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Comparison · PM

Asana vs SmartSuite

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Asana and SmartSuite — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Shared themes:automation

Asana vs SmartSuite: at a glance

FeatureAsanaSmartSuite
SectorPM, CollabPM
Velocity score5.07.5
Sparks · 30d01
Top themeswork-management, governance, planning, automationwork management, scripting, automation, mcp
Last editorial update13d ago3d ago
WebsiteVisit →—

What is Asana?

Asana keeps fixing subtask plumbing: types now follow the parent, dates roll up.

Asana's fall releases split between control-plane work and planning mechanics. Subtask types are now set by the parent task rather than the project view they're added from, with a per-custom-type choice to inherit or default to basic Tasks. That follows Subtask Date Rollups, automation rules running on their owner's current permissions, a reorganized Admin Console with AI as its own section, and threaded comments.

Read the full Asana trajectory →

What is SmartSuite?

SmartSuite adds a scheduled JavaScript runtime with secrets and run history.

SmartSuite is a no-code work management platform that is adding developer and agent surfaces. Script Engine, a new admin page, lets workspaces write, schedule and monitor JavaScript with memory and timeout limits, secrets by reference and per-run history. It builds on Managed Secrets, released two weeks earlier, and the hosted MCP server from early October.

Read the full SmartSuite trajectory →

Asana vs SmartSuite: editorial side-by-side

Asana logo
Asana
PMCOLLAB
5.0

Asana keeps fixing subtask plumbing: types now follow the parent, dates roll up.

◆ Current state

Asana's fall releases split between control-plane work and planning mechanics. Subtask types are now set by the parent task rather than the project view they're added from, with a per-custom-type choice to inherit or default to basic Tasks. That follows Subtask Date Rollups, automation rules running on their owner's current permissions, a reorganized Admin Console with AI as its own section, and threaded comments.

◆ Where it's heading

The summer sparks (AI Teammates, agent-built rules, Slack @mention capture) widened what Asana can do; the fall has been about making that safe to deploy and keeping task structure consistent. Predictable subtask types and dates matter because automations and AI Teammates read that structure, so cleaner hierarchies make both more reliable.

◆ Prediction

Expect more hierarchy consistency work, such as rollups that run automatically or via rules, and admin controls for AI Teammates in the new Admin Console AI section.

S7.5

SmartSuite adds a scheduled JavaScript runtime with secrets and run history.

◆ Current state

SmartSuite is a no-code work management platform that is adding developer and agent surfaces. Script Engine, a new admin page, lets workspaces write, schedule and monitor JavaScript with memory and timeout limits, secrets by reference and per-run history. It builds on Managed Secrets, released two weeks earlier, and the hosted MCP server from early October.

◆ Where it's heading

SmartSuite is becoming programmable on three fronts: a hosted MCP server for agents, managed secrets, and now a scheduled code runtime. Together they let teams run integrations inside the platform instead of in Zapier or external cron jobs. Mobile dashboard parity and admin recovery tools continue alongside.

◆ Prediction

Expect scripts to gain record-event triggers beyond schedules, and links between Script Engine and the automation builder.

Alternatives to Asana and SmartSuite

Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Asana or SmartSuite.

See all Asana alternatives → · See all SmartSuite alternatives →

Recent activity from Asana and SmartSuite

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 6d agoSmartSuiteSmartSuite Script Engine ⚡
  2. 13d agoSmartSuiteFilter Widget: Multiple Operators in Dynamic Filters
  3. 13d agoSmartSuiteRecycle Bin: Restore Team
  4. 14d agoAsana:puzzle_piece: Subtask types now follow their parent, across projects
  5. 21d agoAsana🗓️ Subtask Date Rollups: bring your parent dates up to date
  6. 21d agoSmartSuiteManaged Secrets
  7. 21d agoSmartSuiteMobile: Data Schema Widget
  8. 24d agoAsanaA clearer way to find your Admin settings 🧭
  9. 27d agoSmartSuiteMobile: Pivot Table Widgets on Dashboards
  10. 29d agoAsana🔐 Automation rules now use their owner’s current permissions
  11. 1mo agoAsana🗂️ Bulk-add from Portfolio now works for editors and admins!
  12. 1mo agoAsanaNo more stringing you along, Threaded Comments are now LIVE 🧵

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Asana and SmartSuite?

Both compete on the same themes — automation — within PM. SmartSuite is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Asana better than SmartSuite?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. SmartSuite is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Asana?

Top Asana alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Asana alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/asana for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to SmartSuite?

Top SmartSuite alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "SmartSuite alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/smartsuite for the full list with editorial commentary on each.