Smartsheet vs Wrike: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Alex Chen, SaaS & Productivity Analystยท8 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Smartsheet and Wrike in 2026, Smartsheet is the stronger choice for operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools due to familiar spreadsheet feel. Wrike excels for enterprise teams needing resource and workload management with enterprise-ready features. Smartsheet offers Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards starting at $9/user/mo. Wrike provides Gantt charts, Resource management, Proof & approval from $9.80/user/mo with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Smartsheet delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 71/100. Smartsheet and Wrike compete in the project management segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading project management tools include Asana, Monday.com, Jira. Smartsheet serves 90K+ orgs users globally (founded 2005) while Wrike reports 20K+ orgs active users (founded 2006).

Smartsheet vs Wrike at a Glance

Smartsheet
Wrike
Starting Price
$9/user/mo
$9.80/user/mo
Free Plan
No
Yes
User Rating
4.4/5
4.2/5
Best For
Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-styl...
Enterprise teams needing resource and workload man...
Users
90K+ orgs
20K+ orgs
Founded
2005
2006
hiltonsoftware Score
71/100
69/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ“Š
Smartsheet
Project Management
71
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
VS
๐Ÿ”ง
Wrike
Project Management
69
hiltonsoftware.co Score

What are the main differences between Smartsheet and Wrike?

Smartsheet and Wrike differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Smartsheet leads in 4 of 7 categories.

SmartsheetWrike
78Ease of Use80
80Features74
60Value for Money67
69Customer Support68
63Integrations59
64Scalability58
67Learning Curve68

What are the pros and cons of Smartsheet vs Wrike?

Smartsheet
+Familiar spreadsheet feel
+Powerful automation
-No free plan
-Learning curve for advanced features
Wrike
+Enterprise-ready features
+Strong reporting tools
-Expensive premium tiers
-Interface feels dated

Which is better, Smartsheet or Wrike?

After evaluating Smartsheet and Wrike across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Smartsheet earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 71/100 versus Wrike at 69/100. Smartsheet stands out for "familiar spreadsheet feel" and "powerful automation". Wrike delivers competitive advantages in "enterprise-ready features", making Wrike a viable alternative.

On pricing, Wrike offers a free plan for SMBs and startups. Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo with no free tier, but justifies the cost with grid, gantt & card views and automation workflows and enterprise-grade scalability.

Bottom line: Choose Smartsheet for operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools. Choose Wrike for enterprise teams needing resource and workload management. Both Smartsheet and Wrike are established project management platforms.

CHOOSE SMARTSHEET IF:

Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools.

CHOOSE WRIKE IF:

Enterprise teams needing resource and workload management.

Smartsheet vs Wrike: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smartsheet better than Wrike in 2026?
Smartsheet outperforms Wrike in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 71/100 compared to 69/100. Smartsheet excels in Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards, making Smartsheet the better choice for Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools. Wrike is the stronger option for Enterprise teams needing resource and workload management due to enterprise-ready features. For teams needing grid, gantt & card views, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Smartsheet.
How does Smartsheet pricing compare to Wrike in 2026?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo with no free tier. Wrike starts at $9.80/user/mo and offers a free plan. Smartsheet includes features like Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards. Wrike provides Gantt charts, Resource management, Proof & approval. Smartsheet serves 90K+ orgs users while Wrike serves 20K+ orgs users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Smartsheet and Wrike?
Smartsheet specializes in Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards, earning a 71/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Wrike focuses on Gantt charts, Resource management, Proof & approval, scoring 69/100. Smartsheet is best for Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools. Wrike is best for Enterprise teams needing resource and workload management. Both Smartsheet and Wrike serve the Project Management market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Smartsheet to Wrike?
Migrating from Smartsheet to Wrike is possible since both operate in the Project Management space. Export data from Smartsheet and verify Wrike import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards (Smartsheet) versus Gantt charts, Resource management, Proof & approval (Wrike). Running both Smartsheet and Wrike in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Smartsheet or Wrike better for small business?
For small businesses, Wrike offers a free plan making Wrike more budget-friendly at 69/100 on hiltonsoftware.co. Smartsheet (starting at $9/user/mo) is worth considering for Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards. Both Smartsheet and Wrike scale from SMB to enterprise.

Reviewed by Alex Chen, SaaS & Productivity Analyst. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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