Choosing Between Smartsheet and Teamwork for Your Manufacturing Business
Our Harvard-educated consultants have implemented both Smartsheet and Teamwork for Australian businesses. Here is what 12+ of experience has taught us about choosing between them.
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature analysis for Smartsheet and Teamwork.
Task management
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-like interface is instantly familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users while adding project management features like Gantt charts and automations
Teamwork
Purpose-built for client work with built-in time tracking, budgets, and billable hour management that agencies and consultancies need
Both platforms are strong here. Smartsheet emphasises this as a core strength, and Teamwork also invests heavily in task management. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Project views (board/list/timeline)
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-like interface is instantly familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users while adding project management features like Gantt charts and automations
Teamwork
Project templates with task dependencies, milestones, and resource allocation provide structured project delivery frameworks out of the box
Both platforms are strong here. Smartsheet emphasises this as a core strength, and Teamwork also invests heavily in project views (board/list/timeline). Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Resource management
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-like interface is instantly familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users while adding project management features like Gantt charts and automations
Teamwork
Purpose-built for client work with built-in time tracking, budgets, and billable hour management that agencies and consultancies need
Both platforms are strong here. Smartsheet emphasises this as a core strength, and Teamwork also invests heavily in resource management. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Time tracking
Smartsheet
Limitation: The spreadsheet paradigm, while familiar, can feel limiting for teams that need the flexibility of boards, timelines, and custom views
Teamwork
Purpose-built for client work with built-in time tracking, budgets, and billable hour management that agencies and consultancies need
Teamwork highlights time tracking as a core strength. Smartsheet offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Collaboration tools
Smartsheet
Smartsheet includes team collaboration features. Multi-user capabilities vary by plan tier
Teamwork
Teamwork includes team collaboration features. Multi-user capabilities vary by plan tier
Both Smartsheet and Teamwork address collaboration tools. The right choice depends on whether you prioritise depth of functionality or breadth of your overall platform.
Reporting and dashboards
Smartsheet
Dashboards aggregate data from multiple sheets into executive-level visual reports with charts, metrics, and traffic lights
Teamwork
Limitation: Reporting depth requires the higher-tier plans, with basic plans offering limited dashboard customisation and export options
Smartsheet highlights reporting and dashboards as a core strength. Teamwork offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Customisation and templates
Smartsheet
Control Center allows IT and PMO teams to create standardised project templates and governance rules across the organisation
Teamwork
Project templates with task dependencies, milestones, and resource allocation provide structured project delivery frameworks out of the box
Both platforms are strong here. Smartsheet emphasises this as a core strength, and Teamwork also invests heavily in customisation and templates. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Automations
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-like interface is instantly familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users while adding project management features like Gantt charts and automations
Teamwork
Client-facing features including branded project portals, approval workflows, and shared notebooks keep external stakeholders informed
Smartsheet highlights automations as a core strength. Teamwork offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Third-party integrations
Smartsheet
Smartsheet connects with 41+ tools natively, offering one of the broadest integration ecosystems in its category
Teamwork
Limitation: Marketplace integrations are fewer than Monday.com, Asana, or ClickUp, sometimes requiring Zapier for connections
Both platforms have similar integration breadth (41 and 43 native connectors respectively). Either will connect to the major tools in a mid-market stack.
Mobile experience
Smartsheet
Limitation: Mobile experience is functional but cramped, as the spreadsheet layout does not translate well to smaller screens
Teamwork
Teamwork offers a mobile experience. Check the vendor site for current mobile app capabilities
mobile experience capabilities vary by plan tier on both platforms. Confirm the specific features you need are available at your target price point before committing.
Ease of setup
Smartsheet
Smartsheet provides onboarding resources. Setup complexity depends on your configuration requirements
Teamwork
Teamwork provides onboarding resources. Setup complexity depends on your configuration requirements
ease of setup capabilities vary by plan tier on both platforms. Confirm the specific features you need are available at your target price point before committing.
