✓Powerful Gantt views
- ✓Strong enterprise features
- ✓Good for operations teams
- ✗Looks and feels dated
- ✗No free plan
- ✗Less intuitive than monday.com
- ✗Expensive at scale
Choose Airtable if...
- →Your team needs a database-backed workflow that goes beyond what a spreadsheet can handle
- →You want to build a lightweight internal app — CRM, content calendar, asset tracker — without writing code
- →Your operations involve linked data across multiple tables, like orders tied to clients tied to projects
Choose Smartsheet if...
- →Your operations or PMO team lives in spreadsheets and needs Gantt charts and automations without retraining staff on a new interface
- →You're running construction, manufacturing, or event projects that require resource management and portfolio-level Gantt views
- →Your team needs to collect structured data via forms that feed directly into project sheets with automated approval workflows
Our verdict
Airtable and Smartsheet are closely matched on user ratings. Smartsheet is the more affordable option. Airtable offers a free plan — a lower-risk way to test before committing. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Airtable vs Smartsheet: frequently asked questions
Is Airtable better than Smartsheet?
Airtable has a higher G2 score (4.6/5 vs 4.4/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Airtable or Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is cheaper, starting at $9/mo.
What is the main difference between Airtable and Smartsheet?
Airtable focuses on grid/kanban/gallery views, relational databases, automations. Smartsheet focuses on spreadsheet-style grid, gantt chart, automations. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Airtable to Smartsheet?
Most teams migrate between Airtable and Smartsheet within a day or two. Export your data from Airtable (typically as CSV or via API), then use Smartsheet's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.