13 ClickUp alternatives for task and project management

A recent report by Wellingtone finds 52% of project managers are somewhat or very dissatisfied with their project management maturity. Common complaints about ClickUp specifically include overwhelming complexity (too many features and customization options), steep learning curves (1-2 weeks for new users), and performance issues (lag in large workspaces with 100+ tasks).

If you're already using project management tools like ClickUp, sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side. As a Content Marketing Manager at Teamwork.com, I've spent the past year testing how these alternatives handle real marketing workflows - from campaign coordination to resource planning to client collaboration - so I know what works when you need reliable project management without ClickUp's complexity.

While ClickUp gives its users features that help them stay organized and in touch with other team members, it lacks some key benefits for client services teams - specifically robust time tracking for billing, resource utilization reporting, and client-friendly collaboration features. That's why we gathered a list of the 13 best ClickUp alternatives worth a look.

Why look for ClickUp alternatives?

ClickUp is a powerful, feature-rich platform, but teams report four main pain points that drive them to alternatives. First, overwhelming complexity - ClickUp offers so many features, views, and customization options that new users face decision paralysis (which hierarchy? which views? which automations?). Expect 1-2 weeks for team members to feel comfortable and 5-10 hours of admin time configuring the platform before your team is productive. Second, performance issues - large workspaces (100+ tasks, heavy attachments, complex automations) can lag when loading, searching, or updating tasks. I've experienced 2-3 second delays in busy workspaces, which adds up to frustration. Third, steep learning curve - ClickUp's flexibility requires training, and teams without dedicated admins struggle to maintain consistent usage. Fourth, weak resource management - ClickUp's workload view shows task counts but lacks true utilization reporting (percentage of capacity used, billable vs non-billable hours) essential for client services teams.

These limitations make ClickUp frustrating for teams managing client work, small teams wanting simplicity, or teams without technical champions to configure and maintain the platform. If you're spending more time managing ClickUp than managing projects, it's time to consider alternatives.

Feature comparison: ClickUp vs alternatives

✓✓✓ = Excellent | ✓✓ = Good | ✓ = Basic | ✗ = Not available

13 best ClickUp alternatives

I tested 13 ClickUp alternatives over 30 days each, focusing on four criteria: ease of use (can new team members be productive within 3 days?), performance (does the tool lag with 50+ tasks?), client work features (time tracking, budgets, resource management), and out-of-the-box usability (how much configuration before you're productive?). Each tool was evaluated with real marketing projects - campaign coordination, content calendars, client deliverables - not just feature demos.

1) Teamwork.com

Teamwork.com is project and resource management software built for client work, with time tracking, budget management, utilization reporting, and client collaboration features. It's best for agencies and marketing teams (5-50+ people) managing multiple clients who need to track profitability, prevent burnout, and prove ROI. Pricing starts at $10.99/user/month for Deliver (projects, tasks, Gantt charts, time tracking), scaling to $19.99/user/month for Grow (budgets, invoicing, advanced permissions) and $54.99/user/month for Scale (resource management, utilization reports, advanced automations). Unlike ClickUp's overwhelming customization, Teamwork.com provides structured workflows optimized for client services out-of-the-box.

Client services firms looking for tons of helpful features and automation options should review Teamwork.com. Built with client work in mind, it easily handles in-depth, complex project management and project scheduling for all sizes of teams. It provides complete project and operations control so you can focus on being more productive and profitable. The key difference from ClickUp: Teamwork.com is specifically designed for client services workflows, so you spend less time configuring and more time delivering.

Key Teamwork.com features and benefits

• Advanced reporting for profitability: Advanced reporting capabilities give you everything you need to make informed decisions at your fingertips. Track team utilization (percentage of capacity used), project profitability (actual cost vs revenue), budget health (spend vs planned), and project status (on track, at risk, overdue) in real-time dashboards. Unlike ClickUp's basic reporting, Teamwork.com's reports are built for client services - showing billable vs non-billable hours, utilization by team member, and profitability by client or project.

• Free client access: Free client access for faster and better collaboration. Add unlimited clients and freelancers at no additional cost (they don't count toward your seat limit), giving them view-only or comment access to relevant projects. This saves hundreds monthly compared to tools that charge per user regardless of role.

• Advanced time tracking: Advanced time tracking lets you invoice for every billable hour. Track time with timers, manual entries, or timesheets; categorize as billable or non-billable; set custom billing rates by person, project, or task type; and compare actual time vs estimates to improve future scoping. Export time data to invoicing tools or accounting software.

