Jira vs Smartsheet Comparison
Compare Jira vs Smartsheet features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Jira
7.3/10
Atlassian's work and issue-tracking platform for planning, tracking, and shipping projects, with scrum and kanban boards built mainly for software and technical teams.
Smartsheet
6.8/10
Spreadsheet-based work management platform that teams and enterprises use to plan projects, automate workflows, and report on portfolios.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.3/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $8/user/mo Standard | $12/user/mo Pro |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free | $120/mo Pro |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Collaboration tools | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Kanban boards | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Task management | ||
| Timeline view | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Client collaboration | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Gantt charts | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Spreadsheet interface | Not listed | |
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
Jira vs Smartsheet cost by team size
Jira costs less at every team size we checked.
| Team size | Jira | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree | $12/moPro |
| 5 users | FreeFree | $60/moPro |
| 10 users | FreeFree | $120/moPro |
| 25 users | $212/moStandard | $600/moBusiness |
| 50 users | $424/moStandard | $1,200/moBusiness |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Jira
- Has a free plan (Smartsheet does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $120/mo
- Higher Cost score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for startups (8/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Smartsheet
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Security score (9/10 vs 8/10)
Pros & Cons
Jira
Pros
- The free plan supports up to 10 users and includes scrum and kanban boards.
- Reviewers highlight deep customization of workflows, boards, and fields.
- Sprint and agile management are strong, and Jira integrates with GitHub and Git tools.
- It links closely with Confluence and other Atlassian products, so tickets can be referenced across those apps.
- Time tracking is built into every plan, including Free.
Cons
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and an interface that overwhelms non-technical users.
- Users report slow issue loading and laggy boards in large deployments.
- Paid Marketplace apps can add hidden costs for reporting, CRM, and helpdesk needs.
- The free plan is limited to 100 emails per day and community support only.
- Troubleshooting failed automation rules can be frustrating.
Smartsheet
Pros
- The spreadsheet grid feels familiar to Excel users and supports strong formulas across sheets.
- One sheet can be viewed as a grid, Gantt chart, board or calendar.
- Its compliance record is strong, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, FedRAMP and HIPAA support under a BAA on Enterprise.
- Dashboards can be shared with stakeholders who cannot open the underlying sheets.
- Bi-directional Jira and Salesforce connectors plus a well-documented API suit larger IT estates.
Cons
- There is no free plan, and reviewers on Capterra repeatedly call pricing high and restrictive for small teams.
- The 2024 to 2025 move to paid Member licensing ended free collaborators and raised costs for many existing customers.
- Advanced automations are complex to set up, according to reviewers.
- Key capabilities such as Dynamic View, Data Shuttle and Resource Management are sold as extra-cost add-ons or held for top tiers.
- Some users report slow dashboards and performance problems on large sheets.
- Pro allows 250 automations per month and caps teams at 10 Members.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Jira scores higher on our Project Management criteria: 7.3/10 against 6.8/10 for Smartsheet. The largest gap is in Cost: 7/10 for Jira and 4/10 for Smartsheet.
Jira costs less for 10 users: free on its Free plan, against about $120/mo on its Pro plan for Smartsheet, billed monthly.
Jira has a free plan; Smartsheet does not list one.
Jira is the better fit for startups: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 4/10 for Smartsheet.
