Smartsheet vs Airtable

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Our analysts compared Smartsheet vs Airtable based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Project Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Smartsheet is an enterprise-level SaaS management application that helps teams streamline processes through collaboration, project planning and task management. Users can set up tasks using a grid view, similar to a spreadsheet with automations, formulas, comments and mentions. 

It provides templates for projects and automations that can be modified and saved as a template to save time. Project views include a Kanban board, Gantt chart, timeline, calendar view, card view and a custom dashboard.

Its file and sheet sharing capabilities, comment feature and conversations remove team and data silos and give stakeholders insight into project details. A user-friendly interface helps managers and team members boost adoption rates, maintain consistency and increase efficiency. 

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Airtable is a versatile software platform designed to streamline project management and other organizational tasks. It's particularly well-suited for teams and businesses seeking a customizable solution to manage their workflows, projects, and data in a collaborative environment. One of the key benefits of Airtable is its flexibility; it allows users to create a tailored system that can adapt to various project types and sizes. Its popular features include a user-friendly interface, the ability to integrate with other apps, and a range of templates and views (such as Kanban, Grid, and Calendar) to visualize projects. When compared to similar products, users often highlight Airtable's ease of use and the depth of customization it offers, making it a strong choice for those who need more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Pricing for Airtable varies, with options ranging from a free basic plan to premium subscriptions, billed on a per-user, per-month basis, allowing businesses to scale their use according to their needs and budget.

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$9/User, Monthly
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$20/Seat, Monthly, Freemium
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Use Familiar Spreadsheet Formatting: Move from regular spreadsheets to spreadsheets with versatile views and much less formula knowledge required for formatting. Make adoption and training smoother because you’re not starting from scratch with processes. We especially liked the ability to enter data using a familiar cell view and then convert it to, say, a Kanban board.
  • Create No-Code Automations: Use templates or build from scratch with a trigger, condition and action automation format. Save time on admin tasks with automations for alerts, approvals, document creation and sheet changes. Choose from four starting cell-related triggers and build from there. We thought the automation building was intuitive and straightforward. Check out our test in the “See It In Action” section below.
  • Access Multiple Views: Add dynamic views to your projects and filter and customize views to meet task requirements. For example, we added a card view organized by status and a Kanban Board sorted by task assignee. Create a customizable dashboard to pull data like task progress, workload and duration using widgets.
  • Share Proofs and Additional Information: Collaborate on team documents, provide context and add proofs and files to individual tasks or the entire sheet. We set a piece of content as a task and added extra files like logos and docs along with comments for specific client requests.
  • Train As You Go: Kick your project off with a checklist outlining best practices and research material. Use pop-ups and explainer icons with video links as you work to get a better understanding of features and capabilities. We popped over to the help center to learn how to set up baselines for our Gantt chart (you need to edit the start date and end date columns).
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  • Link Content: Provides a unique functionality that allows you to link records between tables. Eliminates duplicate data entry and creates intelligent relationships among items.  
  • Use Airtable for Free: A basic package is available for free with no user limit. Its free plan includes essential capabilities, unlimited bases, a max of 1,200 records per base and other more. 
  • Build Tables With Rich Fields: Create different layouts within each table using unique field types, including single-line text, attachments, checkboxes, links to records, multiple selection dates and more to help configure a table that fits each project’s needs.  
  • Enhance Collaboration: Lets team members communicate seamlessly via tagged comments. Native apps for desktop and mobile (iOS and Android) facilitate on-the-go work. All changes sync across every team member’s device, keeping everyone updated in real time.  
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  • Dashboards and Reports: Customize your dashboard by adding widgets like reports, project-specific charts, shortcuts, images and text. Consolidate data from multiple sheets into a summary view using system reports. Track sheet changes using bi-directional functionality. Send reports via collaborative tools and change statuses to recur.
  • Multiple Views: View your tasks using the grid view, akin to a spreadsheet, a Gantt view as an add-on to your grid view, a Kanban board where you can drag and drop tasks and group them by assignee or status, a timeline view, a card view with customizable lanes and a calendar view that displays your tasks across its duration or by start dates only.
  • Task Management: Add your tasks and subtasks into each cell and use the indent and outdent buttons to divide tasks into groups that can be minimized to provide a project overview. Create or modify custom fields with your own text, dropdown lists and symbols to show status, assignees, priority, dates and latest comment. Attach files and proofs, write comments and mention users and set reminders for tasks.
  • Automations and Workflows: Save time with custom processes and workflows you can build by modifying templates for reminders and alerts, document generation, row changes, sheet changes and updates, and approval requests. Build your own workflow automations from scratch by choosing your trigger, setting conditions and adding actions. Manage automations by deactivating, deleting, duplicating or unsubscribing.
  • Templates: Use pre-built templates ranging from event management to HR workflows and marketing to streamline project creation. View complexity, task management and process before you apply a template. Build and save your own templates by customizing pre-built templates or creating them from scratch.
  • Integrations: Drive productivity with integrations like Office 365, Dropbox, DocuSign and Google Workspace and use iCal or Google Calendar to track project statuses.
  • Team Collaboration: Communicate with team members by commenting and mentioning users in individual tasks, adding files for additional information and chatting via the conversations tool where everyone with access to the sheet can see your comments. Integrate with Slack or Microsoft Teams to receive updates about your sheet and send messages to channels.
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  • Bases: Based on databases that are similar to spreadsheets, and each base supports multiple tables. Lets users view the information in each table in several ways. Can be used to create content calendars, product roadmaps and event plans, among others.  
  • Blocks: Blocks add functionality to bases, letting users build workflows that fit their team’s needs. The WYSIWYG editor lets users create a host of layouts and interactive interfaces, such as timelines, charts, time trackers, pivot tables, 3D model explorers, page designers and countdown clocks. Also gives users the ability to send group SMS messages or connect via video chat. 
  • Templates: Out-of-the-box templates cover the gamut of project types and are suitable for different departments. Lets users choose from categories like content production, creative, event planning, marketing, project management and more. 
  • Layout Configurations: Displays project details using four different views: Kanban, grid, calendar or gallery. The grid layout provides an overview of different tasks that include priority level, department, deadline and other elements. Kanban and gallery views have similar functionality but are more visual and less detailed. Calendars display tasks based on deadlines for a visual overview. 
  • Integrations and Extensions: Integrates with popular apps, including other project management tools like Asana and Trello. Connects with Zendesk, Box, Evernote, G-Suite tools, GitHub, Dropbox and others. Teams can use Zapier for extended capabilities to configure integrations with more than 1,000 apps and websites. 
  • View Data: Lets users create different views for different cases. Grouping, sorting and power filtering gives users the right view for their content. Save views for easy access.  
  • Airtable Apps: Airtable marketplace has over 50 pre-built apps. The Gantt app helps users tackle project dependencies and visualize progress. Its Page Designer app helps users pull data to create slides, catalogs and invoices. 
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Product Ranking

