A Smartsheet alternative for service businesses

Start with your priorities

Before comparing features, agree on three things with the people who will use the system every day:

1. What must work on day one?The processes you cannot run without, starting with the one that hurts most.
2. Where do hand-offs break?The places where data is re-typed between tools or teams today.
3. Who will look after the setup?Who adds fields, changes layouts and onboards new people.

What is Smartsheet?

Smartsheet is a work management platform with a familiar spreadsheet-style interface, used for project tracking, reporting and automation.

Why service businesses look for an alternative to Smartsheet

Every business is different, but these are common reasons service businesses look at other options:

• They want structured records for clients, people and contracts rather than sheets
• They want timesheets and billing connected to projects
• They want capacity planning by skill
• They want accounting from the same data

How Perspectiv is different

• Lists you can filter, sort, group and save as views, with spreadsheet import and export
• Clients, contracts, projects, time, purchasing and accounting share one record, with no integrations to build between them
• Resource planning by skill and availability
• Single sign-on with SAML or OpenID Connect is included in every plan

When Smartsheet may be the better choice

If your team wants to keep working in a spreadsheet-style grid and does not need billing or accounting, Smartsheet may suit you. Perspectiv’s project and time modules are coming soon.

Moving from Smartsheet

Perspectiv imports from spreadsheets, matching your columns to its fields as you go, so data exported from Smartsheet or any other tool can be brought in. Start with the area that hurts most, run both side by side for a short period, then switch. Our guide on switching in stages applies here too.

1. Map your dataMatch the columns you export to Perspectiv’s fields.
2. Test a small sampleImport a few records and check them with the people who use them.
3. Review, then switchRun both side by side for a short period, then move over. Ask a question if you are unsure.

Smartsheet is a trademark of its owner. Perspectiv is not affiliated with or endorsed by Smartsheet. Descriptions are based on public information as of October 2026; check with each vendor for current details.

Where it lives in Perspectiv

Labels show what opens first in the private beta (Q2 2027), what is being built now, and what is on the roadmap.

• Project managementComing soon

  Projects, programs and portfolios, with budgets, change orders, WIP, profitability and forecasts.

• Resource managementComing soon

  Availability, scheduling, staffing, capacity, utilization and pipeline-driven demand.

• Lists and views (framework)Beta Q2 2027

  Saved views, filters, bookmarks, spreadsheet import and export on every list.