Software · head to head
Wrike vs Smartsheet
The short version
- Only Wrike has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Wrike seats are sold in blocks rather than singly: groups of 5 up to 30 seats, groups of 10 up to 100, and groups of 25 above that, so adding one person can mean paying for five; Smartsheet formulas lack Excel robustness; complex data manipulation hits performance limits
- They diverge on capability: Wrike covers Interactive Gantt charts, Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Wrike and Smartsheet actually diverge.
| Attribute | Wrike | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $9/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2006 | 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 Wrike
- Interactive Gantt charts
- Real-time collaboration
- Custom workflows
- Time tracking
- Proofing tools
- Performance reports
- Mobile apps
- Adobe Creative Cloud
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
- Salesforce
- Slack
- Jira
- SOC2
- ISO27001
- GDPR
- HIPAA
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Wrike
- Marketing campaigns
- Creative projectsnot Smartsheet
- Product developmentnot Smartsheet
- Professional servicesnot Smartsheet
- Event managementnot Smartsheet
Smartsheet
- Project portfolio managementnot Wrike
- IT project managementnot Wrike
- Marketing campaigns
- Product launchesnot Wrike
- Process automationnot Wrike
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.
Wrike
- Seats are sold in blocks rather than singly: groups of 5 up to 30 seats, groups of 10 up to 100, and groups of 25 above that, so adding one person can mean paying for five
- The Team plan is limited to 2 to 15 users and Business to 5 to 200
- Business and above are annual subscriptions only
- Pinnacle and Apex pricing is not published
- AI actions are rationed by tier rather than unlimited
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
Wrike
Free- FreeFree
- Team$10/month
- Per user
- Gantt charts
- AI included
- Business$25/month
- Per user
- Pinnacle$null/month
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 Wrike if
- You need interactive gantt charts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want real-time collaboration.
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 Wrike or Smartsheet better?
- Neither clearly leads. Wrike 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, Wrike or Smartsheet?
- Wrike has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Wrike and $9/month for Smartsheet.
- Does Wrike or Smartsheet run on more platforms?
- Wrike runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux. Smartsheet runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Wrike for free?
- Yes. Wrike has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Smartsheet starts at $9/month.
- What is Wrike best used for?
- Wrike is most often used for marketing campaigns, creative projects, product development, professional services. Of those, creative projects and product development are not what Smartsheet is typically brought in for.
- What can Wrike do that Smartsheet cannot?
- Wrike covers Interactive Gantt charts, Real-time collaboration, Custom workflows, Time tracking. Smartsheet covers Grid, card, Gantt & calendar views, Automated workflows, Forms & data collection, Dashboards & reporting. Both handle Resource management, Salesforce, Slack, Jira.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Wrike: Are Gantt charts included in all plans?
Gantt charts are available in the Team plan ($10/user/month) and higher. The free plan has limited project visualization.
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.
SourceWrike: Is AI included in the pricing?
Yes. As of January 2026, Wrike includes AI Agents and AI Priority Inbox in all plans at no extra cost, a major differentiator from competitors charging $20-40/user/month for AI.
SourceSmartsheet: Does Smartsheet work offline?
No. Smartsheet has minimal offline access and requires internet connectivity for full functionality.
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