Smartsheet Alternative: Loocey DB
Smartsheet brings spreadsheets to project management. When your team needs relational data instead of linked cells, here is how Loocey DB compares.
- Last Updated October 8, 2026
- Category No-Code Database Software
- Approach Facts with sources, no made-up claims
Smartsheet is a SaaS work management platform with a spreadsheet interface. Sheets connect through cell linking and cross-sheet formulas, and the DataMesh add-on creates relationships between sheets without formulas.
It is strong at Gantt-based project plans, dashboards and reports.
Teams look for a Smartsheet alternative when their sheets turn into a database: many linked sheets, lookups held together by formulas, and a 20,000-row limit per sheet. Loocey DB stores the same data in relational tables.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Smartsheet at 10 Users
- $190/month (Business, $19/member)
- Loocey DB at 10 Users
- $49/month (Pro, 10 users included)
Why Teams Look Elsewhere
- Relationships through formulas
- Sheet limits
- API access needs Business
- Pro is capped at 10 members
What Loocey DB Offers
- A dedicated PostgreSQL database
- Relationships with real foreign keys
- No row limit per table
- API on every plan
- Users included in every plan
- Bring your data with you
Why Teams Look for a Smartsheet Alternative
Relationships through formulas
Smartsheet does not list a linked-record column type. Sheets connect through cell links and cross-sheet formulas, or the DataMesh add-on.
Sheet limits
Each sheet allows up to 20,000 rows, 400 columns and 500,000 cells.
API access needs Business
API calls are not included on Pro; they start on Business at $19 per member per month billed annually.
Pro is capped at 10 members
Pro allows at most 10 members and is only available to new customers. Larger teams need Business, with a 3-member minimum.
Where Smartsheet Is Strong
To be fair: Smartsheet has Gantt, Calendar, Board and Timeline views, dashboards and reports, unlimited automation triggers on Business, a broad set of AI features and an official MCP server on Business and above.
For project scheduling, it does more than Loocey DB.
Smartsheet vs Loocey DB: Head-to-Head
| Feature | Smartsheet | Loocey DB |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Spreadsheet-style work management | No-code relational database & app builder |
| Real PostgreSQL / Dedicated Database | ✗ Not advertised | ✓ A dedicated PostgreSQL database instance for every account |
| Relational Links / Foreign Keys | Partial Cell linking and cross-sheet formulas; DataMesh add-on for relationships | ✓ Relationship columns create real foreign keys (Cascade, Restrict, Set Null, No Action) |
| Column (Field) Types | Column types, cell and column formulas | ✓ 50+ column types, stored as typed database columns |
| Views | Grid, Gantt, Calendar, Table, Board; Timeline on Business+ | Table, Kanban/Pipeline and Calendar, saved as view tabs |
| Field-Level Permissions | Partial Lock/unlock columns and rows (all plans); Dynamic View add-on from $125/month | Coming Soon Granular Access Controls (App, table, field and record level). Today: company-wide roles |
| Automations | ✓ Unlimited triggers on Business (250/month on Pro) | Coming Soon Workflows & Automations |
| MCP Server for AI Assistants | ✓ Official MCP server on Business+ | ✓ Tables, columns, records, views/filters, imports and search |
| API | ✓ REST API on Business+ (not on Pro) | ✓ API keys, Main API included on every plan |
| Self-Hosting | ✗ “100% Software as a Service” | ✗ Cloud only |
| Price at 10 Users (Annual Billing) | $190/month (Business, $19/member) | $49/month (Pro, 10 users included) |
| Free Plan / Trial | ✓ 30-day trial (no free plan) | See the pricing page for current offers |
| Public Reviews | See G2 (rating not quoted) | Customer reviews published on loocey.com |
A ✗ means the capability was not advertised in the vendor’s published materials (pricing page, help center and developer docs) when we checked (October 8, 2026).
Vendors change their products, so always verify current capabilities.
Smartsheet vs Loocey DB: Price by Team Size
| Monthly Cost, Billed Annually | 5 Users | 10 Users | 20 Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartsheet (Business) | $95 | $190 | $380 |
| Loocey DB | $29 Standard | $49 Pro | $198 Enterprise |
Smartsheet: Pro is $90 at 10 members but max 10, no API.
