Smartsheet Alternatives (2026): 10 Work Management Tools

Smartsheet is built around a grid that feels like a spreadsheet, with project plans, forms and dashboards added on top. Plenty of teams find that familiar layout easy to pick up, especially if they came from Excel. But the grid isn't for everyone, and some teams outgrow it or simply want a different style of working.

Perhaps your team prefers boards to rows, doesn't want a grid at all, wants an open source option, or needs a lighter way to track client work. This page lists ten Smartsheet alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, using details from each tool's own website. If you want a broader look at tools that behave like databases, my guide to tools that work like a database is a good companion.

Smartsheet alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own website says it has a free plan or is free to use. Trial only means a time-limited trial. No means the pages I read didn't state a free plan, so check the current details yourself. Plans and limits change, so you'll want to confirm them on the maker's site.

Tool	Type of tool	Good for	Free plan
Airtable	Spreadsheet-database hybrid	Custom trackers and light workflows	Yes
Baserow	Open source database builder	Teams who may self-host their data	Yes
ClickUp	All-in-one work platform	Tasks, docs and boards in one place	Yes
Grist	Spreadsheet-style database	People who like formulas and open source	Yes
monday.com	Visual work management	Colourful boards for teams	Yes
NocoDB	Spreadsheet-style database	Turning data into shared tables	Yes
SmartSuite	Work management platform	Teams building their own workflows	Trial only
Stackby	No-code spreadsheet database	Data tables with linked records	No
TeamGantt	Gantt chart planner	Plans that need a timeline view	Trial only
Wrike	Work management software	Larger teams with approvals and tasks	Yes

Ten Smartsheet alternatives, A to Z

Airtable

Best for: Small teams who like the feel of a spreadsheet but want linked records, forms and views, starting on a free plan.

Baserow

Best for: Teams who want a spreadsheet-style database they can use in the cloud or run on their own server.

ClickUp

Best for: Teams who want tasks, docs, boards and sprints together, with a forever-free plan to begin with.

Grist

Best for: Spreadsheet fans who want real database features and the choice of a free open source community edition.

monday.com

Best for: Teams who want boards that are quick to understand, with a free plan for up to two seats.

NocoDB

Best for: Teams who want to build databases that look like spreadsheets, with a free plan for a few users.

SmartSuite

Best for: Teams who want to build custom workflows and records, and would like to try them out with a free trial.

Stackby

Best for: Teams who want an online spreadsheet that works like a database for day-to-day work.

TeamGantt

Best for: Project managers who plan with Gantt charts and want to try that approach with a free trial.

Wrike

Best for: Growing teams who want structured task management, with a free plan for essential task tracking.

How to choose between Smartsheet alternatives

Start with how your team works day to day, not with the longest feature list. A tool that suits a marketing team running campaigns can feel clumsy to a team tracking orders, and it works the other way round too. Write down the last three projects you ran and what slowed you down.

• Views. Do you need a grid, a board, a calendar or a timeline? Check that the tool offers the view your team will use every day.
• Data structure. Spreadsheet-style tools suit lists and trackers. Task-based tools suit work that moves between people.
• Automation. Look for simple rules, such as sending a reminder when a status changes, and check which plan includes them.
• Reports and dashboards. If you share progress with clients or managers, test how easy it'll be to build a summary.
• Access and sharing. Find out how guests, clients and viewers are handled, and whether they need their own accounts.
• Import. Check whether you can bring in your existing spreadsheets or exports without retyping them.

Which kind of Smartsheet replacement suits which team

• Spreadsheet-database tools suit people who think in rows and columns and want linked records, forms and filters.
• Visual work management tools suit teams who want colourful boards and a clear view of who's doing what.
• All-in-one platforms suit teams who want tasks, documents and goals under the same roof.
• Timeline planners suit project managers whose plans depend on dates and dependencies.
• Open source tools suit teams with a technical colleague who want control over where their data is kept.

If you're still working out what kinds of software are worth having at all, my plain guide to how productivity tools work is a gentle place to start.

Questions to ask before you leave Smartsheet

Switching project tools is a team decision, so it helps to ask a few honest questions before you begin.

• Which parts of our current setup does everyone use, and which ones don't we touch?
• Do we rely on any integrations that the new tool mustn't lose?
• Who owns the set-up, and who'll answer questions in the first month?
• How many sheets or projects do we really need to bring across?
• Do clients or suppliers need to see our work, and how will they log in? What if they can't?

It's worth connecting your tools to the apps your team already uses. If you automate hand-offs between apps, see my guide to automation tools for ideas, and if meetings are part of the process, scheduling tools can save a lot of back and forth.

Moving your Smartsheet projects to a new tool

1. List the sheets and projects you use every week, and leave the dormant ones behind.
2. Export your data to a spreadsheet file and keep a safe copy.
3. Set up one real project in the new tool using that export.
4. Ask two teammates to use it for a week and write down what confuses them.
5. Recreate your most useful automations and forms.
6. Tell the whole team the date of the switch, and keep the old tool read-only for a while.

Mistakes teams make when replacing Smartsheet

• Copying every old sheet across, including the messy ones nobody opens.
• Choosing a tool because one person likes it, without asking the team who'll use it, then finding they won't.
• Building a very complicated set-up before anyone has tried the basics.
• Forgetting to check who can see what, especially with clients and contractors.
• Moving everyone on the same day when they haven't had time to learn the new tool.

Do you make project or work management software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Building your Smartsheet alternatives shortlist

Pick two tools that match the way your team works. Set up one live project in each, invite a few colleagues and see which one they open without being reminded. Keep your old account until the new tool has carried a whole project from start to finish.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to Smartsheet?

Yes. Several tools on this page say on their own websites that they have a free plan, and some are open source. Limits on users, records and features differ, so read the current plan details first.

Can I import my spreadsheets into a new tool?

Most tools in this category can import spreadsheet or CSV files, though they handle formulas and formatting differently. Export what you can, and test one real file before you move everything.

What's the difference between a grid tool and a board tool?

Grid tools show work as rows and columns, like a spreadsheet. Board tools show tasks as cards that move through stages. Many tools offer both, so try the view your team prefers.

Do I need project management software at all?

A small team with a handful of tasks may manage with a shared spreadsheet. Once several people, deadlines and clients are involved, a dedicated tool keeps everyone looking at the same thing.

How long does it take to move to a new tool?

A small team can often move one project in a few days. Moving everything usually takes longer, so plan a gentle changeover and keep the old tool available while people settle in.