Smartsheet vs Todoist: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Smartsheet and Todoist is a common decision for project management buyers in 2026. Both Smartsheet and Todoist are established players, founded in 2005 and 2007 respectively. Smartsheet serves 90K+ orgs users while Todoist has 30M+ users globally. Smartsheet differentiates with grid, gantt & card views and automation workflows, while Todoist leads with natural language task input and projects and labels. In this head-to-head comparison, Todoist earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 92/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

📊
Smartsheet
Project Management
88
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
✔️
Todoist
Project Management
92
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

Quick Comparison

Smartsheet
Todoist
Starting Price
$9/user/mo
$4/user/mo
Free Plan
No
Yes
Users
90K+ orgs
30M+
Founded
2005
2007
Rating
4.4/5
4.6/5
Best For
Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-styl...
Individuals and small teams wanting a fast, elegan...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

SmartsheetTodoist
84Ease of Use93
91Features94
91Value for Money96
85Customer Support84
88Integrations88
95Scalability99
90Learning Curve98

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Smartsheet
+Familiar spreadsheet feel
+Powerful automation
-No free plan
-Learning curve for advanced features
Todoist
+Clean minimal design
+Natural language date parsing is excellent
-Limited project management features
-No time tracking built in
AI Verdict

After comparing Smartsheet and Todoist across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Todoist takes the lead with a score of 92/100 versus Smartsheet's 88/100. Todoist's key advantages include "clean minimal design" and "natural language date parsing is excellent". That said, Smartsheet has its own strengths — particularly "familiar spreadsheet feel" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

On pricing, there's a clear difference: Todoist offers a free plan, making it more accessible for individuals and small teams exploring project management solutions. Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo with no free tier, but often justifies the cost with grid, gantt & card views and automation workflows.

Bottom line: Choose Smartsheet if you need operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools. Go with Todoist if your priority is individuals and small teams wanting a fast, elegant task manager. Both are strong project management tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE SMARTSHEET IF:

Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools.

CHOOSE TODOIST IF:

Individuals and small teams wanting a fast, elegant task manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smartsheet better than Todoist in 2026?
Todoist scores 92/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Smartsheet's 88/100. Smartsheet stands out for "familiar spreadsheet feel" and is best for Operations teams comfortable with spreadsheet-style tools. Todoist is known for "clean minimal design" and suits Individuals and small teams wanting a fast, elegant task manager. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Smartsheet and Todoist?
Todoist offers a free plan while Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo, giving Todoist a lower barrier to entry. When comparing value, consider that Smartsheet (founded 2005, 90K+ orgs users) includes features like Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards. Todoist (founded 2007, 30M+ users) offers Natural language task input, Projects and labels, Karma productivity tracking. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Smartsheet and Todoist?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Smartsheet excels at Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards, while Todoist focuses on Natural language task input, Projects and labels, Karma productivity tracking. Smartsheet's main advantage is "familiar spreadsheet feel", though some users note "no free plan". Todoist's strength is "clean minimal design", but "limited project management features" can be a drawback. Both serve the Project Management market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Smartsheet to Todoist?
Switching between Smartsheet and Todoist is possible since both operate in the Project Management space. Before migrating, export your data from Smartsheet and check Todoist's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards (Smartsheet) vs Natural language task input, Projects and labels, Karma productivity tracking (Todoist). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Smartsheet or Todoist?
Todoist's free plan makes it more accessible for small teams on a budget. It's best for Individuals and small teams wanting a fast, elegant task manager. Smartsheet ($9/user/mo) is worth considering if you need Grid, Gantt & card views, Automation workflows, Dashboards and have the budget.

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