Independent comparison. Not affiliated with Smartsheet or Wrike.
Updated 16 April 2026
Smartsheet vs Wrike: The Closest Feature-for-Feature Match
Wrike is the only Smartsheet alternative that matches it on proofing, resource management, Gantt charts, and spreadsheet views simultaneously. If feature parity matters most, start here.
Quick Verdict
Choose Wrike if you need the closest feature match to Smartsheet at a lower price. Choose Smartsheet if you rely on its specific formula engine or need FedRAMP compliance. Wrike saves 47% per user on mid-tier plans.
Smartsheet
Smartsheet's strength is its deep spreadsheet paradigm with 100+ formula functions, cross-sheet references, and a mature ecosystem of add-ons (DataMesh, Bridge, Control Center). Enterprise governance and FedRAMP authorization set it apart for government work.
+ Deepest formula engine of any PM tool
+ FedRAMP Moderate authorization
+ DataMesh for cross-sheet data sync
+ Mature enterprise ecosystem
- $19/user/mo is premium pricing
- Add-ons increase total cost 20 to 50%
- Interface feels dated
Wrike
Wrike mirrors Smartsheet's feature breadth: spreadsheet view, Gantt charts with dependencies, resource management, file proofing, time tracking, and forms. The interface is similarly complex, which is both a strength (feature parity) and weakness (steep learning curve). Wrike Team at $10 per user is 47% cheaper than Smartsheet Business.
+ Spreadsheet view, Gantt, resource management, AND proofing
+ 47% cheaper than Smartsheet Business
+ Strong enterprise features (SSO, audit logs, admin controls)
+ Easiest migration path from Smartsheet
- Complex UI (similar criticism to Smartsheet)
- No cross-sheet references equivalent
- Higher enterprise tier pricing
- Steeper learning curve than simpler alternatives
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Smartsheet | Wrike | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (mid-tier) | $19/user/mo (Business) | $10/user/mo (Team) | Wrike |
| Enterprise tier | Custom | Custom | Tie |
| Free plan | No | Yes (5 users) | Wrike |
| Spreadsheet view | Native, full-featured | Table view (spreadsheet-like) | Smartsheet |
| Gantt charts | Dependencies, baselines, critical path | Dependencies, milestones, baselines | Tie |
| Resource management | Dedicated RM module | Native workload and capacity views | Tie |
| File proofing | Annotation and markup | Annotation and markup | Tie |
| Formula engine | 100+ functions, cross-sheet refs | Basic calculated fields | Smartsheet |
| Time tracking | Available | Built-in | Tie |
| Forms | Built-in | Built-in with request forms | Tie |
| Automations | Good | Good (rule-based) | Tie |
| Compliance | SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP | SOC 2, ISO 27001 (no FedRAMP) | Smartsheet |
| Onboarding | 1 to 4 weeks | 1 to 3 weeks | Wrike |
Pricing at Scale
10 users / month
25 users / month
50 users / month
100 users / month
Smartsheet Business ($19/user/mo) vs Wrike Team ($10/user/mo), annual billing. See SmartsheetPricing.com for full details.
Migration from Smartsheet to Wrike
Import method
Excel/CSV import with column mapping wizard
Difficulty
2/5
What transfers
Tasks, dates, assignees, descriptions, file attachments, basic hierarchy
What needs rebuilding
Formulas, automations, cross-sheet references, conditional formatting, proofing annotations
For detailed migration steps, see our complete migration guide.
The Bottom Line
Choose Smartsheet if you need:
- FedRAMP compliance for government work
- Advanced formulas with cross-sheet references
- DataMesh for automated data synchronization
- Specific Smartsheet integrations your workflow depends on
- You are locked into the Smartsheet ecosystem with Control Center
Choose Wrike if you need:
- Closest feature parity at a lower price
- Resource management and proofing in one tool
- 47% savings per user versus Smartsheet Business
- Strong Gantt charts with baselines
- You want the easiest migration from Smartsheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wrike really the closest match to Smartsheet?▾
Yes. Wrike is the only alternative that includes spreadsheet views, Gantt charts with baselines, resource management, file proofing, time tracking, AND forms all in one platform. Other alternatives cover some of these features but not all simultaneously. The trade-off is that Wrike's formula engine is much simpler than Smartsheet's.
Why choose Wrike over Smartsheet if they are so similar?▾
Price and specific improvements. Wrike Team costs $10 per user per month versus Smartsheet Business at $19 per user per month, a 47% savings. Wrike also offers a free plan for up to 5 users (Smartsheet does not), and the interface, while complex, has been modernized more recently than Smartsheet's.
Can Wrike handle cross-sheet references like Smartsheet?▾
Not directly. Smartsheet cross-sheet references allow formulas to pull data from other sheets. Wrike does not have an equivalent feature. You can work around this with Wrike Blueprints and project templates that standardize data structure, but if cross-sheet formulas are core to your workflow, this is a real gap.
How does the migration from Smartsheet to Wrike work?▾
Wrike has the easiest migration path because concepts map directly: sheets become projects, rows become tasks, columns become custom fields. The Excel/CSV import wizard handles mapping. Proofing annotations and automations do not transfer. For most teams, migration takes 1 to 2 days per 10 sheets.