Softwr

Construction · head to head

Smartsheet vs ClickUp

Smartsheet logo

Smartsheet

Construction

The platform for dynamic work

From
$9/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ClickUp logo

ClickUp

Technology

One app to replace them all

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ClickUp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Smartsheet formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, ClickUp covers Multiple view types.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Smartsheet and ClickUp actually diverge.

Attributes where Smartsheet and ClickUp differ
AttributeSmartsheetClickUp
Starting price$9/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
CategoryConstructionTechnology
Founded20052017

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 Smartsheet

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

Only in ClickUp

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

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Salesforce
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

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

Smartsheet

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

ClickUp

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

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.

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Smartsheet

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

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Smartsheet if

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Smartsheet or ClickUp better?
Neither clearly leads. Smartsheet starts at $9/month and ClickUp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Smartsheet or ClickUp?
ClickUp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9/month for Smartsheet and Free for ClickUp.
Does Smartsheet or ClickUp run on more platforms?
Smartsheet runs on Web, iOS, Android. ClickUp runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
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 Smartsheet best used for?
Smartsheet is most often used for project portfolio management, it project management, marketing campaigns, product launches. Of those, project portfolio management and it project management are not what ClickUp is typically brought in for.
What can Smartsheet do that ClickUp cannot?
Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, Automated workflows, Forms & data collection, Resource management. ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Custom fields, Automation, Time tracking. Both handle Slack, Salesforce, SOC2, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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: 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: Does Smartsheet work offline?

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

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: 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: 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: 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
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: 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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