Project Management by Team · Researched comparison

10 Best ClickUp Alternatives in 2026

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The short answer

monday.com is the best ClickUp alternative for most teams because it pairs a workspace with plans starting at $9 per seat per month billed annually and a free plan for up to two seats. It covers boards, timelines, and automations without the deep setup ClickUp often needs. Teams wanting simpler lists can pick Trello, while Asana suits work across departments.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • monday.com is the best all-round ClickUp alternative, with plans from $9 per seat per month billed annually and a free plan for up to two seats.
  • Trello is the cheapest option in this guide at $5 per user per month billed annually, with a free plan for up to ten collaborators.
  • Asana, Wrike, and Teamwork suit teams that run structured or client work and need timelines or time tracking.
  • Jira and Linear are the strongest picks for software teams that plan work in sprints.
  • Airtable costs the most at $20 per user per month billed annually, so it fits teams that manage structured data, not simple task lists.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
AsanaStructured work across departments$10.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 2 users
monday.comVisual boards and automations$9 per seat/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 2 seats
WrikeComplex projects and approvals$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 agencies$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
NotionDocs and tasks in one place$10 per member/month (billed annually)Yes
TrelloSimple Kanban task boards$5 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 10 collaborators
JiraSoftware teams and sprintsabout $7.91 per user/month (billed annually, varies by team size)Yes, up to 10 users
AirtableStructured data and content ops$20 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
LinearFast issue tracking for product teams$10 per user/month (billed annually)Yes

How we choose

We reviewed each vendor pricing page in November 2026 and noted the starting price of the lowest tier that charges per user or per seat, billed annually. We checked the vendor docs and feature pages for free plans, views, automations, and limits. We compared how each tool handles boards, timelines, and reporting, and we noted thin areas such as time tracking. We did not run hands-on trials, and we did not score tools. Prices change, so check the vendor pricing page linked in Sources before you buy.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Asana

Best for Structured work across departments

  • Timeline and workload views for planning across teams
  • Rules and templates that cut repeat setup
Price$10.99 per user/month (billed annually)
See Asana pricing

Asana works well for teams that run structured projects across departments. Work can live in lists, boards, timelines, or calendars, and a task can carry an owner, a due date, and subtasks in one place. Goals link work to company targets, and the workload view shows who has too much on their plate. Templates cover common workflows such as campaign launches, which saves setup time for teams that repeat the same kind of project.

Pricing starts at $10.99 per user per month billed annually, close to ClickUp Core at $9. The free plan covers up to two users. Asana fits marketing, operations, and product teams that want clear ownership and reporting. Teams that need deep resource planning or time tracking may need add-ons or a second tool, since those areas are thinner here.

Price: $10.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 2 users

Website: asana.com

Watch out for

  • The free plan covers only two users
  • Advanced reporting sits on higher tiers
2

monday.com

Best for Visual boards and automations
$9 per seat/month (billed annually)

monday.com builds work around boards that can show tasks as a table, timeline, calendar, or Kanban view. Columns can hold status labels, dates, people, numbers, or files, so a board can track a sales pipeline or a content calendar with equal ease. Automations move items, send reminders, and update statuses. Dashboards pull numbers from several boards into one view for managers.

Pricing starts at $9 per seat per month billed annually, the same level as ClickUp Core, and the free plan covers up to two seats. That makes it an easy switch for teams that want a visual workspace without rethinking their whole process. Costs rise with each seat, so a large team should model the total before signing up. Reporting depth also grows with the higher tiers.

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

Free plan: Yes, up to 2 seats

Website: monday.com

What we like

  • Flexible boards with many views and column types
  • Automations and dashboards that cut manual updates

Watch out for

  • Costs rise with each seat, so large teams pay much more
  • Deeper reporting needs a higher tier
3

Wrike

Best for Complex projects and approvals
$10 per user/month (billed annually)

Wrike suits teams that manage complex projects with many steps and approvals. Gantt charts and workload views give managers a clear picture of what is in flight. Proofing tools let reviewers comment on files inside the platform, which helps creative teams cut rounds of feedback. Custom workflows can match a team approval chain instead of forcing work into a fixed shape.

Pricing starts at $10 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers up to five users. That free tier is roomier than most rivals, which helps a small group test the tool on real work. Wrike can feel heavy for a team that only needs a simple task list. Teams with simple needs may find a lighter tool faster to adopt.

