Smartsheet vs IBM Targetprocess (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Smartsheet grades higher than IBM Targetprocess: 3.0 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Smartsheet grades higher on the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style project and work management for teams
IBM Targetprocess
Strategic portfolio management that links plans to spend
Which one is for you
Pick Smartsheet if
- Fits if your team works in spreadsheets and wants project views on top of them
- Works for companies that need Gantt charts, reports and dashboards across many projects
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want to stay free, as there's only a 30-day trial
- Tight if you automate a lot on Pro, which stops at 250 automations a month, 20 GB and 10 Members, and is sold to new customers only
- Pricey if you need timeline view, workload tracking or the API, since those start at Business, $19 a Member with 3 minimum
- Pricey if you need single sign-on or portfolios, which are Enterprise only, from 10 Members and priced by quote
Pick IBM Targetprocess if
- Fits if you plan a portfolio and want it connected to what you spend
- Works for IT finance and portfolio teams already near IBM or Apptio
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price on the page, as none is published
- Not for you if you are a small team that needs task tracking
- Watch out: it is now sold under the IBM and Apptio names
- Watch out: the free trial's length is not stated
How we grade them
| 3.0GPASmartsheetVery good | 2.0GPAIBM TargetprocessFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPro is $9 a Member a month billed yearly, between the $8 middle and the $10 dear end for project tools here, so an ordinary price. Contributors are free and unlimited, which helps. But Pro stops at 10 Members, and timeline view, workload tracking and the API all wait for Business at $19. | CNo price is published; the product page points to a demo request and a trial. |
| Free plan and trial | CNo free plan. You get 30 days with no credit card asked for, and then a paid plan is the only way to carry on. | DA free trial is offered, but its length and card terms are not stated on the page. No free plan. |
| Features | BIt covers the whole job: one sheet shown as a grid, a Gantt chart, cards or a calendar, rolling up into reports and dashboards, with forms for intake, automated workflows and Smart Assist for formulas. Airtable, monday and Wrike, its own named rivals, cover the same ground. | CStrategic planning, portfolio and resource management, scenario planning and a financial link. It is aimed at portfolio and IT finance teams. |
| Ease of use | A4.85 from about 120,000 App Store ratings, which is the top band. The sheets behave like spreadsheets, so anyone who already lives in one has little new to learn. | CNo store rating on record. Enterprise software that comes through a demo and a sales process. |
| Platforms and integrations | AThe full set: web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with Microsoft Teams, Slack, Salesforce, Jira, Power BI and Tableau, and an API. The API is Business and up, mind. | BWeb only, with Jira and Azure DevOps integrations. |
| Best for | project plans for spreadsheet people | enterprise portfolio planning tied to spend |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Smartsheet and IBM Targetprocess. How we grade
Where they differ
- Smartsheet also covers tasks, calendar, kanban boards, Gantt & timelines and workflow automation.
- IBM Targetprocess also covers reports and dashboards.
At a glance
| Smartsheet | IBM Targetprocess | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free trial |
| Starts at | $9 per Member / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly) | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial, no credit card required | A free trial is offered; its length is not stated on the product page |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Smartsheet Inc. | Apptio, an IBM Company |
| Price read from | smartsheet.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Smartsheet
- There is no free plan; a paid plan is needed once the 30-day trial ends.
- Pro is limited to 10 Members and is only available to new customers; Business requires at least 3 Members.
- Pro is capped at 250 automations a month and 20 GB of storage.
- The API is offered from the Business plan, and SAML single sign-on needs Enterprise.
IBM Targetprocess
- No prices are published; the product page points to a demo request and a free trial.
- The product is now sold under the IBM and Apptio names, and its old Targetprocess website redirects there.
- It is aimed at enterprise portfolio and IT finance teams, so a small team that only needs task tracking is not the target buyer.
Key features
Smartsheet
- Sheets with multiple views
- Work is stored in spreadsheet-like sheets that can be switched between grid, Gantt, card and calendar views. Timeline view starts on the Business plan.
- Reports and dashboards
- Reports pull together and filter rows from sheets, and dashboards summarize the results for stakeholders.
- Forms
- Forms gather structured input such as requests, field reports and feedback. Forms are unlimited on the Pro plan and above.
- Automated workflows
- Workflows can be built from templates or from scratch for tasks such as reminders. Pro allows 250 automations a month; Business and above are unlimited.
- Resource management
- Shows who is assigned to what, so managers can even out workloads and plan for upcoming demand. Workload tracking is listed from the Business plan.
- AI tools
- Smart Assist and Smart Columns help with formulas and data analysis, and Business adds connections to external AI tools through MCP.
IBM Targetprocess
- Strategic planning
- Connects objectives to portfolios, programs and execution so work lines up with business goals.
- Financial integration
- Ties investment decisions to how work is planned, delivered and measured, using Apptio's IT financial management data.
- Portfolio management
- Makes dependencies, flow and impact visible across portfolios so risks can be managed.
- Resource management
- Manages resources, capacity and demand end to end, with workforce allocation against strategic goals and budgets.
- Scenario planning
- Analytics and scenario planning for modeling future trends and their effects on the portfolio.
- Hybrid workflows
- Supports teams that use agile, traditional or mixed methods, and the vendor says it works with Jira and Azure DevOps.
Plans
Smartsheet
Pro$9
per Member / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly)
1 to 10 Members with unlimited free Contributors. Gantt, table, board and calendar views, 250 automations a month and 20 GB of storage.
Business$19
per Member / month, billed yearly ($24 billed monthly)
3 or more Members. Adds timeline view, workload tracking, unlimited automations, proofing, admin controls and 1 TB of storage.
EnterpriseCustom
10 or more Members. Adds SAML single sign-on, portfolios, scenario planning, directory integrations and unlimited attachment storage.
Advanced Work ManagementCustom
Everything in Enterprise, plus Control Center, Dynamic View, Data Shuttle, DataMesh, connectors and premium support.
IBM Targetprocess
Pricing could not be confirmed. See apptio.com.
Ways to pay less
Smartsheet
- Annual discount
Lower per-Member price with yearly billing
Pro is $9 per Member / month billed yearly against $12 monthly (25% less), and Business is $19 against $24 (about 21% less).
IBM Targetprocess
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Smartsheet or IBM Targetprocess?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Smartsheet starts at $9 per Member / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly), and IBM Targetprocess has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Smartsheet or IBM Targetprocess?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Smartsheet nor IBM Targetprocess has a free plan. Both have a free trial.
Which platforms do Smartsheet and IBM Targetprocess run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Smartsheet lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.