Smartsheet vs Lever
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a work management platform that combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with powerful project management and collaboration features. It is widely used by enterprise teams for project tracking, resource management, and automated workflows. Smartsheet is particularly popular with teams comfortable with Excel who need more collaboration and automation capabilities.
Paid pricing · Get Pricing →
Lever
Lever is a talent acquisition suite that combines an ATS with a built-in CRM for proactive talent sourcing. It helps recruiting teams build talent pipelines, nurture candidates over time, and convert passive candidates into hires. Lever is ideal for companies that treat recruiting as a relationship-building process.
Paid pricing · Get Pricing →
Pros
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Powerful automation and workflow capabilities
- ✓Strong enterprise security and compliance features
- ✓Excellent for managing large portfolios of projects
Cons
- ✗Pricing is higher than many competitors
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern tools
- ✗No free plan — 30-day trial only
- ✗Less intuitive for teams unfamiliar with spreadsheet-style tools
Pros
- ✓Built-in CRM for nurturing passive candidates over time
- ✓Clean, intuitive interface with good candidate experience
- ✓Strong collaboration tools for hiring teams
- ✓Good analytics for pipeline and recruiter performance
Cons
- ✗Pricing is not transparent and requires a sales conversation
- ✗Reporting is less advanced than Greenhouse for data-heavy teams
- ✗Limited integrations compared to some ATS competitors
Our Take
Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation. Choose Lever if growing companies focused on talent pipeline building.
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Best For
Growing companies focused on talent pipeline building