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

Free plan: Yes, up to 5 users

Website: wrike.com

What we like

  • Gantt charts, workload views, and request forms
  • Proofing tools for review inside the platform

Watch out for

  • The setup can feel heavy for a team that only needs a simple task list
  • The learning curve is real
4

Smartsheet

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

Smartsheet looks like a spreadsheet but works as a project platform. Rows can carry owners, dates, and status, while card, Gantt, and calendar views show the same data in different shapes. Automated alerts and approval requests keep work moving without daily check-ins. It fits teams that already plan in sheets and want structure and reports on top of a familiar grid.

Pricing starts at $9 per member per month billed annually, with a 30-day free trial and no free tier. That price matches the low end of this list, which makes Smartsheet a fair pick for teams that live in spreadsheets. The grid layout can feel plain next to a visual board tool, and some teams miss a native chat or a built-in time tracker.

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

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: smartsheet.com

What we like

  • Familiar grid with Gantt, card, and calendar views
  • Automated alerts and approval requests

Watch out for

  • There is no free tier, only a 30-day trial
  • The grid layout can feel plain next to a visual board tool
5

Teamwork

Best for Client work and agencies
$9.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Teamwork is built for client work, which makes it a natural fit for agencies and consultancies. Projects can track time, billable hours, and budgets in one place, and clients can see progress in a portal. Task lists, milestones, and Gantt charts cover planning, while templates speed up repeat engagements. The focus on billable work sets it apart from general task tools.

Pricing starts at $9.99 per user per month billed annually, and a free plan is available. For an agency, the built-in time tracking and invoicing links can replace a second tool. Smaller internal teams may find the client features extra weight they never touch. Teams that do no client work should weigh a simpler tool first.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: teamwork.com

What we like

  • Time tracking, budgets, and client portals in one place
  • Templates for repeat client engagements

Watch out for

  • Client features add weight for teams that do no client work
  • Time tracking depth varies by tier
6

Notion

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

Notion combines docs, wikis, and task tracking in one workspace. A team can keep meeting notes, project briefs, and a task database side by side, with linked pages tying them together. Views can show the same tasks as a table, board, timeline, or calendar. That mix suits teams that want their knowledge base and their task list in the same place.

Pricing starts at $10 per member per month billed annually, and a free plan is available. Notion works best for teams that value writing and documentation as much as task tracking. It is less of a fit for teams that need strict project controls, such as baselines, critical paths, or heavy workload reporting. Those teams may pair Notion with a planner or pick a more structured tool.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: notion.com

What we like

  • Docs, wikis, and task databases in one workspace
  • Many views for the same set of tasks

Watch out for

  • It lacks strict project controls such as baselines and critical paths
  • Heavy project reporting needs workarounds
7

Trello

Best for Simple Kanban task boards
$5 per user/month (billed annually)

Trello keeps work on simple Kanban boards with cards, lists, and labels. A card can hold a checklist, due date, and comments, and Power-Ups add calendar views and custom fields. The layout is easy to learn, which makes it a good pick for small teams and freelancers. Most people can start using it in minutes with no training.

Pricing starts at $5 per user per month billed annually, the lowest starting price in this guide, and the free plan covers up to ten collaborators. That makes Trello the cheapest switch for a team that only needs clear task boards. The trade-off is depth: Trello lacks native Gantt charts, workload views, and time tracking, so larger teams may outgrow it.

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

Free plan: Yes, up to 10 collaborators

Website: trello.com

What we like

  • Very easy to learn, with boards, cards, and checklists
  • The free plan covers up to ten collaborators

Watch out for

  • It lacks native Gantt charts, workload views, and time tracking
  • Larger teams may outgrow it
8

Jira

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

Jira is built for software teams that plan work in sprints. Backlogs, boards, and roadmaps support Scrum and Kanban, while issues can carry story points and labels. Reports show burndown, velocity, and sprint progress. Integrations keep code, reviews, and releases tied to the same tickets, which cuts the gap between planning and delivery.

Pricing starts at about $7.91 per user per month billed annually, with the exact figure varying by team size, and the free plan covers up to ten users. Jira fits engineering and product teams that run Agile work every week. Teams outside software may find the setup harder to adopt, and a general project tool may suit them better.

