Comments in Smartsheet give teams a dedicated space for feedback and discussion on each task.

Have you ever found yourself wading through a mountain of emails just to track a single task? In teams that juggle lots of moving parts, comments in Smartsheet act like a focused, visible conversation tied right to the work. They’re not about filing opinions somewhere else—they’re about talking where it matters: on the row, the sheet, the item you’re trying to move from “plans” to “done.”

What is the purpose of comments in Smartsheet?

Short answer: to provide a feedback and discussion platform for tasks. It’s that simple—and that powerful. When you leave a comment, you’re starting a thread that sits with a specific row or sheet. Everyone who’s involved can read what’s been said, add their thoughts, ask clarifying questions, and point to needed changes, all in one place. It’s like having a shared notebook that travels with the task, rather than a scattered pile of separate notes.

Why this is worth your attention

• Context matters. A task isn’t just a line in a spreadsheet; it’s a piece of a bigger story—who approved it, what it’s supposed to accomplish, what the next steps are. Comments keep the discussion with that task so nothing gets misinterpreted or lost.

• Transparency builds trust. When feedback lives next to the work, you can see who weighed in, what they suggested, and when a decision was made. People don’t have to chase down emails or sift through chat history to understand why something happened a certain way.

• Records that are easy to audit. If you ever need to revisit a decision, the conversation is right there. You can point to a specific comment to show what was agreed, and when. No mystery, just a clear trail.

How comments actually function in Smartsheet

Think of comments as a built-in chat room that’s tethered to the thing you’re working on. You can:

• Add a comment on a row or a sheet, so the discussion stays with the relevant item.

• Reply to existing comments, which keeps the conversation organized in a thread.

• Mention teammates with @mentions to pull them into the discussion right away.

• Attach files or links if a document or reference is needed to support the point being made.

• Mark a thread as resolved when the issue is addressed, which helps keep the workspace tidy and focused.

All of this keeps conversation from scattering across multiple apps and channels. It’s not a replacement for quick status updates; it’s a complementary layer that adds depth where it matters most.

A quick mental model: comments vs other features

• Attachments are about files. They’re the “thing,” the concrete documents you’ll need (spec sheets, designs, contracts). Comments, by contrast, are the dialogue that explains the file in context—what to look for, what changed, what’s still missing.

• Automated alerts trigger notifications when things change. They’re the nudge to pay attention; comments are where you actually talk about the change, why it happened, and what comes next.

• Permissions control who can see or modify the sheet. Comments don’t replace that control, but they do ensure the people who should weigh in can follow the discussion directly, without hunting through emails.

Real-world moments where comments shine

• Product details: A product owner leaves a note on a row describing a requirement, asks a clarifying question, and invites a designer to review. The design team can respond with questions and attach mockups right there. You don’t need a separate email thread to keep them aligned.

• Campaigns and deadlines: A marketer comments on a task to adjust the launch date and adds a link to the revised calendar. The team can see the rationale and confirm the new timeline, all in one place.

• Approvals and sign-offs: When a decision needs stakeholder input, comments let the reviewer say “I approve with these changes” and specify what to tweak before final sign-off. The history stays readable, not buried in chat apps.

Tips to use comments well (without turning the sheet into a chat log)

• Be concise, but clear. A well-placed comment answers the who, what, and why in a sentence or two. If you need to explain a broader context, a short paragraph is fine, but avoid turning a row into a mini-report.

• Use @mentions strategically. Tag the people who must act or review. It reduces back-and-forth emails and speeds things up.

• Reference the task directly. If you’re asking for changes, link to the specific requirement or field you’re talking about. It saves time and avoids guesswork.

• Keep the discussion focused. If a thread starts to wander, pause it and move the related points to a separate comment or create a checklist item to track next steps.

• Use a “question first” approach. If you’re unsure, ask a precise question rather than making a vague statement. It’s easier for teammates to respond with a specific answer.

• Close out with a summary. When a topic is resolved, a brief closing note stating what was decided helps future readers quickly catch up.

• Attach only what’s needed. If a file is important for context, attach it to the comment or the row. Don’t clutter the conversation with unnecessary documents.

Common misconceptions to clear up

• Comments aren’t a substitute for meetings. They’re a on-task, recordable way to talk through details when a meeting isn’t practical. They work best when used alongside occasional quick syncs, not in place of them.

• Comments aren’t only for problems. They’re great for sharing updates, asking for input, or noting decisions as they happen. Use them as part of the routine workflow, not just when things go off track.

• Comments don’t replace file attachments or links. They complement each other. Attachments provide the evidence or reference, and comments offer the discussion around that evidence.

A tiny checklist for your Smartsheet commenting workflow

• Identify the task that needs input.

• Add a clear comment explaining what you’re asking for.

• If others are needed, @mention them.

• Attach any necessary files or links to support your point.

• Wait for responses, then reply with clarifications or next steps.

• When the discussion closes, summarize the decision and mark it as resolved if appropriate.

• Move on to the next task, and keep the momentum going.

Why comments contribute to better teamwork

When teams talk directly where the work happens, it reduces miscommunication and keeps momentum alive. You don’t have to flip between tools or chase down people in a dozen places. Instead, you have a single, visible thread that grows and evolves as a project progresses. That continuity matters, especially when deadlines loom or when someone new joins the project and wants to quickly catch up.

A few caveats to keep in mind

• Don’t overcomment. If every tiny change gets its own comment, the thread can become noisy. Reserve comments for decisions, questions, or items that need explicit input.

• Don’t rely on comments alone for critical approvals. Use a formal sign-off in Smartsheet when it’s required, and reference the approval in the comments so everyone knows where things stand.

• Balance transparency with privacy. If a discussion touches sensitive topics, be mindful of who has access to the sheet and how the discussion is framed.

Bringing it all home

Comments in Smartsheet are more than chat on a page. They’re a living, contextual conversation that travels with the task. They keep feedback tied to the actual work, make decisions traceable, and reduce the chaos of scattered notes. When used thoughtfully, they turn collaboration into a smoother, clearer process.

If you’re charting a course through a complex project, treat comments as your collaborative backbone. They’ll help your team stay aligned, respond faster, and—most importantly—keep the focus where it belongs: on delivering real results.

So, next time you’re working in Smartsheet, give the row a voice. Add a comment that asks a precise question, invites the right people, and points to the evidence. You’ll notice the conversation staying tight, the decisions becoming obvious, and the project moving forward with a little more rhythm. And isn’t that the kind of flow that makes teamwork feel almost easy?