ClickUp vs Smartsheet
An honest, feature-by-feature look at ClickUp and Smartsheet for creative teams, where each is stronger, what they cost, and what neither includes.
IncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncludedIncluded14-day free trial, then $29/member/moStatuses researched against each tool's official docs and pricing pages. “Limited” means the capability exists with meaningful restrictions.
Where ClickUp and Smartsheet differ
Of the 8 capabilities creative teams typically stitch together, ClickUp fully includes 6 and Smartsheet fully includes 5.
Built-in Chat
ClickUp includes built-in chat; Smartsheet doesn't include it.
File Storage & Drive
Smartsheet includes file storage & drive; ClickUp covers it partially.
AI Assistant (kloudie)
ClickUp includes ai assistant (kloudie); Smartsheet covers it partially.
What neither includes
Whichever you pick, you'll still be stitching tools around it for the rest of the workflow. kloudboard includes all of the below in the same workspace:
- Freelancer Payments
Frequently asked questions
Is ClickUp or Smartsheet better for creative teams?
ClickUp covers more of the workflow out of the box (6 of the 8 capabilities we track fully included, vs 5), but the right pick depends on which capabilities your team actually uses. The comparison table above shows exactly where they differ.
How much do ClickUp and Smartsheet cost?
ClickUp's Free Forever plan is $0 with unlimited members and tasks but caps you at 60MB of total storage and just 1 form; paid plans run $7/user/mo (Unlimited) and $12/user/mo (Business) billed annually, and its AI assistant, ClickUp Brain, is a separate $9/user/mo add-on layered on top of every paid seat (Everything AI is $28/user/mo). Smartsheet retired its free plan in 2025 - it now offers only a 30-day trial, with paid plans starting at Pro $9/user/mo ($108/yr, capped at 1-10 users, 250 automations/mo, 20GB storage, 30MB attachment limit) and Business at $19/user/mo ($228/yr, 3-user minimum, 1TB); AI tools are gated to the custom-priced Enterprise plan (10+ seats).
What do both ClickUp and Smartsheet lack?
Neither fully includes freelancer payments. kloudboard includes all of these in one workspace, with a 14-day free trial that unlocks everything.
Is there one tool that replaces both ClickUp and Smartsheet?
kloudboard combines kanban boards, frame-accurate video and image review, built-in real-time chat, freelancer payments, file storage, calendar, and the included kloudie AI assistant in one workspace. Every new workspace starts with a 14-day free trial with everything unlocked, then Pro is $29/member/mo, or $20/member/mo billed annually.
Skip the trade-off
Instead of choosing between ClickUp and Smartsheet, get boards, review, chat, and payments in one workspace. Try everything free for 14 days; client guests never take a paid seat.
Start your 14-day free trial