With Smartsheet and Airtable leading the market, each offering unique features and capabilities, making the right choice can be tricky.
In this comprehensive comparison, I’ll break down the key features, pricing, and user feedback for each platform to help you make an informed decision.
➡️ I’ll also introduce you to a third option that covers both tools’ weaknesses with its all-in-one project management capabilities: SmartSuite (that’s us).
TL;DR
✅ Smartsheet excels in enterprise-grade project control and is easy to use for simpler tasks. However, things can get messy when it comes to customizing the platform and setting up automations. A good option for businesses needing portfolio and process management capabilities.
✅ Airtable shines in database flexibility and customization but new users find the platform complex to use. Best for teams needing highly customizable workflows and database management.
✅ SmartSuite offers the best value with comprehensive features at lower price points, built-in team communication, and an intuitive interface. Best for teams wanting an all-in-one solution at an affordable price.
Airtable vs. Smartsheet vs. SmartSuite: Features
TL;DR
- Smartsheet offers a good range of features, but some aspects of the platform need improvement.
- Airtable offers best-in-class workflow automation, AI and task management capabilities, but the tool lacks advanced reporting and collaboration features.
- SmartSuite offers an all-in-one project management solution for teams to plan, manage, and track projects, resources, and stakeholders.
Let’s go over the 3 tools’ features, starting with SmartSuite: 👇
SmartSuite Features
SmartSuite offers a comprehensive project management tool that lets you manage all your projects on a centralized platform with built-in automation and a communication centre.
But we are not trying to add to the noise of other project management tools.
Our solution aims to create one unified no-code platform that runs the entire operation, from project management to process automation to real-time collaboration.
Comprehensive Project Management
SmartSuite’s project management feature helps you plan, track, and manage simple to complex projects.
To simplify the process, you get numerous built-in intuitive features to execute your tasks perfectly.
Here’s what SmartSuite has in store for you.
- Smart task management: You can turn any item field into a task—a checklist item, comments, or sub-item. With this flexibility, you can easily build a solid task list and assign it to the right person with a due date and priority status.
- Project phases and milestones: Having milestones ensures your project stays on track and moves towards the objective. With SmartSuite, you can set them, monitor through your reporting dashboard, and flag issues.
- Files and project deliverables: With SmartSuite, you can manage and organize all your documents. You can also attach project-related files, share feedback with your team, and manage version history, all within your work context.
SmartSuite supports formats like PDF, GIF, CSV, PNG, and MP4. The tool also integrates with Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and Microsoft OneDrive, making adding files to your workflows easy.
Also, you can add images directly in SmartSuite by connecting your social media and Unsplash accounts.
- Native time tracking: Monitor and evaluate task and project completion times. Built-in tracking helps group time entries see estimates and segment billable and non-billable entries.
💡 Interested in how other team leaders are using SmartSuite? You can check out our video walkthrough:
Native Team Collaboration
SmartSuite outperforms Smartsheet and Airtable with its built-in communication and collaboration features.
You can connect with peers in group chats or 1:1 conversations for quick feedback and keep stakeholders updated.
SmartSuite’s members’ directory provides a holistic view of the project team by examining each teammate’s details, such as availability status, job profile, and other relevant information.
Like the other two tools, you can use comments and @mentions to share updates, nudge teammates, or add new people to the conversation.
Comprehensive Project Reporting
Unlike Airtable and Smartsheet, SmartSuite offers a dynamic project analytics tool with configurable charts and graphs.
The reporting dashboard helps you track project performance, understand resource allocation, and identify slow-moving projects.
Based on these insights, you can quickly develop plans to overcome roadblocks and get the project back on track.
You can visualize reporting in Grid, Card, Kanban, Timeline, Map, Calendar, or Dashboard views. Add as many as needed to build a visual storyboard for your project’s progress.
To share reports with stakeholders or clients, you can make the report public and share the necessary access. SmartSuite also supports printing or exporting PDF, Excel, Google Sheets, or CSV format.
Advanced Workflow Automation
SmartSuite's no-code automation builder is one of the most intuitive, giving a neck-to-neck competition in automation.
