Smartsheet vs. WorkflowMax

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Smartsheet
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Smartsheet is an online project management and collaboration tool. It includes automated alerts, instantaneous updating and sharing across team members, resource management, nested tasks organized in a hierarchy, a Gantt chart view, exportable and automated reports, and integration with email.
$12
per month per user (up to 10 users)
WorkflowMax
Score 9.2 out of 10
Small Businesses (1-50 employees)
WorkflowMax is a web-based project management solution.The platform offers end-to-end functionality standard to project management software, including time tracking, lead management, collaboration with external stakeholders, invoicing, integrations, and customizable reporting.
$20
per month
Pricing
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Editions & Modules
Pro
$12
per month per user (up to 10 users)
Business
$24
per month per user (3 user minimum)
Enterprise
Contact Sales
Advanced Work Management
Contact Sales
Standard
$20
per month
Standard
$35
per month
Premium
$70
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsA discount is offered for annual billing.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Considered Both Products
Smartsheet
Chose Smartsheet
I use both. Excel for more data/spreadsheet focused tasks and Smartsheet for our event planning and project management. Smartsheet allows for collaboration, has project management features like task tracking and the Gantt chart, and even has some handy automation features …
Chose Smartsheet
I tried Miro for a while and it just didn't have the features Smartsheet does. If I'm going to pay for a "supercharged Excel," I expect to really do a ton more than Excel!
Chose Smartsheet
It allows team collaboration.
Project monitoring is very easy.
Dashboards are very good for the project reporting.
Chose Smartsheet
Asana and monday.com are typical project management tools where resources can be tracked based on the tasks, etc. Smartsheet does exactly the same but additionally allows people outside of PM to automate their data collaboration with other employees. The solutions that …
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet is user friendly with easy to use templates as compared to Microsoft project. Other thing is collaboration which cannot be achieved in Microsoft project. Smartsheet has different types of pricing for different types of users but Microsoft project only offers …
Chose Smartsheet
Jira is better on user interface and task tracking. However the dashboard isn't as versatile as on Smartsheet. That being said, it takes maintenance to keep the Smartsheet dashboard updated regularly (not automated).
Chose Smartsheet
Definitely a lot more intuitive and a lot less clunky and confusing. When I have to introduce Smartsheet to other team members who have experience with MS project they are overwhelmed with how easy it is and feel a lot more engaged when developing their own workbooks
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet enable users to build the more custom solutions that can include workflows, reports, dashboards, sheet data, reminders, etc. It allows to create the most complete reports and have available thousand of already built solutions on the Solution Center. Also, has the …
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a dedicated project management tool that is built on spread sheet principles. When compared to Microsoft's own offering, Smartsheet came out on top in some areas like dedicated project management features vs having to build custom features to Microsoft 365. …
Chose Smartsheet
Jira and Redmine are much more robust and technologically advanced project management solutions. I enjoy using either when managing a very large project. However, I prefer to use Smartsheet for my smaller to medium sized projects. As for Google Drive - I would say that Google …
Chose Smartsheet
It has been my favorite alternative; I can control Smartsheet from my mobile device since, as a manager, it allows me to visualize the files made through it, with the convenience of any time and space.
Chose Smartsheet
Price and ease of collaboration was the deciding factor and since we made this decision quite awhile ago, Microsoft Project's collaboration features were not there yet, making Smartsheet the clear winner. Many of our Project Manager were comfortable working with Microsoft …
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet makes it simple to plan and budget on projects, streamline business workflows and improve overall customer service. The pricing plans are affordable and businesses that implement Smartsheet enjoy tremendous long-term value. Employee work performance is boosted and …
Chose Smartsheet
I believe Smartsheet is much easier to use than Asana. There is a better way to collaborate with colleagues and track your progress on projects. There is a better structure on how to set up your system. It has better filters to see what you have accomplished vs what is open and …
Chose Smartsheet
Functionality is far superior and very easy to use.
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet is an exceptionally robust and ,offer unique hybrid solution to manage projects and automate workflows that is based on accurate data. It offers better time-saving functions that speeds up delivery of projects on schedule and using the allocated resources.
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet has been a positive success; it has been easy to use and quite intuitive. It allowed us to foster collaboration between colleagues.
Chose Smartsheet
Works more efficiently than MPP as updates can happen in real time in the cloud and be collaborated on with other team members.
Chose Smartsheet
Before utilizing Smartsheet we utilized a combination of Quip and an in-house developed task management tool. Even though we did not utilize Smartsheet for all of our project management needs it did provide a useful structure for planning a schedule for routine tasks and …
Chose Smartsheet
Other software's are more geared towards the construction process while Smartsheet is more geared to generic Project Management, no specific to the construction industry. We are using Smartsheet to communicate with our client and not to manage construction so from that …
Chose Smartsheet
I prefer the more traditional usability of Smartsheet. It's like Microsoft Project or Excel, but far easier for my organization to access. We don't currently have it set up as our resource manager or integrate it with our timesheets (our problem, not Smartsheet), and I think …
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet is much easier to collaborate on than Microsoft or Primavera in terms of scheduling software, but lacks the customizability of its competitors. You can also much easier link projects together when master scheduling which is a huge advantage compared to Microsoft …
Chose Smartsheet
We use Basecamp for our day-to-day in-house operations, but need a more "rigid" structure (spreadsheet) for managing projects with clients. Everything is in one place in Smartsheet and clients are able to find and use it easily.
