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Databases · head to head

Microsoft SQL Server vs Smartsheet

Microsoft SQL Server logo

Microsoft SQL Server

Databases

Enterprise-grade relational database management system

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Smartsheet logo

Smartsheet

Construction

The platform for dynamic work

From
$9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft SQL Server licensing and on-premises deployment costs are high compared to open-source alternatives, with Enterprise Edition exceeding $60,000 for minimum core requirements; Smartsheet formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft SQL Server covers T-SQL, Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft SQL Server and Smartsheet actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft SQL Server and Smartsheet differ
AttributeMicrosoft SQL ServerSmartsheet
Starting priceFree$9/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, AzureWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryDatabasesConstruction
Founded19892005

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

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 SQL Server

  • T-SQL
  • ACID Compliance
  • Advanced Security
  • In-memory OLTP
  • Columnstore Indexes
  • Always On Availability
  • Machine Learning Services
  • Azure

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

  • Power BI

What people use each for

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

Microsoft SQL Server

  • Transaction processingnot Smartsheet
  • Data storagenot Smartsheet
  • Application backendnot Smartsheet
  • Reportingnot Smartsheet
  • Data analyticsnot Smartsheet

Smartsheet

  • Project portfolio managementnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • IT project managementnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Marketing campaignsnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Product launchesnot Microsoft SQL Server
  • Process automationnot Microsoft SQL Server

Where each one falls short

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

Microsoft SQL Server

  • Licensing and on-premises deployment costs are high compared to open-source alternatives, with Enterprise Edition exceeding $60,000 for minimum core requirements
  • Performance monitoring toolset is insufficient for hybrid cloud environments requiring real-time analytics across multiple deployment types
  • Heavy I/O resource consumption can saturate disk volumes and degrade performance when processing large transaction workloads
  • Always On availability groups with up to 8 secondary replicas are limited to Enterprise edition only; Standard supports only basic availability groups with 2 replicas
  • CPU and memory scaling is capped at 4 sockets or 32 cores on Standard edition, limiting deployments requiring higher compute capacity

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 SQL Server

Free
  • ExpressFree
    • 4 cores maximum
    • 1.4 GB memory per instance
    • 50 GB database size limit
  • DeveloperFree
    • All Enterprise features
    • Non-production use only
  • Standard$3945/per 2-core pack
    • 32 core maximum per instance
    • 256 GB buffer pool memory
    • Basic availability groups with 2 replicas
  • Enterprise$15123/per 2-core pack
    • Unlimited scaling
    • Always On with up to 8 secondaries
    • Advanced security and HA 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 Microsoft SQL Server if

  • You need t-sql.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, Azure.
  • You also want acid compliance.
Microsoft SQL Server 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 Microsoft SQL Server or Smartsheet better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft SQL Server 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, Microsoft SQL Server or Smartsheet?
Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft SQL Server and $9/month for Smartsheet.
Does Microsoft SQL Server or Smartsheet run on more platforms?
Microsoft SQL Server runs on Windows Server, Linux (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), Docker, Azure. Smartsheet runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Microsoft SQL Server for free?
Yes. Microsoft SQL Server has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smartsheet starts at $9/month.
What is Microsoft SQL Server best used for?
Microsoft SQL Server is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what Smartsheet is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft SQL Server do that Smartsheet cannot?
Microsoft SQL Server covers T-SQL, ACID Compliance, Advanced Security, In-memory OLTP. Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, Automated workflows, Forms & data collection, Resource management. Both handle Power BI.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Microsoft SQL Server: What is the pricing model for SQL Server?

SQL Server uses core-based licensing with per-2-core pack pricing. Enterprise Edition costs approximately $15,123 per 2-core pack (minimum 8 cores). Standard Edition costs approximately $3,945 per 2-core pack. Developer and Express editions are free. Software Assurance adds 25-35% annually for upgrades and support.

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
Microsoft SQL Server: Does SQL Server run on Linux?

Yes. SQL Server 2017 and later run on Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu), Docker containers, and Windows with feature parity including Always On availability groups, Active Directory authentication, and encryption.

Source
Smartsheet: Does Smartsheet work offline?

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

Source
Microsoft SQL Server: Is there a free edition of SQL Server?

Yes. SQL Server Express is free and includes all functionality of Enterprise edition for development and testing, with limits of 4 cores, 1,410 MB memory per instance, and 50 GB per database. Developer edition is also free for non-production use.

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
Microsoft SQL Server: Can SQL Server be deployed offline?

Yes. SQL Server can be installed from offline media on machines without internet access. Microsoft provides complete offline installation packages for SQL Server, SSMS, and supporting components, making deployment in isolated or air-gapped environments feasible.

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
Microsoft SQL Server: What high availability options does SQL Server provide?

SQL Server offers Always On availability groups (Enterprise only), Always On failover cluster instances, database mirroring, log shipping, and for disaster recovery, failover servers in Azure and Accelerated Database Recovery for faster recovery after failures.

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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