Retain vs Runn 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…
Runn
Starting at $8 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Revamp the way your company manages resources with Runn: an intuitive Resource Planning and Forecasting Software. This innovative tool offers comprehensive visibility across sales, projects, and the required personnel. S…
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
RetainRunnSmartsheet
The core difference lies in Retain's focus on integrated resource and compliance management for larger enterprises, while Runn specializes in real-time resource planning for mid-sized teams in consulting and SaaS sectors. Retain is ideal for medium to large enterprises requiring strict compliance and integration, whereas Runn suits project-driven teams of 50 to 500 employees needing dynamic resource allocation.
- Best for enterprises needing integrated resource and compliance management - Seamless integration with timekeeping, payroll, ERP, and talent acquisition systems - Ensures strict regulatory compliance across workflows - Suitable for medium businesses and large enterprises - Price not listed - Ideal for teams with complex compliance needs
- Best for real-time resource planning and project workload management - Dynamic resource allocation to adapt to changing project priorities - Designed for teams of 50 to 500 employees - Ideal for consulting, SaaS, marketing technology, and professional services - Targeted at project managers, resource managers, operations directors, and team leads - Priced at $8 per user
Retain vs Runn vs Smartsheet — at a glance
| Feature | Retain | Runn | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | — | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 43 | — | 2,444 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $8 /User/Month | $9 /month |
| Free trial | No | Yes | 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 | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac |
| API | — | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | — | GDPR | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | US | US | US |
Key differences between Retain and Runn
- Pricing: Runn starts at $8 /User/Month. Retain pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Runn offers a free trial; Retain does not.
- Deployment: Retain supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows; Runn supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Compare Retain vs Runn 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 real-time resource planning and project workload management.
- You need dynamic resource allocation to adapt to changing project priorities.
- Your team size ranges between 50 and 500 employees in consulting or SaaS sectors.
- You want up-to-the-minute visibility into project progress and team performance.
- You require highly customizable project management features tailored to specific workflows.
- Your organization prioritizes integrated communication tools like chat or video conferencing.
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. Runn: Best for real-time resource planning and project workload management.
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 | Revamp the way your company manages resources with Runn: an intuitive Resource Planning and Forecasting Software. This innovative tool offers comprehensive visibility across sales, ... Read More about Runn | 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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Entry Level Pricing |
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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 employees | 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.
- Project Management: With Runn, you can easily visualize and manage your team's workload. It helps managers allocate resources effectively, confirming that no one is overburdened while maximizing productivity.
- Real-Time Insights: Runn provides up-to-the-minute data on project progress and team performance. Executives appreciate having these insights at their fingertips, letting them make informed decisions that drive organizational success.
- Flexible Resource Planning: Whether you're scaling up for a big project or adjusting to changing priorities, Runn allows you to adapt your resource allocation dynamically. Administrators love how this flexibility helps meet deadlines without compromising quality.
- 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
- Consulting, SaaS, Marketing Technology (Martech), and Professional Services
- Project Managers, Resource Managers, Operations Directors, and Team Leads
- 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 customizable project templates — teams needing industry-specific workflows often switch to Monday.com or Asana
- Pricing starts at $25/user/month — smaller agencies under 10 people typically choose Toggl Plan or Harvest instead
- No native chat or video — teams relying on real-time communication integrate Slack separately or move to Basecamp
- 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
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How do Retain, Runn and Smartsheet Compare on Features?
Total Features | 12 Features | 11 Features | 21 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Retain, Runn 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 |  |  |
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 | 🇺🇸 US |
Retain vs Runn User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | 4.6 (based on 43 reviews) | No reviews available for the product | |
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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
| 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 |  Silverstripe  Ralabs  Somardigital |  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 Runn?
- Retain edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Retain and Runn offer a free trial?
- Runn offers a free trial. Retain does not.
- What is the starting price of Retain vs Runn?
- Retain starts at Contact for pricing. Runn starts at $8 /User/Month.
- 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 Runn?
- Top alternatives to Runn include Smartsheet, RationalPlan, Saviom Enterprise Resource Management, Retain, eResource Scheduler.