SoftwareDuel

Smartsheet vs Wrike

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 →

Wrike

Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management platform designed for marketing, creative, and professional services teams. It offers advanced features like request forms, proofing and approvals, and resource management alongside traditional project management tools. Wrike is used by over 20,000 companies including Google, Walmart, and Siemens.

Freemium 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

  • Strong enterprise features including resource management and proofing
  • Highly customizable workflows and request forms
  • Excellent for marketing and creative teams managing complex approvals
  • Robust reporting and analytics

Cons

  • Expensive for small teams — free plan is very limited
  • Steep learning curve for full feature set
  • Interface can feel complex for simple project management
  • Some features only available on higher enterprise tiers

Our Take

Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation. Choose Wrike if marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing.

Best For

Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation

Best For

Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing