Smartsheet vs Trello

Smartsheet vs Trello: Which Project Management Tool Wins in 2026?

Not sure which project management platform suits your team? We compare Smartsheet and Trello across 50+ client engagements to give you an unbiased recommendation.

12
Features compared
50+
Clients advised
98%
Client retention
12+
Years experience

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature ratings for Smartsheet and Trello.

Task management

Smartsheet

Trello

Trello has a notable advantage in task management.

Project views (board/list/timeline)

Smartsheet

Trello

When it comes to project views (board/list/timeline), Trello pulls clearly ahead of Smartsheet — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team.

Resource management

Smartsheet

Trello

When it comes to resource management, Trello pulls clearly ahead of Smartsheet — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team.

Time tracking

Smartsheet

Trello

Trello has a notable advantage in time tracking.

Collaboration tools

Smartsheet

Trello

Smartsheet significantly outperforms Trello on collaboration tools, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area.

Reporting and dashboards

Smartsheet

Trello

Trello has a notable advantage in reporting and dashboards.

Customisation and templates

Smartsheet

Trello

Trello has a notable advantage in customisation and templates.

Automations

Smartsheet

Trello

Smartsheet significantly outperforms Trello on automations, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area.

Third-party integrations

Smartsheet

Trello

For Manufacturing that rely on strong third-party integrations, Trello is the more capable option in our assessment.

Mobile experience

Smartsheet

Trello

Smartsheet significantly outperforms Trello on mobile experience, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area.

Ease of setup

Smartsheet

Trello

Trello has a notable advantage in ease of setup.

Value for money

Smartsheet

Trello

Trello has a notable advantage in value for money.

Pricing Comparison

General pricing information for each platform.

Smartsheet

Contact vendor for pricing

Pricing may vary based on team size, features, and region. Contact the vendor for the latest Australian pricing.

Trello

Free tier; paid from ~$6/user/month

Prices shown are approximate and may differ based on your plan, team size, and billing cycle. Verify directly with the vendor for current AUD rates.

Pros & Cons

An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.

Smartsheet

Pros

  • Real-time webhook support for instant data sync
  • Rich data model covering sheets, rows, columns and more
  • Popular across Manufacturing, Professional Services, Logistics
  • Active user community and resources
  • Extensive integration ecosystem with 30+ connectors

Cons

  • Large ecosystem can make choosing the right integrations overwhelming
  • May not suit every workflow without customisation
  • Smaller market presence compared to category leaders
  • Can become overwhelming with too many features

Trello

Pros

  • Popular across Professional Services, Education, Retail & E-commerce
  • Rich data model covering boards, lists, cards and more
  • Cloud-based with reliable uptime
  • Well-established platform with strong market presence
  • Real-time webhook support for instant data sync

Cons

  • Can become overwhelming with too many features
  • Customisation may require learning curve
  • Support response times vary by plan tier
  • Onboarding documentation could be more comprehensive

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 Trello if you need

  • Workflow management
  • Real-time data sync across platforms
  • Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
  • Professional Services businesses
  • Complex data models (boards, lists, cards and more)

Expert Verdict

Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.

Clever Ops Recommendation

Smartsheet and Trello are both proven project management platforms trusted by mid-market Australian businesses. The differences between them matter most in specific scenarios: integration requirements, budget constraints, and feature priorities. Rather than guessing, let our team of Harvard-educated consultants assess your needs and recommend the right fit — it is what we have been doing for 12+.

Migration Notes

What to know about switching between Smartsheet and Trello.

Migrating Between Smartsheet and Trello

Clever Ops takes a low-risk approach to migrating between Smartsheet and Trello. We run both systems in parallel during the transition, transferring attachments in stages and verifying data at each step. Your team continues working in the existing system until the new one is fully validated. The process typically takes 4-8 weeks, followed by 3 months of hands-on support.

Smartsheet vs Trello FAQ

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