Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects Comparison
Compare Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Smartsheet
6.8/10
Spreadsheet-based work management platform that teams and enterprises use to plan projects, automate workflows, and report on portfolios.
Zoho Projects
7.3/10
Cloud project management software with tasks, Gantt charts, timesheets, issue tracking and automation, built for small and mid-sized teams using the Zoho suite.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.8/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Cost | 4/10 | 9/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Scalability | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $12/user/mo Pro | $4/user/mo Premium |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $120/mo Pro | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Client collaboration | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Gantt charts | ||
| Kanban boards | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Task management | ||
| Timeline view | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Spreadsheet interface | Not listed | |
| Task lists | Not listed | |
| Team messaging | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| Whiteboards | Not listed | |
Smartsheet vs Zoho Projects cost by team size
Zoho Projects costs less up to 5 users.
| Team size | Smartsheet | Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $12/moPro | FreeFree |
| 5 users | $60/moPro | FreeFree |
| 10 users | $120/moPro | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | $600/moBusiness | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | $1,200/moBusiness | Contact for pricing |
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 Smartsheet
- Higher Scalability score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Higher Security score (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for it teams (7/10 vs 4/10)
Why choose Zoho Projects
- Has a free plan (Smartsheet does not)
- Higher Cost score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for small business (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for startups (8/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
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.
Zoho Projects
Pros
- Paid plans start at $4 per user per month on annual billing, which reviewers rank among the cheapest in the category.
- The free plan supports 5 users and 3 projects, enough for very small teams to run real work.
- Built-in timers, timesheets with approvals, and budgeting serve teams that bill for their time.
- Blueprints, automation rules and custom functions allow detailed workflow control.
- Integrates closely with other Zoho apps such as Desk, Analytics and Sprints.
Cons
- Reviewers say the learning curve is steep, especially for blueprints and custom functions.
- Client and guest access cost extra on top of the plan price.
- Users report weaker portfolio and multi-project management than enterprise-focused rivals.
- Some reviewers find the configuration screens crowded and say support can be slow to respond.
- The free plan has no project templates, and its automation limit is low at 50 actions per month.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Zoho Projects scores higher on our Project Management criteria: 7.3/10 against 6.8/10 for Smartsheet. The largest gap is in Cost: 4/10 for Smartsheet and 9/10 for Zoho Projects.
Zoho Projects has a free plan; Smartsheet does not list one.
Zoho Projects is the better fit for freelancers: we rate it 6/10 for them, against 2/10 for Smartsheet.
