Retain vs Dreamler vs Smartsheet Comparison
Retain
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Retain is a resource management platform for operations and HR teams that need to coordinate workforce planning across timekeeping, payroll, talent acquisition, and ERP systems. It centralizes scheduling and capacity dat…
Dreamler
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Dreamler is an interactive visual planning solution crafted to make real those dreams and bold visions. By reverse-mapping the activities that need to take place to reach the pre-set goals of a project, teams can remain…
Smartsheet
Starting at $9 /month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
Smartsheet is a dynamic project management tool that simplifies tracking and planning for teams of all sizes. Offering a user-friendly interface, it’s designed to adapt to your unique workflows, whether you're managing s…
Retain leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 43 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
RetainDreamlerSmartsheet
The core difference between Retain and Dreamler lies in their focus areas; Retain is designed for enterprises that require integrated resource and compliance management, while Dreamler excels in visual, goal-driven project planning for mid-sized teams. Ideal buyers for Retain are medium to large enterprises with strict regulatory needs, whereas Dreamler is suited for project managers and teams in various sectors looking for intuitive project planning tools.
- Best for enterprises needing integrated resource and compliance management. - Seamless integration with timekeeping, payroll, ERP, and talent acquisition systems. - Ideal for medium to large businesses. - Ensures strict regulatory compliance across workflows. - Focuses on resource management. - Price not listed.
- Best for visual, goal-driven project planning. - Designed for mid-sized teams (50 to 500 employees). - Supports sectors like Martech, SaaS, Consulting, Education, and Non-Profit. - Ideal for project managers, product owners, and business analysts. - Offers intuitive visual planning and real-time updates. - Price not listed.
Retain vs Dreamler vs Smartsheet — at a glance
| Feature | Retain | Dreamler | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 43 | 4 | 2,444 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing | $9 /month |
| Free trial | No | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business |
| Category | Resource Management Software | Resource Management Software | Project Management Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac |
| API | — | — | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | — | GDPR | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | US | — | US |
Key differences between Retain and Dreamler
- User satisfaction: Retain scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
- Deployment: Retain supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows; Dreamler supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Compare Retain vs Dreamler vs Smartsheet — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Resource Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for enterprises needing integrated resource and compliance management.
- You require seamless integration with timekeeping, payroll, ERP, and talent acquisition systems.
- Your team must ensure strict regulatory compliance across workflows.
- You want to optimize resource allocation to boost productivity across departments.
- You are a startup or very small business with minimal resource management needs.
- You need standalone timekeeping or payroll software without complex integrations.
Best for visual, goal-driven project planning in mid-sized teams.
- You need intuitive visual planning that simplifies complex projects.
- Your team benefits from real-time updates and agile collaboration.
- You want a streamlined tool for marketing, SaaS, or consulting projects.
- You require highly customizable or complex resource management workflows.
- You are a very small team or startup with fewer than 10 employees.
Best for teams needing customizable, spreadsheet-style project management with automation.
- You require flexible workflows adaptable to complex project plans and diverse teams.
- You want strong project management features like Gantt charts, dashboards, and resource tracking.
- You value automation to reduce manual errors and save time in project execution.
- Your team needs extensive offline functionality due to unreliable internet access.
- You prefer simple, ready-to-use workflows without investing time in customization or training.
Retain: Best for enterprises needing integrated resource and compliance management. Dreamler: Best for visual, goal-driven project planning in mid-sized teams.
Description | Retain is a resource management platform for operations and HR teams that need to coordinate workforce planning across timekeeping, payroll, talent acquisition, and ERP systems. It ... Read More about Retain | Dreamler is an interactive visual planning solution crafted to make real those dreams and bold visions. By reverse-mapping the activities that need to take place to reach the pre-set goals ... Read More about Dreamler | Smartsheet is a dynamic project management tool that simplifies tracking and planning for teams of all sizes. Offering a user-friendly interface, it’s designed to adapt to your unique ... Read More about Smartsheet |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | Not Available | Not Available | 9.8/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | |||
Best Company Size | Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises | 50 to 500 employeesMedium to large enterprises | 50-500 employees501-5,000 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
No key benefits available yet.