Value for money
Smartsheet
Pro from approximately $10/user/month, Business from approximately $32/user/month, Enterprise custom pricing (AUD). Annual billing. No free plan. 30-day free trial available.
Teamwork
Free plan for up to 5 users. Deliver from approximately $13.99/user/month, Grow from approximately $25.99/user/month, Scale custom pricing (AUD). Annual billing discounts. Time tracking included on all paid plans.
Pricing models differ significantly. Compare the total cost of ownership including add-ons and per-user fees, not just the headline price.
Pricing Comparison
General pricing information for each platform.
Smartsheet
Pro from approximately $10/user/month, Business from approximately $32/user/month, Enterprise custom pricing (AUD). Annual billing. No free plan. 30-day free trial available.
Pricing is indicative only and subject to change. We recommend contacting the vendor for a tailored quote based on your Australian business needs.
Teamwork
Free plan for up to 5 users. Deliver from approximately $13.99/user/month, Grow from approximately $25.99/user/month, Scale custom pricing (AUD). Annual billing discounts. Time tracking included on all paid plans.
These figures are estimates based on publicly available pricing. Actual costs depend on your usage, team size, and any negotiated rates.
Pros & Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.
Smartsheet
Pros
- Spreadsheet-like interface is instantly familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users while adding project management features like Gantt charts and automations
- Dashboards aggregate data from multiple sheets into executive-level visual reports with charts, metrics, and traffic lights
- Cell-level permissions and row-level access controls provide granular security that spreadsheets cannot match, suitable for regulated industries
- Control Center allows IT and PMO teams to create standardised project templates and governance rules across the organisation
- Built-in forms with conditional logic collect structured data from internal and external stakeholders directly into sheets
Cons
- Per-user pricing with no free plan (only 30-day trial) makes it harder to justify for small teams compared to free alternatives
- The spreadsheet paradigm, while familiar, can feel limiting for teams that need the flexibility of boards, timelines, and custom views
- Automation capabilities, while improved, are less sophisticated than Monday.com or ClickUp for complex multi-step workflows
- Mobile experience is functional but cramped, as the spreadsheet layout does not translate well to smaller screens
Teamwork
Pros
- Purpose-built for client work with built-in time tracking, budgets, and billable hour management that agencies and consultancies need
- Project templates with task dependencies, milestones, and resource allocation provide structured project delivery frameworks out of the box
- Client-facing features including branded project portals, approval workflows, and shared notebooks keep external stakeholders informed
- Built-in invoicing from tracked time and expenses creates a direct path from project work to client billing
- Workload management with capacity planning helps managers balance team assignments across concurrent projects
Cons
- Per-user pricing with relatively high entry points makes Teamwork more expensive than alternatives for small teams not fully utilising project features
- The interface, while functional, is less visually polished than Monday.com or Asana, which can affect first impressions during team onboarding
- Reporting depth requires the higher-tier plans, with basic plans offering limited dashboard customisation and export options
- Marketplace integrations are fewer than Monday.com, Asana, or ClickUp, sometimes requiring Zapier for connections
Best For
Which tool suits which use case.
Choose Smartsheet if you need
- ✓ Task and project tracking
- ✓ Complex data models (sheets, rows, columns and more)
- ✓ Manufacturing businesses
- ✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
- ✓ Real-time data sync across platforms
Choose Teamwork if you need
- ✓ Complex data models (projects, tasks, milestones and more)
- ✓ Professional Services businesses
- ✓ Workflow management
- ✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
- ✓ Real-time data sync across platforms
Expert Verdict
Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.
Clever Ops Recommendation
Choose Smartsheet if operations, finance, and PMO teams that think in spreadsheets but need project management governance, dashboards, and access controls that Excel cannot provide. Choose Teamwork if agencies, consultancies, and professional services firms that bill clients for time and need project management with built-in time tracking, budgets, and client-facing project portals. Avoid Smartsheet if creative or agile teams that prefer visual boards and flexible views, or small teams that need a free starting point before committing to a paid tool. Avoid Teamwork if internal teams that do not bill for client work, or small teams where the per-user cost is hard to justify against free or lower-cost alternatives like Trello or ClickUp. If you are still weighing the trade-offs, Clever Ops offers a free assessment where our Harvard-educated consultants map your requirements to the right platform.
