Insightly vs Smartsheet
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Insightly
Insightly is a CRM and project management platform designed for growing businesses. It uniquely combines sales pipeline management with post-sale project delivery so teams can manage the full customer lifecycle in one place. Insightly is popular with professional services firms and companies that need to track complex projects alongside their sales pipeline.
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
- ✓Unique combination of CRM and project management in one tool
- ✓Good free plan for up to 2 users
- ✓Strong workflow automation on paid plans
- ✓Good fit for professional services businesses
Cons
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern CRM tools
- ✗Customer support can be slow on lower tiers
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
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
Insightly vs Smartsheet: Side by Side
| Factor | Insightly | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | $9/user/mo |
| Best For | Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform | Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Insightly Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓project management
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓email marketing
- ✓reporting
- ✓integrations
Smartsheet Features
- ✓Spreadsheet-style project management
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓automation
- ✓dashboards
- ✓resource management
- ✓forms
- ✓integrations
- ✓reporting
- ✓enterprise security
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Best For
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Also Consider
If neither Insightly 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 Insightly and Smartsheet?
Insightly is best for growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Smartsheet is best for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Which is better, Insightly or Smartsheet?
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
How much does Insightly cost?
Insightly starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Insightly?
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Who should use Smartsheet?
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation