FAQs: Commenter permissions for sheets and workspaces

This article contains frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Commenter permission level for Smartsheet sheets and workspaces. 

Who can use this?

Plans:

  • Pro
  • Business
  • Enterprise

Check out the sharing permissions and levels table for a detailed breakdown of tasks and permission levels.

I gave Commenter access to a free user, but they can’t leave comments. What am I doing wrong?

If you're on a Pro Plan and you share files with people who aren't part of your plan, they only have view access to the files. The shared people must be part of your Pro Plan to apply any changes, including writing comments. Learn more about what to expect from a Pro Plan.

What are the current sharing permission levels?

When you share a sheet or workspace with someone, you can give them one of the following permission levels:

  • Admin
  • Editor - can share (for sheets only)
  • Editor - can't share
  • Commenter
  • Viewer

How does the Commenter permission level differ from other permission levels?

Commenters have the same permissions as Viewers; the only difference is that Commenters can leave comments and attachments, while Viewers can't.

 

Can I give someone Commenter permissions at the workspace level?

Yes. When you assign the Commenter permission at the workspace level, the person you share the workspace to can add to and delete their own comments and attachments from the workspace and every sheet in that workspace.

 

How can I ensure that my collaborators can add comments in a report?

Check if they have the correct permissions to the report's source sheet(s). 

Collaborators' permissions in the source sheet(s) affect their ability to add comments and attachments to a report. If you share a report to someone who has Commenter permissions on one of the report's source sheets, they can add and delete their comments and attachments on the rows sourced from that sheet.

 

Is the Commenter permission level supported in dashboards?

No. Dashboards don't support comments and conversations.

Is the Commenter permission level supported in the mobile app?

Yes. The mobile app fully supports the Commenter permission level.

Will we see the same changes in WorkApps permission levels?

No. The new permission levels for sheets and workspaces don't affect the page permission levels in WorkApps.