Project Management by Team · Researched comparison

10 Best Asana Alternatives in 2026

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The short answer

monday.com is the best Asana alternative for most teams because it combines boards, timelines, automations and dashboards at $9 per seat per month billed annually, with a free plan for up to two seats. Asana Starter costs $10.99 per user per month billed annually, so monday.com costs less at entry level while covering the same core project work.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • monday.com is the best all round Asana alternative, starting at $9 per seat per month billed annually with a free plan for up to two seats.
  • Trello is the cheapest entry option at $5 per user per month billed annually, and it suits small teams that want simple boards.
  • ClickUp, Teamwork, Notion and Linear all start at $10 or less per user per month billed annually, so price alone rarely decides the choice.
  • Smartsheet has no free plan, only a 30 day trial, which matters for teams that want to test a tool without a card first.
  • Airtable is the most expensive entry option here at $20 per user per month billed annually, so it fits teams that need its database style views.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
monday.comVisual project boards and dashboards$9 per seat/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 2 seats
ClickUpAll in one work management$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
WrikeStructured work for larger teams$10 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 5 users
SmartsheetSpreadsheet style project plans$9 per member/month (billed annually)Free trial (30 days)
TeamworkClient work and agency projects$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
NotionDocs and projects in one place$10 per member/month (billed annually)Yes
TrelloSimple kanban boards$5 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 10 collaborators
JiraSoftware and product teamsabout $7.91 per user/month (billed annually, varies by team size)Yes, up to 10 users
AirtableDatabase style project tracking$20 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
LinearProduct and engineering work$10 per user/month (billed annually)Yes

How we choose

We compared the tools in this guide using each vendor pricing page, feature list and plan documentation checked in November 2026, and we used the prices shown on those pages. We looked at entry price, free plan seat limits, core views such as boards, timelines and calendars, automations, reporting and time tracking, and we noted where a feature needs a higher tier. We reviewed the tools from vendor sources rather than from hands-on testing, so this guide describes what each vendor offers and what each plan includes, not a trial of the tools in live use.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

monday.com

Best for visual boards and team dashboards

  • clear visual boards and timelines
  • wide range of templates and automations
Price$9 per seat/month (billed annually)
See monday.com pricing

monday.com gives teams a visual way to plan work, with boards, timelines, calendars and dashboards that show progress at a glance. Teams can set up projects from templates, assign owners, set due dates and automate routine updates such as status changes and reminders. The interface is easy to read, which helps new users settle in without long training sessions.

The free plan covers up to two seats, so very small teams can start without cost, while larger teams move to the Basic plan at $9 per seat per month billed annually. That plan adds unlimited boards and items, but time tracking and some advanced automations sit on higher tiers. Teams that need detailed reporting or resource views should check the higher plans before they commit, since the entry price only covers the core board features.

Price: $9 per seat/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 2 seats

Website: monday.com

Watch out for

  • entry plan lacks time tracking
  • costs rise as you add seats and features
2

ClickUp

Best for all in one work management
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

ClickUp brings tasks, docs, goals, chat and time tracking into one workspace, so teams can replace several tools with a single subscription. Views include lists, boards, calendars, timelines and Gantt charts, and teams can build custom fields and statuses that match their own process. The free plan includes unlimited tasks and members, which makes it a strong option for teams that want to try the tool at full team size.

The Unlimited plan starts at $9 per user per month billed annually and adds unlimited storage, integrations and dashboards. Teams that move from Asana often like the range of views, but the sheer number of options can slow new users down at first. It helps to start with one view and a small set of statuses, then add features as the team learns what it actually uses each week.

Price: $9 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: clickup.com

What we like

  • many views including list, board and calendar
  • generous free plan

Watch out for

  • large feature set can feel crowded for small teams
  • some advanced features need higher tiers
3

Wrike

Best for structured work for larger teams
$10 per user/month (billed annually)

Wrike suits teams that manage complex projects with many steps, owners and deadlines. Tasks support subtasks, dependencies, custom fields and approvals, so work moves through clear stages instead of living in scattered notes. Shared dashboards and reports help managers see what is on track and what is slipping, and the tool scales from a single team to several departments.

The free plan covers up to five users, and the Team plan starts at $10 per user per month billed annually. That entry plan covers core project work, but time tracking, advanced reporting and resource management need higher tiers. Teams that need those features should price the Business plan before they switch, since the jump from the entry plan can be large for a growing team.

