Microsoft Project vs Smartsheet pricing: which is cheaper for your team?
Smartsheet's cheapest paid tier (Pro) lists at $9/user/month, which beats the other on entry pricing. Mid-tier and enterprise math can flip the answer — use the per-tier table below to see the real cost for your team size at each tier.
Calculate the cost for your team
Microsoft Project pricing tiers
| Tier | Monthly | Annual (eq) | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planner Plan 1 | $10 | $10 | user/month | Backlogs, sprints, Gantt views. |
| Planner and Project Plan 3 | $30 | $30 | user/month | Adds roadmaps, baselines, costing. |
| Project Standard 2024 (one-time) | $679.99 | $679.99 | perpetual | On-premises one-time purchase. |
| Project Professional 2024 (one-time) | $1129.99 | $1129.99 | perpetual | On-premises one-time purchase. |
Smartsheet pricing tiers
| Tier | Monthly | Annual (eq) | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $12 | $9 | user/month | 1-10 members; unlimited free contributors. |
| Business | $24 | $19 | user/month | 3+ members; unlimited guests. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | user/month | Custom pricing for 10+ members. |
Feature by feature
The non-pricing differences that drive the real decision.
| Capability | Microsoft Project | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | user/month | user/month |
| Pricing model | Per-user with one-time purchase options | Per-user work-management with paid add-ons |
| Cheapest paid tier | Planner Plan 1 at $10/user/month | Pro at $9/user/month |
| Mid-tier benchmark | Project Standard 2024 (one-time) at $679.99/perpetual | Business at $19/user/month |
| Total paid tiers published | 4 | 2 |
| Last verified | 2026-05-17 | 2026-05-17 |
Best for…
Hand-picked use cases mapped to the winner.
| Use case | Winner |
|---|---|
| Lowest entry price (10-person team) | Smartsheet Pro |
| Most pricing tiers (room to grow) | Microsoft Project (4 tiers) |
| Predictable per-seat billing | Either (both per-seat) |
| Most recently verified pricing | Microsoft Project |
Choose Microsoft Project when
- Microsoft's enterprise PM tool with Gantt, financials, and roadmaps.
- Entry tier (Planner Plan 1) at $10/user/month is your budget ceiling.
- Project Server is enterprise-only and quoted by Microsoft for portfolio management.
Choose Smartsheet when
- Spreadsheet-first PM platform for ops and PMO teams.
- Entry tier (Pro) at $9/user/month is your budget ceiling.
- Enterprise unlocks AI formulas, portfolios, and advanced security with custom pricing for 10+ users.
Switching considerations
Watch the hidden fees on both sides. Microsoft Project: Project Online retires on 30 September 2026; migrations may be required. Smartsheet: Dynamic View add-on starts at $125/month. Always confirm with the vendor before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for a 10-person team, Microsoft Project or Smartsheet?
At entry tier and 10 seats on annual billing: Microsoft Project Planner Plan 1 comes to $100/mo; Smartsheet Pro comes to $90/mo. Smartsheet is the cheaper entry-tier choice at this team size.
Does Microsoft Project have more pricing tiers than Smartsheet?
Microsoft Project publishes more paid tiers (4 vs 2). More tiers usually means more granular ways to grow without re-platforming.
Which pricing was verified more recently?
Microsoft Project's pricing was last verified 2026-05-17; Smartsheet's on 2026-05-17. Both pages link to the vendor's official pricing source so you can re-check before committing.