You can assemble automation at the task and project and automate repetitive tasks based on triggers like changing dates, sending notification emails, or updating statuses.
There are six pre-defined triggers and 15+ actions, with options to build custom ones.
SmartSuite is the right choice if you:
✅ Need a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop customization.
✅ Need a platform that can adapt to various business processes.
✅ Want to centralize team communication and collaboration.
✅ Want affordable and feature-packed software.
SmartSuite isn’t the best option if you:
❌ Are looking for a well-established platform with a long track record, as SmartSuite is relatively new.
❌ Need extensive third-party integrations, as SmartSuite offers fewer native integrations than Airtable and Smartsheet.
💡 If you’re interested in how SmartSuite compares to Airtable in deeper detail, you can check out our SmartSuite vs. Airtable detailed comparison guide.
Airtable’s Features
Task Properties With A Side Comment View
Airtable lets you add subtasks, attach files, and function fields to automate input in various fields.
Each task then opens up in a two-column window, enabling you to see comments from your co-workers.
Automated Workflows
You and your team can create triggers on every field level, such as sending emails when a status changes.
You can then integrate it with Microsoft & Google Suite, Jira, Salesforce, and Twilio.
💡 Along with no-code workflows, Airtable supports JavaScript to extend the logic capabilities.
Interface Designer
Airtable lets you build a custom interface without coding knowledge, similar to other platforms on the market.
From designing the layout to deciding the key elements, you get full control over how the interface looks and feels.
Your admin team can adjust the permission access (editor, commenter, or read-only) depending on the guests’ involvement in the project.
You can build custom views for different departments in your organization, which is something I found to be ideal for larger companies.
Different departments of your organization can access customized lists, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and calendar views.
Airtable AI
In response to competition from ClickUp and Monday, Airtable has also launched their AI-powered capabilities on their project management solution that lets you:
- Generate AI content, including launching briefs and creating blog posts, FAQs, and supportive articles.
- Automatically categorize information, such as tagging tasks.
- Routing work in progress to the best person in your organization.
- Translating content for better internal and external communication.
Airtable is the ideal choice if you:
✅ Are looking for a highly flexible and customizable platform for diverse project management needs.
✅ Require real-time collaboration features for seamless teamwork.
✅ Would benefit from centralized data management to keep all project information in one place.
Airtable isn't the best option if you:
❌ Need advanced project management features like budgeting and critical path analysis.
❌ Are working with a tight budget and can't afford premium features, which is why some customers have been searching for Airtable alternatives.
❌ Rely heavily on mobile functionality for project management on the go.
➡️ You can check out our detailed Airtable review, where we dive deeper into the platform’s capabilities, pros, and cons.
Smartsheet’s Features
Formulas and functions
As a spreadsheet-focused project management tool, Smartsheet offers some of the most advanced and dynamic formulas and functions.
The platform lets you perform complex calculations and fetch relevant data within a single or multiple sheets at once.
Team collaboration
Smartsheet is loaded with team collaboration tools. You can build a library of files, loop in stakeholders for proofing, share attachments, and leave comments.
Admin control to share access is flexible and allows collaboration with internal and external users.
The platform supports file types such as .jpg, .png, .gif, .pdf, .docx, .pptx, and .xlsx and lets you upload content from Brandfolder, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more.
Dashboards
Dashboards in Smartsheet help you consolidate your work and build a visualization for the project's performance.
You can add interactive widgets, which are the building blocks of a dashboard. Some common widgets include reports, charts, metrics, images, and web content.
Your team can also share dashboards with users who might not have the actual report, allowing you to maintain complete control over privacy.
Workload Tracking
Workload tracking helps teams monitor team member’s availability and balance workloads, enhancing team performance.
Smartsheet provides you with a workload heat map as a visual snapshot of your team’s availability, while the workload schedule offers an expanded view of project assignments.
Smartsheet is ideal if you:
✅ Need advanced formulas and functions to evaluate the project’s performance.