Prices as listed on each vendor’s pricing page on October 8, 2026, in USD per month with annual billing. Per-seat plans assume every user is billable (many vendors do not charge for viewers).
Loocey DB uses the cheapest plan for each team size, plus $19/user/month above the plan’s included users. Verify current pricing before you buy.
Smartsheet at a Glance
Smartsheet is a SaaS work management platform with a spreadsheet-style interface.
Sheets support cell, column and cross-sheet formulas, cell linking and dependencies, with up to 20,000 rows and 400 columns per sheet.
Smartsheet was taken private in January 2025 after its acquisition by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners.
- Founded
- 2005
- Headquarters
- Bellevue, Washington
- Pricing
- Pro $9 and Business $19 per member/month billed annually ($12 and $24 billed monthly); Enterprise and Advanced Work Management custom. Pro is capped at 10 members and has no API access; Business needs 3+ members.
- Free Plan / Trial
- 30-day free trial; no free plan listed
- Public Reviews
- Rating not quoted; see G2
Independent Sources
The Alternative
How Loocey DB Replaces Smartsheet
A dedicated PostgreSQL database
Every Loocey account gets its own dedicated PostgreSQL database instance. Tables are real PostgreSQL tables with typed columns, indexes and unique, regex and min/max constraints.
Relationships with real foreign keys
Relationship columns create foreign keys with On Delete rules (Cascade, Restrict, Set Null or No Action), work across Apps, and support Existing Relationship (join) columns and dependent dropdowns.
No row limit per table
Records are unlimited on every Loocey DB plan, and tables are real PostgreSQL tables with indexes.
API on every plan
Every Loocey DB plan includes Main API access, with API keys that have the same access as the user they were created for.
Users included in every plan
Standard includes 5 users for $29/month, Pro includes 10 users for $49/month and Enterprise includes 20 users for $198/month, billed annually. Additional users are $19/user/month.
Bring your data with you
Export to CSV from your current tool, then import CSV, XLSX, XLS or TXT files up to 50 MB into Loocey DB, map each column, and choose whether duplicates are skipped or updated.
Not Built Yet, and Labeled That Way
- Coming Soon Workflows & Automations
- Coming Soon Granular Access Controls (App-, table-, field- and record-level permissions)
See every feature on the Loocey DB page and every plan on the Loocey DB pricing page.
Which Should You Pick?
Pick Smartsheet If…
Pick Smartsheet if your team thinks in spreadsheets and needs Gantt-based project plans, dashboards and reports.
Pick Loocey DB If…
Pick Loocey DB if you want a real relational database (a dedicated PostgreSQL instance, typed columns, foreign keys, indexes and SQL tools) behind a no-code interface, with users included in every plan, an MCP server for AI assistants, and room to grow into other Loocey apps such as Loocey CRM and Loocey DLA.
Smartsheet Alternative FAQ
How does Smartsheet pricing compare with Loocey DB?
As listed on October 8, 2026, Smartsheet Business is $19 per member per month billed annually: $190/month for 10 members. Pro is $9 ($90/month for 10) but is capped at 10 members and has no API access.
Loocey DB Pro includes 10 users for $49/month billed annually.
Can I import Smartsheet sheets into Loocey DB?
Yes. Export a sheet to Excel or CSV and import it into Loocey DB (up to 50 MB), mapping each column.
Linked sheets become separate tables connected by relationship columns.
Does Loocey DB have Gantt charts like Smartsheet?
No. Loocey DB has Table, Kanban/Pipeline and Calendar views. If Gantt-based project scheduling is your main need, Smartsheet is the better fit.
What does Smartsheet have that Loocey DB does not?
Loocey DB does not have automations yet (Workflows & Automations are coming soon), and field-, record- and App-level permissions are coming soon as Granular Access Controls; today, permissions are company-wide roles. Loocey DB has Table, Kanban/Pipeline and Calendar views, with no Gallery, Gantt or Timeline view, and it is cloud only.
Compare the head-to-head table on this page for the details.
How we compare: product facts on this page were checked against each vendor’s public pricing page, help center and developer documentation on October 8, 2026. A ✗ means the capability was not advertised in the vendor’s published materials at that time; “Partial” marks a related but not equivalent feature.
Vendors change their products and prices, so always confirm current details directly. We link to independent sources such as G2, Crunchbase and Wikipedia rather than to competitor websites.