Over the years, ClickUp has slowly gained acclaim as one of the top-performing task management platforms. Backed by a great-value range of plans and a long list of powerful features, it has been used and trusted by companies worldwide, small or big.
It’s certainly eye-catching, but it’s not all you need. There are many other software options that may be more suitable for your needs than ClickUp!
We’ve had the pleasure of looking at six of its close competitors that are impacting the task management scene, checking out their similar traits, and examining their distinct aspects that set each other apart. We can also help you decide if your team is more compatible with ClickUp or other platforms. Keep reading if you still haven’t found your perfect PMS.
Deya has posted a video review on her YouTube channel Deya // Entrepreneurship, Freelance, DBM and Entrepreneurship. To get a comprehensive overview of ClickUp, you may still want to check out our article below, which compares it to some competitors.
What is ClickUp? A Short Overview Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
ClickUp is a cloud-based project management software that, like all other platforms, provides companies and groups of different sizes a space to work productively with optimized task-handling, goal-tracking, and reporting tools, as well as an open opportunity to foster growth as a collective to great heights.
The best productivity platforms of today have distinct factors that set each other apart, and ClickUp takes on it by cashing in on being a one-stop shop for all work-related needs. It has a huge load of features, most of which are designed to be convenient and easy to use. Additionally, it’s best known for its jam-packed free plan and impressively valuable premium contemporaries.
ClickUp is a popular and highly regarded product. However, while being filled to the brim with productivity features, the amount it offers can be overkill for some users.
What Makes ClickUp Stand Out From the Rest?
There’s no denying that ClickUp delivers when it comes to offering teams a wide variety of project management features. ClickUp offers everything you need, including core tools like task creation, calendar, report, and communication. ClickUp also has handy functions such as time and screen recording and real-time collaborations.
What’s particularly nice about the large capacity of tools is that you can access them in one place instead of relying on multiple apps. You don’t have to pay anything to access most of the core tools. ClickUp has been offering this free forever plan since its inception in 2017. According to some studies, having all of the required work tools in one place can increase team productivity by up to 20%.
ClickUp’s Shortcomings
However, while having as many features in one single platform as possible is a sound idea, it does have a downside. It is a common occurrence for people to feel tired when trying to deal with too many things at once. ClickUp has many users complaining about the fact that they have to spend more time learning. Most teams will need to learn the tools before they can use them for their full-time work.
Though not much of a great concern as the other, ClickUp also needs to improve in terms of UI in that it can be buggy in rare cases and a bit complicated to navigate through. But that aside, it catches up in its customization abilities and offers excellent support and learning resources whenever help is needed.
ClickUp’s Pros
- Includes a widely diverse range of work solutions from task management to time tracking to goal-setting
- Its free plan is the best in project management software
- Lets you explore a wider scope of customization tools
ClickUp’s Cons
- It has so many features in one platform that it may intimidate those entering it for the first time.
- Overload of tools means more time for onboarding
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ClickUp vs. Asana
Similar to ClickUp, Asana is a cloud-based program that allows you to keep up with your team’s tasks at any time on any device – did you know you can access both platforms through the iOS and Android mobile apps?
Asana includes all the essential features that you would expect such as unlimited storage and reporting, goal tracking, communication, and reporting. ClickUp aims to be features-heavy, and Asana counters it by striking a perfect balance between offering powerful work tools and simplifying task management duties.
Asana does not have as many tools as ClickUp, which may be good news for some. However, as high-quality as its lineup of features may seem, its estimated price range is twice as much as the other.
Comparing the Features
Both Asana and ClickUp offer teams a handy slew of core workspace features and tools, plus some additions, including portfolio access and customization. While the latter has life-saving tools like integrated time-tracking management, the former does not – this means you would have to find a dedicated program just for that.
Asana’s paid plans cost twice as much as ClickUp’s currently. ClickUp Unlimited plans start at $5, while Asana’s is a staggering $10.99. Asana’s free plans do not offer the same features as ClickUp and can only be accessed by those who have opted for premium tiers. However, its entry-level tier includes unlimited storage among the only saving graces. This gives ClickUp the obvious upper hand in the category.
Asana’s Unique Aspects
Asana may not be best recognized for its financial value. It may also need to be well-versed when it comes to its offering of project management tools and functions, too. Asana may have had a greater advantage than ClickUp by not having much to offer.
The latter is blessed with a huge load of features, but the overloaded offering may be too much for most teams, especially those going through the onboarding process. With the former, teammates wouldn’t have to worry as much, as its display of core tools is simply laid out and ready to use, further saving time in the process.
Asana makes it easy to incorporate and integrate as many things as you need to improve your team’s experience. Asana, like every other project management platform allows you to integrate with different apps and services such as Zapier for a wider reach.
Asana’s Pros
- Has enough vital task management features to make for a swift working environment
- The platform’s interface and functions are simple, making it easy for new users to use.
- Has an impressive list of advanced integrations with third-party apps and services
Asana’s Cons
- Most of Asana’s key features require access to any of its paid-tier offerings.
- Its expensive price range may not bode well for small-scale teams and low-budget groups.
ClickUp vs. Monday.com
On our list of project management platforms, Monday.com is a rare case in which it offers (almost) the exact range of capabilities as ClickUp. The former, much like ClickUp, allows you to manage all tasks with the best quality.
Monday allows you to create any type of task, file them in folders and subtasks. You can also collaborate with your mates in real time even if you are far away.
Essentially, Monday allows you to do exactly what ClickUp promises to offer – the only notable differences are that the interface is sleeker than the other, it’s easier to navigate, and it’s more appropriate in a large-group setting.
Comparing the Features
Monday provides the following tools for work management that ClickUp offers: In addition to primary functions such as task-making and reporting, and automations; these include the Gantt charts and Kanban boards, in-house Documents feature and time-tracking tools. While you can get half of these already in ClickUp’s freemium plan, with Monday, you’d have to pay up just to access them, which can be a bit of a hassle.
The pricing range for Monday’s version is between Asana’s most expensive and ClickUp’s most valuable. The Basic plan costs $8, which is $3 less than ClickUp’s equivalent but not as expensive. Though admittedly, there’s not much to offer, Monday’s free plan wins when it comes to storage allowance. Comparing ClickUp’s 500MB storage allowance to ClickUp’s 100MB will immediately show the difference. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Monday’s Unique Aspects
Monday may be capable of offering a different amount of features than ClickUp on the table in its free plan – given that most of them require access beyond the paywall. We do appreciate the polished UI. Much like Asana, Monday’s interface has been designed to be easy to navigate, even upon onboarding.
Monday stands out best in its simplicity based on how it lays out its features. It can be integrated with third-party platforms so that companies with additional needs or solutions have a place to make the most of the software.
Aside from the fact that Monday’s pricing plans and the included tools are affordable, it could be a great project management tool for large to mid-sized groups. ClickUp is best for small groups so Monday should be the ClickUp for larger ones.
Monday’s Pros
- Has a great-value range of paid plans, most of which are suited for mid-sized and large-scale teams
- Has enough work view options, features, and functionality to give off a highly competitive edge
- The interface is easy enough to use for everyone, even new teammates.
Monday’s Cons
- The free plan does not offer unlimited storage, but it has certain limitations.
- It doesn’t support multi-device connectivity, so it cannot be connected to voice control platforms such as Alexa or Google Assistant.
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ClickUp vs. Notion
Originally a note-taking application, Notion takes on a refreshing approach to task management. Notion does not rely on the traditional interface that is cluttered with many tools as ClickUp and other top platforms, but instead presents its features in a simplified, minimalistic way.
With Notion, you get to use a set of barebones work features, such as creating an organized list of to-do tasks, viewing the happenings in your workspace in different ways (from Kanban boards to calendar and timeline views), and crafting info-rich documents and wikis.
You won’t be able use other useful tools like the Gantt chart because Notion doesn’t have enough capacity. Regardless, while it may lack the range of powerful solutions, it sure does make up for its less complicated setting, making way for a more straightforward working environment.
Comparing the Features
As already established, Notion does not have as wide of a range of functions to offer on the table as ClickUp. The general design of Notion is less bold and bold than ClickUp’s (unless you use one of the pre-made templates it has on its website). But given how it was originally presented, it makes more sense that it turned out this way.
Beyond how much it can offer, Notion’s simplistic nature similarly influences its free tier and paid plans. Its free plan, on the one hand, allows you to taste its core tools – what makes it different is that it’s more suited for personal use compared to ClickUp’s Free Forever plan. Notion’s Teams plan, on the other, seems to fit groups who may not need any of the increasingly complicated fuss of extra features better. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Notion’s Unique Aspects
It is the only software that can cater to freelancers and small teams better than large companies with lots at stake. It is easy to use, considering the limited features it offers. The notion has the advantage of being easier to explore and use.
Organizing tasks and other duties have always been challenging given its minimalist feel. Whether you work alone or with a team, you may appreciate how you can cut straight to the chase and do whatever task is on your mind.
Notion is easy to use. Its layout is also simple enough that you can maximize it however you wish. It may not be as great as other tasks like automation, but those won’t be much of a great concern if you’re a simple task management type.
Notion’s Pros
- It excels in task-creating and note-taking. This is especially impressive considering that it was originally a simple notes application.
- Its minimalist interface makes it easier to set up.
- Encourages users to be more functional and fluid in their workflow – this is enough to suit both one-person freelancers and teams with multiple players
Notion’s Cons
- It needs other vital project management tools, such as automation and advanced-level reporting.
- You may need to rely on third-party integrations if you want to use Notion and maximize it with other features it currently cannot offer
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ClickUp vs. Trello
Breaking away from tradition, Trello cashes in on being the go-to project management platform with an eye for visual detail. It offers a variety of options for teams to organize and see project tasks. Some notable features include Kanban-style boards and Trello cards. There are also eye-catching views that range from lists to tables. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
ClickUp has been made a credible competitor by Trello’s task-laying capabilities. Furthermore, it excels in its distinctive way when it comes to automations and integrations, and its free plan seems to be on par with what ClickUp’s Free Forever variant has in store.
Trello’s visual layouts are what make it stand out, but we cannot say the same about other aspects of project management like reporting. Nevertheless, its limited scope of tool offerings makes onboarding less cumbersome.
Comparing the Features
Trello, like ClickUp, is a great visual task management tool. Each layout allows you to stay organized and aligned with your team’s main goals. You can create a Kanban Board for free but you will need to purchase a premium plan for $10 to have access to many other options. Regardless, its task management and automation features seem good enough to use by any team.
It’s also worth noting that its integration capabilities seamlessly match those of ClickUp. Trello’s free plan limits may limit your options, but you might be able to use its native and power-up offerings to give you more flexibility in your workflow. Additionally, Trello’s entry-level tier gives you unlimited storage, something ClickUp currently isn’t capable of having, which is a welcome bonus!
Trello’s Unique Aspects
Trello is not as flexible as ClickUp. You can’t record work hours with a timer, track and report on how well your project has been, or send e-mails within the platform – all because Trello doesn’t offer any of these currently.
This lack of range means it won’t be a great fit for ambitious data-heavy projects. If all you need is a place to organize your tasks for your entire team, will this matter? Unless you’re willing to expand with Trello’s integration feature, just using the default version may not be enough to satiate your workspace needs.
Trello’s task-management functions are a great way to organize your tasks. The Trello Cards feature allows you to combine all your tasks into sub-ecosystems that allow for workplace interactions. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Trello’s Pros
- A wide range of work view designs that are board-based, optimized for various purposes.
- Has fewer features, ultimately making the onboarding and setup process less cumbersome
- The free plan offers unlimited storage space which is great news for people who work with more data.
Trello’s Cons
- Trello must improve its ability to create visuals and boards, as well as other critical tools such reporting and time management.
- You’ll only be limited to Kanban boards unless you sign up for its mid-tier Premium plan.
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ClickUp vs. Jira Software
Advertised as the #1 project management software for agile teams, Jira Software is packed with a stellar list of advanced-grade and highly functional features. Most of these are geared toward teams specializing in IT and other high-skill fields, so if you happen to be part of one, this may pique your interest.
Like ClickUp, Jira is quite robust and flexible to use based on its current offering of interesting tools – the only difference being it’s more suited for coding pros and the like. Its core functions aside, many have praised it for its excellent reporting, dev-ops and bug-tracking capabilities.
It’s also praised for its remarkable list of native integrations. While these seem promising, Jira has also drawn ire from most users for its notoriously slow UI, confusing setup, and inability to assign multiple people to one task.
Comparison of the Features
If there are a few things that both Jira and ClickUp have in common, they may include scrums, automations, project reporting, and power-heavy task management capabilities. The key distinction is the focus on dev teams, which may explain why some of Jira’s features are hard to digest if you’re not tech-savvy. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Another aspect both platforms share is the intimidation upon first impression – ClickUp may be notorious for its feature overload. Still, Jira’s range is so advanced that others may struggle with it. As for Jira’s free and paid plans, you may likely reap the benefits of what each tier offers, especially if you work in IT. However, if you wish to get expert-level access to stuff like SSO and SCIM, you must also consider getting an Atlassian Access subscription, which will add more to your expenses.
Jira’s Unique Aspects
Jira is a powerful project management platform that can be as simple or complex as you might think. Plus, given its offering of functions and tools, it may suit agile teams better – considering the inclusion of distinctive assets like DevOps and IT companies.
Although Jira might not have ClickUp, it can offer all the features you need. But it catches up with its integration capabilities and extra gigabytes of free storage space, encouraging you to add whatever is lacking into your workspace. Want to incorporate Gantt charts and time checking? All of these options are available in the Atlassian Marketplace.