Chose Smartsheet
All the products seemed to perform the project and task management function adequately. The following factors were the keys to our selection:
  1. Ease of use - so similar to Excel everyone can figure it out.
  2. Flexible architecture lends itself to many different use cases beyond …
Chose Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a must to companies that are in need of automating key business processes that will save them time and eliminate productivity killers. This software enables teams identify bottlenecks early on tasks and projects that are due so that they are able plan on a course …
WorkflowMax
Chose WorkflowMax
It was overwhelming to configure ConnectWise Manage and was pricey compared to WorkflowMax, which was well embraced by all our employees.
Chose WorkflowMax
I think workflowmax does a little more than Thomson Reuters workflow because they have the additional feature of employee tracking for payroll use. Thomson Reuters does a good job at getting a project from start to finish, but workflowmax gives better reports and allows more …
Chose WorkflowMax
Loan Assistant is a virtual business, entirely operated in the cloud. We do not have an office. Team members are located in diverse locations such as Munich, Canada and Sri Lanka as well as various locations in Australia. WorkflowMax is what ties us together. The fact that the …
Chose WorkflowMax
I'm not sure if it was by Ascentis or not, and it may have been an old version, but we used a program called Timekeeper. It was very outdated, difficult to use, and didn't provide easily producible reports. WorkflowMax is infinitely better to use for our business.
Chose WorkflowMax
I made comparisons with two Legal Practice Management systems, InfinityLaw and OneLaw. These systems were more expensive and had functionality/modules which we did not require. I am experienced with WorkflowMax so that was a key factor, along with pricing. I also felt it was …
Chose WorkflowMax
It's been so many years now I don't remember. I haven't needed to look anywhere else. I'm happy with WorkflowMax.
Chose WorkflowMax
Not as easily configured for the architecture and design field.
Chose WorkflowMax
I chose WorkflowMax because it seamlessly integrated with my accounting system Xero
Chose WorkflowMax
We tried a couple of solutions before settling on WorkflowMax, we chose WorkflowMax for as it did what we needed without being over complicated.

Chose WorkflowMax
WorkflowMax is much much easier than Streamtime, much more affordable and easier to try out and see if it meets your needs. Streamtime is a great comprehensive product but we lost a year's subscription in investment because we couldn't get answers to the support questions we …
Chose WorkflowMax
WorkflowMax was the first program I evaluated and it suited our business from the word go. There was no need to look elsewhere.
Chose WorkflowMax
Archioffice is clunky by comparison and quite regimented in what you can do or not. WorkflowMax offers quite a high degree of flexibility by comparison. Neither offers perfect graphics for invoice presentation (yet) whereas WorkflowMax's is quite acceptable or presentable. AO …
Chose WorkflowMax
I didn't get an option in the menu above for JobBag which was the previous system we used. My IT/production manager heard of WorkflowMax and invited the team to do a presentation. JobBag was not fulfilling our needs and we also wanted to move to a cloud-based system which could …
Chose WorkflowMax
I have only used Synergy and whilst this is good, the cost of Synergy was far too great for my practice.
Chose WorkflowMax
We trialed several time tracking options, WorkflowMax won as it was the most feature rich, allowed us to take up additional users as our business grew and plugs directly into Xero, allowing for a reduction in number of hours spent in the land of accounting.
Chose WorkflowMax
The previous programs I used are not listed. But having had to use two different programs to store client data and one for doing the quoting and invoicing was very time consuming. Client details and job details needed to be recorded in both programs, so multiple entries of data …
Chose WorkflowMax
In terms of CRM I always found Capsule to be clunky and difficult to use. WorkflowMax makes it easy for me to gather all the relevant info about our clients in one place with the document manager and also the custom fields that we can add in. I have been able to analyse where …
Chose WorkflowMax
More comprehensive than both of the above - better reporting, more flexible, better customisation.
Features
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
Smartsheet
9.0
Ratings
16% above category average
WorkflowMax
9.3
Ratings
19% above category average
Task Management10.00 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Resource Management9.00 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Gantt Charts9.00 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Scheduling10.00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Workflow Automation8.10 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Team Collaboration10.00 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology7.00 Ratings8.90 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology8.90 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Document Management8.90 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Email integration9.90 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Mobile Access8.00 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking10.00 Ratings9.60 Ratings
Change request and Case Management9.00 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management9.00 Ratings9.40 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
Smartsheet
9.1
Ratings
19% above category average
WorkflowMax
9.5
Ratings
23% above category average
Quotes/estimates8.80 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Invoicing9.80 Ratings9.50 Ratings
Project & financial reporting8.90 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Integration with accounting software8.90 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Best Alternatives
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Small Businesses
Stackby
Stackby
Score 9.0 out of 10
Stackby
Stackby
Score 9.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
InEight
InEight
Score 8.3 out of 10
InEight
InEight
Score 8.3 out of 10
Enterprises
InEight
InEight
Score 8.3 out of 10
InEight
InEight
Score 8.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Likelihood to Recommend
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Performance
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.1
(0 ratings)
7.0
(0 ratings)
Online Training
7.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
SmartsheetWorkflowMax
Likelihood to Recommend
The Smartsheet platform is extremely similar to Microsoft Excel, so if you are familiar with Excel, you will pick Smartsheet up quickly. Even if you aren't Smartsheet has a relatively simple user interface, meaning just about anyone can learn it. One thing to note is that the interface is that some may consider the interface so simple that they feel the need to look for more robust platforms. If you have a small to medium project that needs to be manages in a central hub, Smartsheet would be a great fit. If you have a very large project, I might consider looking into more advanced platforms.
