Are you tired of juggling spreadsheets, emails, & endless to-do lists?
Project management can feel like a chaotic whirlwind.
But what if there was a tool that could bring all your work together in one organized space?
Smartsheet promises to do just that.
This review will examine Smartsheet’s features, pricing, and usability to determine whether it truly lives up to the hype.
Let’s find out if Smartsheet is the project management solution you’ve been searching for.
Overwhelmed by project chaos? Smartsheet can help. 90% of Smartsheet users report increased productivity. Start your free trial today!
What is Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is like a super-powered spreadsheet that helps you get organized.
Imagine a place where you can create lists, track projects, and plan events in one place.
It’s more than just rows and columns, though.
Smartsheet lets you add pictures and notes and even connect to other apps you already use.
Think of it this way: if a regular spreadsheet and a project management tool had a baby, the baby would be Smartsheet.
Smartsheet can manage tasks, share files with your team, and monitor your project’s progress in real-time.
This means everyone has clear visibility into what’s happening and what needs to get done.
To get started, you’ll need a Smartsheet account.
You can build sheets, dashboards, and reports to manage your work from there.
Who Created Smartsheet?
Smartsheet was created by a man named Brent Frei.
He started the company back in 2005.
He wanted to improve collaboration by creating an easy-to-use workspace to gather everyone’s work.
Smartsheet wants to empower people to do their best work.
They use a simple formula: make work easier and faster.
Smartsheet helps you automate repetitive tasks.
This gives you more time to focus on the important stuff.
It’s all about improving your workflow and making your job less stressful.
Top Benefits of Smartsheet
- Collaboration made easy: Smartsheet makes it simple to collaborate with others. You can share sheets, assign tasks, and track real-time progress. This means better teamwork and faster results.
- See your work in different ways: Smartsheet isn’t just a grid. You can view your projects as Gantt charts or calendars, which helps you visualize your work and spot potential problems.
- Connect to your favorite apps: Smartsheet integrates with popular tools like Microsoft Teams and Google Drive. This means you can sync your work across different platforms and keep everything in one place.
- Stay in the loop with alerts: Smartsheet sends you alerts and notifications so you never miss a deadline. This helps you stay on top of your work and keep projects on track.
- Try it out with a free trial: Smartsheet offers a free 30-day trial to explore its features and determine whether it fits you.
- Scale your work effortlessly: Whether you’re a small team or a large enterprise, Smartsheet can work at scale. You can easily manage complex projects and workflows with features like predecessors and approval requests.
- Control who sees what: Smartsheet allows you to set permissions for different users. This ensures that sensitive information is protected and only the right people have access.
- Continually improving: Smartsheet is constantly being updated with new features, bug fixes, & improvements to the user experience.
- Upgrade for more power: While the free trial is great, you must upgrade to a paid account to unlock Smartsheet’s full potential. This gives you access to very advanced features, like custom branding and increased storage.
- Find what you need quickly: Smartsheet allows you to filter your data to find exactly what you want. This saves you time & helps you stay organized.
- Get things done faster: Smartsheet helps you improve execution by streamlining your workflows and automating tasks. This means you can get more done in less time.
Best Features of Smartsheet
Smartsheet is packed with incredible features that make it robust.
It’s not just for one type of work. Many different teams can use it to accomplish tasks.
Let’s take a look at some of the best features.
1. Project Management
Smartsheet helps you plan and track your projects. You can see what everyone is working on.
It’s easy to share files and updates.
You can even set deadlines and reminders so nothing falls through the cracks.
Smartsheet helps you stay organized and on schedule.
2. Event Management
Planning a big event? Smartsheet can help!
You can use it to manage guest lists, track RSVPs, & create schedules.
You can even make sure you have enough chairs and tables.
Smartsheet helps you stay on top of all the details so your event runs smoothly.
3. Product Development
If you’re creating something new, Smartsheet can help you keep track of all the steps.
You can use it to manage your ideas, track progress, and get feedback.
Smartsheet helps you turn your ideas into reality.
4. IT Portfolio Management
This feature helps IT teams keep track of all their projects and resources.
They can see what everyone is working on and how much it costs.
Smartsheet helps IT teams stay organized and make sure they are using their resources wisely.
5. Business PMO
A PMO (Project Management Office) is like the command center for projects in a company.
Smartsheet helps PMOs track all the projects happening across the company.
They can see which projects are doing well and which ones need help.
This helps them make sure the company is successful.
Pricing
Smartsheet offers a few different plans to fit your needs. Here’s a simple table to help you understand the costs:
| Plan | Price (per user/month) |
|---|---|
| Pro | $9 |
| Business | $19 (billed monthly) |
| Enterprise | Custom Pricing |
| Advanced Work Management | Custom Pricing |
Pros and Cons
It’s essential to weigh the good and the bad before making decisions. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of Smartsheet to help you decide if it’s the right tool for you.
Pros
Cons
Alternatives of Smartsheet
While Smartsheet is a great tool, it’s not the only one out there!
Here are some popular alternatives you might want to consider:
- Monday.com: Known for its visual and intuitive interface, Monday.com is excellent for team collaboration and project visualization. It’s very user-friendly, even for beginners.
- ClickUp is a versatile tool for various tasks, from project management to note-taking. It’s highly customizable and offers a free plan with generous features.
- Wrike: A robust platform with advanced features, Wrike is a good choice for larger teams and complex projects. It offers strong reporting and analytics capabilities.
- Airtable: This tool combines the power of spreadsheets with the flexibility of a database. It’s excellent for managing information and building custom applications.
- Notion: More than just a simple project management tool, Notion can be used for note-taking, wikis, and databases. It’s a very flexible and customizable workspace.
Ultimately, the best alternative for you will depend on the specific needs & preferences. It’s worth exploring a few options to find the perfect fit!
Personal Experience with Smartsheet
My team recently used Smartsheet to plan a company-wide conference.
We were initially overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks: booking venues, managing speakers, coordinating catering, and promoting the event.
Smartsheet helped us organize the chaos.
Here’s how we used Smartsheet and the benefits we experienced:
- Centralized planning: We created a master sheet to track all tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. This gave everyone on the team a clear overview of the project.
- Benefit: No more scattered emails and endless meetings!
- Collaboration features: We used Smartsheet to assign tasks, share files, and discuss updates. This kept everyone in the loop and facilitated seamless teamwork.
- Benefit: Improved communication and reduce confusion.
- Gantt chart view allowed us to visualize the project timeline and task dependencies. We could quickly identify critical tasks and potential bottlenecks.
- Benefit: Improved project scheduling and risk management.
- Automated reminders: Smartsheet sent automatic reminders for upcoming deadlines, making sure that nothing slipped through the cracks.
- Benefit: Reduced stress and improved on-time completion of tasks.
- Integration with other tools: We connected Smartsheet with our email and calendar apps, streamlining our workflow and saving time.
- Benefit: Increased efficiency and reduced manual effort.
Overall, Smartsheet was instrumental in the success of our conference.
It helped us stay organized, collaborate effectively, and deliver a fantastic event.
We continue to use Smartsheet for various projects, and it has become an essential tool for our team.
Conclusion
Smartsheet is a powerful tool. It helps you stay organized and get more done.
It’s great for teamwork and managing projects of all sizes.
Smartsheet has lots of cool features.
You can see your work in different ways, like grids and calendars.
It even works with other apps you already use!
However, Smartsheet can be a bit pricey, and learning to use all its features might take some time.
If you need a tool to help you manage projects and work with your team, Smartsheet is worth a try.
Sign up for a free trial and see if Smartsheet suits you.
You might be surprised at how much easier it makes your work!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smartsheet easy to learn?
Yes, Smartsheet is designed to be user-friendly, especially if you’re familiar with spreadsheets. It has a simple interface & helpful tutorials to get you started. However, some more advanced features might take some time to master.
What kind of support does Smartsheet offer?
Smartsheet offers support options, including online help articles, video tutorials, and a community forum. You can simply contact their support team via email or phone if you need personalized assistance.
Can I use Smartsheet on my phone?
Yes, Smartsheet has a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. While it offers core functionality, some users find the mobile app less intuitive than the desktop version.
Is Smartsheet secure?
Yes, Smartsheet takes security seriously. It encrypts your data and offers various security features, such as two-factor authentication & granular permission controls.
What’s the difference between Smartsheet and Excel?
While both involve grids and formulas, Smartsheet is more than just a spreadsheet. It offers advanced project management features, collaboration tools, and automation capabilities not found in Excel.
