Google Sheets vs Smartsheet
Google Sheets and Smartsheet are both databases & spreadsheets tools. Google Sheets is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while Smartsheet is aimed at enterprise and small businesses. Google Sheets costs less, from $8.40/mo versus $12/mo for Smartsheet. Only Google Sheets has a free plan.
Free cloud spreadsheet with real-time collaboration and Gemini AI
Spreadsheet-style work management for enterprises
| Pricing | Freemium · $8 | Paid · $12 |
| Starting price | $8.40/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Freelancers, Enterprise | Enterprise, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2006 | US · 2005 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Google Sheets if
Teams and individuals who need shared spreadsheets with real-time collaboration at little or no cost.
- Free with any Google account
- Best-in-class real-time collaboration
- Large ecosystem of add-ons, templates and connectors
Look elsewhere if: Heavy financial modeling or relational data with workflows and record permissions (Microsoft Excel, Airtable, Smartsheet).
Choose Smartsheet if
Enterprises and PMOs.
- Familiar spreadsheet feel
- Enterprise features
- Strong Gantt
Look elsewhere if: Startups wanting modern tools (Airtable, Notion).
Google Sheets vs Smartsheet pricing
Google Sheets
- Free$0Personal Google account; 15 GB storage shared across Google
- Business Starter$8.40/user/moFlexible plan; $7 with annual commitment; 30 GB pooled
- Business Standard$16.80/user/mo$14 annual; 2 TB pooled per user; Gemini in Sheets
- Business Plus$26.40/user/mo$22 annual; 5 TB pooled per user; Vault, advanced security
- EnterpriseCustomAdvanced security, compliance and data controls
Smartsheet
- Pro$12/member/mo$9 billed yearly; 1-10 members, unlimited contributors
- Business$24/member/mo$19 billed yearly; 3+ members, 1 TB storage
- EnterpriseCustom10+ members, SAML SSO, portfolios
- Advanced Work ManagementCustomControl Center, Dynamic View, Data Shuttle
Google Sheets · Key features
- Real-time co-editing with comments, assignments and version history
- Google-specific functions like QUERY, IMPORTRANGE and GOOGLEFINANCE
- Pivot tables, charts, conditional formatting and data validation
- Tables, dropdowns and smart chips for structured lightweight trackers
- Apps Script for custom functions, menus and scheduled automations
- Connected Sheets to analyze BigQuery data without writing SQL
Cons
- 10 million cell limit and slowdowns on heavy workbooks
- Fewer advanced modeling tools than Microsoft Excel
- Gemini features require paid plans
Smartsheet · Key features
- Grid, Gantt, card, calendar views
- Automated workflows and approvals
- Forms and dashboards
- Resource management
- Portfolio management
- Enterprise governance
Cons
- Dated UI
- Costs rise at enterprise
- Less flexible than Airtable
Google Sheets vs Smartsheet: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Google Sheets or Smartsheet?
Google Sheets starts at $8.40/mo and Smartsheet at $12/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Google Sheets and Smartsheet have a free plan?
Google Sheets has a free plan. Smartsheet has no free plan.