• Timesheets for accountability: Timesheets (personal and company-level) show who worked on what, when, and for how long. Approve or reject timesheet entries, track time by project or client, and generate reports for billing or payroll. This level of detail is essential for agencies but missing from ClickUp's basic time tracking.

• Pre-built template library: Pre-built template library lets you start maximizing efficiency immediately. Choose from templates for content production, campaign launches, client onboarding, retainer management, and more - then customize to match your workflow. Templates include pre-configured tasks, subtasks, dependencies, and automations.

• Workload and resource management: Workload resource management makes resources quick and easy to find and allocate. See who's available (under 75% capacity), who's overloaded (over 100% capacity), and who has the right skills for upcoming work. Schedule resources across projects, forecast future capacity needs, and prevent burnout by balancing workloads. This feature is absent from ClickUp, making Teamwork.com essential for agencies managing resource constraints.

Key insight: Teamwork.com trades ClickUp's flexibility for client services focus

Teamwork.com is geared towards client work and structures features accordingly (time tracking, budgets, retainers, client access). This focus means faster setup (2-3 hours vs ClickUp's 5-10 hours) but less flexibility for non-client-services use cases.

• Trade-off: optimized client services workflows vs limited customization for other industries.

• Action: Choose Teamwork if you bill by the hour, manage multiple clients, or need to prove profitability. Choose ClickUp if you need extreme customization for non-standard workflows (e.g., product development, operations, personal productivity). Test both with 2-3 real client projects in a 14-day trial, focusing on time tracking and budget management - if those features save 3+ hours weekly, Teamwork.com justifies the investment.

Pricing structure

• Free Forever: $0 (up to 5 users) - includes 2 projects, basic tasks, 100 MB storage

• Deliver: $10.99/user/month (billed annually) - includes unlimited projects, tasks, Gantt charts, time tracking, 100 GB storage

• Grow: $19.99/user/month (billed annually) - adds budgets, invoicing, profitability reports, advanced permissions, 250 GB storage

• Scale: $54.99/user/month (billed annually) - includes resource management, utilization reports, workload planner, advanced automations, 500 GB storage

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds dedicated support, custom onboarding, enterprise security, unlimited storage

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Teamwork.com pricing for the latest details and to start a free 30-day trial (no credit card required).

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2) Trello

Credit: planyway

Trello is a visual project management tool using boards, lists, and cards for simple task tracking. It's best for small marketing teams (1-10 people) wanting visual simplicity without ClickUp's overwhelming feature set. Pricing starts at $5/user/month for Standard (unlimited boards, advanced checklists), scaling to $10/user/month for Premium (unlimited Power-Ups, Calendar view, dashboard view).

ClickUp can be complicated for some teams - its extreme flexibility creates decision paralysis and requires significant setup time. Avoid frustrated users with Trello, which takes the opposite approach: simple, visual, and ready to use in under 5 minutes.

Small teams may find this project management software to be their best option for staying organized and focused on the highest priority tasks without getting lost in configuration options. Users that prefer a steady diet of data in a visually pleasing format will love the charts and boards Trello offers. When I needed a lightweight tool for personal task tracking or small campaigns, Trello delivered exactly what I needed without ClickUp's complexity.

Key Trello features and benefits

• Kanban boards for visual organization: Kanban board cards organize tasks and projects in a clear format with lists (columns) and cards (tasks). Create lists for workflow stages (To Do, In Progress, Review, Done) and drag cards across lists as work progresses. Each card holds task details, checklists, attachments, comments, and due dates.

• Drag-and-drop simplicity: Drag-and-drop lets you change due dates (drag cards to calendar view), assign tasks (drag member avatars onto cards), and reorganize priorities (drag cards up or down within lists) without clicking through menus. This tactile interaction makes Trello feel intuitive and fast.

• Calendar integration: Calendar view organizes to-do lists by due date and syncs up with any third-party calendars (Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar) via Power-Ups or iCal feeds. See all your tasks in your existing calendar workflow without switching tools.

• Dashboard view (Premium): Dashboard provides an overhead view of a project's key metrics including assigned cards (who's working on what), due dates (upcoming deadlines in next 7 days), and potential bottlenecks (overdue cards, cards with no due date). Available on Premium plan ($10/user/month).

Pricing structure

• Free - includes unlimited cards, 10 boards per workspace, 1 Power-Up per board, 10 MB file attachments

• Standard: $5/user/month (billed annually) - adds unlimited boards, advanced checklists, custom fields, 250 MB file attachments

• Premium: $10/user/month (billed annually) - includes unlimited Power-Ups, Calendar view, dashboard view, admin controls, 250 MB file attachments

• Enterprise: $17.50/user/month (billed annually, 50 users minimum) - adds organization-wide permissions, unlimited workspaces, attachment permissions, public board management

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Trello pricing for current details.

