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Software · head to head

ClickUp vs Smartsheet

ClickUp logo

ClickUp

Software

One app to replace them all

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Smartsheet logo

Smartsheet

Software

The platform for dynamic work

From
$9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ClickUp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ClickUp the free plan is capped at 60MB of storage, 5 spaces, 1 form and 3 whiteboards, so the limits are structural rather than just a seat count; Smartsheet formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits
  • They diverge on capability: ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ClickUp and Smartsheet actually diverge.

Attributes where ClickUp and Smartsheet differ
AttributeClickUpSmartsheet
Starting priceFree$9/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20172005

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ClickUp

  • Multiple view types
  • Custom fields
  • Automation
  • Time tracking
  • Goal tracking
  • Document collaboration
  • Whiteboards
  • Mind maps

Only in Smartsheet

  • Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views
  • Automated workflows
  • Forms & data collection
  • Resource management
  • Dashboards & reporting
  • Proofing & approvals
  • Document generation
  • Integration platform

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ClickUp

  • Project managementnot Smartsheet
  • Software developmentnot Smartsheet
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Product roadmapsnot Smartsheet
  • Client managementnot Smartsheet

Smartsheet

  • Project portfolio managementnot ClickUp
  • IT project managementnot ClickUp
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Product launchesnot ClickUp
  • Process automationnot ClickUp

Both are used for marketing campaigns, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ClickUp

  • The free plan is capped at 60MB of storage, 5 spaces, 1 form and 3 whiteboards, so the limits are structural rather than just a seat count
  • Gantt charts, time tracking and goals require Unlimited at $7 per user per month billed yearly
  • Automations are rationed by tier, at 5,000 a month on Business and 250,000 on Enterprise
  • SAML SSO, custom roles and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only
  • AI is charged separately, at $9 per user per month for Brain and $28 for Everything AI
  • Monthly billing is substantially dearer, at $10 and $19 against the yearly rates

Smartsheet

  • Formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits
  • Gantt chart customization is limited with poor handling of part-time resource allocation
  • Expensive pricing compared to other project management tools; collaboration features are paid-only
  • Limited offline access and minimal mobile functionality compared to modern competitors

Pricing, plan by plan

ClickUp

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited tasks
    • 60 MB storage
    • Collaborative docs
  • Unlimited$7/user/month
    • Unlimited storage
    • All views
    • Time tracking
  • Business$12/user/month
    • Sprint reporting
    • Private docs
    • All Unlimited features
  • Business Plus$null/custom
    • Advanced features

Smartsheet

$9/month
  • Pro$9/month
    • Core project management
    • Automation
    • 1-10 members
  • Business$19/month
    • Advanced automation
    • Portfolio management
    • 3+ members

Which should you pick?

Choose ClickUp if

  • You need multiple view types.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want custom fields.
ClickUp review

Choose Smartsheet if

  • You need grid, card, gantt & calendar views.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated workflows.
Smartsheet review

Questions people ask

Is ClickUp or Smartsheet better?
Neither clearly leads. ClickUp starts at Free and Smartsheet at $9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ClickUp or Smartsheet?
ClickUp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ClickUp and $9/month for Smartsheet.
Does ClickUp or Smartsheet run on more platforms?
ClickUp runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Smartsheet runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use ClickUp for free?
Yes. ClickUp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smartsheet starts at $9/month.
What is ClickUp best used for?
ClickUp is most often used for project management, software development, marketing campaigns, product roadmaps. Of those, project management and software development are not what Smartsheet is typically brought in for.
What can ClickUp do that Smartsheet cannot?
ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Custom fields, Automation, Time tracking. Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, Automated workflows, Forms & data collection, Resource management. Both handle Slack, Salesforce, SOC2, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ClickUp: How many views does ClickUp support?

ClickUp includes List, Table, Board, Calendar, Gantt, and Inbox views, plus Whiteboards for collaboration and multiple specialized views for different workflows.

Source
Smartsheet: What is Smartsheet pricing for a construction team?

Smartsheet Pro starts at $9 per user per month (annual billing) for 1-10 members. A construction company can deploy Business plan for 18 licensed users at $19 per user plus unlimited free collaborators (subcontractors, clients) for a typical monthly cost around $576.

Source
ClickUp: What is ClickUp Brain?

ClickUp Brain is the AI feature providing workspace Q&A, task summaries, and AI-powered automation available as an add-on at $9 or $28/user/month depending on usage.

Source
Smartsheet: Does Smartsheet work offline?

No. Smartsheet has minimal offline access and requires internet connectivity for full functionality.

Source
ClickUp: How long does it take to set up ClickUp?

Initial setup typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on team size and complexity needs, which is longer than Monday.com (1-2 days) but necessary for ClickUp's flexibility.

Source
Smartsheet: What integrations does Smartsheet support?

Smartsheet integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Jira, Salesforce, Dynamics 365, Tableau, Power BI, DocuSign, Box, Dropbox, plus Zapier and Make for no-code automation.

Source
ClickUp: Does ClickUp have built-in time tracking?

Yes, time tracking is included in the first paid plan (Unlimited) at $7/user/month, allowing teams to track project hours without additional tools.

Source
Smartsheet: Can I use Smartsheet formulas like Excel?

Smartsheet formulas lack the robustness of Excel. Complex nested functions or large-scale data manipulation often hit performance limits, requiring multiple helper columns.

Source
Smartsheet: Does Smartsheet have a free plan?

No. Smartsheet Pro starts at $9 per user per month (annual billing). There is a free trial available, but no perpetual free plan.

Source
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