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Provider Pricing Facts
Provider pricing facts: Huly offers a free plan; Smartsheet offers a free plan.
Source and Freshness Note
Source and freshness note: pricing, free-plan, and feature signals are compared from public provider data and updated comparison records. Last checked March 2026.
Huly vs Smartsheet: Honest Comparison (2026)
Huly
Open-source all-in-one project management platform replacing Linear, Jira, Slack, and Notion
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-powered work management for enterprise project collaboration
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Quick Verdict:
Huly wins with 8.4/10 vs 8.1/10. Choose Huly for ease of use. Choose Smartsheet for its unique strengths.
Huly wins this comparison with a score of 8.4/10 vs 8.1/10. Both offer free plans. Huly stands out for open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership, while Smartsheet excels at familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users. However, Smartsheet leads in our detailed feature analysis (7.8 vs 7.3).
| Feature | Huly | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Features | 8.1/10 | 7.7/10 |
| Value for Money | 8.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Customer Support | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Free Plan | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Starting Price | $7/mo | $9/mo |
| Feature Score | 7.3/10 | 7.8/10 |
| Top Strength | Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership | Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users |
| Biggest Weakness | Newer platform with smaller ecosystem than established tools | Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large teams quickly |
| Best For | Huly is the most ambitious open-source project management platform | Teams transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking |
| Winner | Huly (8.4/10) | |
What is Huly?
Open-source all-in-one project management platform replacing Linear, Jira, Slack, and NotionHuly is an open-source all-in-one project management platform that combines issue tracking, team chat, document collaboration, and HR tools in a unified system. Designed as a replacement for the combination of Linear, Jira, Slack, and Notion, Huly provides issue and project management with sprints, backlogs, and roadmaps, real-time team messaging with threaded conversations, collaborative documents with a rich block editor, and HR features including time tracking, leave management, and employee profiles. The platform supports Kanban boards, list views, and custom views for issue management, with GitHub and GitLab integration for development workflow automation. Documents in Huly support real-time collaboration, nested pages, and task embedding, enabling teams to maintain project documentation alongside their issue tracker. The team chat feature includes channels, direct messages, and thread discussions, eliminating the need for a separate messaging tool.
- +Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership
- +Replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform
- +Fast, modern UI with clean design comparable to Linear
- •Huly is the most ambitious open-source project management platform
- •genuinely delivering on its promise to replace multiple software subscriptions with a single
- •and well-designed system. For teams that value data ownership and want to reduce tool sprawl
What is Smartsheet?
Spreadsheet-powered work management for enterprise project collaborationSmartsheet is an enterprise work management platform that combines the familiar spreadsheet interface with powerful project management, automation, and collaboration features. Designed for teams that think in rows and columns, Smartsheet makes the transition from Excel-based project tracking to proper work management seamless. The platform supports multiple views including Grid, Gantt, Card, and Calendar, allowing teams to visualize the same data in whatever format suits their workflow. Automated workflows handle repetitive tasks like status updates, approval requests, and notification routing without requiring technical skills. Resource Management provides visibility into team capacity and workload distribution, helping managers allocate resources effectively across multiple projects.
- +Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- +Powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows
- +Resource Management provides real-time team capacity visibility
- •Teams transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking
- •PMOs managing complex project portfolios
- •Operations teams needing enterprise work management
Huly vs Smartsheet: Key Differences
Huly vs Smartsheet: Quick Verdict
Huly leads by a hair — 8.4/10 vs 8.1/10. At this margin, the specifics matter more than the overall score.
Choose Huly if:
- Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership
- Replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform
- Fast, modern UI with clean design comparable to Linear
- You want the higher-rated option overall (8.4/10 vs 8.1/10)
- Ease of use matters to you — Huly scores 8.3/10 here
Choose Smartsheet if:
- Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- Powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows
- Resource Management provides real-time team capacity visibility
- You match the profile: teams transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking
Decision Summary
Who wins in each scenario? A quick look at how Huly and Smartsheet compare across different buyer needs.
Scores 8.4/10 vs 8.1/10
Scores 8.2/10 on value vs 7.6/10
Ease of use: 8.3/10 vs 8.1/10
Features + support avg: 8.3/10 vs 7.9/10
Free plan available + 8.2/10 value
Both offer free plans
Choose Huly if you need...
- ✓Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership
- ✓Replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform
- ✓Fast, modern UI with clean design comparable to Linear
- ✓Lower starting price ($7/mo vs $9/mo)
- !Newer platform with smaller ecosystem than established tools
- !Some features still maturing compared to dedicated alternatives
Choose Smartsheet if you need...
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows
- ✓Resource Management provides real-time team capacity visibility
- !Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large teams quickly
- !Interface can feel dated compared to modern project management tools
Our Take: Huly vs Smartsheet
Huly edges ahead with a 8.4/10 vs 8.1/10. The gap is noticeable but not dramatic — both are legitimate options depending on what you prioritize.
Where they differ: Huly's biggest strengths are open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership and replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform. Smartsheet, on the other hand, shines with familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users and powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows. These reflect fundamentally different product priorities.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each one with zero risk before committing. We recommend trying both for a week with real data.
