The Problem
Why teams leave Smartsheet
Spreadsheet metaphor limits complex project management
Per-seat pricing for what's essentially enhanced Excel
Dashboards and reporting require Business plan
Automation quotas restrict workflow capabilities
Resource management is a separate paid add-on
What We Build Instead
Your custom project management tool
Custom project platform: spreadsheet flexibility + real PM features
Unlimited automations and workflow triggers
Native resource management and capacity planning
Advanced dashboards beyond spreadsheet limitations
Bulk data operations optimized for your volume
The Math
Smartsheet vs. custom build
Based on 40 seats at $25/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying Smartsheet
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 40 seats
$3,350
8% less than Smartsheet
Pricing Breakdown
Smartsheet tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across Smartsheet's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | $9/mo | $7/mo | Unlimited sheets, Grid, Gantt, card views, Shared workspaces, Automations |
| Business | $25/mo | $25/mo | Unlimited automations, Resource management, Dashboards, Document builder |
| Enterprise | $32/mo | $32/mo | WorkApps, Advanced security, Admin center, Premium support |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $15,000–$35,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From Smartsheet to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off Smartsheet in 4-8 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekAudit Smartsheet sheets, dashboards, reports, and automation workflows. Map cross-sheet formulas.
Architecture & Design
1 weekDesign custom platform combining spreadsheet flexibility with real PM features. Plan data model.
Core Development
2-4 weeksBuild spreadsheet-style PM with unlimited automations, resource management, and advanced dashboards.
Data Migration & Testing
1 weekMigrate sheets, data, formulas, and automations from Smartsheet. Verify calculations and reports.
Deployment & Training
1 weekDeploy platform, train teams on new interface, validate reporting accuracy.
Total build time
4-8 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of Smartsheet features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | Smartsheet | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet-Style Grid View | |||
| Gantt & Card Views | |||
| Automation Workflows | Unlimited — no quotas | ||
| Resource Management | |||
| Dashboards & Reporting | |||
| Cross-Sheet Formulas | |||
| Document Builder | |||
| Bulk Data Operations | Optimized for your data volume — no row limits | ||
| WorkApps | Replaced by custom views and dashboards with more flexibility | ||
| Connectors (Jira, Salesforce) | Replaced by direct API integrations | ||
| Data Ownership | Your database, no platform limits |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what Smartsheet offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From Smartsheet to ownership in 4-8 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your Smartsheet usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom project management tool with only the features you need. 4-8 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from Smartsheet, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.