4.4From ~$10/user/moMonday
Best for: visual workflows
More visual and board-centric; good if you prefer boards over spreadsheets.

If Smartsheet isn't the right fit—because you prefer boards, different UX, or pricing—these project management alternatives offer strong options.
Read our Smartsheet review for full details on features, pricing, and pros and cons.
Who should switch and which alternative fits best.
Smartsheet is spreadsheet-style project and work management; alternatives include Monday for visual boards, Wrike for traditional PM depth, Asana for list and board focus, and ClickUp or Notion for different flexibility. Monday and Asana are the main alternatives for teams that prefer boards or lists over grids.
Common reasons teams look for a change.
Many teams prefer board or list UX over spreadsheet grids. Monday and Asana are easier for them to adopt.
Asana, ClickUp, and Notion have free tiers. Smartsheet typically uses quote-based pricing.
Wrike offers traditional project and portfolio focus without the grid model.
Editorially ranked alternatives we recommend.
4.4From ~$10/user/moBest for: visual workflows
More visual and board-centric; good if you prefer boards over spreadsheets.
4.3From ~$9.80/user/moBest for: enterprise
Traditional project and portfolio focus; PM depth without grid model.
4.6Free tierBest for: list and board
List and board focus; easier for many teams to adopt.
4.5Free tierBest for: customization
Customizable workspace with multiple views including table.
4.4Free tierBest for: docs and databases
Databases and docs with flexible views.
Side-by-side at a glance.
| Software | Best for | Starting price | Standout feature | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Smartsheet | spreadsheet-style planning | Quote | Spreadsheet-style | Read review |
Monday | visual workflows | From ~$10/user/mo | Visual boards | Read review |
Wrike | enterprise | From ~$9.80/user/mo | Portfolios; enterprise | Read review |
Asana | list and board | Free tier | Balance; ease of use | Read review |
ClickUp | customization | Free tier | All-in-one; customization | Read review |
Notion | docs and databases | Free tier | Docs and databases | Read review |
When to choose each alternative.
Best for visual workflows
Monday is more visual and board-centric. For teams that prefer boards over spreadsheets.
Best for enterprise
Wrike offers traditional project and portfolio focus without the grid model. Good if you need PM depth.
Best for list and board
Asana offers list and board focus. Easier for many teams to adopt than spreadsheet-style tools.
Best for customization
ClickUp offers customizable workspace with multiple views including table.
Best for docs and databases
Notion offers databases and docs with flexible views. Alternative flexibility to Smartsheet.
What to look for when comparing options.
Most teams need list, board, and calendar or timeline views. Choose a tool that supports the views your team actually uses. Lightweight teams may prefer Trello or Notion; structured teams may prefer Asana or Monday.
Comments, file attachments, and notifications keep work in one place. Check how assignees, due dates, and status updates work so everyone stays aligned.
Rules and automations reduce busywork—routing tasks, updating statuses, and sending reminders. Asana, Monday, and ClickUp offer strong automation; Trello uses Power-Ups.
Project tools should connect to Slack, email, calendar, and time tracking. Asana and Monday have broad integrations; Notion and ClickUp offer docs and wikis in the same workspace.
Free tiers suit small teams; paid plans add views, automations, and reporting. Compare per-seat cost and feature limits at your team size.
Head-to-head comparisons to narrow your choice.
Quick answers.