Understanding Smartsheet Plans
Welcome back to the Smartsheet Platform Insights series! In today’s blog post, we’re diving into the various Smartsheet plans to help you determine which is best for your organization. Choosing the right plan can maximize productivity, streamline collaboration, and optimize security. Whether you're an admin, finance leader, or power user, understanding Smartsheet plans is crucial to getting the most out of your investment in the platform.
What is a Smartsheet Plan?
A Smartsheet plan is essentially the framework that governs how users interact with Smartsheet and manage their projects. It includes users, as well as assets such as sheets, reports, dashboards, and workspaces. Each user belongs to one or more plans, which in turn determines their capabilities within the platform.
Licensing Models: LCM and USM
Smartsheet offers two licensing models—Legacy Collaborator Model (LCM) and User Subscription Model (USM). LCM is the traditional model but will be phased out by 2026. Meanwhile, USM has been available since July 2024 and represents a more modern approach to Smartsheet licensing. The primary distinction between the two lies in the types of users and the control they provide.
In the LCM licensing model a user can only be a member of one plan at any time, in USM a user can be a member of multiple plans within their organization and outside of their organization.
Organizations that currently have multiple Smartsheet plans will likely have a period of time when they are operating a combination of LCM and USM plans. Organizations with a single Smartsheet plan will “Shift” from their present LCM plan to a USM plan.
LCM User Types: Licensed Users, Non-Licensed Users and External Collaborators
USM User Types: Members, Provisional Members, Guests and Visitors
The shift to USM is intended to provide more nuanced and scalable user roles, supporting diverse organizational needs.
Overview of Smartsheet Plans
Smartsheet offers five main plan types: Free, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Advanced Work Management. Each plan builds upon the previous, adding more features and capabilities.
1. Free Plan: Designed for individual users, the Free plan is limited in scope—users can view and collaborate on existing assets but cannot create new ones. This plan is useful for individuals getting started with Smartsheet but is quite limited for team usage.
2. Pro Plan: The Pro plan allows for an unlimited number of users but has limited collaboration capabilities. It supports asset creation for licensed users and individual login authentication, making it ideal for smaller teams without extensive needs for external collaboration.
3. Business Plan: The Business plan is suited for organizations that require more robust features. It allows unlimited users, asset publishing controls, and includes both licensed and non-licensed users. It also supports guests, unlike the Pro plan, enabling more extensive external collaboration.
4. Enterprise Plan: For large organizations, the Enterprise plan offers critical control mechanisms like domain management, safe sharing, and authentication at an organizational level. This plan is central for companies seeking productivity at scale, precise control over collaboration and data governance.
5. Advanced Work Management Plan: The Advanced Work Management plan encompasses everything in the Enterprise plan and adds premium apps, enhanced governance, and monitoring features. It’s the go-to solution for organizations looking for top-tier security, governance, and advanced functionalities.
Key Considerations Across Plan Types
The capabilities of Smartsheet plans progress in terms of productivity, security, and administration. As you move from the Free plan to Advanced Work Management, each step up adds new features that support larger teams, better governance, and more comprehensive collaboration options.
One key point to clarify is the difference between a Free Plan and a Free User. A Free Plan is a standalone plan limited to a single user, while a Free User may be part of a broader plan, such as Enterprise, and therefore have access to more functionality.
Which Plan is Right for You?
Individual Users: The Free Plan is perfect if you’re exploring Smartsheet and don’t need to create new assets.
Small Teams: The Pro Plan allows small teams to collaborate internally without much external guest interaction.
Growing Organizations: For organizations looking for scalability and secure collaboration, the Business Plan is a great fit.
Enterprises: If your organization requires domain control, secure sharing, and top-level governance, the Enterprise Plan is the right choice.
Advanced Needs: The Advanced Work Management Plan is for companies seeking premium apps and advanced monitoring, making it the best option for high-security environments.
Takeaway
Smartsheet plans are designed to cater to different organizational needs, whether you're an individual user or a large enterprise. The best plan for you depends on your productivity, collaboration, and security requirements. Understanding these plans helps ensure you’re not just using Smartsheet, but truly leveraging it for maximum benefit.
If you’re interested in exploring these plans further, be sure to check out the rest of our Smartsheet Platform Insights series. Also, feel free to complete the Platform Consulting Interest Form to learn how Smartsheet can be optimized for your needs!
Comments