✅ Need a versatile project management tool with multiple views (Grid, Gantt, Kanban, Calendar).
✅ Require advanced collaboration features for real-time teamwork and file sharing across departments.
Smartsheet isn't the best option if you:
❌ Are a small team looking for an intuitive interface with a low learning curve, which is why some brands have been looking for Smartsheet alternatives.
❌ Operate with a limited budget.
❌ Need advanced data analysis and reporting capabilities.
➡️ Learn more about Smartsheet with our honest Smartsheet review, where I cover the platform’s features, integrations, and pricing structure in more detail, including user testimonials.
Integrations: Airtable vs. Smartsheet vs. SmartSuite
SmartSuite Integrations
SmartSuite integrates with major platforms, from communication to social media.
Our platform offers five connectors, including Zapier, Ply, Integrately, Relay, and Make, to connect with 1,000s of apps to transfer data.
Some of the notable integrations include:
- Salesforce.
- Slack.
- Twilio.
- Jira Cloud.
- HubSpot.
- Intercom.
Airtable Integrations
Airtable offers numerous native and third-party integrations to expand its functionalities. Some of its major native integrations are Jira, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Zendesk, and Box.
The platform also supports third-party platforms like Notion, Slack, Shopify, and Hubspot. Like the other two tools, it also offers connectors such as Zapier.
Some other popular integrations are:
- Gmail.
- Typeform.
- ChatGPT.
- Stripe.
- Mailchimp.
Smartsheet Integrations
Smartsheet offers two connectors, Jira and Salesforce, that enable bi-directional data synchronization.
In addition to these, there are 100+ native integrations, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Tableau.
Other notable integrations are
- Okta.
- Power BI.
- Oculus.
- Miro.
- DocuSign.
Winner: Smartsheet
Smartsheet offers 100+ native integrations with various productivity apps, while SmartSuite and Airtable have to rely on third-party connectors like Zapier.
Pricing: Airtable vs. Smartsheet vs. SmartSuite
SmartSuite Pricing
Unlike Smartsheet, SmartSuite offers a forever-free plan, which is among the most generous on the market.
The free plan gives you 100 automated triggers, team collaboration tools, 7+ task views (Dashboard, table, boards, cards, list, calendar, and grid), time tracking, and more.
We offer four paid plans, each with a 14-day free trial.
- Team: Starts at $10/user/month when billed annually, including 8+ dashboard views, 5000 automation runs, time tracking, and collaborative SmartDocs.
- Professional: Starts at $25/user/month when billed annually, including two-factor authentication, Gmail & Outlook integrations, and unlimited editors.
- Enterprise: Starts at $35/user/month when billed annually, including audit logs, data loss prevention, and 50,000 API calls monthly.
- Signature: Customized plan tailored to your organization’s needs and team size.
Airtable Pricing
Airtable offers a free plan with unlimited task creation, 5 spaces, and guest invites with full access.
You can start using Airtable with its free plan, which comes with a single workspace with all basic dashboard views and 100 automation runs/month.
Airtable offers three pricing plans:
- Team: Starts at $20 per user/month with a 14-day free trial with access to 25,000 automation/month, custom branded forms, and Gantt charts.
- Business: Starts at $45 per user/month, including multi-source syncing and dynamic filtering.
- Enterprise Scale: Includes admin reports, enterprise-level integrations, and premium support. Contact sales for a quote.
➡️ You can learn more about Airtable’s pricing structure and figure out if it’s worth the cost with our in-depth Airtable pricing guide.
Smartsheet pricing
Unlike SmartSuite and Airtable, Smartsheet doesn’t offer a free plan or trial.
For pricing plans, Smartsheet charges based on the number of users and offers four paid plans:
- Pro: Starts at $9 per member/month when billed annually, including private sheet creation and unlimited form access with a 10-user limit.
- Business: Starts at $19 per member/month with a minimum of 3 user seats when billed annually, which adds unlimited automated workflows, PowerBI, Tableau, and Adobe Creative Cloud integration.
- Enterprise: Unlimited storage, enterprise plan manager, and AI tools. Contact sales for a quote.
