Notion vs Smartsheet
Notion and Smartsheet represent two popular approaches to project management. My team has used both for real projects, and we've learned that the "best" tool often depends on your team's working style. Notion scores 8.9/10, but team adoption matters more than features.
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Quick Answer
Notion beats Smartsheet for most users. It scores 8.9/10 vs 8.6/10 and extremely flexible and customizable. Choose Smartsheet if you need familiar spreadsheet interface.
Notion
WinnerFlexible workspace for docs and projects
Starting from
$8/mo
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style PM with enterprise features
Starting from
$9/mo
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.9/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Starting Price | $8/mo | $9/mo |
| User Reviews | ||
| Capacity | ||
| Users | Unlimited (free) | 10 editors (Pro) |
| Boards | ||
| File Storage | 5MB/file (free) | 20GB |
| Views & Planning | ||
| Kanban View | ||
| Gantt Chart | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Features | ||
| Automations | ||
| Integrations | 100+ | 100+ |
| Mobile App | ||
| API Access | ||
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Notion
- Extremely flexible and customizable
- Excellent documentation/wiki
- Databases with multiple views
- Beautiful interface
- Great templates library
- Free for personal use
- Not a dedicated PM tool
- No native time tracking
- Offline mode is limited
Smartsheet
- Familiar spreadsheet interface
- Multiple views (Grid, Gantt, Card, Calendar)
- AI-powered automation (2025)
- Enterprise security (HIPAA, GDPR)
- Powerful reporting and dashboards
- Resource management add-on
- Extensive integrations (Salesforce, Jira)
- No free plan (30-day trial only)
- Add-ons can get expensive
- Pro plan limited to 10 editors
- Learning curve for advanced features
Key Difference
The most significant difference is value positioning. Notion offers excellent quality at a lower price point ($0.00/mo), while Smartsheet ($9.00/mo) targets users who want premium features and are willing to pay for them.
Which Should You Choose?
Notion
Choose Notion if you prioritize extremely flexible and customizable, want to start with a free tier, need unlimited usage, or value excellent documentation/wiki.
Smartsheet
Choose Smartsheet if you prioritize familiar spreadsheet interface, want to start with a free tier, need unlimited usage, or value multiple views (grid, gantt, card, calendar).
Our Verdict
After thorough testing, Notion is our winner with a rating of 8.9/10 compared to Smartsheet's 8.6/10. Notion stands out for its extremely flexible and customizable and excellent documentation/wiki. Notion also offers better value at its price point. However, Smartsheet remains an excellent choice if familiar spreadsheet interface is your priority. There's no universally "wrong" choice here - both are quality options that serve their target audiences well.
Thinking of Switching?
Switching project management tools affects your whole team. Most tools offer data export, but workflows and automations won't transfer. Plan for a transition period where you might run both systems briefly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Notion better than Smartsheet?
Notion scores higher in our testing (8.9/10 vs 8.6/10). Notion excels at extremely flexible and customizable, while Smartsheet is better for familiar spreadsheet interface.
Which is cheaper, Notion or Smartsheet?
Notion is more affordable at $0.00/mo vs $9.00/mo. Notion offers 100% savings.
Notion vs Smartsheet: which should I choose?
Choose Notion if you prioritize extremely flexible and customizable. Choose Smartsheet if you need familiar spreadsheet interface. Both are solid project management options.
What's the main difference between Notion and Smartsheet?
The main difference is Notion offers flexible workspace for docs and projects, while Smartsheet focuses on spreadsheet-style pm with enterprise features.