Jira vs Smartsheet
Jira is enterprise project management and issue tracking for software development teams, while Smartsheet is enterprise work management platform with spreadsheet interface, automations, and dashboards. Smartsheet comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting, whereas Smartsheet targets enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-style project management.
| Feature | Jira | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Automations | — | ✓ |
| Custom Workflows | ✓ | — |
| Dashboards | ✓ | ✓ |
| Marketplace | ✓ | — |
| Resource Mgmt | — | ✓ |
| Roadmaps | ✓ | — |
| Spreadsheet UI | — | ✓ |
| Sprints | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Jira starts at $7.75/user/mo. Smartsheet starts at $7/user/mo. Smartsheet is the more affordable option.
Feature gaps: Jira offers Custom Workflows, Marketplace and Roadmaps that Smartsheet lacks. Smartsheet brings Automations, Resource Mgmt and Spreadsheet UI that Jira does not have. Both share Dashboards.
Team fit: Both tools target enterprise teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Where each tool shines: Jira's biggest strengths are: extremely customizable workflows and fields. advanced reporting and dashboards. Smartsheet's biggest strengths are: spreadsheet-style interface is familiar to anyone who has used excel. built-in automations handle repetitive tasks like status changes and assignments.
Watch out for: With Jira, users commonly note that slow and bloated interface. With Smartsheet, the main complaint is that no free plan — you need to pay $7/user/mo from day one to use it.
choose Jira if
- You need a tool built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting
- You specifically need Custom Workflows and Marketplace
- You care about advanced reporting and dashboards
- The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users
choose Smartsheet if
- You need a tool built for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-style project management
- You want to save on per-user costs — Smartsheet is $0.75/user/mo cheaper
- You specifically need Automations and Resource Mgmt
- You care about built-in automations handle repetitive tasks like status changes and assignments
frequently asked
What is the difference between Jira and Smartsheet?
Jira is enterprise project management and issue tracking for software development teams, while Smartsheet is enterprise work management platform with spreadsheet interface, automations, and dashboards. Smartsheet comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting, whereas Smartsheet targets enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-style project management.
Should I use Jira or Smartsheet?
Jira is built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting. Smartsheet is built for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-style project management. Pick the one that fits.
When should I choose Jira over Smartsheet?
Choose Jira if You need a tool built for large engineering teams that need customizable workflows and reporting; You specifically need Custom Workflows and Marketplace; You care about advanced reporting and dashboards; The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users.
When should I choose Smartsheet over Jira?
Choose Smartsheet if You need a tool built for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-style project management; You want to save on per-user costs — Smartsheet is $0.75/user/mo cheaper; You specifically need Automations and Resource Mgmt; You care about built-in automations handle repetitive tasks like status changes and assignments.
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