Salesforce vs Smartsheet
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Salesforce
Salesforce is the world's leading CRM platform used by over 150,000 businesses of all sizes. It offers a highly customizable suite of sales, service, marketing, and analytics tools. Salesforce is the gold standard for enterprise CRM but has solutions for businesses of all sizes through its Starter and Pro plans.
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
- ✓Most powerful and customizable CRM on the market
- ✓Massive ecosystem with 3,000+ AppExchange integrations
- ✓Industry-leading reporting and analytics
- ✓Strong community and support resources
Cons
- ✗Expensive and complex for small teams
- ✗Long implementation timelines for enterprise deployments
- ✗Requires dedicated admin resources to get the most out of it
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
Salesforce vs Smartsheet: Side by Side
| Factor | Salesforce | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $9/user/mo |
| Best For | Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM | Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Salesforce Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓opportunity tracking
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓AI insights
- ✓reporting and dashboards
- ✓AppExchange integrations
- ✓mobile app
Smartsheet Features
- ✓Spreadsheet-style project management
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓automation
- ✓dashboards
- ✓resource management
- ✓forms
- ✓integrations
- ✓reporting
- ✓enterprise security
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Best For
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Also Consider
If neither Salesforce 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 Salesforce and Smartsheet?
Salesforce is best for mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm. Smartsheet is best for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
Which is better, Salesforce or Smartsheet?
Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm. Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation.
How much does Salesforce cost?
Salesforce starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Salesforce?
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM
Who should use Smartsheet?
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation