Excel Vs Smartsheets

I got an interesting question today from a client they asked whats the difference if they use Excel vs Smartsheets or Google Sheets vs Smartsheets.

To me it looks like Excel and smart sheets are about the same but I though was a good question. I think excel got more functions but again hit me kind funny how many people use smartsheets

Conversation 15 comments

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    17 May, 2018 - 5:00 pm

    <p>I figure you'd get a lot more responses from people familiar with both if you posted this in Reddit's Excel subreddit with a Discussion flair. I've been using spreadsheets heavily for over 3 decades, and this is the first I've heard of Smartsheet.</p>

  • Paul Thurrott

    Premium Member
    17 May, 2018 - 5:27 pm

    <p>I've never even heard of Smartsheets.</p>

    • Bob Shutts

      18 May, 2018 - 12:02 am

      <blockquote><a href="#276912"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a><em> They have an impressive customer list on their site. </em></blockquote><p><br></p>

      • Paul Thurrott

        Premium Member
        18 May, 2018 - 9:17 am

        <blockquote><a href="#277003"><em>In reply to Bob_Shutts:</em></a></blockquote><p>OK 😉 Still have never heard of it. </p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      18 May, 2018 - 2:38 am

      <blockquote><a href="#276912"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a></blockquote><p>It is a cloud competitor to MS Project Server + MS Project.</p>

    • helix2301

      Premium Member
      18 May, 2018 - 8:01 am

      <blockquote><a href="#276912"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a></blockquote><p>Price kind steep $25 month</p>

  • aThingOrTwo

    17 May, 2018 - 9:33 pm

    <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartsheet&quot; target="_blank">Smartsheet</a> is a project management tool – I assume it is this application?</p><p><br></p>

  • Bats

    17 May, 2018 - 10:08 pm

    <p>Is the client asking for advice as to which one he should use?</p><p><br></p><p>All in all, it doesn't really matter as long as the file extension can open and edit .xls or .xlsx documents. Those extension are pretty much industry standard.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      18 May, 2018 - 2:38 am

      <blockquote><a href="#276977"><em>In reply to Bats:</em></a></blockquote><p>If the client is asking about which one to use, between Smartsheet and Excel, they seem to have not understood what sort of product Smartsheet is! They should be asking whether they should use Smartsheet or MS Project… :-S</p>

  • AnOldAmigaUser

    Premium Member
    17 May, 2018 - 10:33 pm

    <p>If it is the Smartsheet product, then that is a cloud based project management tool. While some people use Excel and, I suppose, Google Sheets to manage project information, a dedicated product would likely be better, assuming that everyone is on board with managing the project to that level. If it is a smaller firm, it may be overkill.</p><p>Pricing at $25/user/month for an annual subscription is higher than either Google Suite or Office 365, which while they may not be as good as a PM tool, do offer a lot of other benefits.</p><p>I would ask your client what it is he wants to accomplish. That should determine the type of tool that is chosen.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      18 May, 2018 - 2:36 am

      <blockquote><a href="#276987"><em>In reply to AnOldAmigaUser:</em></a></blockquote><p>Agreed, looking at the blurb, it does not compete with Excel, but with MS Project and MS Project Server.</p>

      • AnOldAmigaUser

        Premium Member
        18 May, 2018 - 9:48 am

        <blockquote><a href="#277042"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>I have seen firms get by with just a copy or two of Project Pro, linked to SharePoint Task lists. The PM can oversee the schedule with Project, and the line animals can handle the tasks in the SharePoint lists.</p>

  • dcdevito

    18 May, 2018 - 7:06 am

    <p>I've used Smartsheet for years (I'm a Project Mgr) and I'd say it's a hybrid of Excel and Project. I love it because it's lighter, web based, anyone can have read only access, it's way cheaper than Project, and the best part is it has excellent built in dashboard reporting – makes my CIO happy. Project forces you to work in a vacuum.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      18 May, 2018 - 7:20 am

      <blockquote><a href="#277074"><em>In reply to dcdevito:</em></a></blockquote><p>With Project Server and Exchange integration, the reporting and timesheets etc. and project portal doesn't leave you in a vaccum… But you need to really do a lot of heavy duty project work to make any ROI.</p>

      • dcdevito

        18 May, 2018 - 10:39 am

        <blockquote><a href="#277079"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>True, but we don't use any of that. Our T&amp;B is wrapped up in Dynamics, so us PMs are in silos using project.</p>

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