Software · head to head
Okta vs Smartsheet
The short version
- Only Okta has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Okta requires $1,500 annual minimum contract; Smartsheet formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits
- They diverge on capability: Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO), Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Okta and Smartsheet actually diverge.
| Attribute | Okta | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $9/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, SaaS | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2009 | 2005 |
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 Okta
- Single sign-on (SSO)
- Multi-factor authentication
- Lifecycle management
- Universal directory
- API access management
- B2B integration
- Passwordless authentication
- Adaptive MFA
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
- Google Workspace
- Salesforce
- Slack
- ServiceNow
- SOC2
- ISO27001
- HIPAA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Okta
- Employee SSOnot Smartsheet
- Customer identitynot Smartsheet
- B2B integrationnot Smartsheet
- Zero Trust securitynot Smartsheet
- Compliancenot Smartsheet
Smartsheet
- Project portfolio managementnot Okta
- IT project managementnot Okta
- Marketing campaignsnot Okta
- Product launchesnot Okta
- Process automationnot Okta
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Okta
- Requires $1,500 annual minimum contract
- Admin-only MFA can be vulnerable to push notification fatigue attacks
- Implementation requires significant services and integration fees in year one
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
Okta
Free- Starter Suite$6/user/month
- SSO
- MFA
- Universal Directory
- Core Essentials Suite$14/user/month
- Adaptive MFA
- Privileged Access
- Lifecycle Management
- Essentials Suite$17/user/month
- Same as Core Essentials
- Most popular
- Professional Suite$null/custom
- Device Access
- Identity Security Posture
- Threat Protection
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 Okta if
- You need single sign-on (sso).
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, SaaS.
- You also want multi-factor authentication.
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 Okta or Smartsheet better?
- Neither clearly leads. Okta 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, Okta or Smartsheet?
- Okta has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Okta and $9/month for Smartsheet.
- Does Okta or Smartsheet run on more platforms?
- Okta runs on Web, SaaS. Smartsheet runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Okta for free?
- Yes. Okta has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smartsheet starts at $9/month.
- What is Okta best used for?
- Okta is most often used for employee sso, customer identity, b2b integration, zero trust security. Of those, employee sso and customer identity are not what Smartsheet is typically brought in for.
- What can Okta do that Smartsheet cannot?
- Okta covers Single sign-on (SSO), Multi-factor authentication, Lifecycle management, Universal directory. Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, Automated workflows, Forms & data collection, Resource management. Both handle Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, ServiceNow.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Okta: What is the minimum contract for Okta Workforce Identity?
Okta requires a $1,500 annual minimum contract for Workforce Identity plans. Pricing starts at $6 per user per month (Starter) and ranges to $17 per user per month (Essentials), billed annually.
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.
SourceOkta: Does Okta offer a free trial?
Yes, Okta provides a 30-day free trial so customers can explore all product capabilities before committing to a paid plan.
SourceSmartsheet: Does Smartsheet work offline?
No. Smartsheet has minimal offline access and requires internet connectivity for full functionality.
SourceOkta: How many pre-built integrations does Okta support?
Okta offers over 7,000 pre-built integrations with popular enterprise applications including Salesforce, Slack, Workday, Box, Confluence, and Zendesk.
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.
SourceOkta: What security features does Okta provide for admins?
Okta provides multi-factor authentication, adaptive MFA, single logout, and identity threat detection and response. However, only 94% of Okta customers have MFA enabled for administrators.
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.
SourceOkta: Can Okta integrate with on-premises directories?
Yes, Okta's Universal Directory and lifecycle management support cloud and on-premises identity sources, including Active Directory and LDAP.
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.
SourceRelated pages
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