Microsoft Undertaking and Smartsheet are two in style undertaking administration software program platforms that supply a extra conventional person interface design. They might appear comparable at first look, however as soon as I began reviewing each options, the variations grew to become obvious.
- Microsoft Project is a more sensible choice for energy customers who’re comfy with extremely superior options. It principally integrates with different Microsoft merchandise and depends on a few of them for key performance, so it’s finest utilized by groups which can be already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Smartsheet is an effective possibility for groups which can be managing their tasks in spreadsheets and wish an improve to devoted undertaking administration software program. It additionally presents greater than 100 integrations with third-party software program, making it a more sensible choice for groups with a extra various software program stack.
Although present Microsoft clients might really feel at dwelling with Microsoft Undertaking, the only option by way of pure undertaking administration software program capabilities is Smartsheet.
1
monday.com
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Massive (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Any Firm Measurement
Any Firm Measurement
Options
Agile Growth, Analytics / Stories, API, and extra
2
Smartsheet
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Massive (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Any Firm Measurement
Any Firm Measurement
Options
Agile Growth, Analytics / Stories, API, and extra
3
Accelo
Workers per Firm Measurement
Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Massive (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)
Small (50-249 Workers), Medium (250-999 Workers), Massive (1,000-4,999 Workers)
Small, Medium, Massive
Options
Analytics / Stories, API, Billing / Invoicing, and extra
Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Comparability desk
After hands-on critiques of the perfect undertaking administration software program, we’ve created a scoring rubric to make use of when evaluating options like Microsoft Undertaking and Smartsheet. Whereas shut, Smartsheet edges out Microsoft Undertaking for finest general decide in our eyes.
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Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Which is best?
Microsoft Undertaking: Higher for Microsoft-aligned groups
Use Microsoft Initiatives if
- you want extremely superior undertaking administration software program,
- your group includes energy customers who aren’t intimidated by the upper studying curve,
- your organization is already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem,
- you don’t want integrations with third-party software program, or
- you need or want an on-premises deployment possibility.
Microsoft Undertaking professionals and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
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Smartsheet: Higher for groups with various software program stacks
Use Smartsheet if
- you desire a more cost effective software program platform,
- you’re searching for an improve from spreadsheets and desire a familiar-looking interface,
- you desire a decrease studying curve than Microsoft Undertaking,
- you want integrations with third-party software program, or
- you don’t want on-premises deployment.
Smartsheet professionals and cons
| Execs | Cons |
|---|---|
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Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet pricing
Microsoft presents extra plans and on-premises choices to select from than Smartsheet. Nonetheless, Smartsheet is extra inexpensive than Microsoft Undertaking general. Each vendor options supply a 30-day free trial for sure plans.
Microsoft Undertaking pricing
Cloud-based subscriptions:
- Microsoft Planner: A part of Microsoft 365, which begins at $8.00 per person monthly
- Planner Plan 1: $10.00 per person monthly, billed yearly
- Planner and Undertaking Plan 3: $30.00 per person monthly, billed yearly
- Planner and Undertaking Plan 5: $55.00 per person monthly, billed yearly
Microsoft Undertaking is barely obtainable as annual subscriptions, and the seller breaks down plans by per-user-per-month value. See the desk beneath for the month-to-month snapshot and the annual value you may anticipate to pay for every subscription.
| Plan | Month-to-month Worth* | Annual Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Planner | $8.00 | $96.00 |
| Planner Plan 1 | $10.00 | $120.00 |
| Planner and Undertaking Plan 3 | $30.00 | $360.00 |
| Planner and Undertaking Plan 4 | $55.00 | $660.00 |
*Whereas Microsoft lists plans with month-to-month costs, all plans are billed yearly.
On-premises options:
- Undertaking Normal 2024: $719.99 for a license for one PC
- Undertaking Skilled 2024: $1,409.99 for a license for one PC
- Undertaking Server Plan: Contact for customized pricing quote
For extra info, learn our full Microsoft Undertaking overview and think about our checklist of Microsoft Undertaking options.
Smartsheet pricing
- Professional: $9.00 per person monthly billed yearly, or $12.00 per person monthly billed month-to-month
- Enterprise: $19.00 per person monthly billed yearly, or $24.00 per person monthly billed month-to-month
- Enterprise: Contact for customized pricing quote
- Superior Work Administration: Contact for customized pricing quote
Smartsheet plans embody month-to-month and annual choices for customers trying to keep away from vendor lock-in with a month-to-month plan or wish to save extra with a yearly subscription. See the desk beneath for a take a look at the month-to-month plan charges and the financial savings included in choosing an annual plan.
| Plan | Month-to-month Plan | Annual Plan Per Month | Annual Plan Whole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $12.00 | $9.00 | $108.00 |
| Enterprise | $24.00 | $19.00 | $228.00 |
| Enterprise & Superior Work Administration | Quote | Quote | Quote |
For extra info, learn our full Smartsheet overview and think about our checklist of Smartsheet options.
Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Function comparability
Undertaking administration
Winner: Smartsheet
Microsoft Undertaking acquired a 3.9/5 for options general on our scoring rubric. It presents three predominant undertaking views: grid, board, and timeline (Gantt) view. The design is just like different Microsoft merchandise, however I didn’t discover the interface significantly intuitive to make use of, and the sheer variety of options may be overwhelming and makes it tough to search out what you want.
