All comparisons Project Management Tools

Smartsheet vs Things for Busy professionals

Persona: Busy professional | Focus: You need a tool that lets you understand and manage complex work structures quickly without piecing things together manually.

1-Second Verdict

Best choice

Smartsheet

Best for organizing complex projects with multiple layers of tasks, subtasks, and phases.

Things fails first because it only supports simple lists and cannot represent multi-level task hierarchies needed for structured projects.

Verdict

Smartsheet lets you build multi-level hierarchies with parent rows, nested subtasks, and grouped phases, so you can structure complex projects in one place. Things is designed around flat lists with limited grouping, which works for simple task tracking but not layered project planning. For busy professionals managing complex work, this means more time trying to mentally map structure that is not represented in the tool. Smartsheet reduces that effort by making the hierarchy visible and organized.

Rule: If organizing work requires multi-level project hierarchies beyond simple task lists, Things fails first.

Why Smartsheet fits busy professionals

You are organizing projects with multiple layers like phases, tasks, and subtasks, and need to see that structure clearly. Tools that flatten everything into simple lists force you to reconstruct the hierarchy in your head. Smartsheet fits this by letting you nest and group work visually, while Things keeps tasks in simpler structures that do not scale to complex project layouts.

Where Smartsheet works better

Indented row hierarchy with parent and child relationships
You can nest tasks under phases and break work into multiple levels, making complex structures visible at a glance.
Expandable and collapsible task groups within sheets
You can hide or show levels of detail quickly, which helps you focus without losing the overall structure.
Grid-based layout that aligns tasks, subtasks, and phases in one view
You can see all levels of a project in a single table, reducing the need to switch views or mentally track structure.

Where Things works better

Simple project and list structure with minimal nesting
You can manage tasks quickly without dealing with complex hierarchies, which keeps daily use fast for simpler work.
Quick task entry with minimal required fields
You can add tasks instantly without structuring them into multiple levels, reducing setup time.
Clean interface focused on individual task completion
There are fewer elements to manage on screen, which makes it easier to focus when your work does not require deep structure.

Where each tool breaks down

Smartsheet (Option X)

Fails when

You only need to track simple tasks and do not need multiple levels of hierarchy or structured planning.

What to do instead

Switch to Things to manage tasks quickly without building or maintaining a layered structure.

Things (Option Y)

Fails when

You need to organize work into phases, tasks, and subtasks but cannot represent that structure clearly in the tool.

What to do instead

Use Smartsheet to create multi-level hierarchies and view the full structure in one place.

When this verdict might flip

If your projects stay simple and do not require multiple levels of structure, Things becomes the better choice because it is faster to use without managing hierarchies.

Quick decision rules

Use Smartsheet if your projects require multiple levels like phases and subtasks.
Use Things if your tasks can stay in simple lists without deep structure.
Avoid Things if you need to represent complex project hierarchies clearly.

FAQs

Does Things support subtasks and hierarchy?

It supports basic grouping, but it does not provide deep multi-level hierarchies like parent and child task structures.

What makes Smartsheet better for complex projects?

It allows you to nest tasks and organize them into multiple levels, making the full project structure visible in one place.

Is Smartsheet too complex for simple use?

It can be, since its hierarchy and structure features are designed for more detailed project planning.

Can Things handle large projects?

It can handle many tasks, but it becomes harder to organize them when you need multiple layers of structure.