Head-to-head
Podio vs Smartsheet
An honest, feature-by-feature look at Podio and Smartsheet for creative teams — where each is stronger, what they cost, and what neither includes.
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Where Podio and Smartsheet differ
Of the 8 capabilities creative teams typically stitch together, Podio fully includes 4 and Smartsheet fully includes 5.
Video & Image Review
Smartsheet includes video & image review; Podio doesn't include it.
Built-in Chat
Podio includes built-in chat; Smartsheet doesn't include it.
File Storage & Drive
Smartsheet includes file storage & drive; Podio covers it partially.
AI Assistant (kloudie)
Smartsheet partially covers ai assistant (kloudie); Podio doesn't include it.
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
- AI Assistant (kloudie)
Frequently asked questions
Is Podio or Smartsheet better for creative teams?
Smartsheet covers more of the workflow out of the box (5 of the 8 capabilities we track fully included, vs 4), but the right pick depends on which capabilities your team actually uses. The comparison table above shows exactly where they differ.
How much do Podio and Smartsheet cost?
Podio's paid plans start at $11.20/user/month (Plus, billed annually; $14 monthly) and $19.20/user/month for Premium (annual; $24 monthly), with a free forever tier capped at 5 employees and just 100 items per organization across all apps and workspaces. 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 Podio and Smartsheet lack?
Neither fully includes freelancer payments and ai assistant (kloudie). kloudboard includes all of these in one workspace, with a free plan for up to 5 members.
Is there one tool that replaces both Podio and Smartsheet?
kloudboard combines kanban boards, frame-accurate video and image review, built-in chat (with Slack, Discord, and WhatsApp bridging), freelancer payments, file storage, calendar, and a free AI assistant in one workspace — free forever for up to 5 members, with Pro at a flat $20/member/mo.
Skip the trade-off
Instead of choosing between Podio and Smartsheet, get boards, review, chat, and payments in one workspace. Free forever for up to 5 members — no credit card required.
Get started for free