ActiveCampaign vs Smartsheet
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a customer experience automation platform that combines email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM in one powerful tool. It is known for having the most advanced email automation capabilities in its price range. ActiveCampaign is used by over 180,000 businesses that want to deliver personalized customer experiences at scale.
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.
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class email marketing automation at an affordable price
- ✓Powerful segmentation and personalization capabilities
- ✓Strong CRM features integrated with marketing tools
- ✓Excellent deliverability rates
Cons
- ✗Can be complex to set up advanced automations
- ✗CRM features are less robust than dedicated CRM tools
- ✗Interface has a learning curve for new users
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
ActiveCampaign vs Smartsheet: Side by Side
| Factor | ActiveCampaign | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | $15/mo | $9/user/mo |
| Best For | SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM | Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation |
| Our Pick | — | — |
ActiveCampaign Features
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓marketing automation
- ✓CRM
- ✓lead scoring
- ✓site tracking
- ✓SMS marketing
- ✓landing pages
- ✓reporting
Smartsheet Features
- ✓Spreadsheet-style project management
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓automation
- ✓dashboards
- ✓resource management
- ✓forms
- ✓integrations
- ✓reporting
- ✓enterprise security
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose ActiveCampaign if smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Best For
SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Also Consider
If neither ActiveCampaign nor Smartsheet is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ActiveCampaign and Smartsheet?
ActiveCampaign is best for smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm. Smartsheet is best for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Which is better, ActiveCampaign or Smartsheet?
Choose ActiveCampaign if smbs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a crm. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
How much does ActiveCampaign cost?
ActiveCampaign starts at $15/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use ActiveCampaign?
SMBs wanting powerful email marketing automation combined with a CRM
Who should use Smartsheet?
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation