Microsoft Undertaking and Smartsheet are two in style venture administration software program platforms that provide a extra conventional consumer interface design. They could appear comparable at first look, however as soon as I began reviewing each options, the variations turned obvious.

• Microsoft Undertaking is a more sensible choice for energy customers who’re comfy with extremely superior options. It largely integrates with different Microsoft merchandise and depends on a few of them for key performance, so it’s greatest utilized by groups which might be already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Smartsheet is an efficient possibility for groups which might be managing their initiatives in spreadsheets and want an improve to devoted venture administration software program. It additionally affords greater than 100 integrations with third-party software program, making it a more sensible choice for groups with a extra numerous software program stack.

Although current Microsoft clients could really feel at dwelling with Microsoft Undertaking, your best option by way of pure venture administration software program capabilities is Smartsheet.

Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Comparability desk

After hands-on opinions of the very best venture administration software program, we’ve created a scoring rubric to make use of when evaluating options like Microsoft Undertaking and Smartsheet. Whereas shut, Smartsheet edges out Microsoft Undertaking for greatest total decide in our eyes.

Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Which is best?

Microsoft Undertaking: Higher for Microsoft-aligned groups

Use Microsoft Initiatives if

• you want extremely superior venture administration software program,
• your staff includes energy customers who aren’t intimidated by the upper studying curve,
• your organization is already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem,
• you don’t want integrations with third-party software program, or
• you need or want an on-premises deployment possibility.

Microsoft Undertaking professionals and cons

Smartsheet: Higher for groups with numerous software program stacks

Use Smartsheet if

• you desire a cheaper software program platform,
• you’re searching for an improve from spreadsheets and desire a familiar-looking interface,
• you desire a decrease studying curve than Microsoft Undertaking,
• you want integrations with third-party software program, or
• you don’t want on-premises deployment.

Smartsheet professionals and cons

Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet pricing

Microsoft affords extra plans and on-premises choices to select from than Smartsheet. Nevertheless, Smartsheet is extra inexpensive than Microsoft Undertaking total. Each vendor options supply a 30-day free trial for sure plans.

Microsoft Undertaking pricing

Cloud-based subscriptions:

• Microsoft Planner: A part of Microsoft 365, which begins at $8.00 per consumer per 30 days
• Planner Plan 1: $10.00 per consumer per 30 days, billed yearly
• Planner and Undertaking Plan 3: $30.00 per consumer per 30 days, billed yearly
• Planner and Undertaking Plan 5: $55.00 per consumer per 30 days, billed yearly

Microsoft Undertaking is simply accessible as annual subscriptions, and the seller breaks down plans by per-user-per-month worth. See the desk beneath for the month-to-month snapshot and the annual worth you may count on to pay for every subscription.

*Whereas Microsoft lists plans with month-to-month costs, all plans are billed yearly.

On-premises options:

• Undertaking Customary 2024: $719.99 for a license for one PC
• Undertaking Skilled 2024: $1,409.99 for a license for one PC
• Undertaking Server Plan: Contact for customized pricing quote

For extra data, learn our full Microsoft Undertaking evaluation and examine our record of Microsoft Undertaking options.

Smartsheet pricing

• Professional: $9.00 per consumer per 30 days billed yearly, or $12.00 per consumer per 30 days billed month-to-month
• Enterprise: $19.00 per consumer per 30 days billed yearly, or $24.00 per consumer per 30 days billed month-to-month
• Enterprise: Contact for customized pricing quote
• Superior Work Administration: Contact for customized pricing quote

Smartsheet plans embody month-to-month and annual choices for customers seeking to keep away from vendor lock-in with a month-to-month plan or wish to save extra with a yearly subscription. See the desk beneath for a have a look at the month-to-month plan charges and the financial savings included in deciding on an annual plan.

For extra data, learn our full Smartsheet evaluation and examine our record of Smartsheet options.

Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Characteristic comparability

Undertaking administration

Winner: Smartsheet

Microsoft Undertaking obtained a 3.9/5 for options total on our scoring rubric. It affords three predominant venture views: grid, board, and timeline (Gantt) view. The design is much like different Microsoft merchandise, however I didn’t discover the interface notably intuitive to make use of, and the sheer variety of options may be overwhelming and makes it tough to seek out what you want.

However what’s spectacular about Microsoft Undertaking is that it offers you the choice to get very detailed with useful resource administration, resembling monitoring prices of supplies over the course of a venture or seeing how a lot time a person has spent on a process.

Smartsheet scored higher at 4.6/5 for options total. It affords 4 venture views: grid, card (kanban), calendar, and Gantt. It’s not probably the most colourful or interesting interface, however it’s simpler to navigate than Microsoft Undertaking, for my part.

You possibly can both begin with a clean sheet or use a template to assist information the method. Conditional formatting guidelines velocity up the method even additional, and you too can create automation guidelines to chop down on guide work. Smartsheet does supply a paid add-on for useful resource administration, but it surely’s not as strong as Microsoft Undertaking.

Gantt view in Smartsheet exhibits essential particulars like process standing, period, and staff member assigned, decreasing the necessity for further clicks. With extra particulars displayed, this interface might also be extra cluttered for extra advanced initiatives.

Doc administration

Winner: Smartsheet

You possibly can add paperwork to a website in Microsoft Undertaking, however enhancing and updating capabilities are restricted as a result of the idea is that you’re already utilizing SharePoint or OneDrive for doc storage and administration. Microsoft Undertaking additionally doesn’t combine with different apps, so you may’t use an outdoor platform like Google Docs both. This is likely one of the explanation why Microsoft Undertaking is greatest utilized by groups which might be already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem.

Smartsheet additionally permits you to add recordsdata to a venture, and it hyperlinks to a number of in style doc administration options, together with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. The Enterprise and Enterprise plans supply a proofing characteristic that enables groups to visually mark up content material, together with movies, inside the Smartsheet device to maintain all the things centralized in a single place.

Should you’re not already utilizing SharePoint or OneDrive, then I’d advocate Smartsheet as the higher alternative for doc administration.

Communication instruments

Winner: Smartsheet

Just like doc administration, Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t comprise any native options for communication or collaboration. As an alternative, customers can be prompted to attach with colleagues utilizing certainly one of Microsoft’s many different communication instruments like Groups, Outlook, or Skype. Should you aren’t already a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, then you will want to spend money on different software program that may take over this perform — and it received’t combine with Microsoft Undertaking.

However, Smartsheet permits groups to have conversations by way of feedback on sheets and rows. People can tag one another in feedback to ship a notification. Feedback will also be accessed by way of the cell app so you may learn and reply on the go.

Whereas it doesn’t supply a extra strong native chat perform, Smartsheet does combine with some messaging platforms, resembling Slack, to complement the built-in remark characteristic. Until your staff already makes use of Microsoft’s stack of purposes, Smartsheet is the higher alternative for communication performance.

Ease of use

Winner: Smartsheet

Smartsheet ranked considerably higher than Microsoft Undertaking relating to ease of use. Smartsheet obtained a 3.5/5, whereas Microsoft is simply at 1.8/5.

Smartsheet isn’t probably the most intuitive venture administration software program I’ve examined, but it surely was far simpler to determine issues out in comparison with Microsoft Undertaking because the format is extra logical. It was additionally a lot sooner to create and cargo new initiatives in Smartsheet, and the bigger variety of template choices helped velocity up that course of additional.

Whereas veteran venture managers could recognize the in-depth view of financials and useful resource planning in Microsoft Undertaking, much less skilled customers could battle with the steep studying curve.

Buyer assist

Winner: Microsoft Undertaking

However, Microsoft Undertaking scored a bit higher than Smartsheet on the customer support entrance: Microsoft Undertaking obtained 4.2/5 and Smartsheet obtained 3.8/5. The rationale for that is that Smartsheet paywalls sure assist options (resembling 24/7 telephone assist and a chat bot app) both to the dearer plans or to a assist add-on that prices a further charge.

Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t cost further for assist, although some customers do say that the customer support could possibly be improved.

Integrations

Winner: Smartsheet

Relating to integrations, Smartsheet beats Microsoft Undertaking by a landslide. Not solely does Smartsheet supply 100+ native integrations, it additionally connects to hundreds extra platforms by way of Zapier.

In distinction, Microsoft Undertaking’s native integrations are largely restricted to different Microsoft merchandise, and it doesn’t connect with Zapier (in contrast to another Microsoft merchandise), so there isn’t even a workaround.

Evaluate methodology

To match these venture administration instruments, I signed up totally free trials along with viewing demo movies, consulting venture documentation and studying consumer opinions. I thought-about options resembling process administration, portfolio administration, doc administration, and communication instruments. I additionally weighed different components resembling ease of use, buyer assist, integrations, and pricing.

If neither Microsoft Undertaking nor Smartsheet sounds best for you, don’t fear. There are many different venture administration options on the market, together with some with forever-free plans. Take a look at our picks for the high venture administration software program of 2024 to see what your choices are.

Replace notes

• March 16, 2025: Sam Ingalls reviewed every resolution, fact-checked any claims to make sure all particulars are up-to-date and correct, and expanded on the unique evaluation.
• Might 29, 2024: Kara Sherrer wrote the unique model of this text.