ToolStack

Smartsheet vs GitLab

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026-03-30

Our VerdictSmartsheet wins overall

Smartsheet outranks GitLab on our weighted score — heavier on review volume, lighter on raw rating. If your team is squarely in scaleup territory, Smartsheet is likely the stronger fit.

Choose Smartsheet if…

Choose Smartsheet if your team focuses on project tracking and resource management and fits a scaleup, enterprise profile. Starting at $9/user/mo/user/mo with a free tier. Spreadsheet-familiar interface makes adoption easy for teams transitioning from Excel — minimal training needed for basic use

Choose GitLab if…

Choose GitLab if your team focuses on source code management and ci cd pipelines and fits a startup, scaleup profile. Starting at $29/user/mo/user/mo with a free tier. Single platform covering the entire DevSecOps lifecycle — source code, CI/CD, security scanning, monitoring, and project management in one tool, eliminating toolchain complexity

Smartsheet
by Smartsheet
4.4
out of 5 · 21k+ G2 reviews
Visit Smartsheet ↗
GitLab
by GitLab
4.5
out of 5 · 1k+ G2 reviews
Visit GitLab ↗

Feature Comparison

FeatureSmartsheetGitLab
Category
work_management
devops
G2 Score
4.4 / 5.0
4.5 / 5.0Better
G2 Reviews
21000
1000
Free Tier
Starting Price
$9/user/moBetter
$29/user/mo
Mobile App
AI Features
API Access
SSO / SAML
SOC 2
Learning Curve
moderate
steep
Platforms
web, mac, windows, ios, android
web

Pros & Cons

Smartsheet

Pros
✓ Spreadsheet-familiar interface makes adoption easy for teams transitioning from Excel — minimal training needed for basic use
✓ Extremely powerful Gantt chart and dependency tracking capabilities, ideal for traditional project management and waterfall methodologies
✓ Robust automation engine with conditional logic, approval workflows, and automated notifications that scale across the organization
✓ Strong portfolio-level dashboards and reporting allow PMOs to aggregate data across dozens or hundreds of projects
Cons
✗ Not designed for agile/Scrum teams — lacks native sprint planning, backlog management, and velocity tracking
✗ Pricing can escalate quickly at scale since every collaborator who edits needs a licensed seat
✗ Sheet-based architecture creates data silos — cross-sheet references and formulas become complex and brittle at scale

GitLab

Pros
✓ Single platform covering the entire DevSecOps lifecycle — source code, CI/CD, security scanning, monitoring, and project management in one tool, eliminating toolchain complexity
✓ Best-in-class CI/CD with Auto DevOps, merge trains, multi-project pipelines, and native Kubernetes integration for seamless deployment workflows
✓ Strong self-managed option with full feature parity — ideal for enterprises with strict data sovereignty, air-gapped environments, or compliance requirements
✓ Comprehensive built-in security scanning (SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, secret detection, fuzz testing) at the Ultimate tier replaces standalone security tools
Cons
✗ Pricing jumps are significant — Premium at $29/user/month and Ultimate at $99/user/month make it expensive for larger teams, especially when security features are only in Ultimate
✗ Project management capabilities (boards, epics, milestones) are functional but lack the polish and depth of dedicated PM tools like Jira or Linear
✗ Self-managed instances require significant infrastructure expertise and ongoing maintenance — GitLab is resource-intensive to run at scale

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your needs. Smartsheet scores 4.4/5 on G2, while GitLab scores 4.5/5. Smartsheet is better for project_tracking and resource_management, while GitLab excels at source_code_management and ci_cd_pipelines.
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo per user/month with a free tier. GitLab starts at $29/user/mo per user/month with a free tier.
Smartsheet supports 150 integrations, while GitLab supports 100.
Full Smartsheet Review →Full GitLab Review →
Data verified 2026-03-30. Some links may be affiliate links — see disclosure.