Price: $10 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 5 users

Website: wrike.com

What we like

  • strong task structure with subtasks and dependencies
  • clear reporting on team plans

Watch out for

  • entry plan lacks time tracking and advanced reporting
  • interface takes time to learn
4

Smartsheet

Best for spreadsheet style project plans
$9 per member/month (billed annually)

Smartsheet will feel familiar to anyone who plans work in spreadsheets, because its grid layout supports formulas, conditional formatting and linked cells. Teams can switch the same data into Gantt, card and calendar views, and use automations for approvals, alerts and status updates. It works well for project plans, budgets and trackers that need rows, columns and calculations in one place.

The Pro plan starts at $9 per member per month billed annually, and there is no free plan, only a 30 day trial. That trial gives teams time to test the layout, but the cost starts once the trial ends. Resource management and some advanced reporting sit on the Business plan, so teams that need capacity views should check that tier and its price before they choose Smartsheet over a cheaper option.

Price: $9 per member/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: smartsheet.com

What we like

  • familiar spreadsheet layout with Gantt views
  • strong formulas and reporting

Watch out for

  • no free plan, only a 30 day trial
  • resource management needs a higher tier
5

Teamwork

Best for client work and agency projects
$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Teamwork is built for agencies and client facing teams that run many projects at once. Each project has tasks, milestones, files, messages and time tracking, so client work stays in one place instead of spreading across email and chat. Templates help teams start new client projects fast, and the workload view shows who has room for more work.

The free plan covers small teams, and the Starter plan starts at $9.99 per user per month billed annually. That plan covers core project work, but advanced reporting, project health checks and some integrations sit on higher tiers. Agencies that bill by the hour should check how time tracking and invoicing work on their chosen tier, since those features shape the real monthly cost of the tool.

Price: $9.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: teamwork.com

What we like

  • built for client projects with billable time
  • clear project templates and milestones

Watch out for

  • entry plan lacks advanced reporting
  • some integrations need higher tiers
6

Notion

Best for docs and projects in one place
$10 per member/month (billed annually)

Notion combines notes, docs, wikis and project databases in one workspace, so teams can keep plans, meeting notes and tasks side by side. Databases support board, timeline, calendar and table views, and teams can link pages together to build a shared knowledge base. The free plan suits individuals and small teams that want to test the layout before they commit to a subscription.

The Plus plan starts at $10 per member per month billed annually and adds unlimited blocks, file uploads and more guests. Notion is flexible, but that flexibility means teams must build their own project system from templates or blank pages, and there is no native time tracking. Teams that want a ready made project tool may prefer a more structured option, while teams that live in docs will value the mix.

Price: $10 per member/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: notion.com

What we like

  • flexible pages that mix docs, tasks and databases
  • good for team wikis

Watch out for

  • no native time tracking
  • project views need setup before they feel complete
7

Trello

Best for simple kanban boards
$5 per user/month (billed annually)

Trello is the simplest tool on this list, built around boards, lists and cards that anyone can learn in minutes. Teams drag cards across stages, add checklists, due dates, attachments and comments, and use Butler automations for routine moves. It suits small teams, personal projects and light project tracking where a full project suite would be too much.

The free plan covers up to ten collaborators, and the Standard plan starts at $5 per user per month billed annually, the lowest entry price here. That plan adds unlimited boards, advanced checklists and custom fields, but timeline view, dashboard reporting and some admin controls sit on the Premium plan. Teams that outgrow simple boards should check those limits before they build a large system in Trello.

Price: $5 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 10 collaborators

Website: trello.com

What we like

  • very easy to learn and use
  • low entry price for small teams

Watch out for

  • reporting and timeline views need higher tiers
  • no native time tracking
8

Jira

Best for software and product teams
about $7.91 per user/month (billed annually, varies by team size)

Jira is built for software teams that plan work in sprints, backlogs and releases. It supports Scrum and Kanban boards, issue tracking, roadmaps and reports that show sprint progress and team velocity. The free plan covers up to ten users, so small product teams can start without cost, and the tool links closely with Confluence and Bitbucket for docs and code.

The Standard plan starts at about $7.91 per user per month billed annually, with the exact rate varying by team size. That plan adds more storage, audit logs and data residency options, but the interface carries a learning curve for people outside engineering. Marketing or operations teams that do not run sprints may find Jira heavier than they need, while software teams will find its agile features a close match.

