SmartTask vs Zoho Projects Comparison
Compare SmartTask vs Zoho Projects features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
SmartTask
6.7/10
SmartTask is a work management platform that combines projects, time tracking, a client portal and a sales CRM for agencies and client delivery teams.
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 | | Z Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.7/10 | 7.3/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Customization | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $6/user/mo Premium | $4/user/mo Premium |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free Forever | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Whiteboards | ||
| App integrations | ||
| Client collaboration | ||
| Dashboards | ||
| Gantt charts | ||
| Kanban boards | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Task lists | ||
| Task management | ||
| Team messaging | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Timeline view | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Collaboration tools | Not listed | |
| File sharing | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
SmartTask vs Zoho Projects cost by team size
SmartTask and Zoho Projects cost the same up to 5 users.
| Team size | SmartTask | Zoho Projects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree Forever | FreeFree |
| 5 users | FreeFree Forever | FreeFree |
| 10 users | FreeFree Forever | Contact for pricing |
| 25 users | FreeFree Forever | Contact for pricing |
| 50 users | FreeFree Forever | 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 SmartTask
- Higher Support score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (7/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for agencies (9/10 vs 7/10)
- Better fit for marketing teams (7/10 vs 5/10)
ZWhy choose Zoho Projects
- Higher Integration score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for mid-market (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for enterprise (6/10 vs 4/10)
- Includes Whiteboards, which SmartTask lacks
Pros & Cons
SmartTask
Pros
- The free plan has no cap on users, projects or guests, which is unusually generous for small teams.
- Paid plans are cheap at 6 and 11 USD per user per month on yearly billing.
- It combines project management, a sales CRM, a client portal and billable time tracking in one tool, so agencies need fewer separate apps.
- Reviewers on G2 and Capterra often praise how quickly new users learn it and how responsive support is.
Cons
- Capterra reviewers say the interface looks dated and the app can be slow to start.
- Reviewers report bugs and slowdowns, particularly in the mobile app.
- Timeline view, dashboards and time tracking require the Business plan.
- No whiteboard view and no two-way Google Calendar sync, according to reviewers.
- The vendor is very small, about 9 to 50 staff, which may concern larger buyers.
ZZoho 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 6.7/10 for SmartTask. The largest gap is in Integration: 5/10 for SmartTask and 7/10 for Zoho Projects.
Yes, both SmartTask and Zoho Projects have a free plan.
Zoho Projects is the better fit for mid-market: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 5/10 for SmartTask.
Zoho Projects has Whiteboards, which SmartTask lacks.