- Smooth Collaboration: With Dreamler, teams can easily visualize and share their ideas, keeping everyone aligned. It builds a collaborative environment, making brainstorming sessions more productive.
- Project Clarity: Dreamler's intuitive interface lets users break down complex projects into manageable tasks. As a manager, you'll appreciate the clarity this brings to project timelines and responsibilities.
- Real-time Updates: Stay informed with real-time notifications and updates. I find that this feature helps keep teams agile, adapting quickly to changes without losing momentum.
- With Smartsheet, teams can collaborate in real-time, keeping everyone aligned. This builds transparency and accountability within projects, making it easier for managers to track progress.
- Customizable Dashboards: Smartsheet offers customizable dashboards that let you visualize project data at a glance. This feature helps executives make informed decisions quickly, as they can monitor key metrics without digging through extensive reports.
- Automation Capabilities: By automating repetitive tasks, Smartsheet saves time and reduces errors. Administrators will appreciate how this feature allows them to focus on higher-value activities rather than getting bogged down with manual processes.
Best fit
No best-fit guidance available yet.
- 50 to 500 employees
- Martech, SaaS, Consulting, Education, and Non-Profit sectors
- Project Managers, Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Strategy Consultants
- 50-5,000 employees.
- Industries include Project Management, IT Services, Marketing Technology (Martech), Financial Technology (Fintech), Consulting, and SaaS.
- Typical users are Project Managers, Operations Managers, Marketing Coordinators, IT Directors, and Business Analysts.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
No alternatives guidance available yet.
- Lacks real-time collaboration tools — teams coordinating across multiple people need Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana integration
- Pricing starts above $X/month — budget-conscious teams under 10 people typically switch to Figma or Canva
- No native integrations with Zapier, Salesforce, or HubSpot — workflows dependent on these platforms require manual workarounds or API setup
- Pricing exceeds $25/month per user for most teams — competitors like Monday.com and Asana offer similar features at $10–15/month
- Lacks native construction and software development templates — teams in these industries typically layer in specialized tools like Procore or Jira
- Steep learning curve requires 4–6 weeks of training for new users — alternatives like Trello and ClickUp have faster onboarding
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Retain, Dreamler and Smartsheet Compare on Features?
Total Features | 12 Features | 10 Features | 21 Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Retain, Dreamler and Smartsheet on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available | Pricing information not available |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | — |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | — |
Data Encryption | — | — |
Audit Logs | — | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | — |
Retain vs Dreamler User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | 4.6 (based on 43 reviews) | 4.2 (based on 4 reviews) | |
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Rating Distribution | |||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users generally rate Retain highly for its integration capabilities and compliance features, though detailed user feedback is limited. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Dreamler's clarity in project visualization and real-time collaboration but note limited public feedback and pricing transparency. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Smartsheet’s flexibility, collaboration features, and powerful project management tools, tempered by concerns about learning curve and offline limitations. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers |  Capgemini  Amgen  Bank Of America | No Customers information available. |  Pfizer  Whirlpool  Western Digital |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  4 Screenshots |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  3 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Retain or Dreamler?
- Retain edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.2). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Retain and Dreamler offer a free trial?
- Neither Retain nor Dreamler currently lists a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Retain vs Dreamler?
- Retain starts at Contact for pricing. Dreamler starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Retain?
- Top alternatives to Retain include Smartsheet, MRMcentral, Saviom Enterprise Resource Management, eResource Scheduler, Resource Guru.
- What are the top alternatives to Dreamler?
- Top alternatives to Dreamler include Smartsheet, Aha!, RationalPlan, InVision, Saviom Enterprise Resource Management.