Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet (2024): Which Instrument Is Higher? – Uplaza

Microsoft Undertaking and Smartsheet are two widespread mission administration software program platforms which have a extra conventional consumer interface design. Whereas they could appear related at first look, as soon as I began reviewing each software program, the variations turned obvious:

• Microsoft Undertaking is a better option for energy customers who’re snug with extremely superior options. It principally integrates with different Microsoft merchandise and depends on a few of them for key performance, so it’s finest utilized by groups which can be already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Smartsheet is an efficient possibility for groups which can be managing their tasks in spreadsheets and wish an improve to devoted mission administration software program. It additionally affords greater than 100 integrations with third-party software program, making it a better option for groups with a extra numerous software program stack.

Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet: Comparability desk

	Microsoft Undertaking	Smartsheet
Doc administration	No	Sure
Communication instruments	No	Sure
Time monitoring	Sure	Sure
Reporting	Sure	Sure
On-premises deployment	Sure	No
Pricing	Begins at $10 per consumer per thirty days	Begins at $7 per consumer per thirty days

Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet pricing

Microsoft affords much more pricing plans to select from than Smartsheet, in addition to on-premises choices. Nevertheless, Smartsheet is extra inexpensive than Microsoft Undertaking total. Each software program 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 per consumer per thirty days.
• Planner Plan 1 (previously Undertaking Plan 1): $10 per consumer per thirty days.
• Undertaking Plan 3: $30 per consumer per thirty days.
• Undertaking Plan 5: $55 per consumer per thirty days.

On-premises options:

• Undertaking Commonplace 2021: $679.99 for a license for one PC.
• Undertaking Skilled 2021: $1,129.99.
• Undertaking Server Plan: Contact for customized pricing quote.

For extra data, learn the complete Microsoft Undertaking evaluation and look at our record of Microsoft Undertaking options.

Smartsheet pricing

• Free: $0 for one consumer and as much as two editors.
• Professional: $7 per consumer per thirty days, billed yearly, or $9 per consumer per thirty days, billed month-to-month.
• Enterprise: $25 per consumer per thirty days, billed yearly, or $32 per consumer per thirty days, billed month-to-month.
• Enterprise: Quotes can be found upon request.

For extra data, learn the complete Smartsheet evaluation and look at our record of Smartsheet options.

Function comparability: Microsoft Undertaking vs. Smartsheet

Undertaking administration

Winner: Smartsheet

Microsoft Undertaking ranked 3.9/5 for options total on our scoring rubric. It affords three important mission views: grid, board and timeline (Gantt) view. The design is just like different Microsoft merchandise, however I didn’t discover the interface significantly intuitive to make use of, and the sheer variety of options may be overwhelming and make it tough to search out what you want. The software offers you the choice to get very detailed with useful resource administration, resembling monitoring prices of supplies over the course of a mission or seeing how a lot time a person has spent on a activity.

Smartsheet ranked considerably higher, scoring 4.6/5 for options total. It affords 4 mission 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 pace up the method even additional, and you can too create automation guidelines to chop down on guide work. Smartsheet does supply a paid add-on for useful resource administration, nevertheless it’s not as strong as Microsoft Undertaking.

Doc administration

Winner: Tie

You possibly can add paperwork to a web site 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 actually combine with different apps, so you’ll be able to’t use an outdoor platform like Google Docs both. This is without doubt one of the the reason why Microsoft Undertaking is finest utilized by groups which can be already dedicated to the Microsoft ecosystem.

Smartsheet additionally means that you can add recordsdata to a mission, and it hyperlinks to a number of widespread doc administration options, together with Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive. The Enterprise and Enterprise plans additionally supply a proofing characteristic that enables groups to visually mark up content material, together with movies, inside the Smartsheet software to maintain every thing centralized in a single place. If you happen to’re not already utilizing SharePoint or OneDrive, then I’d advocate Smartsheet as the higher alternative for doc administration.

Communication instruments

Winner: Tie

Much like doc administration, Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t comprise any native options for communication or collaboration. As a substitute, customers shall be prompted to attach with colleagues utilizing one among Microsoft’s many different communication instruments, together with Groups, Outlook and Skype. If you happen to aren’t already a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, then you will want to put money into different software program that may take over this perform — and it received’t combine with Microsoft Undertaking.

Alternatively, 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 may also be accessed by way of the cellular app so you’ll be able to learn and reply on the go. Whereas it doesn’t supply a extra strong native chat perform, it does combine with some messaging platforms, resembling Slack, to complement the built-in remark characteristic.

Ease of use

Winner: Smartsheet

Smartsheet ranked considerably higher than Microsoft Undertaking in the case of ease of use. Smartsheet rated 3.5/5, whereas Microsoft solely acquired 1.8/5, which is de facto low! Smartsheet isn’t probably the most intuitive mission administration software program I’ve examined, nevertheless it was far simpler to determine issues out in comparison with Microsoft Undertaking for the reason that format is extra logical. It was additionally a lot sooner to create and cargo new tasks in Smartsheet, and the bigger variety of template choices helped pace up that course of additional.

Buyer assist

Winner: Microsoft Undertaking

Alternatively, Microsoft Undertaking scored a bit higher than Smartsheet on the customer support entrance: Microsoft Undertaking acquired 4.2/5 and Smartsheet acquired 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 costlier plans or to a paid assist add-on that prices an extra payment. Microsoft Undertaking doesn’t cost additional for assist, although some customers do say that the customer support might be improved.

Integrations

Winner: Smartsheet

In relation to integrations, Smartsheet beats Microsoft Undertaking by a landslide. Not solely does Smartsheet supply 100+ native integrations, it additionally connects to 1000’s of extra platforms by means of Zapier. In distinction, Microsoft Undertaking’s native integrations are principally restricted to different Microsoft merchandise, and it doesn’t connect with Zapier (not like another Microsoft merchandise), so there isn’t even a workaround.

Microsoft Undertaking execs and cons

Microsoft Undertaking execs

• Very detailed mission planning instruments.
• Integrates properly with different Microsoft merchandise.
• Many useful resource administration instruments are constructed into the software program.

Microsoft Undertaking cons

• Very lengthy studying curve resulting from all of the complicated options.
• Lack of integrations for non-Microsoft instruments.
• No native communication instruments.

Smartsheet execs and cons

Smartsheet execs

• Acquainted consumer interface because of the spreadsheet base.
• Excessive stage of customization obtainable.
• A lot of documentation and coaching sources.

Smartsheet cons

• Not as user-friendly and intuitive as different mission administration apps.
• No auto-saving modifications or loading mission updates in actual time.
• Should improve to Marketing strategy for time monitoring and analysis administration.

Ought to your online business use Microsoft Undertaking or Smartsheet?

Select Microsoft Undertaking if …

• You want extremely superior mission administration software program.
• Your workforce is made up of 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.
• You need or want an on-premises deployment possibility.

Select Smartsheet if …

• You need a cheaper software program platform.
• You’re in search of an improve from spreadsheets and need a familiar-looking interface.
• You need a decrease studying curve than Microsoft Undertaking.
• You want integrations with third-party software program.
• You don’t want on-premises deployment.

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

Evaluate methodology

To match these mission administration instruments, I signed up free of charge trials along with viewing demo movies, consulting mission documentation and studying consumer evaluations. I thought of options resembling activity administration, portfolio administration, doc administration and communication instruments. I additionally weighed different elements resembling ease of use, buyer assist, integrations and pricing.