Huly vs Smartsheet Score Comparison
| Category | Huly | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
🏆Overall Score | 8.4▲ | 8.1 |
💫Ease of Use | 8.3▲ | 8.1 |
⚙Features | 8.1▲ | 7.7 |
💰Value for Money | 8.2▲ | 7.6 |
💬Customer Support | 8.5▲ | 8.2 |
Why These Scores? Our Reasoning
- +Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership
- +Replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform
- +Fast, modern UI with clean design comparable to Linear
- -Newer platform with smaller ecosystem than established tools
- -Some features still maturing compared to dedicated alternatives
- +Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- +Powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows
- +Resource Management provides real-time team capacity visibility
- -Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large teams quickly
- -Interface can feel dated compared to modern project management tools
Huly vs Smartsheet Pros & Cons
+Strengths
- ✓Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership
- ✓Replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform
- ✓Fast, modern UI with clean design comparable to Linear
- ✓Real-time team chat eliminates need for separate messaging tool
- ✓GitHub and GitLab integration for development workflows
-Weaknesses
- ✗Newer platform with smaller ecosystem than established tools
- ✗Some features still maturing compared to dedicated alternatives
- ✗Self-hosted deployment requires DevOps expertise
- ✗Community and plugin ecosystem still developing
+Strengths
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows
- ✓Resource Management provides real-time team capacity visibility
- ✓Dynamic View enables secure selective data sharing with stakeholders
- ✓Robust reporting dashboards for executive-level project oversight
- ✓Strong enterprise security with SOC 2 and granular admin controls
-Weaknesses
- ✗Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large teams quickly
- ✗Interface can feel dated compared to modern project management tools
- ✗Advanced features locked behind higher-tier plans
- ✗Formula system is limited compared to actual spreadsheet applications
Who Should Use Huly vs Smartsheet?
Huly is ideal for
- •Huly is the most ambitious open-source project management platform
- •genuinely delivering on its promise to replace multiple software subscriptions with a single
- •and well-designed system. For teams that value data ownership and want to reduce tool sprawl
- •Huly is increasingly the best choice.Development teams wanting to consolidate project management and communication tools
- •organizations preferring open-source and self-hosted solutions
Smartsheet is ideal for
- •Teams transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking
- •PMOs managing complex project portfolios
- •Operations teams needing enterprise work management
When NOT to Choose Huly or Smartsheet
Knowing when a tool is the wrong fit is just as important as knowing its strengths
Skip Huly if...
- ✗Newer platform with smaller ecosystem than established tools
- ✗Some features still maturing compared to dedicated alternatives
- ✗Self-hosted deployment requires DevOps expertise
- ✗Community and plugin ecosystem still developing
Skip Smartsheet if...
- ✗Per-user pricing becomes expensive for large teams quickly
- ✗Interface can feel dated compared to modern project management tools
- ✗Advanced features locked behind higher-tier plans
- ✗Formula system is limited compared to actual spreadsheet applications
Huly vs Smartsheet Decision Framework
Choose based on what matters most to you
Huly vs Smartsheet Pricing
| Pricing Feature | Huly | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Starting Price | $7/mo | $9/mo |
| Free Trial | Not available | 30 days |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Value Rating | 8.2/10 | 7.6/10 |
Huly Plans
- ✓Unlimited members
- ✓Issue tracking
- ✓Kanban and list views
- ✓GitHub integration
- +1 more
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Advanced workflows
- ✓Custom fields
- ✓Analytics dashboard
- +1 more
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓SSO and SAML
- ✓Advanced permissions
- ✓Audit logs
- +1 more
Smartsheet Plans
- ✓Up to 1 user
- ✓2 sheets
- ✓100 rows per sheet
- ✓Basic templates
- +1 more
- ✓Unlimited sheets and rows
- ✓Gantt and calendar views
- ✓Automations
- ✓Forms
- +1 more
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Unlimited free collaborators
- ✓Resource management
- ✓Custom branding
- +1 more
- ✓Everything in Business
- ✓WorkApps
- ✓Connectors
- ✓Admin controls
- +1 more
What You Get: Plan Feature Comparison
Comparing Huly's Pro ($7/mo) vs Smartsheet's Pro ($9/mo)
| Feature | Huly | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Everything in Free | ✓ | ✗ |
| Advanced workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom fields | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics dashboard | ✓ | ✗ |
| Priority support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Unlimited sheets and rows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gantt and calendar views | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Forms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Proofing | ✗ | ✓ |
Which Should You Choose?
Smartsheet
Quick Buyer's Guide
Based on our analysis, here's who each tool is best suited for
- ✓Huly is the most ambitious open-source project management platform
- ✓genuinely delivering on its promise to replace multiple software subscriptions with a single
- ✓Users who need open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership
- ✓Teams with tighter budgets ($7/mo vs $9/mo)
- ✓Teams transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking
- ✓PMOs managing complex project portfolios
- ✓Users who need familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
Huly vs Smartsheet: The Bottom Line
For most teams, Huly is the safer bet — but Smartsheet has its own strengths.
## Our Verdict Huly leads by a hair — 8.4/10 vs 8.1/10. At this margin, the specifics matter more than the overall score. ### Choose Huly if: - Open-source and self-hostable with full data ownership - Replaces Linear + Slack + Notion in a single platform - Fast, modern UI with clean design comparable to Linear - You want the higher-rated option overall (8.4/10 vs 8.1/10) - Ease of use matters to you — Huly scores 8.3/10 here ### Choose Smartsheet if: - Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users - Powerful automation engine handles complex multi-step workflows - Resource Management provides real-time team capacity visibility - You match the profile: teams transitioning from spreadsheet-based project tracking Smartsheet at 8.1/10 is still competitive and may be the better fit depending on your specific requirements and budget.