Price: about $7.91 per user/month (billed annually, varies by team size)

Free plan: Yes, up to 10 users

Website: atlassian.com

What we like

  • built for agile software work with sprints and backlogs
  • deep Atlassian integrations

Watch out for

  • can feel heavy for non technical teams
  • setup takes time for new users
9

Airtable

Best for database style project tracking
$20 per user/month (billed annually)

Airtable works like a spreadsheet with the power of a database, so teams can track projects, content, inventory or hiring pipelines in one base. Views include grid, Kanban, calendar, gallery and timeline, and automations can send alerts, update records and link tables together. The free plan suits small teams that want to test the format before they commit.

The Team plan starts at $20 per user per month billed annually, the highest entry price in this guide, so the monthly cost rises fast as a team grows. That plan adds more records per base, more automations and timeline views, but teams should check the record and attachment limits on each tier. Airtable fits teams that need database views, while teams that only need task lists can find a cheaper match.

Price: $20 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: airtable.com

What we like

  • flexible database views including grid, calendar and timeline
  • strong automations

Watch out for

  • highest entry price on this list
  • record limits apply on the free plan
10

Linear

Best for product and engineering work
$10 per user/month (billed annually)

Linear is a focused issue tracker for product and engineering teams, built for speed and a clean workflow. Teams plan work in cycles, track issues through clear states, and use roadmaps to show what ships next. Keyboard shortcuts and a fast interface help engineers log and update work without leaving their flow, and integrations connect Linear to GitHub, Slack and Figma.

The free plan covers small teams, and the Standard plan starts at $10 per user per month billed annually. That plan adds unlimited issues, guests and integrations, but Linear stays centred on product work, so marketing or operations teams may miss broader project templates. There is also no native time tracking, so teams that bill by the hour will need a separate tool for that job.

Price: $10 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: linear.app

What we like

  • fast, focused interface for issue tracking
  • clear cycles and roadmaps

Watch out for

  • built mainly for product teams, less suited to general operations
  • no native time tracking

What to check before you buy

Start with team size, because the entry price per user sets the monthly total and the gap between tools grows as you add seats. The table below shows the monthly cost at each entry price for three team sizes, using the prices in this guide. Jira uses the listed rate of about $7.91 per user, and the actual rate varies by team size.

Tool5 users10 users20 users
monday.com$45$90$180
ClickUp$45$90$180
Wrike$50$100$200
Smartsheet$45$90$180
Teamwork$49.95$99.90$199.80
Notion$50$100$200
Trello$25$50$100
Jira$39.55$79.10$158.20
Airtable$100$200$400
Linear$50$100$200

Use this checklist before you choose. Check the free plan seat limit against your real team size, since Asana free Personal plan covers two users and several options here cover more. Check which views and automations sit on the entry plan, and which need a higher tier. Check guest access for clients and contractors, data export options, and whether the tool offers the integrations your team already uses. Try the free plan or trial with a real project first, and confirm the renewal price and the cost of adding seats later.

FAQ

What is the best Asana alternative for most teams?

monday.com is the best choice for most teams because it covers boards, timelines, automations and dashboards at $9 per seat per month billed annually, with a free plan for up to two seats. It costs less than Asana Starter at entry level, it is easy to read, and it suits teams that want a visual project tool without a long setup.

Which Asana alternative is the cheapest?

Trello is the cheapest option in this guide, with the Standard plan starting at $5 per user per month billed annually and a free plan for up to ten collaborators. ClickUp, monday.com and Smartsheet all start at $9, while Airtable starts at $20. Trello suits teams that want simple boards, though reporting and timeline views need higher tiers.

Is there a free Asana alternative?

Yes, most tools in this guide offer a free plan. ClickUp, Teamwork, Notion, Trello, Jira and Linear all offer free plans, and monday.com and Wrike offer free plans with seat limits. Smartsheet is the exception, since it offers only a 30 day trial. Check the seat limit on each free plan, since a small limit can force an upgrade sooner than expected.

Can I move my Asana projects to another tool?

Most tools in this guide offer import options for Asana, often through a CSV file or a direct importer, and some offer migration help on higher tiers. Before you move, export a test project and check that tasks, due dates, owners and attachments carry over in full. Plan the move in stages, and keep Asana open until the new tool holds the same data.

Which Asana alternative is best for software teams?

Jira is the best match for software teams because it is built for sprints, backlogs and releases, with Scrum and Kanban boards and reports on sprint progress. Linear is a strong second choice for product teams that want a fast, focused issue tracker with cycles and roadmaps. Both offer free plans, so a small team can test either one before it commits.

Sources we checked

How we score

Need the method behind these picks?

We publish the criteria and the weights, so you can disagree with them.

monday.com#1 PICK
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