Migration Notes
What to know about switching between Smartsheet and Teamwork.
Migrating Between Smartsheet and Teamwork
Migrating between Smartsheet and Teamwork involves transferring your core data and mapping custom fields. Clever Ops follows a structured migration process: discovery, data mapping, test migration, verification, and cutover. We typically complete migrations within 4-8 weeks. Historical data is preserved, and we run parallel systems during the transition to minimise risk. Post-migration, we provide 3 months of support to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Smartsheet vs Teamwork FAQ
Smartsheet limitations: Per-user pricing with no free plan (only 30-day trial) makes it harder to justify for small teams compared to free alternatives. The spreadsheet paradigm, while familiar, can feel limiting for teams that need the flexibility of boards, timelines, and custom views. Teamwork limitations: Per-user pricing with relatively high entry points makes Teamwork more expensive than alternatives for small teams not fully utilising project features. The interface, while functional, is less visually polished than Monday.com or Asana, which can affect first impressions during team onboarding. Understanding these trade-offs in the context of your specific workflows is critical. Clever Ops can help you weigh which limitations matter most for your business during a free assessment.
Yes. Smartsheet provides a REST + Webhook API and Teamwork provides a REST + Webhook API, so automations can be built via Zapier, Make, or custom integrations. Common automated workflows include syncing shared data objects between both platforms. Clever Ops builds these automations for mid-market Australian businesses, saving teams 8+ hours/week on average.
For Manufacturing businesses, prioritise: Task management, Project views (board/list/timeline), Resource management, Time tracking, Collaboration tools. Smartsheet is strong on Spreadsheet-like interface is instantly familiar to Excel and Google Sheets users while adding project management features like Gantt charts and automations. Teamwork excels at Purpose-built for client work with built-in time tracking, budgets, and billable hour management that agencies and consultancies need. Clever Ops can help you build a weighted requirements list and score each platform against it.
For Manufacturing, the answer depends on your operational model. Smartsheet is best for operations, finance, and PMO teams that think in spreadsheets but need project management governance, dashboards, and access controls that Excel cannot provide. Teamwork is best for agencies, consultancies, and professional services firms that bill clients for time and need project management with built-in time tracking, budgets, and client-facing project portals. Clever Ops has helped businesses across Manufacturing choose the right stack. Book a free assessment for advice specific to your situation.
Free trials are useful for testing the user interface, but they rarely reveal how a platform performs at scale, with your specific data model, or alongside your existing integrations. Smartsheet manages 8 data object types and Teamwork manages 8. Evaluating that complexity in a trial period is difficult. A more efficient approach is to combine a short trial with expert advice from our Harvard-educated consultants, who can identify the right fit based on 12+ of implementation experience.
We audit your current workflows, team size, budget, and growth plans, then recommend the platform that fits. Our advice is vendor-neutral: we do not earn commissions from Smartsheet, Teamwork, or any vendor. Our Harvard-educated consultants have helped 50+ businesses make informed technology decisions over 12+. Book a free assessment to get started.
Switching costs include data migration, team retraining, workflow rebuilding, and potential downtime. Smartsheet pricing: Pro from approximately $10/user/month, Business from approximately $32/user/month, Enterprise custom pricing (AUD). Teamwork pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users. Beyond licensing costs, budget for implementation (Clever Ops typically completes migrations in 4-8 weeks) and training. We run parallel systems during transitions and provide 3 months of post-migration support to minimise disruption.
Yes, both platforms are used by Australian businesses. Smartsheet is popular with Manufacturing and Professional Services in Australia. Teamwork is widely used by Professional Services and Manufacturing. Key Australian considerations include AUD pricing, local support hours, GST handling, and data residency. Smartsheet offers Australian-specific pricing. Clever Ops, based in Gippsland, Victoria, factors these nuances into every recommendation.
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