ProjectManager.com is a cloud-based project management software. Features include free file storage, client logins, unlimited projects and integration with Google Apps, Microsoft Word, Excel and Project.
$15
Per User per Month
Smartsheet
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Smartsheet is an online project management and collaboration tool. It includes automated alerts, instantaneous updating and sharing across team members, resource management, nested tasks organized in a hierarchy, a Gantt chart view, exportable and automated reports, and integration with email.
Because I work with many people for whom Project Management is new, I wanted to use software that was user-friendly, fairly intuitive, and not filled with jargon. I like the fact I can use existing templates that (mostly) work for our needs, and I look forward to more things being added. They say support is 72 hours, but I’ve never waited for more than a few.
For teams and users who are very familiar with Excel and its mode of operation, Smartsheet will feel like a walkover. If you have a number of users who use Excel or Google Sheets for their personal project management then you will find this tool to be very useful and somewhat familiar.
Teams that may be used to other project management suites or styles would find Smartsheet a bit challenging to adapt to, as formulas and formatting can be challenging to adapt to.
Creating the schedule is probably the most "difficult" function to get used to. Linking each scope to one another and using different dates for each day can get a little confusing as it is relatively easy to break the links if you were to change the dates. If you have a schedule for a job that is 2 months long; if you revise your schedule to include a date change, if the link is broken it will not update the rest of the dates and remaining scopes. So you would have to figure out where the link has been broken within the schedule, or go through and change the remaining dates by hand.
Smartsheet set up is similar to Excel, yet when you upload an Excel file, things like conditional formatting are lost. Smartsheet has its own conditional formatting, and you have to reinstate the rules. It would be great if those would apply automatically once a file is uploaded
Some Smartsheet management and access rules can take some tweaking to work properly. This may be a case of offering more info to admins so they can apply these better and with more efficiency
ProjectManager.com had the full range of features that I needed to manage my projects effectively, but as a regular line manager (rather than a designated project manager) I personally don't think I actually need so many features. I could manage my own projects with a simpler product, so I would probably opt for a free or cheaper alternative in future. That's not a criticism of the product at all, just that it had more than I needed.
It definitely meets our needs as far as organizing and archiving our tasks and files. As we train more staff to view it, I see opportunities for more improvement, which I am sure this program can handle. I look forward to seeing continued improvement from Smartsheet on their capabilities and functionality.
At first, the range of features can be a little overwhelming, particularly for users with more limited project management experience. However, there is good support information provided on how to use each different feature, so with a bit of care and attention a user should find it easy to learn how to use the software.
Smartsheet is very easy to learn. However, while I have been able to pick it easily, Microsoft Excel and Project super users that I have trained on Smartsheet get bogged down in the differences and can find it frustrating. Explaining the differences ahead of time and why Smartsheet is being chosen instead of a different software seems to counteract those reactions
I give this rating because it fills a niche in the market. MS Project scares many away from proper task management but there are limited tools our there, especially cloud-based that are mobile-friendly. Smartsheet fills this market gap, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. IT is not fair to compare it to MS Project, but fairer to see what gaps it fills.
It's absolutely paramount to take a few minutes to actually play with the software. It's nearly impossible to do anything wrong or make a mistake which cannot be fixed easily. Under the help menu is Live Training option. After you familiarize yourself with the commands, watch the live training for some in depth understanding of how to make the software fit your needs perfectly.
ProjectManager.com is less pricey and has all the features of all the other software, some of which are even better. In general, I like the interface and user experience of the product and it is really appealing to use. Easy to learn, fosters collaboration, and improves team communication.
Jira and Redmine are much more robust and technologically advanced project management solutions. I enjoy using either when managing a very large project. However, I prefer to use Smartsheet for my smaller to medium sized projects. As for Google Drive - I would say that Google sheets and Smartsheet are almost identical in my opinion when it comes to functionality. Personally I prefer to manage smaller projects via Google Drive, but it is a personal preference!