3) monday.com

Credit: Monday.com

monday.com is a visual work operating system with customizable boards, automations, and workdocs for managing projects. It's best for marketing teams (5-30 people) that want highly visual project tracking with less complexity than ClickUp. Pricing starts at $9/user/month for Basic (unlimited boards, 5 GB storage), scaling to $12/user/month for Standard (timeline, calendar, integrations, 20 GB storage) and $16/user/month for Pro (time tracking, formula columns, dependencies, 100 GB storage).

Another appealing project management solution that may work better for some teams than ClickUp is monday.com. The tool's suite of richly designed features and a wide array of integrations, along with its ease of use, is why this software made our list. monday.com strikes a better balance than ClickUp between customization (you can tailor boards to your workflow) and simplicity (pre-built templates get you 80% there without extensive configuration).

Key monday.com features and benefits

• Customizable boards: Customizable boards let you assign tasks, take advantage of file sharing, and keep every team member focused on the project's priorities. Create custom columns for any data type (status, person, date, numbers, text, files) and color-code rows by status or priority. Boards are more visual and intuitive than ClickUp's list/board/table views.

• No-code automation builder: No-code automation creates due date alerts, dependencies, task assignments, status updates, and more to save time and reduce repetition. Build automations with if/then logic using a visual builder (e.g., when status changes to "Done", notify client and move to archive board). Monday offers 250-25,000 automation actions per month depending on plan tier.

• Gantt charts for timeline planning: Gantt charts foster team collaboration, task management, and progress tracking with visual timelines. See task dependencies (what blocks what), critical path (tasks that affect project end date), and drag tasks to reschedule with automatic dependency updates. Available on Standard plan and higher.

• Real-time collaboration: Real-time annotations, comments, and updates collaborate and shorten feedback loops. Tag team members with @mentions (triggers notifications), attach files to updates (keeps context together), and see live cursors when teammates are viewing the same board. This reduces "I didn't see that update" excuses.

Pricing structure

• Individual: Free (up to 2 seats) - includes unlimited boards, 500 MB storage, 200+ templates

• Basic: $9/user/month (billed annually, 3 seats minimum) - adds unlimited free viewers, 5 GB storage

• Standard: $12/user/month (billed annually, 3 seats minimum) - includes timeline view, calendar view, integrations, automations (250 actions/month), 20 GB storage

• Pro: $16/user/month (billed annually, 3 seats minimum) - adds time tracking, formula columns, dependency columns, private boards, automations (25,000 actions/month), 100 GB storage

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds advanced security, multi-level permissions, enterprise-grade controls, tailored onboarding

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Monday.com pricing for current details.

4) Asana

Credit: Asana

Asana is a work management platform with tasks, projects, timelines, and portfolios for tracking work without overwhelming complexity. It's best for marketing teams (5-30 people) that prioritize task management and collaboration over advanced features like resource management or time tracking. Pricing starts free (unlimited tasks, 15 team members max), then $10.99/user/month for Premium (timeline view, workflow builder, advanced search), scaling to $24.99/user/month for Business (portfolios, goals, workload management).

Asana has been a noteworthy project management solution for years, with positive results. Its clean, intuitive interface and friendly layout may appeal to some users more than the somewhat complex ClickUp platform. Asana focuses on doing core project management features well rather than offering every possible feature - this focus creates a cleaner, faster experience.

Teams of all shapes and sizes can benefit from Asana's many features making users more productive and efficient. Small businesses to multinational corporations can use it to manage their projects and collaborate with on-site and remote teams. Agencies can put it to work to streamline their portfolio management, though Asana lacks some client services features (native time tracking, budget management, client billing) that Teamwork provides.

Key Asana features and benefits

• Four view options: Multiple project views including List View (hierarchical tasks), Timeline View (Gantt chart), Calendar View (schedule), and Board View (Kanban) make it easy to stay informed of upcoming due dates and milestones. Switch between views to match your current need - planning uses Timeline, execution uses List or Board, coordination uses Calendar.

• Task management with subtasks: Break task lists into manageable pieces and give every task a clear owner. Create tasks with subtasks (up to 5 levels deep), assign to team members, set due dates, add custom fields (priority, status, campaign, client), and attach files or comments. Dependencies ensure work happens in the right order.

• Contextual communication: Gives users a space for private messaging (direct messages between team members), discussing a project's progress (project conversations visible to all members), and contributing to general team conversations (team-level announcements). Communication stays organized by context instead of scattered across email.

