Smartsheet vs ClickUp: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Smartsheet and ClickUp.
Enterprise work management platform built on a spreadsheet
One app to replace them all
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Smartsheet | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/mo | $7/mo ✓ Cheaper |
| Free plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | paid | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 | 4.7/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Founded | 2005 | 2017 |
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
ClickUp: pros & cons
- ✓Feature-rich free plan
- ✓Extremely customisable
- ✓Affordable paid plans
- ✓Constant improvements
- ✗Feature overload can be overwhelming
- ✗Occasional performance issues
- ✗Mobile app lags behind desktop
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 ClickUp if...
- →You want tasks, docs, goals, and whiteboards in a single workspace
- →Your team needs deep customisation — custom fields, views, and 50+ automation triggers
- →You're budget-conscious and need a genuinely capable free plan
Our verdict
ClickUp scores higher on G2 (4.7/5 vs 4.4/5), suggesting stronger overall user satisfaction. ClickUp is the more affordable option. ClickUp offers a free plan — a lower-risk way to test before committing. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Smartsheet vs ClickUp: frequently asked questions
Is Smartsheet better than ClickUp?
ClickUp has a higher G2 score (4.7/5 vs 4.4/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Smartsheet or ClickUp?
ClickUp is cheaper, starting at $7/mo.
What is the main difference between Smartsheet and ClickUp?
Smartsheet focuses on spreadsheet-style grid, gantt chart, automations. ClickUp focuses on tasks & subtasks, docs, goals. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Smartsheet to ClickUp?
Most teams migrate between Smartsheet and ClickUp within a day or two. Export your data from Smartsheet (typically as CSV or via API), then use ClickUp's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.