Independent comparison. Not affiliated with Smartsheet or Microsoft Project.
Updated 16 April 2026
Smartsheet vs Microsoft Project: Spreadsheet Flexibility vs Deep Project Scheduling
Microsoft Project wins on scheduling depth. Smartsheet wins on data flexibility. For Microsoft 365 ecosystem teams, Project integrates seamlessly with Teams, SharePoint, and Power BI.
Quick Verdict
Choose Microsoft Project if your primary need is deep project scheduling with critical path analysis, resource leveling, and earned value management. Choose Smartsheet if you need data flexibility, forms, and automations beyond traditional PM. Plan 1 at $10/user/mo is excellent value for scheduling.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a flexible work management platform that happens to include PM features. Its strength is combining spreadsheet data manipulation with project management, forms, automations, and workflows. Teams use it for everything from project tracking to data collection to resource planning.
+ Flexible beyond pure PM (forms, automations, data)
+ Formula engine with 100+ functions
+ File proofing and annotation
+ Works for both PM and non-PM use cases
- Gantt charts are good but not best-in-class
- No critical path analysis on standard plans
- Resource leveling is basic compared to MS Project
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is the deepest project scheduling tool available. Critical path analysis, resource leveling, earned value management, and multiple baselines are all built in. For organizations in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the integration with Teams, SharePoint, Power BI, and Azure AD is seamless.
+ Deepest Gantt and scheduling engine available
+ Critical path, resource leveling, earned value
+ Seamless Microsoft 365 ecosystem integration
+ FedRAMP High authorization (via M365)
- Interface feels dated and complex
- Not flexible for non-PM workflows
- No forms, no automations, no file proofing
- Requires Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Smartsheet | Microsoft Project | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (entry) | $9/user/mo (Pro) | $10/user/mo (Plan 1) | Smartsheet |
| Price (mid-tier) | $19/user/mo (Business) | $30/user/mo (Plan 3) | Smartsheet |
| Free plan | No | No | Tie |
| Gantt charts | Good (dependencies, baselines) | Best-in-class (critical path, earned value) | Microsoft Project |
| Resource leveling | Basic | Advanced (automatic leveling algorithms) | Microsoft Project |
| Critical path | Not on standard plans | Built-in on all plans | Microsoft Project |
| Spreadsheet flexibility | Full spreadsheet with 100+ formulas | Grid view (less flexible) | Smartsheet |
| Forms | Built-in with conditional logic | No forms (use Microsoft Forms separately) | Smartsheet |
| Automations | Good (built-in) | Via Power Automate (separate) | Smartsheet |
| File proofing | Yes | No | Smartsheet |
| M365 integration | Connector available | Native (Teams, SharePoint, Power BI) | Microsoft Project |
| Compliance | SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP Moderate | 90+ certs, FedRAMP High | Microsoft Project |
| Time tracking | Available | Built-in with cost tracking | Microsoft Project |
Pricing at Scale
10 users / month
25 users / month
50 users / month
100 users / month
Smartsheet Business ($19/user/mo) vs MS Project Plan 1 ($10/user/mo). Plan 3 ($30/user) adds full resource management. See SmartsheetPricing.com for full details.
Migration from Smartsheet to Microsoft Project
Import method
Excel/CSV export from Smartsheet, import into Project
Difficulty
4/5
What transfers
Task names, dates, durations, dependencies (partial), resource assignments
What needs rebuilding
Formulas, automations, forms, conditional formatting, file proofing annotations, cross-sheet references
For detailed migration steps, see our complete migration guide.
The Bottom Line
Choose Smartsheet if you need:
- Data flexibility beyond traditional PM
- Forms and data collection workflows
- Built-in automations without Power Automate
- File proofing and annotation
- Teams not in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Choose Microsoft Project if you need:
- Deep project scheduling with critical path analysis
- Advanced resource leveling and cost tracking
- Microsoft 365 ecosystem integration
- FedRAMP High compliance
- Traditional Gantt-centric project management
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microsoft Project cheaper than Smartsheet?▾
Plan 1 at $10 per user per month is cheaper than Smartsheet Business at $19 per user per month. However, Plan 1 includes only basic scheduling. Plan 3 at $30 per user per month (which adds resource management and portfolio analysis) is more expensive than Smartsheet. For pure scheduling, Project is cheaper. For full-featured PM, it depends on the plan.
Do I need to be on Microsoft 365 to use Project?▾
Microsoft Project for the web (cloud version) requires a Microsoft 365 subscription. The integration with Teams, SharePoint, and Power BI is a major advantage if you are already in the ecosystem. If your organization does not use Microsoft 365, the integration benefit disappears and other alternatives become more attractive.
Which has better Gantt charts?▾
Microsoft Project, clearly. It has the deepest Gantt implementation of any project management tool: critical path analysis, automatic resource leveling, multiple baselines, earned value management, and cost tracking integrated into the schedule. Smartsheet Gantt charts are good for standard dependency tracking but lack the scheduling depth.
Can Microsoft Project handle non-PM workflows?▾
Not well. Microsoft Project is purpose-built for project scheduling. It does not have forms, automations, data collection workflows, or the flexible data manipulation that Smartsheet offers. For teams that use Smartsheet for both PM and non-PM work (data management, request intake, reporting), Microsoft Project only covers the PM portion.