Hive vs Smartsheet: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Hive and Smartsheet side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Hive leads on higher user rating and a free plan; Smartsheet leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Hive
The #1 Project Management Software For Teams.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
Best for you if:
- • You want spreadsheet-like PM
| At a Glance | Hive | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $12/user/mo, billed monthly Teams plan | From $9/mo, billed monthly Pro plan |
Category | Project Management Task Management | Project Management Productivity |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.4 886 reviews | 4.1/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 · SourceForge 2.3 26,330 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | n/a | Business tier requires 3+ members minimum |
Choose Hive or Smartsheet?
Choose Hive if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want project management
- You want multiple views
Choose Smartsheet if
- You want spreadsheet-like PM
- You want good for Excel users
- Budget matters ($9/mo, billed monthly vs $12/user/mo, billed monthly)
In-Depth Analysis
Hive
The #1 Project Management Software For Teams.
Hive's pricing is fair, offering a generous Free tier for up to 10 users.
Strengths
- Pro: Project management
- Pro: Multiple views
- Pro: Good integrations
- Pro: Team collaboration
- Pro: Fair pricing
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Can be overwhelming
- Con: Mobile app basic
- Con: Support varies
- Con: Feature bloat
Key features
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
Smartsheet's pricing is on the higher side, especially for smaller teams, with the Pro tier at $9/member/month and Business at $24/member/month.
Watch out
Business tier requires 3+ members minimum
Strengths
- Pro: Spreadsheet-like PM
- Pro: Good for Excel users
- Pro: Automation features
- Pro: Enterprise ready
- Pro: Good templates
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Can be confusing
- Con: Less flexible than others
- Con: Mobile app limited
- Con: Learning curve
Key features
Plans and prices: Hive vs Smartsheet
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hive |
| hive.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Smartsheet |
| smartsheet.com/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Hive pricing and Smartsheet pricing.
Key Takeaways
Hive
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.1/5
- Has a free plan
Smartsheet
- Lower entry price: $9/mo, billed monthly vs $12/user/mo, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Hive leads on higher user rating and a free plan; Smartsheet leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Hive has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 886 reviews for Hive, 4.1/5 from 26,330 reviews for Smartsheet).
- Smartsheet has the lower entry price: $9/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $12/user/mo, billed monthly (Teams) for Hive.
- Only Hive has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Hive and Smartsheet compare in 2026?
On the data below, Hive leads on higher user rating and a free plan; Smartsheet leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Hive has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 886 reviews for Hive, 4.1/5 from 26,330 reviews for Smartsheet). Smartsheet has the lower entry price: $9/mo, billed monthly (Pro) against $12/user/mo, billed monthly (Teams) for Hive. Only Hive has a free plan.
What are Hive and Smartsheet used for?
Hive: The #1 Project Management Software For Teams. Smartsheet: Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows.
What does Hive cost vs Smartsheet?
Hive's cheapest paid plan is Teams at $12/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Smartsheet's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $9/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Hive and Smartsheet?
Hive's main strength: project management. Smartsheet's main strength: spreadsheet-like PM.