Smartsheet is great—until you realize you're paying premium prices for a glorified spreadsheet.
Tadabase: A Smarter Alternative to Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a well-known project management and work collaboration tool, but it isn’t the best fit for every business. High costs, limited customization, and restrictive automation are common complaints from teams looking for alternatives.
That’s where Tadabase comes in. Tadabase is a Smartsheet alternative that offers true no-code database-driven workflows, powerful automation, and deep customization—all without limitations.
But if you're exploring multiple Smartsheet alternatives, this guide covers the top 12 best options, each with unique strengths.
Why Look for a Smartsheet Alternative?
Smartsheet works well for many teams, but it has some drawbacks:
- High Costs – Pricing scales up rapidly with more users.
- Limited Customization – Rigid spreadsheet workflows can’t be modified freely.
- Automation Constraints – Workflows are restricted in functionality.
- Scalability Issues – Large datasets cause slowdowns.
- Lack of Deep No-Code Features – Requires technical workarounds for advanced customization.
If you need a more flexible, powerful, or cost-effective solution, the alternatives below will help you find the perfect fit.
1. 
Tadabase – The Best Smartsheet Alternative
Best for: Businesses that need a fully customizable, database-driven project management solution.
Tadabase is the most powerful alternative to Smartsheet, offering a true no-code experience where users can create custom databases, automate workflows, and scale their businesses—without coding limitations.
Pricing:
Starts at $42/month (for small teams) Custom pricing available for enterprises
Why Choose Tadabase?
Custom Databases: Unlike Smartsheet, Tadabase is built on a relational database model, meaning you can manage complex data relationships effortlessly. Unlimited Workflows: Set up automations, notifications, and approvals without limitations. Deep Customization: Create custom dashboards, portals, and interfaces that match your workflow. Enterprise-Grade Security: Secure your data with granular role-based access control. Scalability: Handle large datasets without slowing down.
Our Experience:
We built Tadabase as a direct response to Smartsheet’s limitations. Our customers appreciate the deep flexibility, automation options, and ability to customize applications far beyond what Smartsheet offers. Businesses across industries—from construction to healthcare—trust Tadabase to run their entire operations.
2. 
ClickUp – Best for Customizable Workflows
Best for: Teams that want a flexible, all-in-one project management tool.
ClickUp is a popular Smartsheet alternative with task management, automation, time tracking, and goal setting. It’s highly customizable and integrates with many third-party apps.
Pricing:
Free plan available Paid plans start at $7/month per user
Pros: Feature-rich free plan Custom views: List, Board, Calendar, Gantt Strong automation and integration capabilities
Cons:
Can be overwhelming for beginners Some features require paid plans
Our Experience:
ClickUp is great for teams that want flexibility, but in our tests, the UI can feel overwhelming compared to simpler platforms. It’s feature-packed, but not as customizable as Tadabase.
3. 
Monday.com – Best for Visual Project Management
Best for: Teams that prefer a visually intuitive, spreadsheet-like experience.
Monday.com offers drag-and-drop functionality, automation, and customizable dashboards to manage projects and workflows. It’s more user-friendly than Smartsheet, but lacks deep database functionality.
Pricing:
Starts at $9/month per user Free plan available (limited features)
Pros: Intuitive interface Strong automation features Excellent team collaboration
Cons: Limited reporting in the basic plan Higher cost at scale
Our Experience:
Monday.com excels in visual task management, but lacks deep database functionality compared to Tadabase. It’s a great fit for marketing teams but not for complex workflows.
4. 
Wrike – Best for Enterprise Teams
Best for: Large teams needing robust reporting and project management tools.
Wrike is a strong Smartsheet alternative for enterprises, offering deep reporting, Gantt charts, and automation for complex workflows.
Pricing:
Starts at $9.80/month per user Enterprise pricing available
Pros: Powerful analytics and reporting Advanced task dependencies Great for marketing and IT teams
Cons: UI can feel cluttered Expensive for smaller teams
Our Experience:
Wrike is built for enterprises, but it’s not as user-friendly as Tadabase. Customization is limited unless you pay for higher-tier plans.
5. 
Airtable – Best for No-Code Databases
Best for: Businesses looking for a spreadsheet-database hybrid.
Airtable combines spreadsheet simplicity with database flexibility, making it a good Smartsheet alternative for managing structured data.