#5

among all
Project Management Software

#25

among all
Project Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

81
84
83
86
80
85
88
78
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Project Tracking
Platform Features
Mobile Capabilities
Task Management
Platform Security
Project Tracking
Integrations and Extensibility
Task Management
Project Planning and Scheduling

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Smartsheet
Airtable
+ Add Product + Add Product
Customizations Dashboards And Reporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Features Project Planning And Scheduling Project Tracking Task Management Team Collaboration Time Tracking And Management 83 80 88 92 78 96 85 77 56 86 85 78 73 87 90 88 80 86 0 25 50 75 100
57%
43%
0%
86%
0%
14%
80%
0%
20%
80%
0%
20%
86%
0%
14%
71%
0%
29%
88%
0%
12%
67%
8%
25%
67%
8%
25%
83%
0%
17%
86%
14%
0%
71%
14%
15%
75%
17%
8%
83%
0%
17%
67%
8%
25%
67%
0%
33%
14%
57%
29%
86%
0%
14%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

67%
6%
27%
78%
0%
22%
63%
0%
37%
100%
0%
0%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 22301 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 4704 reviews
88%
of users recommend this product

Smartsheet has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 22301 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

92%
of users recommend this product

Airtable has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 92% when considering 4704 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (20)
4.2 (11)
4.4 (17366)
4.6 (2149)
4.5 (3333)
4.7 (1840)
4.7 (728)
4.6 (41)
4.3 (854)
4.3 (663)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Smartsheet and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Mobile Capabilities and Project Tracking.

