Make vs Smartsheet: Detailed Comparison (2026)
Both Make and Smartsheet are popular choices. Make and Smartsheet each offer unique strengths depending on your team size, budget, and workflow requirements.
Choose
Make
You prefer Make's approach and workflow
- Unique approach to project management
- Strong user community
- Regular updates
Choose
Smartsheet
You prefer Smartsheet's approach and workflow
- Alternative approach to project management
- Competitive pricing
- Growing feature set
Make vs Smartsheet: In-Depth Analysis
Make vs Smartsheet: Platform Positioning and Core Differences
Make and Smartsheet serve fundamentally different automation needs despite their similar starting prices of $9 per month. Make positions itself as a visual automation platform designed for workflow creation, allowing users to build complex integrations between applications without coding. Smartsheet, by contrast, functions as a spreadsheet-powered project management solution that emphasizes task tracking, timeline management, and team collaboration. If your primary goal involves connecting disparate software tools and automating business processes, Make's workflow-centric approach may feel more intuitive. However, if you need a centralized hub for managing projects and coordinating team activities, Smartsheet's spreadsheet-based interface aligns more closely with traditional project oversight.
Pricing, Free Plans, and Overall Value Proposition
Both platforms offer identical entry-level pricing at $9 monthly and include free plans within a freemium model, making initial adoption accessible to small teams and solo entrepreneurs. Make's affordability combined with its 4.6/5 rating from 562 user reviews suggests strong satisfaction among automation-focused users who appreciate the budget-friendly access to visual workflow builders. Smartsheet's 4.4/5 rating across 495 reviews reflects solid performance in the project management space, though users note that its feature-rich environment occasionally creates complexity. For organizations weighing total cost of ownership, Make's lower barrier to entry for automation scenarios contrasts with Smartsheet's need for additional investment as teams scale beyond basic project tracking into advanced resource planning.
Distinct Strengths and Practical Trade-offs
Make's primary strength lies in its accessible visual workflow interface and rapidly growing user community, enabling teams to automate repetitive tasks quickly. The platform's steep learning curve for advanced automation sequences represents a notable drawback for users unfamiliar with workflow logic. Smartsheet's established market position and widespread adoption provide institutional support and extensive integration libraries, yet its feature density can overwhelm new users seeking simple project management. The mobile experience on Smartsheet lags noticeably behind its desktop capabilities, potentially limiting productivity for field-based teams.
Choosing Between Make and Smartsheet for Your Needs
Select Make if your organization prioritizes automating repetitive tasks, connecting multiple software applications, and building custom workflows without developer intervention. Choose Smartsheet when you need comprehensive project visibility, gantt charts, resource allocation, and a solution that aligns with teams accustomed to spreadsheet-based workflows. Organizations managing intricate multi-tool ecosystems benefit from Make's integration focus, while teams seeking centralized project oversight and timeline management find better fit with Smartsheet's collaborative planning environment.