Software · head to head
Kahua vs Smartsheet Construction
Kahua
Software
Cloud platform for construction and capital projects
- From
- $400/month
- Rated
- -
Smartsheet Construction
Software
Work management platform for construction teams
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Smartsheet Construction has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Kahua pricing is by quote only, with no rate or minimum published; the vendor states pricing is based on organization type, program or construction scale, selected package, deployment environment and implementation requirements; Smartsheet Construction automation engine uses logic-based if-then rules rather than adaptive AI, cannot predict outcomes or understand content
- They diverge on capability: Kahua covers Project management, Smartsheet Construction covers Project scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kahua and Smartsheet Construction actually diverge.
| Attribute | Kahua | Smartsheet Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $400/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2007 | 2005 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Kahua
- Project management
- Document control
- Issue tracking
- Slack
- Box
- SOC 2 compliance
- Data encryption
- Role-based access
Only in Smartsheet Construction
- Project scheduling
- Resource management
- Automation
- Google Workspace
- Salesforce
- DocuSign
- SOC 2 Type II
- HIPAA
Both cover
- Collaboration
- Reporting
- Microsoft 365
- Procore
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Kahua
- Acting as the system of record for a capital construction program across the asset lifecyclenot Smartsheet Construction
- Public agencies and program managers tracking portfolios of projectsnot Smartsheet Construction
- General contractors standardising project delivery and cost control across active projectsnot Smartsheet Construction
- Specialty contractors managing crews, work orders and project financialsnot Smartsheet Construction
Smartsheet Construction
- Project trackingnot Kahua
- Resource planningnot Kahua
- Team collaborationnot Kahua
- Reportingnot Kahua
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Kahua
- Pricing is by quote only, with no rate or minimum published; the vendor states pricing is based on organization type, program or construction scale, selected package, deployment environment and implementation requirements
- Packages are split by organization type into Owners and Program Managers, General Contractors and Specialty Contractors rather than by feature tier
Smartsheet Construction
- Automation engine uses logic-based if-then rules rather than adaptive AI, cannot predict outcomes or understand content
- Essential features locked behind expensive add-ons or Enterprise plan tiers
- Business plan requires minimum 3 seats, raising costs for smaller teams
- Limited in-platform communication with only @messages in task cards versus robust chat in competitors
- Dependency management capabilities are limited for complex project interdependencies
- Spreadsheet-focused design less suitable for agile and cross-functional teams
Pricing, plan by plan
Kahua
$400/month- Professional$400/month
- Project management
- Document control
- Collaboration
- EnterpriseFree
- Advanced analytics
- Custom workflows
- API access
Smartsheet Construction
Free- Pro$9/month
- Gantt charts
- Portfolio management
- Business$19/month
- Automation
- Advanced integrations
Which should you pick?
Choose Kahua if
- You need project management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want document control.
Choose Smartsheet Construction if
- You need project scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want resource management.
Questions people ask
- Is Kahua or Smartsheet Construction better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kahua starts at $400/month and Smartsheet Construction at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Kahua or Smartsheet Construction?
- Smartsheet Construction has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $400/month for Kahua and Free for Smartsheet Construction.
- Does Kahua or Smartsheet Construction run on more platforms?
- Kahua runs on Web, Ios, Android. Smartsheet Construction runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Smartsheet Construction for free?
- Yes. Smartsheet Construction has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kahua starts at $400/month.
- What is Kahua best used for?
- Kahua is most often used for acting as the system of record for a capital construction program across the asset lifecycle, public agencies and program managers tracking portfolios of projects, general contractors standardising project delivery and cost control across active projects, specialty contractors managing crews, work orders and project financials. Of those, acting as the system of record for a capital construction program across the asset lifecycle and public agencies and program managers tracking portfolios of projects are not what Smartsheet Construction is typically brought in for.
- What can Kahua do that Smartsheet Construction cannot?
- Kahua covers Project management, Document control, Issue tracking, Slack. Smartsheet Construction covers Project scheduling, Resource management, Automation, Google Workspace. Both handle Collaboration, Reporting, Microsoft 365, Procore.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Smartsheet Construction: What does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet offers Pro at $9/user/month (billed annually at $108), Business at $19/user/month (annually $228), and custom Enterprise pricing. Annual billing provides significant discounts (25% for Pro, 21% for Business).
SourceSmartsheet Construction: Does Smartsheet offer a free tier?
Smartsheet offers a limited free plan supporting one licensed user with 2 sheets and 500 MB storage, including grid, Gantt, card, and calendar views. A 30-day free trial is also available.
SourceSmartsheet Construction: What platforms does Smartsheet support?
Smartsheet is a 100% SaaS web application compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux browsers. Mobile apps are available for iOS (15+) and Android (10+), though mobile app has limitations for creating automated workflows and building filters.
SourceSmartsheet Construction: Does Smartsheet integrate with other tools?
Yes, Smartsheet has 175+ integrations including two-way connectors for Slack, Jira, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Power BI, Outlook, and more. Some integrations are included in Business plans while others are paid add-ons.
Source