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

  • Backlogs, boards, and roadmaps for Scrum and Kanban
  • Reports for burndown, velocity, and sprint progress

Watch out for

  • Setup and terms can be hard for teams outside software
  • The exact price varies by team size
9

Airtable

Best for Structured data and content operations
$20 per user/month (billed annually)

Airtable blends a spreadsheet with a database. Records can link across tables, so a project can connect to a client list or a content pipeline. Views include grids, calendars, Kanban boards, and galleries, and interfaces give each team a custom front end. Automations can send alerts or update records when a field changes.

Pricing starts at $20 per user per month billed annually, the highest starting price in this guide, and a free plan is available. Airtable suits teams that manage structured data, such as content operations or event planning. The cost per user adds up fast for a large team, and teams that only need task lists will find cheaper options.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: airtable.com

What we like

  • Linked tables and many views for the same data
  • Automations that send alerts and update records

Watch out for

  • The cost per user adds up fast for a large team
  • It is more than a team needs for simple task lists
10

Linear

Best for Fast issue tracking for product teams
$10 per user/month (billed annually)

Linear is a fast issue tracker built for product and engineering teams. Issues can carry priorities, estimates, and cycles, and the interface stays quick with thousands of items. Keyboard shortcuts speed up triage, and integrations connect Linear to code tools and chat tools. The design favors teams that want a clean, focused workspace with little clutter.

Pricing starts at $10 per user per month billed annually, and a free plan is available. Linear suits startups and product teams that live in short cycles and want speed over breadth. It is a weaker pick for teams that need Gantt charts, client portals, or broad templates. Those teams may prefer Asana or monday.com instead.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: linear.app

What we like

  • Fast interface with priorities, estimates, and cycles
  • Keyboard shortcuts that speed up triage

Watch out for

  • It lacks Gantt charts, client portals, and broad project templates
  • It is a weaker pick outside product teams

What to check before you buy

Check the free plan limits first. Some free plans cover only two users, while Trello covers ten collaborators and Wrike covers five users. A team of three may fit a free plan, while a team of twelve will need a charged tier. Next, check how the vendor counts seats, since guests or viewers may count differently. Ask for the total monthly cost at your headcount, not just the per-user figure.

The table below shows the monthly cost at the starting price for three team sizes, billed annually. Costs use the starting price on each vendor pricing page and exclude taxes and add-ons.

Also check the trial length, the annual billing commitment, and how your data exports if you leave. Test the import tool with a real ClickUp export before you commit, and confirm that owners, due dates, and comments carry over. Finally, run a short pilot with one team and a real project, then compare the time it takes to plan, assign, and report work.

FAQ

What is the best ClickUp alternative for most teams?

monday.com is the best ClickUp alternative for most teams. It starts at $9 per seat per month billed annually, with a free plan for up to two seats, and it covers boards, timelines, and automations in a clear visual workspace. Teams that want simpler task lists can pick Trello, while teams that run structured work across departments may prefer Asana.

Which ClickUp alternative is the cheapest?

Trello is the cheapest ClickUp alternative in this guide. It starts at $5 per user per month billed annually, and the free plan covers up to ten collaborators. A team of five would pay $25 per month at the starting price, and a team of twenty would pay $100. The trade-off is depth, since Trello lacks native Gantt charts, workload views, and time tracking.

Is there a free ClickUp alternative?

Yes, most tools in this guide offer a free plan. Asana and monday.com cover up to two users, Wrike covers up to five users, and Trello and Jira cover up to ten users. Notion, Teamwork, Airtable, and Linear also offer free plans. Smartsheet is the exception, with a 30-day free trial and no free tier. Check each vendor page for current limits.

Why do teams switch away from ClickUp?

Teams often switch because ClickUp feels complex, with many settings, views, and features that a small team never uses. The learning curve can slow adoption, and the per-user cost grows as headcount rises. Some teams also want a simpler board, stronger client features, or a tool built for software sprints. A focused alternative can cut setup time and keep daily work simpler.

Can I move my ClickUp data to another tool?

Yes, most alternatives offer an import tool or a CSV import that can bring in tasks, owners, due dates, and comments from ClickUp. Asana, monday.com, Trello, and Jira all list ClickUp import options or CSV import in their docs. Test the import with a small project first, check that dates and owners carry over, and confirm that attachments and comments survive the move before you switch the whole team.

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.

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