A recurring issue some users have with Jira is since it can house as many integrations as possible, your computer may run into some hardware issues. But, with that out of the way, as long as there’s enough time to go through the platform, we can envision Jira as a place where teammates can work as swiftly as possible.
Jira’s Pros
- A great set of tools packed with power, many of which are designed for teams working in IT or web development
- Has a generally functional free plan – and an equally robust list of paid plans
- Jira is known for its over 1000 integrations with different platforms. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Cons of Jira
- If you’re not as well versed in IT jargon, you may have difficulty navigating through Jira for the first time.
- It has been criticised for its slow interface, lack of intuitive functions and inability to manage important tasks.
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ClickUp vs. Airtable
Airtable has been widely admired for its spreadsheet capabilities, but it has more to offer than that. Airtable is a real-time spreadsheet-database hybrid that focuses on letting teams combine all the data and workflow into one source of truth.
ClickUp may have good database management features, but Airtable excels across the board in this field. Airtable is best known for its flexible spreadsheet-adjacent view. Though more appropriate for teams specializing in organizing important data, Airtable’s inclusive approach makes it a welcoming solution for any purpose.
From its stable functionality to its user-friendliness, there’s no doubt that Airtable has gained the trust of so many folks who use it. But, in some cases, it can be challenging to use, especially with its data input functions.
Comparing the Features
Airtable makes it easy to create a well-organized layout using spreadsheets. They can be used in multiple ways and for multiple purposes thanks to the template library. But, as per its recent update, there are more ways of viewing tasks that you can explore beyond spreadsheets, thanks to the Interface Designer feature. You can now customize your views to look like ClickUp. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Airtable’s free plan is a great feature. Although it lacks some core features, it’s still very functional. You get to access some core features, but as for customization, there’s not much range of options to explore unless you sign up for any of its premium plans. These plans are a little more expensive than ClickUp’s so be aware.
Airtable’s Unique Aspects
Out of all the project management software on our list, Airtable stands out best regarding spreadsheets. It’s also one of the only platforms that cash in on their spreadsheet and table tools as their star asset.
For years before the advent of digital boards and other task views designed for today’s age, spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel were primarily used to import data and lay out the tasks for any project. Their formal and neatly stacked nature stemmed from the design has helped get teams to reach their goals.
They became less popular as they were no longer practical and had to be replaced by more functionality. Airtable was created to address the lack of oomph found in most spreadsheet platforms during its release. Airtable’s unique capabilities make it more suitable for all types of teams, especially with cloud-based work and remote work. Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
Airtable’s Pros
- There are many amazing customization and spreadsheet-creating capabilities.
- It is well-respected for its functional and stable user interface.
- Because of its affinity for diversity, it is suitable for many types of work.
Airtable’s Cons
- Sometimes, data import and export can be difficult to manage, especially when data is transferred from MS Excel.
- Although it may seem difficult to sign up for Airtable, once you get used to the overall functions of the platform, it will be worth it.
Bottom Line: Which Project Management Software Should You Choose? Is ClickUp Better Than Asana
If you want your team to do all things at once, ClickUp may be our best option. However, if you don’t want your mates to be fully overwhelmed for the first time, Monday.com is a great alternative. Technically, all platforms in our list are alternatives. However, Monday.com has more in-house capabilities, such as communication tools, collaboration tools, reporting and time-tracking.
If you’re striving for a perfect balance between functionality and form, Asana, Notion, and Airtable are the best bets. Between the three, you get to focus on the tasks at hand with as minimal features as possible, and you can maximize with integrations if you feel like it. The only difference lies in how they’re used: Notion focuses on note-taking and documents, Airtable on spreadsheets, and Asana on task handling with a little communication on the side.
Trello might be better suited for workflows that rely on visuals. However, you may need to integrate with other platforms in order to achieve other goals. After all, it shines best when it comes to Kanban board views. Jira Software is a great choice if you are looking for an advanced interface and agile features, and/or a computer-related skill such as IT, web development or any other computer-related skill.
Lastly, if you want to stuff the best features of all the other PMS into one place, there’s no other thing we could think of other than ClickUp. But, if you’re going for this route, you may need to consider its strengths and weaknesses, most of which we haven’t fully covered here. ClickUp may have some tools that are better than others, but it does offer a good list of integrations which you can use to your advantage when you most need them.
Are you looking for the right PMS to help your team reach their dreams? ClickUp is the right platform for you or something else? We wish you all the best, regardless of which platform you choose.