SoftwareDuel

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.

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Lever

Lever is a modern talent acquisition suite combining ATS and CRM in one platform. Known for its clean interface and strong collaboration features, it helps recruiting teams build talent pipelines proactively.

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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

  • Clean and intuitive interface
  • Strong CRM and nurturing features
  • Good collaboration tools for hiring managers
  • Solid analytics
  • Easy to get started

Cons

  • More expensive than basic ATS tools
  • Some advanced features require higher tiers
  • Limited onboarding features
  • Reporting could be deeper

Our Take

Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation. Choose Lever if mid-sized companies wanting a combined ats and crm with a clean interface and strong collaboration.

Best For

Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation

Best For

Mid-sized companies wanting a combined ATS and CRM with a clean interface and strong collaboration