- Advanced work management: Portfolio management and premium support package. Contact sales for a quote.
Winner: SmartSuite
SmartSuite wins with its generous free plan and lower entry point for business-grade paid plans. The price-to-feature ratio is well distributed across tiers compared to the other two tools.
Lastly, our platform offers flexible per-user pricing, not locking you in unused seats.
What are Customers Saying about Smartsheet, Airtable, and SmartSuite?
TL;DR:
- Smartsheet reviews praise the customizability and collaborative features but are not satisfied with its complicated automation setup.
- Airtable users recommend it for its customization options and adaptability but are not satisfied with the platform’s pricing model and steep learning curve.
- SmartSuite customers are satisfied with its intuitive interface, built-in communication features, customization options, and value-for-money when compared to alternatives. Despite this, some users are not happy with SmartSuite’s range of integrations.
SmartSuite Reviews
G2 Rating: 4.8/5.
What users love:
- Intuitive interface and quick setup.
- Built-in communication features.
- Flexible customization options.
- Value for money compared to competitors.
Common complaints:
- Limited integration options compared to established competitors.
- Some advanced features are still in development.
- Newer platform with a smaller user community.
Airtable Reviews
G2 Rating: 4.6/5.
What users love:
- Flexibility tool to build and manage databases.
- Advanced automated workflows.
- Low-cost project management tools with essential features.
Common complaints:
- Steep learning curve.
- Flexibility can increase adoption time.
- Limited customization for interface designer features.
Smartsheet Reviews
G2 Rating: 4.4/5.
What users love:
- Customizability and adaptation to user’s business processes.
- Ease of collaboration across the organization.
- Ease of use due to spreadsheet-like interface.
Common complaints:
- Complicated automation setup with no version history to track changes.
- Performance issues when working on dashboards.
- Limited native integrations.
Smartsheet, Airtable, or SmartSuite: Summary
Get Started with SmartSuite For Free Today
➡️ If you want to operate within a spreadsheet-like interface with your accounting team, Smartsheet can be a good choice with its range of integrations.
➡️ On the other hand, if you’re looking for more customization options and database capabilities to handle your remote team, Airtable might be the better choice.
But with such flexibility comes a higher learning curve and a hefty price tag. Smartsheet and Airtable also lack critical project management features, such as collaboration features and reporting.
SmartSuite’s platform helps you tackle this by offering just the right customization, native collaboration capabilities and a library of 200+ project management templates to get your projects up and running.
Here’s what's in it for your team when you try SmartSuite:
- Access to a generous free plan with features including multi-board views (Kanban, Chart, Map, Timeline, Card, and Calendar), 100 automation/month, and 40+ field types, including formula and linked record fields.
- No-code automation builder to set up to 500,000 trigger/action workflows.
- Built-in productivity tools, including time tracking, status tracking, and checklists.
- Team collaboration and planning tools such as whiteboards and SmartSuite docs (unlike Asana, which does not have them).
- Resource management across projects and teams.
- 40+ field types, including the option to add your custom fields.
Sign up for a free plan to test the water or get a 14-day free trial to explore all its amazing features.
Or, if you’d like to talk to our team of experts, schedule a demo.
Read More
- Airtable vs. Monday: Check out our in-depth comparison guide between Airtable and Monday.
- Smartsheet vs. Monday: We also dive deeper into how Smartsheet compares to Monday.com to help you make an informed decision.
- Smartsheet Pricing: Learn more about Smartsheet’s pricing structure and find out if the project management software has a good value for money.
- The 10 Best Project Management Software For Engineers: We break down the top 10 project management solutions built with engineers in mind in 2025.
- Top 10 Teamwork Alternatives and Competitors In 2025: Learn why some companies are looking to switch from Teamwork and its best alternatives on the market.
- 10 Best Healthcare Project Management Tools in 2025: Find out the best healthcare project management solutions on the market.
- 10 Best Project Management Software for Construction in 2025: A useful guide if you operate in the construction industry and you’re looking for a project management app.
