Smartsheet
ZenHub
| Feature | Smartsheet | ZenHub |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $9/mo | From $8.33/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | enterprise, pmo-teams, operations, construction, it-teams | development-teams, github-users, agile-teams, open-source-projects |
| Founded | 2005 | 2014 |
| Grid View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Gantt | ✓ | ✗ |
| Card View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reports | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dashboards | ✓ | ✗ |
| Resource Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Kanban Boards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Epics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Roadmaps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sprint Planning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Burndown Charts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Github Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Smartsheet Pros
- Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve
- Powerful automation with no-code workflows
- Enterprise-grade permissions and governance
- Excellent for resource management at scale
✗ Smartsheet Cons
- Can feel overwhelming for simple projects
- Expensive at enterprise scale
- Mobile experience is limited
✓ ZenHub Pros
- Lives inside GitHub
- No context switching
- Good sprint planning
- Roadmap feature
✗ ZenHub Cons
- GitHub only
- Limited outside development
- Expensive for large teams
The Verdict
Smartsheet is built for enterprise and pmo teams, with a focus on grid-view and gantt. ZenHub targets development teams and github users and leads with kanban-boards and epics.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($9/mo for Smartsheet, $8.33/mo for ZenHub), so pricing won't make the decision for you.
Smartsheet has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. ZenHub requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Smartsheet offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while ZenHub takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.