Software · head to head
Microsoft Project vs Smartsheet
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Project performance degrades with large projects over 400 tasks, becoming slow and unstable; Smartsheet formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Project covers Gantt charts, Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Project and Smartsheet actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Project | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10/month | $9/month |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1975 | 2005 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), 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 Microsoft Project
- Gantt charts
- Budget tracking
- Timeline views
- Task dependencies
- Critical path
- Earned value analysis
- Portfolio management
- Microsoft Teams
Only in Smartsheet
- Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views
- Automated workflows
- Forms & data collection
- Dashboards & reporting
- Proofing & approvals
- Document generation
- Integration platform
- Microsoft Office 365
Both cover
- Resource management
- Power BI
- SOC2
- ISO27001
- GDPR
- HIPAA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Project
- Project schedulingnot Smartsheet
- Resource allocationnot Smartsheet
- Portfolio managementnot Smartsheet
- Budget trackingnot Smartsheet
- Enterprise project managementnot Smartsheet
Smartsheet
- Project portfolio managementnot Microsoft Project
- IT project managementnot Microsoft Project
- Marketing campaignsnot Microsoft Project
- Product launchesnot Microsoft Project
- Process automationnot Microsoft Project
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Microsoft Project
- Performance degrades with large projects over 400 tasks, becoming slow and unstable
- Limited Agile methodology support, primarily designed for waterfall project management
- Proprietary .mpp file format creates compatibility issues on non-Windows systems
- No offline mode, limiting users without reliable internet connectivity
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
Microsoft Project
$10/month- Plan 1$10/month
- Task and project management
- Grid views
- Timeline features
- Plan 3$30/month
- Desktop client
- Resource management
- Advanced scheduling
- Plan 5$55/month
- Portfolio management
- Demand management
- Enterprise capabilities
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 Microsoft Project if
- You need gantt charts.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
- You also want budget tracking.
Choose Smartsheet if
- You need grid, card, gantt & calendar views.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want automated workflows.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Project or Smartsheet better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Project starts at $10/month and Smartsheet at $9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Project or Smartsheet?
- Microsoft Project starts at $10/month and Smartsheet at $9/month.
- Does Microsoft Project or Smartsheet run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Project runs on Web, Windows, macOS. Smartsheet runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Microsoft Project best used for?
- Microsoft Project is most often used for project scheduling, resource allocation, portfolio management, budget tracking. Of those, project scheduling and resource allocation are not what Smartsheet is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Project do that Smartsheet cannot?
- Microsoft Project covers Gantt charts, Budget tracking, Timeline views, Task dependencies. Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, Automated workflows, Forms & data collection, Dashboards & reporting. Both handle Resource management, Power BI, SOC2, ISO27001.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Project: What are the different Microsoft Project plans and pricing?
Microsoft Project offers Plan 1 at $10/user/month for basic project management, Plan 3 at $30/user/month with desktop client and resource management, and Plan 5 at $55/user/month for enterprise portfolio management. Desktop licenses (2024) start at $679.99 for Standard and $1,129.99 for Professional.
SourceSmartsheet: 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.
SourceMicrosoft Project: Does Microsoft Project support Agile methodology?
Microsoft Project was primarily designed for traditional waterfall project management. While it has some Agile features, it is not optimized for Agile workflows compared to dedicated Agile tools like Jira or Monday.com.
SourceSmartsheet: Does Smartsheet work offline?
No. Smartsheet has minimal offline access and requires internet connectivity for full functionality.
SourceMicrosoft Project: Can multiple teams collaborate in real-time on Microsoft Project?
Yes, Microsoft Project for the Web provides real-time collaboration through cloud-based access. However, collaboration is noted as harder compared to modern cloud-native tools due to its file-based architecture.
SourceSmartsheet: 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.
SourceSmartsheet: 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.
SourceSmartsheet: 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