Mobile Capabilities Award
Project Tracking Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Airtable and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Platform Security. Airtable stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Platform Security Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Automation: Reviewers appreciated the no-code automation and said that it helps to eliminate productivity killers and saves time.
Collaboration: Users liked the sharing option with level-based permissions that allow collaboration with non-users and help coworkers and external stakeholders stay up-to-date on projects and processes.
Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface and templates make it easy to set up, customize and access multiple views, according to reviewers.
What Users Like
Customization: “We can customize it to fit various projects, whether we’re tracking client cases, managing document revisions, or planning team tasks. For instance, I created a project tracker for a major client contract negotiation. The ability to set deadlines, assign tasks, and update statuses in real time has streamlined our communication and kept everyone on the same page.” - Russ Johnson, Founder of Linx Legal
Collaboration: “We had this one job in a high-rise condo that put Smartsheet to the test. The sliding door system was an older model with custom-sized panels that aren’t easy to source, and it needed specific adjustments due to the unique structure of the frame. Typically, coordinating the right parts, tools, and technician experience for something like this would require several phone calls and a lot of back-and-forth. With Smartsheet, we were able to set up the job details to track not only the special parts needed but also assign a technician who was experienced with that model. When the parts came in, the technician was notified directly through Smartsheet, so he knew the moment everything was ready. It saved us from potential delays and kept the customer fully updated on when the work could be done.” - Gal Cohen, Business Development Leader and Field Area Manager JDM Sliding Doors
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User Friendly: The system is easy to use and intuitive, as noted by approximately 90% of users who mention the system’s usability.
Functionality: Airtable offers a robust suite of successful business management tools, as reported by 88% of the users who mention the product’s functionality.
Customizations: About 90% of users who referred to customization noted that this system is easy to customize as per their business’s needs.
Collaborative: About 100% of users who mentioned the platform’s collaborative capabilities noted that it facilitates and encourages team interactions.
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System Integration: Limited integrations and complex configurations were an issue for reviewers.
Premium Add-Ons: Reviewers noted that advanced features come with a price tag that can be prohibitive for some businesses.
Slow Loading Time: Users reported it takes time to display screens export formats occasionally.
What Users Dislike
Integration: “Despite its many benefits, integrating Smartsheet with other systems posed some challenges. Initially, we experienced issues with data syncing between Smartsheet and our CRM software, leading to discrepancies in our financial reporting. Recognizing this, I allocated specific time for thorough testing before our full implementation, allowing us to identify and resolve any integration issues early on.” - Austin Rulfs, Founder of Zanda Wealth Mortgage Brokers
Learning Curve: “While Smartsheet is powerful, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. I found that investing time in training sessions helped bridge that gap, making it easier for everyone to adapt and use the tool effectively.” - Russ Johnson, Founder of Linx Legal
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Limited Project Management Features: Airtable lacks native Gantt charts and other robust project visualization tools, making it less suitable for complex projects.
Learning Curve: The interface, while flexible, can be overwhelming for new users due to its unique spreadsheet-database hybrid approach.
Customization Challenges: Extensive customization often requires familiarity with formulas and scripting, potentially hindering users with limited technical expertise.
Mobile App Limitations: The mobile app offers reduced functionality compared to the desktop version, which can impact on-the-go project management.
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Smartsheet is a cloud-based work management platform that helps users streamline and organize processes with a spreadsheet-esque interface, flexible templates, multiple views and team collaboration. Apart from the grid view, you can visualize projects using a Gantt chart, Kanban board, calendar view, card view or timeline view. No-code automations are another note-worthy feature, where you can build from templates or scratch.It streamlines project creation with templates suited to different industries and end goals, so you have a jumping-off point instead of going in blind. Team collaboration is another area where Smartsheet shines, with comments, conversations and file and sheet sharing (even with people outside your organization). It also offers a customizable dashboard view, although I did find some of the chart widgets a little tricky to work, without training.Highlights for me were definitely the familiarity of spreadsheet formatting (but with more views and automations), robust collaboration capabilities and guided explainers throughout the setup. However, user reviews noted limited filters and integrations, lags and expensive add-ons as downsides.Overall, Smartsheet is a great option for teams familiar with spreadsheets but are on the lookout for more visualization and collaboration, along with the budget to spend on advanced features.

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Airtable has revolutionized the way businesses handle data, offering a unique blend of spreadsheet simplicity and database power. Reviewers consistently highlight its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to individuals with varying technical backgrounds. Unlike traditional spreadsheets, Airtable allows users to establish relationships between data sets, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of complex information. This feature proves invaluable for project management, as it facilitates the tracking of dependencies and the visualization of workflows. Airtable's flexibility is another standout feature. Users can customize their databases with various field types, including attachments, checkboxes, and formulas, to tailor the platform to their specific needs. Additionally, Airtable's extensive template library provides a starting point for various use cases, such as content calendars, product roadmaps, and CRM systems. Reviewers appreciate the ability to seamlessly integrate Airtable with other popular applications like Slack, Google Drive, and Zapier, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. While some users note that Airtable's pricing can be higher than some competitors, the consensus is that the platform's robust features and scalability justify the cost, particularly for growing businesses with evolving data management requirements. Airtable is an excellent choice for teams and businesses seeking a versatile and user-friendly solution for managing and organizing their data. Its intuitive interface, coupled with its powerful features and integrations, makes it suitable for a wide range of use cases, from simple task management to complex project workflows. Whether you're a small startup or a large enterprise, Airtable can empower your team to collaborate effectively and make data-driven decisions with ease. Please note that software features and pricing structures can change over time, so it's always a good idea to check the official Airtable website for the most up-to-date information.

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