However what’s spectacular about Microsoft Undertaking is that it offers you the choice to get very detailed with useful resource administration, resembling monitoring prices of supplies over the course of a undertaking or seeing how a lot time a person has spent on a job.
Smartsheet scored higher at 4.6/5 for options general. It presents 4 undertaking views: grid, card (kanban), calendar, and Gantt. It’s not essentially the most colourful or interesting interface, however it’s simpler to navigate than Microsoft Undertaking, for my part.
You may both begin with a clean sheet or use a template to assist information the method. Conditional formatting guidelines pace up the method even additional, and it’s also possible to create automation guidelines to chop down on handbook work. Smartsheet does supply a paid add-on for useful resource administration, however it’s not as sturdy as Microsoft Undertaking.
Gantt view in Smartsheet exhibits essential particulars like job standing, length, and group member assigned, lowering the necessity for additional clicks. With extra particulars displayed, this interface may additionally be extra cluttered for extra complicated tasks.
Doc administration
Winner: Smartsheet
You may add paperwork to a web site in Microsoft Undertaking, however modifying and updating capabilities are restricted as a result of the belief is that you’re already utilizing SharePoint or OneDrive for doc storage and administration. Microsoft Undertaking additionally doesn’t combine with different apps, so you may’t use an out of doors platform like Google Docs both. This is without doubt one of the explanation why Microsoft Undertaking is finest utilized by groups which can be already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem.
Smartsheet additionally permits you to add information to a undertaking, and it hyperlinks to a number of in style doc administration options, together with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. The Enterprise and Enterprise plans supply a proofing characteristic that permits groups to visually mark up content material, together with movies, inside the Smartsheet instrument to maintain all the pieces centralized in a single place.
Should you’re not already utilizing SharePoint or OneDrive, then I might advocate Smartsheet as the higher selection for doc administration.
Communication instruments
Winner: Smartsheet
Just like doc administration, Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t comprise any native options for communication or collaboration. As a substitute, customers will likely be prompted to attach with colleagues utilizing one in all Microsoft’s many different communication instruments like Groups, Outlook, or Skype. Should you aren’t already a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, then you will have to spend money on different software program that may take over this operate — and it received’t combine with Microsoft Undertaking.
Then again, Smartsheet permits groups to have conversations through feedback on sheets and rows. People can tag one another in feedback to ship a notification. Feedback will also be accessed through the cellular app so you may learn and reply on the go.
Whereas it doesn’t supply a extra sturdy native chat operate, Smartsheet does combine with some messaging platforms, resembling Slack, to complement the built-in remark characteristic. Until your group already makes use of Microsoft’s stack of functions, Smartsheet is the higher selection for communication performance.
Ease of use
Winner: Smartsheet
Smartsheet ranked considerably higher than Microsoft Undertaking with regards to ease of use. Smartsheet acquired a 3.5/5, whereas Microsoft is barely at 1.8/5.
Smartsheet isn’t essentially the most intuitive undertaking administration software program I’ve examined, however it was far simpler to determine issues out in comparison with Microsoft Undertaking because the structure is extra logical. It was additionally a lot sooner to create and cargo new tasks in Smartsheet, and the bigger variety of template choices helped pace up that course of additional.
Whereas veteran undertaking managers might respect the in-depth view of financials and useful resource planning in Microsoft Undertaking, much less skilled customers might wrestle with the steep studying curve.
Buyer help
Winner: Microsoft Undertaking
Then again, Microsoft Undertaking scored a bit higher than Smartsheet on the customer support entrance: Microsoft Undertaking acquired 4.2/5 and Smartsheet acquired 3.8/5. The rationale for that is that Smartsheet paywalls sure help options (resembling 24/7 cellphone help and a chat bot app) both to the costlier plans or to a help add-on that prices a further price.
Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t cost additional for help, although some customers do say that the customer support could possibly be improved.
Integrations
Winner: Smartsheet
On the subject of integrations, Smartsheet beats Microsoft Undertaking by a landslide. Not solely does Smartsheet supply 100+ native integrations, it additionally connects to 1000’s extra platforms by Zapier.
In distinction, Microsoft Undertaking’s native integrations are principally restricted to different Microsoft merchandise, and it doesn’t hook up with Zapier (in contrast to another Microsoft merchandise), so there isn’t even a workaround.
Evaluate methodology
To match these undertaking administration instruments, I signed up without spending a dime trials along with viewing demo movies, consulting undertaking documentation and studying person critiques. I thought-about options resembling job administration, portfolio administration, doc administration, and communication instruments. I additionally weighed different elements resembling ease of use, buyer help, integrations, and pricing.
If neither Microsoft Undertaking nor Smartsheet sounds best for you, don’t fear. There are many different undertaking administration options on the market, together with some with forever-free plans. Try our picks for the highest undertaking administration software program of 2024 to see what your choices are.
Replace notes
- March 16, 2025: Sam Ingalls reviewed every answer, fact-checked any claims to make sure all particulars are up-to-date and correct, and expanded on the unique evaluation.
- Could 29, 2024: Kara Sherrer wrote the unique model of this text.