Two strong scheduling tools, one architectural fork
Onplana vs Smartsheet
Both ship enterprise Gantt with critical path. The differences are around AI architecture, native .mpp import, and free-tier access.
Smartsheet is the right call for spreadsheet-fluent teams that want to model project work in rows-and-columns, it's the strongest in market for that posture. Onplana is the right call when you need native .mpp import (Smartsheet only accepts the XML export, requiring a Project Desktop intermediate), dual-provider AI bundled into the seat price, or a free starting tier. On core scheduling primitives (Gantt, all four dependency types, baselines, critical path) both are at parity.
Feature-by-feature comparison
14 dimensions. Where they're at parity, we say so.
| Feature | Smartsheet Spreadsheet-native PM | Onplana AI-native PM with .mpp |
|---|---|---|
| Native .mpp import | Microsoft Project XML only (no .mpp) | Direct .mpp + .mpx + MSPDI XML + XER + Excel/CSV |
| Desktop app that opens .mpp files | Not offered | Onplana Schedule: free Windows and Mac app, opens, edits and reschedules, saves back to Project XML |
| AI on the plan | Included on every paid plan; no free plan | On every plan: a monthly allowance on paid plans, a one-time allowance on Free |
| Stage-gate governance | Configurable via Control Center, an add-on on Business and Enterprise | 12-stage proposal pipeline, multi-reviewer gates and an audit trail, on the Enterprise plan and up |
| Free tier | No free plan; a free trial | ✓ Free plan with full Gantt + critical path |
| Trial of a paid plan | A free trial | Some Free workspaces are offered a 14-day trial of a paid plan in the app, with no card |
| Critical path on Gantt | ✓ Native (Project Plan template) | ✓ Native, all plans |
| Dependency types | FS, SS, FF, SF + lag/lead | FS, SS, FF, SF + lag/lead |
| Tasks shorter than a day | ✓ Durations in hours and minutes (4h 30m) | Onplana Schedule plans to the minute (type 2h or 90m); the web app schedules in whole working days |
| Saved baselines | ✓ Native, on Business and up | ✓ Multiple baselines, Gantt overlay |
| Phone and tablet apps | iOS and Android apps | Onplana Tasks on iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets; Onplana Schedule from the Microsoft Store, the Mac App Store, the App Store and Google Play. All free. |
| Spreadsheet-native UI | ✓ Strongest in market | List view + Kanban + Gantt; not spreadsheet-first |
| Deployment | AWS-hosted SaaS | Hosted SaaS, or a dedicated deployment in your own Azure subscription (Enterprise+) |
| Pricing at PMO scale (50) | ~$19-24/seat for Business (3+ members); Enterprise quoted | $20/seat/mo Business, $29/seat/mo Enterprise |
| Result | Spreadsheet-native PM | Wins 6/14 on differentiated criteria |
No export step in the middle
A .mpp opened directly, dependencies intact
Smartsheet needs the file opened in Project Desktop and saved as XML first. This is the same file uploaded as .mpp, with dependency types, custom fields and baselines mapped before anything is committed. A new project takes the file's working calendar too.
When Smartsheet fits
- •Your team is Excel-fluent and wants to model project work in a spreadsheet grid with formulas.
- •You don't have
.mppfiles to migrate (or you have Project Desktop available for the XML export). - •You're already paying for Smartsheet seats and want to consolidate scheduling into the same surface.
- •You don't need Claude specifically or a second AI provider on standby.
When Onplana fits
- •You have
.mppfiles and don't want a Project Desktop intermediate step. - •You want AI on a free plan before you buy a seat.
- •You want a dual-provider AI engine (Claude + Azure OpenAI), both disclosed, one on standby.
- •You want a free starter tier without a trial expiry.
- •You need a dedicated deployment in your own Azure subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Doesn't Smartsheet import Microsoft Project files?▾
Only via XML export. To get an MPP into Smartsheet you have to open it in Microsoft Project Desktop, save as XML (MSPDI format), and upload the XML. That's an extra hop that requires a Project Desktop license and breaks the pre-cutover migration window for orgs that no longer have Project Desktop installed. Onplana parses .mpp directly via its MPXJ-based binary parser, no intermediate format, no extra license.
How does AI billing compare?▾
Both include AI in the plan. Smartsheet's AI tools come with every paid plan, and it has no free plan; Onplana includes AI on every plan, including Free (a one-time allowance there, a monthly one on paid plans). Beyond that, Onplana runs two AI providers (Claude + Azure OpenAI) with per-endpoint model choice and a standby provider, and names both.
Where does Smartsheet clearly win?▾
Spreadsheet-native UI. If your team is fluent in Excel and prefers to model project work as rows and columns with formulas, Smartsheet's grid is the strongest experience in market. Onplana's primary views are List, Kanban, and Gantt, not a true spreadsheet. For spreadsheet-fluent teams, Smartsheet's native grid is a real benefit Onplana doesn't replicate.
Are scheduling primitives at parity?▾
Yes, both ship Gantt with critical path, all four dependency types, and saved baselines, on every plan including Free in Onplana; in Smartsheet on its paid plans, with baselines from Business up. Both support lag and lead on dependencies, and Smartsheet takes durations in hours and minutes, as Onplana Schedule does (the Onplana web app schedules in whole working days). The bigger differences are around .mpp import, AI architecture, and the free-tier story.
Can I run a parallel pilot of both?▾
Onplana: yes, sign up free, import a .mpp, evaluate. Smartsheet: requires a free trial that expires; full evaluation needs sales engagement. The cycle-time difference matters when you're running a 6-month migration window.
How long does it take to get a first working plan?▾
Under two minutes in our own timing. On 29 October 2026 we timed a new Free workspace on a development copy of Onplana, from the sign-up page to a project whose tasks all have dates, three runs each, typing at a normal pace: a plan drafted by AI from a one-sentence description took about a minute (54 to 62 seconds), and importing an Asana CSV export took about 13 seconds (13 to 14). The time you spend reading each screen comes on top.
Try Onplana with a real schedule
Free plan, no credit card, no trial expiry.