Pricing:
Free plan available Paid plans start at $12/month per user
Pros: No-code database structure Flexible views: Kanban, Grid, Calendar API integrations
Cons: Limited automation in free plan Pricing scales quickly
Our Experience:
Airtable is great for managing structured data, but Tadabase offers deeper customization and automation.
6. 
Microsoft Project – Best for Large-Scale Project Planning
Best for: Enterprises that need advanced project scheduling.
Microsoft Project is feature-packed but complex, making it ideal for organizations with project managers who need advanced forecasting and resource management.
Pricing:
Starts at $10/month per user
Pros: Enterprise-grade tools Advanced resource planning Deep integration with Office 365
Cons: Expensive compared to alternatives Not beginner-friendly
Our Experience:
Microsoft Project is powerful, but too complex for most teams.
7. 
Google Sheets + Add-ons – Best Free Spreadsheet Alternative
Best for: Small teams needing a simple, free alternative to Smartsheet.
Google Sheets isn’t a full-fledged project management tool, but with add-ons and automation, it can replace Smartsheet for some users.
Pricing:
Free with a Google account Google Workspace plans start at $6/month per user
Pros: Free with Google Workspace Real-time collaboration Supports automation with scripts
Cons: Lacks native project management features No built-in Gantt charts
Our Experience:
Google Sheets works well for simple projects, especially when combined with add-ons for automation. However, it can’t match the power of a database-driven system like Tadabase for complex workflows, large datasets, or structured project management.
8. 
Zoho Projects – Best Budget-Friendly Option
Best for: Small businesses needing a low-cost project management tool.
Zoho Projects offers task tracking, collaboration tools, and automation at a lower price than Smartsheet.
Pricing:
Free plan available (for up to 3 users) Paid plans start at $5/month per user
Pros: Affordable Easy-to-use interface Strong automation tools
Cons: Fewer third-party integrations Basic reporting
Our Experience:
Zoho Projects is one of the most affordable Smartsheet alternatives. However, its reporting and third-party integrations are not as advanced as Tadabase. If you already use Zoho CRM or Zoho Books, this may be a good fit.
9. 
ProofHub – Best for Creative Teams
Best for: Teams needing project collaboration with proofing features.
ProofHub combines task management, file proofing, and team collaboration in a simple interface.
Flat-rate pricing starts at $45/month (unlimited users)
Pros: No per-user pricing Great for creative teams Built-in chat and discussions
Cons: Fewer integrations than competitors No free plan
Our Experience:
ProofHub’s flat pricing makes it attractive for teams, but it lacks deep database functionality. We found it useful for collaborative design teams, but not ideal for process-heavy businesses.
10. 
Trello – Best for Simple Task Management
Best for: Kanban-style project management.
Trello is a lightweight, visual task management tool, ideal for teams that prefer drag-and-drop simplicity.
Pricing:
Free plan available Paid plans start at $5/month per user
Pros: Free plan available Simple and intuitive Butler automation for task automation
Cons: Not ideal for complex workflows Limited reporting
Our Experience:
Trello is fantastic for small teams that need a simple Kanban-based workflow. However, it’s not powerful enough for automation-heavy processes like what Tadabase offers.
11. 
Notion – Best for Documentation and Project Management
Best for: Teams needing a mix of note-taking and project tracking.
Notion combines database-driven notes, tasks, and team collaboration.
Pricing:
Free plan available Paid plans start at $8/month per user
Pros: Highly customizable Great for remote teams
Cons: Lacks deep automation
12. 
OpenProject – Best Open-Source Alternative
Best for: Teams needing a free, open-source Smartsheet replacement.
OpenProject provides Gantt charts, issue tracking, and agile planning.
Pricing:
Free (self-hosted version) Cloud plans start at $5.50/month per user
Pros: Free and open-source Supports Agile workflows
Cons: Requires self-hosting for the free version
Limited integrations
Our Experience:
OpenProject is a solid open-source alternative, but requires technical knowledge to set up. If your team needs a powerful, self-hosted solution, this is a good choice—but Tadabase offers similar security and customization without the technical complexity.
Final Thoughts: Why Tadabase Is the Best Smartsheet Alternative
If you need a true Smartsheet alternative that offers full customization, automation, and scalability, Tadabase is the best option.
Unlike rigid spreadsheet tools, Tadabase lets you: Build custom apps without coding Automate workflows without limits Integrate seamlessly with other business tools
Create tailored dashboards and portals
Handle large datasets efficiently
Ready to upgrade from Smartsheet?
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