Notion vs Smartsheet Comparison

Why choose Notion

• Has a free plan (Smartsheet does not)
• Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $120/mo
• Higher Cost score (6/10 vs 4/10)
• Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 7/10)
• Better fit for freelancers (7/10 vs 2/10)

Why choose Smartsheet

• Higher Scalability score (9/10 vs 6/10)
• Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 5/10)
• Better fit for enterprise (9/10 vs 7/10)

Notion

Pros

• Relational databases and nested pages let teams build their own trackers, wikis and project systems without a fixed workflow.
• Docs, knowledge base, calendar, forms and published sites are bundled in one workspace, which can replace several separate tools.
• Business includes AI agents, meeting notes and cross-app Enterprise Search without a separate per-seat AI add-on.
• Enterprise security covers SCIM, audit logs, SIEM and DLP connections, and zero data retention with AI providers.
• Strong review ratings, around 4.6 on G2 and 4.7 on Capterra.

Cons

• Reviewers repeatedly report slow loading and lag in large databases and workspaces.
• Offline support is weak and the mobile app does less than the desktop app.
• Plus includes only an AI trial, so teams that want working AI must pay for Business.
• Since late 2026, AI use beyond the monthly credit allowances pauses unless an admin buys extra credits, and some legacy discounted customers have reported large increases at renewal.
• Teams must design their own structure before it works well for project management, and new users describe the setup as unintuitive.

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.