ClickUp vs. Smartsheet: 2026 Comparison

When it comes to project planning or scheduling, users of both software find this facet to be important. While ClickUp offers dynamic and customizable workflows with various project views, making it ideal for teams that prioritize flexibility and collaboration, Smartsheet stands out for its user-friendly interface and visualization capabilities, particularly through Gantt charts and grid views, which are favored for straightforward project planning and scheduling.

Progress tracking allows real-time monitoring of task advancement, and resource management features optimize task allocation among team members. Workflow automation saves time by automating repetitive tasks and notifications, reducing the risk of human error.

Smartsheet's collaboration features include comments on tasks, file sharing, shared views, customizable alerts, and robust access control, facilitating effective team interaction and secure task management. Integration capabilities with over 120 third-party tools, cloud storage providers, and communication platforms streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency. However, some users find Smartsheet less effective for managing highly complex projects compared to other tools like Microsoft Project, which may offer more advanced capabilities for intricate project requirements.

ClickUp, on the other hand, offers a dynamic approach to project planning and scheduling and lets you create stages, assign tasks, and set rules that match your project requirements. But it also offers standardized workflows for various project types, from agile sprints to waterfall plans, which helps in speeding up setup and maintaining consistency. These tools provide a clear visualization of project timelines and dependencies, allowing users to set milestones and assign tasks efficiently. The ability to automate notifications helps keep projects on track, ensuring timely updates and task completion. 

ClickUp's comprehensive project views and collaboration features are highly appreciated. The different project views are just some of the versatile ways users can manage their workflows. 

ClickUp's collaboration features enable seamless teamwork by allowing users to comment on tasks and documents, mention team members, and assign responsibilities clearly. Real-time updates support simultaneous work on tasks and documents, while file attachments centralize project information. 

However, some users find the scheduling process manually input-intensive, which can be time-consuming for complex projects. Additionally, while ClickUp offers substantial automation features, some advanced functionalities may require additional costs, which can be a consideration for budget-conscious teams.

Project planning/scheduling for Smartsheet:

Among 118 reviewers, 97% rated Smartsheet’s project planning/scheduling features as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.5. Smartsheet is favored for its user-friendly interface and automation capabilities, making it suitable for straightforward project planning and scheduling.

Project planning/scheduling for ClickUp:

Among 224 reviewers, 96% rated ClickUp’s project planning/scheduling feature as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.6. ClickUp’s flexible workflows and collaborative features make it well-suited for teams who prioritize dynamic project views and milestone management, although it may require more manual input and additional costs for advanced automation.

When comparing Smartsheet and ClickUp's task management capabilities, the primary differences lie in their approach and user interface.

Smartsheet enhances task management with its integration of Gantt charts and grid views, offering a structured approach to tracking tasks. Smartsheet includes progress tracking and resource management features to optimize task allocation. Workflow automation stands out, saving time by automating repetitive tasks and notifications. Collaboration is facilitated through sharing and commenting capabilities, supported by access controls for secure task management. However, some users find the interface for task updates clunky and less intuitive, and integration with tools like Trello is limited.

In contrast, ClickUp offers a flexible and customizable approach to task management, allowing users to organize tasks through lists, boards, calendars, and timelines. This variety caters to different project styles and preferences, enhancing productivity. ClickUp's integration with third-party apps expands its functionality, enabling collaboration through comments and file attachments. Users value the ability to assign tasks, set due dates and priorities, and attach files, providing comprehensive task management capabilities. However, some users find the interface inefficient for task updates, and the priority options are non-customizable, which can limit flexibility.

Ultimately, Smartsheet is ideal for teams that value a structured, data-driven approach with robust automation and detailed task tracking, while ClickUp is best for teams seeking flexibility and customizability in managing tasks through multiple organizational views.

Task management for Smartsheet: Of the 118 reviewers who use Smartsheet’s task management feature, 97% rated it as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.4. Smartsheet is favored for its intuitive interface and automation capabilities, making task management straightforward and collaborative.

Task management for ClickUp: Of the 328 reviewers who use ClickUp’s task management feature, 99% rated it as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.6. ClickUp is well-suited for teams that prioritize flexibility and customization, offering diverse task organization methods and extensive integration capabilities.

Smartsheet is praised for its ability to manage multiple projects through separate sheets or workspaces. Its centralized dashboard is a standout feature, offering comprehensive views of all projects and enabling users to track progress and performance across different initiatives. Additionally, Smartsheet’s cross-project reporting capabilities are highly valued. This feature allows users to consolidate data from multiple projects into reports, enabling them to generate insights and maintain oversight over multiple projects simultaneously. This facilitates the analysis of project metrics, resource allocation, and timelines across various initiatives. 

Another advantage of Smartsheet for managing multiple projects is the flexibility in configuring user permissions. However, some users find managing complex projects with thousands of tasks challenging, as the platform may become cumbersome when handling large volumes of data.

ClickUp, on the other hand, offers an efficient approach to managing multiple projects with its ability to create and switch between projects easily. The platform's centralized project management system provides a unified space for overseeing various projects, enhancing workflow, and productivity. ClickUp allows users to create custom dashboards that aggregate data from various projects, enabling them to add widgets for tasks, time tracking, goals, and more to get a holistic view of their team's performance. Customizable views with filtering and sorting allow users to tailor their project management experience. ClickUp's collaboration features further enhance its utility, enabling teams to communicate and coordinate effectively across different projects. However, some users find navigating between projects tedious, particularly if the setup lacks a well-defined structure. This can lead to complexities in managing multiple projects, impacting overall efficiency.

In summary, Smartsheet excels in providing a structured and organized approach to managing multiple projects, with strong reporting and user permission capabilities. It is ideal for users who require comprehensive oversight and integration across projects. ClickUp, with its flexible project management system and customizable views, is well-suited for teams that prioritize adaptability and collaboration, offering a dynamic environment for managing multiple projects.

Multiple projects for Smartsheet:

Of the 68 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of Smartsheet’s Multiple Projects, 91% rated this feature as important or highly important. Smartsheet can help users who require comprehensive oversight and integration across projects. 

Multiple projects for ClickUp:

Of the 118 reviewers who gave detailed accounts of their use of ClickUp’s multiple projects capabilities, 90% rated this feature as important or highly important.ClickUp is well-suited for teams that prioritize adaptability and collaboration, offering a dynamic environment for managing multiple projects.