Smartsheet’s project management software solution hit the scene in 2005 with an interface that feels very familiar – much like a spreadsheet. The Seattle-based offering is in the form of a web-based subscription that comes with native mobile apps for Android and iOS for managing projects on the fly. This suite of project management apps covers document management, reporting, resource management, and time tracking, and even issue management through an add-on app. Good for companies of any size and in any industry, including non-profits, it has many of the elements you’ve come to expect in a project management system, including file sharing, automated workflows, Gantt charts, sub-tasks, dependencies, automated email notifications, reminders and updates, summary reports across sheets, and more. You can even turn any Google Spreadsheet, Excel, or MS Project files into an online Smartsheet that includes discussions and file attachments on any row. The system has won a bunch of awards in 2014 and 2015 from Google, Microsoft, and other major players.

Here’s how Smartsheet stacks up along six critical dimensions:

• Usability. Most users rate Smartsheet as very easy to both learn and use, and the interface has been described as not very attractive relative to competitors.
• Maintainability. Because this is a web-based service, users needn’t worry about maintenance.
• Performance. Users haven’t complained about any performance issues at all.
• Integration Ease. Smartsheet integrates seamlessly with Google Drive and Gooble Apps.
• Functionality. A few users noted that some of the more advanced features of project management are not available.
• Support. Users are generally pleased with customer and technical support, which has been described as friendly and effective.

Pros

Here’s what users like most about Smartsheet:

• In general most users think this is a very affordable solution, and the value you get from it is well worth the expense.
• Many users note that its webforms are a great way to get updated information from multiple parties.
• The spreadsheet approach means that it’s pretty easy to customize it how you want it.
• Many users note how happy they are that a company finally figured out how to make spreadsheets work really well for users, something the big players like Microsoft haven’t been able to figure out.

Cons

Here’s what users like least about Smartsheet:

• A few people users were very dissatisfied with project, and although there were told they could cancel their contract at any time, that didn’t include a refund. Those users, however, are few and far between as most are quite happy with the system.
• Some users wish there were functionality for multidimensional items like pivot tables.
• Although Smartsheet has finally added a search function, users aren’t very happy with it yet.

I was surprised to see the high marks the Smartsheet project management software gets from users given that it’s taking a kind of old-school approach with a spreadsheet-like interface, but apparently that’s what makes many users feel so comfortable with it.