Smartsheet vs Trello: Project Management Comparison (2026)

Smartsheet presents a robust option for organizations requiring extensive project management features, conversational AI, and broad integration capabilities, particularly for those who can accommodate its higher price point. Trello is a suitable option for teams prioritizing ease of use, visual organization, and core collaboration features within a more budget-friendly framework, especially for smaller projects or teams.

AI Citation Scorecard

How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask project management questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.

Trello leads overall33% cited vs Smartsheet 13% across 60 probes.
ChatGPT
Smartsheet
2 / 6 probes
33%
Good
TrelloLeads
6 / 6 probes
100%
Excellent
Perplexity
Smartsheet
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Trello
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Gemini
Smartsheet
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Trello
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Claude
Smartsheet
2 / 6 probes
33%
Good
TrelloLeads
4 / 6 probes
67%
Excellent
Copilot
Smartsheet
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Trello
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Scale:NoneLowFairStrongExcellent

Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.

Pricing

Smartsheet
Starting price
$129/user/month
Free tier
Yes
smartsheet.com
Trello
Starting price
$5/user/month
Free tier
Yes
trello.com

Key Features

Smartsheet
  • Unlimited free Contributors
  • Gantt, table, board, and calendar view
  • Rich formulas
  • Conversational AI features
  • Unlimited sheets, forms, and reports
  • 250 automations per month
Trello
  • Unlimited cards
  • Custom backgrounds & stickers
  • Unlimited storage (10MB/file)
  • iOS and Android mobile apps
  • Advanced checklists
  • Collapsible lists
  • Workspace-level templates
  • SAML SSO via Atlassian Guard

When to choose Smartsheet

Choose Smartsheet if your organization needs unlimited sheets, forms, and reports, rich formulas, conversational AI features, and a high volume of automations (250 per month). It is also suitable if integrations with Power BI, Tableau, Jira, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 are critical.

When to choose Trello

Choose Trello if your organization prioritizes unlimited cards, custom backgrounds and stickers, and workspace-level templates. It is also suitable if mobile app availability for iOS and Android, advanced checklists, and collapsible lists are key requirements, and if SAML SSO via Atlassian Guard is desired for security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pricing differences between Smartsheet and Trello?
Smartsheet starts at $129/user/month, while Trello starts at $5/user/month.
Do both Smartsheet and Trello offer a free tier?
Yes, both Smartsheet and Trello offer a free tier.
What are the key differences in project views between Smartsheet and Trello?
Smartsheet offers Gantt, table, board, and calendar views. Trello's primary view is a board-based system with features like unlimited cards, collapsible lists, and advanced checklists.
Which platform offers conversational AI features?
Smartsheet offers conversational AI features.
What are the differences in automation capabilities?
Smartsheet includes 250 automations per month. Trello does not list a specific number of included automations.

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