Head-to-head
Smartsheet vs Trello
An honest, feature-by-feature look at Smartsheet and Trello for creative teams — where each is stronger, what they cost, and what neither includes.
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Where Smartsheet and Trello differ
Of the 8 capabilities creative teams typically stitch together, Smartsheet fully includes 5 and Trello fully includes 1.
Video & Image Review
Smartsheet includes video & image review; Trello doesn't include it.
File Storage & Drive
Smartsheet includes file storage & drive; Trello covers it partially.
Calendar & Scheduling
Smartsheet includes calendar & scheduling; Trello covers it partially.
Free Guest Access
Smartsheet includes free guest access; Trello 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:
- Built-in Chat
- Freelancer Payments
- AI Assistant (kloudie)
Frequently asked questions
Is Smartsheet or Trello better for creative teams?
Smartsheet covers more of the workflow out of the box (5 of the 8 capabilities we track fully included, vs 1), but the right pick depends on which capabilities your team actually uses. The comparison table above shows exactly where they differ.
How much do Smartsheet and Trello cost?
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). Trello's Free plan covers up to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per Workspace with a 10MB per-file attachment limit and 250 automation runs/month; paid tiers start at Standard $5/user/mo billed annually ($6 monthly), Premium $10/user/mo ($12.50 monthly), and Enterprise $17.50/user/mo with a 50-user minimum.
What do both Smartsheet and Trello lack?
Neither fully includes built-in chat, 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 Smartsheet and Trello?
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 Smartsheet and Trello, get boards, review, chat, and payments in one workspace. Free forever for up to 5 members — no credit card required.
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