Independent comparison. Not affiliated with Smartsheet or any vendor listed.
Updated 16 April 2026
How to Migrate from Smartsheet: A Step-by-Step Guide
Switching from Smartsheet is not just an export. Here is what transfers, what does not, and how to plan the move for every major alternative.
What Transfers from Smartsheet (and What Does Not)
Transfers via CSV/Excel Export
- Row data (text, numbers, dates, dropdown values)
- Column names and basic structure
- Attachments (downloaded separately)
- Comments (exported as a separate report)
- Contact list values (as plain text)
Does NOT Transfer to Any Tool
- Formulas and calculated columns
- Automations and workflow rules
- Cross-sheet references and cell links
- Conditional formatting rules
- Dashboard configurations
- Reports and saved filters
- Row-level and sheet-level permissions
- Proofing annotations and markup
Migration Steps by Tool
Smartsheet to Monday.com
difficulty
Import method
CSV/Excel import or dedicated Smartsheet import wizard
Estimated time (10 sheets)
1 to 2 days for a 10-sheet workspace
What transfers
Rows, columns, basic formatting, dates, text values, dropdown options
What needs rebuilding
Formulas, automations, cross-sheet references, conditional formatting, dashboards, permissions
Migration tip
Use Monday.com's board templates to recreate your sheet structure before importing data. This is faster than importing and then restructuring.
Smartsheet to ClickUp
difficulty
Import method
Direct Smartsheet import, CSV import, or Excel upload
Estimated time (10 sheets)
1 to 3 days for a 10-sheet workspace
What transfers
Tasks, assignees, due dates, status fields, attachments, comments
What needs rebuilding
Formulas, automations, Gantt dependencies (need manual re-linking), cross-sheet references
Migration tip
ClickUp's direct Smartsheet import handles most mapping automatically. Start there before trying CSV. Set up your workspace hierarchy (Spaces, Folders, Lists) before importing.
Smartsheet to Airtable
difficulty
Import method
CSV import or dedicated Smartsheet import tool
Estimated time (10 sheets)
2 to 4 days for a 10-sheet workspace (data restructuring needed)
What transfers
Rows become records, columns become fields, basic data types preserved
What needs rebuilding
Formulas (different syntax), automations, cross-sheet references, conditional formatting, row hierarchy
Migration tip
Airtable uses a relational model. Plan your table relationships before importing. One Smartsheet with cross-sheet references may become multiple linked Airtable tables.
Smartsheet to Asana
difficulty
Import method
CSV import
Estimated time (10 sheets)
2 to 3 days for a 10-sheet workspace
What transfers
Task names, assignees, due dates, descriptions, tags
What needs rebuilding
Spreadsheet layout (Asana uses lists, not grids), formulas, automations, Gantt dependencies, file attachments in cells
Migration tip
Asana does not have a native spreadsheet view. Restructure your Smartsheet data as task lists before importing. Each row becomes a task; columns map to custom fields.
Smartsheet to Wrike
difficulty
Import method
Excel/CSV import with mapping wizard
Estimated time (10 sheets)
1 to 2 days for a 10-sheet workspace
What transfers
Tasks, dates, assignees, descriptions, file attachments, basic hierarchy
What needs rebuilding
Formulas, automations, cross-sheet references, conditional formatting, proofing annotations
Migration tip
Wrike is the easiest migration from Smartsheet because the feature set is most similar. The spreadsheet view, Gantt, and folder hierarchy map naturally to Wrike concepts.
Smartsheet to Notion
difficulty
Import method
CSV import into database, or manual recreation
Estimated time (10 sheets)
3 to 5 days for a 10-sheet workspace (requires restructuring as Notion databases)
What transfers
Basic tabular data (rows to database entries, columns to properties)
What needs rebuilding
Formulas (different syntax), automations, all Smartsheet views, conditional formatting, permissions model
Migration tip
Notion works best when you rethink your structure rather than replicate it. Use linked databases instead of cross-sheet references. Create views instead of separate sheets for filtered data.
Recommended Migration Strategy
Step 1: Audit your Smartsheet usage. Document all sheets, automations, cross-sheet references, and integrations. Identify which are actively used versus historical.
Step 2: Choose your target tool. Use our comparison guide or pricing calculator to narrow down your options.
Step 3: Pilot with one team. Migrate one project to the new tool. Run it in parallel with Smartsheet for 2 weeks. Identify gaps and develop workarounds.
Step 4: Document and train. Create a migration playbook based on pilot learnings. Train the next wave of users.
Step 5: Expand in waves. Migrate additional teams in groups of 10 to 20 users. Each wave follows the playbook.
Step 6: Decommission Smartsheet. Export all remaining data for archival. Cancel subscription only after 100% of active work has moved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to migrate from Smartsheet?▾
For a small workspace (5 to 10 sheets, simple automations), expect 1 to 3 days. For a complex workspace (20+ sheets, cross-sheet references, extensive automations), expect 1 to 4 weeks. Enterprise migrations with 50+ users and change management typically take 2 to 6 months for full rollout.
Can I run Smartsheet and the new tool in parallel?▾
Yes, and you should. Keep your Smartsheet subscription active for at least 1 to 2 months after starting the migration. This lets your team validate the new tool without losing access to existing data and workflows. Cancel Smartsheet only after confirming everything works.
What is the biggest risk when migrating from Smartsheet?▾
Losing automation workflows. Smartsheet automations, formulas, and cross-sheet references do not transfer to any alternative. They must be rebuilt manually. The risk is not losing data (CSV export preserves that) but losing the logic layer that makes the data useful. Document all automations before starting the migration.
Which alternative has the easiest migration path from Smartsheet?▾
Wrike has the easiest migration because its feature set most closely matches Smartsheet. The spreadsheet view, Gantt charts, folder hierarchy, and resource management all have direct equivalents in Wrike. ClickUp is second easiest with its direct Smartsheet import tool. Notion is the hardest because it requires fundamentally rethinking your information structure.
Should I export everything or start fresh?▾
For active projects, export and import your data. For archived or completed projects, export to Excel/CSV and store offline. Starting the new tool with only active work reduces clutter and lets your team learn the new system without being overwhelmed by historical data.