QuickBase vs Smartsheet

March 12, 2025 | Author: Michael Stromann
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QuickBase
Create business apps with QuickBase online database software; collaboration & automation solutions for Project Management, CRM, Customer Service & HR. Apps that meet your exact needs. No coding. No compromise. Just software solutions.
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Smartsheet
Smartsheet is an online project management and crowdsourcing tool. It allows owners of information to comprehensively involve contributors through authenticated access, publicly-accessible published sheets, or via embeddable survey forms. Functionality is focused on the ability to organize, share, and update tasks and files.

QuickBase and Smartsheet are two digital marvels designed to make work slightly less of a chaotic mess. Both exist in the cloud, which is a poetic way of saying "someone else's computer," and they allow users to build things without knowing how to code, which is great for people who like to pretend they do. They integrate seamlessly with all the usual suspects—Microsoft, Google, Salesforce—so that nobody can escape productivity, no matter how hard they try. And, of course, they both promise to revolutionize workflow automation, which is a phrase that sounds exciting until you realize it means your boss can send you even more tasks even faster.

QuickBase has been around since 1999, originally hatched within Intuit, presumably by people who thought spreadsheets were too pedestrian and databases should be more entertaining. It thrives in the world of complex, enterprise-level problems, helping industries like construction and healthcare juggle vast amounts of relational data without breaking a sweat. It also takes security very seriously, which is nice, because nobody wants their carefully optimized workflow stolen by rogue data pirates. If you need a tool that makes your processes look like they were designed by an omnipotent, omniscient business deity, QuickBase is your friend.

Smartsheet, born in 2005, took a different approach—what if spreadsheets, but slightly magical? It wooed marketing teams, IT professionals and project managers with a friendly grid, Gantt charts and dashboards that make even the most horrifying deadlines look visually appealing. Collaboration is its superpower, ensuring that no task remains unassigned and no update goes unnoticed (for better or worse). It is, in essence, the digital equivalent of an overenthusiastic project manager who wants to make sure everyone is aligned, engaged, and—most terrifyingly—on schedule.

See also: Top 10 Low-Code Platforms
Author: Michael Stromann
Michael is an expert in IT Service Management, IT Security and software development. With his extensive experience as a software developer and active involvement in multiple ERP implementation projects, Michael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his writings. Having previously worked at SAP, he has honed his expertise and gained a deep understanding of software development and implementation processes. Currently, as a freelance developer, Michael continues to contribute to the IT community by sharing his insights through guest articles published on several IT portals. You can contact Michael by email [email protected]