Microsoft Project, Scoro, and Smartsheet approach work management from three different starting points. Microsoft Project is the deep enterprise scheduling…
subscription (per-user, tiered, plus enterprise) · From $9 per user per month (Pro plan, billed annually)
Best for: Teams that want a spreadsheet-familiar interface that scales from project tracking to workflow automation and custom WorkApps across a large organization.
At a Glance
Microsoft Project
Scoro
Smartsheet
Primary category
Project Management
Project Management
Project Management
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Subscription
Per-user monthly subscription with tiered plans, minimum seat requirement
subscription (per-user, tiered, plus enterprise)
Starting price
$10/user/month (Project Plan 1)
Core plan from $19.90/user/month (billed monthly)
$9 per user per month (Pro plan, billed annually)
Free plan
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
Free trial
Yes
Yes
Yes
Platforms
Web, Windows
Web, iOS, Android
Web
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Not documented
Not documented
Yes
Public API
Yes
Yes
Yes
Standout Differences
Familiar interface lowers the learning curve
Smartsheet's spreadsheet-style grid is immediately recognizable to non-technical business users, in contrast to Microsoft Project's steeper scheduling learning curve.
Smartsheet, Microsoft Project
Enterprise scheduling depth
Microsoft Project's critical path analysis, resource leveling, and Power BI reporting remain the most detailed scheduling toolset of the three.
Microsoft Project
Agency billing built in
Scoro adds quoting, invoicing, retainer management, and role-based labor costing directly to project tracking, a financial layer neither competitor offers.
Scoro
Automation and lightweight apps
Smartsheet's workflow automation and WorkApps let teams build simple custom applications on top of sheet data without traditional coding.
Smartsheet
Broad third-party reach vs deep ecosystem lock-in
Smartsheet connects broadly with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, and Salesforce, while Microsoft Project's integration strength is narrower but deeper, centered on Teams, SharePoint, and Power BI.
Smartsheet, Microsoft Project
Feature-by-Feature
Scheduling and resourcing
Feature
Microsoft Project
Scoro
Smartsheet
Gantt chart scheduling
Available
Available
Available
Dedicated resource management
Available
Available
Limited
Automation and reporting
Feature
Microsoft Project
Scoro
Smartsheet
Workflow automation
Not documented
Not documented
Available
Custom low-code apps
Unavailable
Unavailable
Available
Executive dashboards and BI reporting
Available
Available
Available
Billing and enterprise controls
Feature
Microsoft Project
Scoro
Smartsheet
Quoting and invoicing
Unavailable
Available
Unavailable
Portfolio and PPM management
Available
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Pro — $9 per user per month annual (billed monthly at $12/user/month)
Business — $32 per user per month annual
Enterprise — Custom annual
Pros & Cons
Microsoft Project
Pros
Deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps teams already use
Powerful, industry-standard Gantt and critical-path scheduling
Scales from small team task tracking to enterprise portfolio management
Familiar to generations of project managers trained on the .mpp format
Strong reporting via native Power BI connectors
Cons
Steep learning curve for advanced scheduling features
Desktop client requires Windows; no native macOS desktop app
Pricing per user can get expensive for large teams needing Plan 3 or 5
Less intuitive than modern visual PM tools like Asana or monday.com for simple task tracking
Enterprise portfolio features require add-on licensing and setup complexity
Scoro
Pros
All-in-one platform reduces the need for separate PM, billing, and CRM tools
Deep professional-services features like retainers and role-based costing
Backed by venture funding and recognized as a fast-growing company
Multi-currency support suited to international agencies
14-day free trial with no credit card required
Cons
Minimum of 5 user seats required, unsuitable for solo users or very small teams
Advanced resourcing and forecasting features locked behind higher-priced tiers
Per-seat pricing can get expensive quickly for larger teams
Premium onboarding is a significant additional cost at $1,699+
Smartsheet
Pros
Low learning curve for teams already comfortable with spreadsheets
Used at scale by a large share of Fortune 500 companies, indicating strong enterprise reliability
Flexible enough to support project management, resource planning, and lightweight app-building on one platform
Strong automation and reporting capabilities reduce manual status updates
Cons
Business plan pricing at 32 dollars per user per month can get expensive for large teams compared to some competitors
Pro plan's user cap limits its usefulness for larger deployments without upgrading
Spreadsheet-based interface can feel limiting for teams that need more visual, board-based project views without add-ons
Now privately held after the 2025 Vista Equity Partners and Blackstone acquisition, which may affect long-term public roadmap transparency
Use Cases
Choose Microsoft Project: Enterprise PMOs needing formal Gantt and critical-path scheduling with deep Microsoft 365 and Power BI integration.
Choose Scoro: Agencies and consultancies that need project management combined with quoting, invoicing, and profitability reporting.
Choose Smartsheet: Teams that want a spreadsheet-familiar interface that scales from project tracking to workflow automation and custom WorkApps across a large organization.
Microsoft Project
Enterprise PMO portfolio management — Prioritize, sequence, and optimize a portfolio of competing projects with demand management and capacity tools.
Construction and engineering scheduling — Track detailed task dependencies, critical paths, and resource costs on large builds.
IT and software delivery scheduling — Coordinate cross-functional IT project timelines alongside Teams and SharePoint.
Scoro
Agency project and billing management — Creative and marketing agencies use Scoro to manage client projects, timesheets, and invoicing in one platform.
Consultancy resource planning — Consulting firms use Scoro's resource planner and role-based labor costing to allocate staff and track profitability.
IT services retainer management — IT services companies use Scoro's retainer management and financial reporting to track recurring client engagements.
Smartsheet
Enterprise project and portfolio tracking — Project management offices use Smartsheet to track multiple projects, dependencies, and resource allocation across departments.
Marketing campaign management — Marketing teams use sheets, forms, and dashboards to plan campaigns, collect creative requests, and report on status to leadership.
IT and operations workflow automation — IT teams build lightweight WorkApps and automated workflows on top of Smartsheet data to manage tickets, approvals, and asset tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these three is easiest to learn for teams new to formal project management software?
Smartsheet generally has the lowest learning curve because it builds on a spreadsheet-style grid that most business users already understand, whereas Microsoft Project's critical-path scheduling tools require more training.
Does Smartsheet do critical-path scheduling the way Microsoft Project does?
Smartsheet can generate Gantt and calendar views automatically from sheet data, but the provided feature data does not describe the critical-path analysis, resource leveling, and baseline tracking depth that Microsoft Project offers, especially on its higher tiers.
Is Scoro a good fit for a two-person team?
No. Scoro requires a minimum of 5 user seats on every plan, so it is built for small-to-midsize teams and agencies rather than solo users or very small teams.
Which of these tools can bill clients directly?
Scoro is the only one of the three built for direct client billing, with quoting, invoicing, and retainer management included in its core product.
Does Smartsheet's 2025 ownership change affect which tool to pick?
Smartsheet became privately held after Vista Equity Partners and Blackstone completed an acquisition in January 2025. This does not change its current feature set, but it is worth noting since it may affect long-term public roadmap transparency compared to Microsoft Project's backing by Microsoft or Scoro's venture-backed but still independent status.