Project management has never been easier thanks to the plethora of online project management tools now available. Trello and ClickUp are two of the most popular platforms in this space. They have some overlapping features, but have different strengths and weaknesses depending on project goals.
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ClickUp vs. Trello at a Glance
Trello is widely known as a highly versatile project management tool that uses boards, lists and cards. Project managers can create a project, break that project down into tasks, then build a workflow of prioritized lists to complete the project. The visually stunning workflow layout lets users immediately know where they are on the project’s process.
ClickUp was designed to be an all-in-one project and work management system. It markets itself as “one app to replace them all” so users do not have to spend time switching between platforms. ClickUp provides workflow templates or allows users to customize their own workflow layout, which can be saved as a unique template to be used again. In addition to workflow layouts, the platform has management tools, integrations and reporting features.
Both tools allow project managers to prioritize, manage and delegate tasks, share and store documents, add images and effectively communicate between team members. They both offer a free version that is quite robust for simple projects, however, ClickUp has a wider range of features in its free version.
While Trello only allows users to view one board at a time, ClickUp has multiple ways of viewing its tasks and projects. But one of Trello’s greatest advantages is its usability—the platform is as intuitive as it gets. Because ClickUp is so customizable and offers a wider range of features, it has a steeper learning curve for people who are new to the platform.
ClickUp
Base price
$7
per user per month (when billed annually)
Free version
Yes
Customization
Over 1,000 integrations
$7
per user per month (when billed annually)
Yes
Over 1,000 integrations
ClickUp wants to make the world a more efficient place. Its customizable workplace productivity platform serves all company departments from human resources and software development to finance and design. The creators designed the platform to be scalable so it is equally appropriate for entrepreneurs, small startups and large corporations. Companies can place tasks, documents, chat features, goals and more in one place.
ClickUp has a wide range of features not seen in your average productivity platform such as budget management, client portals, time tracking and cost-to-completion tracking.
- Scalable infrastructure
- Real-time reporting
- 24/7 free support
- Complicated interface
- Mobile app needs work
- Spotty email integration
Trello
Base price
$5
per user per month
Free version
Yes
Customization
Over 200 Power-Ups available
$5
per user per month
Yes
Over 200 Power-Ups available
Trello is at the top of the pack when it comes to popular project management platforms. Its visual appeal, ease of use and flexibility makes it a winner for teams that do not want to spend a lot of time learning a new platform. Trello’s layout has the familiar Kanban-style look of a whiteboard with sticky notes attached to it. Those sticky notes, or tasks, can be easily moved around the board with the click of a button.
Projects can be easily broken down into a workflow system with various responsibilities assigned to team members. The visually pleasing layout lets team members quickly know the status of work in the overall project.
- Intuitive features
- Built-in automation
- Excellent mobile app
- Lack of reporting tools
- Lack of customization
How ClickUp and Trello Stack Up
| ClickUp | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Kanban Boards | ✔ | ✔ |
| Embedded Email | ✔ | – |
| Multi-Feature Dashboards | ✔ | – |
| API | ✔ | ✔ |
| Internal Voting Feature | – | ✔ |
| Unlimited Storage in Free Version | – | ✔ |
Additional Features
Trello’s free version is powerful enough for simple project management. It comes with unlimited cards, up to ten boards per workspace, unlimited storage and unlimited integrations with apps and tools like Slack, Google Drive, Salesforce and Dropbox.
For $5 a month (per user, billed annually), Trello’s Standard plan adds unlimited boards, advanced checklists and custom fields. The Premium plan at $10 a month (per user, billed annually) includes dashboard views, timeline views, more advanced security features and priority support. This plan is best for a team of up to 100 that needs to track multiple projects and visualize work in a variety of ways. Enterprise is Trello’s top-tier plan. At $17.50 per month (per user, billed annually), organizations get unlimited workspaces, front-of-the-line priority support and multiple upgraded workspaces.
ClickUp’s free version is not as generous as Trello’s. ClickUp limits users to 100 MB of storage, as opposed to Trello’s unlimited, provides five free workspaces, as opposed to Trello’s 10 and comes with a one-day activity log, as opposed to Trello’s unlimited activity log. ClickUp’s free version, however, does come with more customizable tools than Trello’s, such as multifeatured dashboards, conditional automations and time-tracking tools.
There are three paid ClickUp plans, starting with Unlimited for $7 a month (per user, billed annually), it allows for unlimited storage, unlimited integrations and unlimited dashboards. For $12 a month (per user, billed annually), users of the Business plan get advanced automations, advanced time-tracking features, custom exporting and granular time estimates. The top-of-the-line Enterprise plan includes white labeling, a dedicated service manager and unlimited custom roles. Users must contact sales for the price.
Bottom Line
Trello is easy to use, which allows your whole team to get up and running in no time. The lack of ready-to-use built-in reporting and customizable features, however, limits the ability to track more ambitious projects. Trello is the perfect platform for solopreneurs, small teams and personal projects.
ClickUp offers a broader range of features for small to midsized businesses. The paid tiers in particular come with a wide range of time-tracking capabilities, customizable features and automation applications. The platform accommodates a variety of projects and team types, however, the flexibility can be overwhelming to non-tech users.
Read our full Trello Alternatives guide for more project management software options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are there any project management solutions that are free?
Which features are important in a project management tool?
Some features to look for in a project management tool include task management, multiple views, reporting and visualization features and integrations with other products.
What is the best project management software for small businesses?
The best project management software depends on the types of projects you’re managing and your preferred workflow. Several other factors go into selecting the best solution, so we created this guide to the top software for project management. When creating the guide, we considered many aspects including cost and fees, features and functionality, ease of use, reviews and customer support.