Read full review
WorkflowMax is a good solution for the architecture and design profession in that it allows for multiple ways to track a project, apply time to a project, and invoice against a project. The ability to do staffing forecasting and future planning fills a need that most firms in this profession require.
Read full review
Pros
  • The easy to use dashboard has enabled us get comprehensive view of projects across the entire business.
  • It has streamlined internal communication with ease of sharing information across different teams.
  • Smartsheet automates our workflows, enhances collaboration and ensures there are no data silos.
  • I like that it saves time for us and ensures we spend less time switching between apps.
Read full review
  • Great for managing teams which are not in one spot. Awesome for small or growing businesses with employees who might work from home.
  • Really good for teams to keep up with where a project is at against the time left to achieve the goal
  • Great for keeping all the information for each project in one spot.
Read full review
Cons
  • Smartsheet set up is similar to Excel, yet when you upload an Excel file, things like conditional formatting are lost. Smartsheet has its own conditional formatting, and you have to reinstate the rules. It would be great if those would apply automatically once a file is uploaded
  • Some Smartsheet management and access rules can take some tweaking to work properly. This may be a case of offering more info to admins so they can apply these better and with more efficiency
Read full review
  • Integration with inventory - there are a lot of companies out there which provide a service which includes selling items either purchased or held in stock or "kitted"
  • User permission levels need to be more flexible and ideally closely tied to Xero
  • Two way integration with Xero - ability to import invoices to specific jobs
  • Ability to save pdfs to purchase orders, invoices (like Xero)
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Likelihood to Renew
Smartsheet has made my work life easier. Reduced my email significantly. Smartsheet and SaneBox have got me leaving the office with 0... Yes 0 emails in my inbox. My inbox would reach 150-250 email per day. Smartsheet brought that number down significantly and SaneBox took it the rest of the way. Do yourself a favor and check out SaneBox, too.
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Because we can't imagine being without it!
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Usability
Smartsheet is very easy to learn. However, while I have been able to pick it easily, Microsoft Excel and Project super users that I have trained on Smartsheet get bogged down in the differences and can find it frustrating. Explaining the differences ahead of time and why Smartsheet is being chosen instead of a different software seems to counteract those reactions
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It's easy to use and provides me with instant online access to the management of my business whether I am at my desk or overseas
Read full review
Support Rating
They're a smaller company but they've always given great service when we rarely need to reach out. Pretty good online content but a bigger user base would help to produce more content in a self-sufficient community much as we see with Salesforce. To be fair we haven't needed their direct customer support very often. The sales guys are nice and not too pushy!
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We have had very few issues with Max
Read full review
Implementation Rating
Work with the Smartsheet support team to get the best overall. If no one in your organization has used Smartsheet before, the support team will get things started. We had a couple of people who had used this product before and it was a great help in getting our framework together how we wanted to use it.
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Decide how to breakdown your ongoing jobs - are they monthly recurring or annual broken into chunks? What are you going to give clients i.e. how will your proposals and invoices look?
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Alternatives Considered
Smartsheet is a dedicated project management tool that is built on spread sheet principles. When compared to Microsoft's own offering, Smartsheet came out on top in some areas like dedicated project management features vs having to build custom features to Microsoft 365. However when you compare them on price, Microsoft 365 definitely has more value than Smartsheet.
Read full review
I'm not sure if it was by Ascentis or not, and it may have been an old version, but we used a program called Timekeeper. It was very outdated, difficult to use, and didn't provide easily producible reports. WorkflowMax is infinitely better to use for our business.
Read full review
Return on Investment
  • Our positive ROI has decreased the overall cost in project management as it reduced the amount of MS project licenses we needed.
  • We have also seen a positive ROI on using the cloud storage and it automatically supports proper version control.
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  • The time the company saves by using employees efficiently on each project makes the purchase of this software worthwhile. You can clearly verify how much time the staff spends on each project, with each client, and you can compare whether it is profitable or not the hours invested, thus increasing your profits.
Read full review
ScreenShots

WorkflowMax Screenshots

Screenshot of WorkflowMax Quoting SoftwareScreenshot of WorkflowMax CRM SoftwareScreenshot of WorkflowMax Project Management SoftwareScreenshot of WorkflowMax Mobile SiteScreenshot of Job Costing | WorkflowMaxScreenshot of Powerful Custom Reporting | WorkflowMax