Smartsheet vs Asana: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Smartsheet and Asana.
Enterprise work management platform built on a spreadsheet
Work management platform for teams
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Smartsheet | Asana |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo ✓ Cheaper | $10.99/mo |
| Free plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | paid | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Capterra rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Founded | 2005 | 2008 |
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
Asana: pros & cons
- ✓Clean, intuitive interface
- ✓Strong automation
- ✓Good integrations
- ✓Excellent enterprise features
- ✗Free plan limited to 10 users
- ✗Expensive at scale
- ✗No built-in time tracking
- ✗No native chat
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
Choose Asana if...
- →Your team values a clean interface with minimal setup time
- →You manage structured projects with clear owners, deadlines, and milestones
- →You need portfolio views to track status across multiple projects at once
Our verdict
Smartsheet and Asana are closely matched on user ratings. Smartsheet is the more affordable option. Asana offers a free plan — a lower-risk way to test before committing. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Smartsheet vs Asana: frequently asked questions
Is Smartsheet better than Asana?
Both tools have similar G2 ratings. The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Smartsheet or Asana?
Smartsheet is cheaper, starting at $9/mo.
What is the main difference between Smartsheet and Asana?
Smartsheet focuses on spreadsheet-style grid, gantt chart, automations. Asana focuses on task management, timeline/gantt, workflow automation. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Smartsheet to Asana?
Most teams migrate between Smartsheet and Asana within a day or two. Export your data from Smartsheet (typically as CSV or via API), then use Asana's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.