• Strong mobile app: Works with iOS and Android to let stakeholders stay up-to-date anywhere, anytime. The mobile app mirrors desktop functionality well - create tasks, update statuses, comment, attach photos, and check timelines from your phone. This makes Asana useful for on-the-go updates and approvals.

Pricing structure

• Basic: Free - includes unlimited tasks, projects, messages, 15 team members max, 100 MB file storage

• Premium: $10.99/user/month (billed annually) - adds timeline view, advanced search, workflow builder, unlimited free guests

• Business: $24.99/user/month (billed annually) - includes portfolios, goals, workload management, advanced integrations, 100 GB storage per user

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds advanced security, data export, admin controls, priority support

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Asana pricing for the latest details.

5) Basecamp

Credit: Basecamp

Basecamp is an all-in-one project management platform with message boards, to-dos, schedules, docs, and file storage for simple collaboration. It's best for small teams (5-20 people) wanting consolidated project management without ClickUp's complexity. Pricing is $15/user/month for Basecamp (unlimited projects, 500 GB storage) or $299/month for Basecamp Pro Unlimited (unlimited users, unlimited storage) - the flat-rate plan makes it attractive for larger teams.

Users who appreciate a cloud-based tool may find Basecamp to be the best project management solution. It's a comprehensive choice for smaller teams wanting a user-friendly way to increase productivity without spending hours configuring the platform. Basecamp's philosophy: simplicity over flexibility. You get what you get, and it works well for most teams without customization.

Key Basecamp features and benefits

• Campfire for project chat: Campfire provides a simple way to chat within each project, saving the time of searching for notes and communications across email or separate messaging tools. Each project has its own Campfire (group chat), keeping conversations organized by context. Unlike Slack (where messages span all projects), Campfire keeps project discussions contained and findable.

• Card Table for visual progress: Card Table lets you view progress in real-time and cut down on meetings. Create columns for workflow stages (To Do, In Progress, Done), drag cards across columns as work progresses, and see who's working on what at a glance. This visual board reduces the need for status update meetings.

• To-Dos for task tracking: Stay organized by viewing responsibilities, progress, deadlines, and more with To-Dos (Basecamp's task lists). Create to-do lists by workflow stage or team member, assign tasks, set due dates, and check off completed items. To-Dos are simpler than ClickUp's tasks (no custom fields, statuses, or complex hierarchies) but sufficient for most teams.

• Centralized file storage: Docs & Files stores and shares all the docs, files, and images a project needs in a single location. Upload files, organize in folders, preview documents without downloading, and see file activity (who uploaded what, when). Basecamp Pro Unlimited includes unlimited storage; standard Basecamp includes 500 GB (generous for most teams).

Pricing structure

• Basecamp: $15/user/month (billed annually) - includes unlimited projects, 500 GB storage, all features

• Basecamp Pro Unlimited: $299/month (billed annually) - includes unlimited users, unlimited projects, unlimited storage, priority support, 1:1 onboarding

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. The Pro Unlimited plan becomes cost-effective at 20+ users ($299 flat vs $300+ on per-user pricing). Visit Basecamp pricing for current details.

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6) Wrike

Credit: Wrike

Wrike is an enterprise work management platform with projects, tasks, proofing, and reporting for complex workflows. It's best for large marketing teams (20-100+ people) needing advanced features with better performance and UX than ClickUp. Pricing starts free (unlimited users, 2 GB storage), then $9.80/user/month for Team (Gantt charts, dashboards, integrations, 5 GB storage), scaling to $24.80/user/month for Business (custom fields, advanced integrations, 50 GB storage).

Teams that need extra customization and advanced features to manage large, complex projects need to look at Wrike before choosing ClickUp. Wrike offers similar depth to ClickUp but with more polished UX, better performance in large workspaces, and enterprise-grade security features.

Key Wrike features and benefits

• Automation Engine: Automates repetitive actions, provides custom reminders, and advances to the next stage of work based on status, priority, and risk. Create automations with triggers (status change, due date approaching, task created), conditions (if priority = high), and actions (notify team, change assignee, update custom field). Wrike's automation builder is more visual and easier to understand than ClickUp's.

• Custom Item Types: Build a customizable library within your workspace that mirrors current processes. Define custom item types beyond standard tasks (e.g., Campaign, Creative Brief, Client Request) with specific fields, workflows, and templates. This structure helps teams maintain consistency without ClickUp's overwhelming flexibility.

• Cross Tagging for visibility: Improve project transparency by giving each team member a view of tasks within their projects and a broad agency view across all work. Tag tasks with multiple projects, departments, or clients, then filter views to see work from different perspectives (e.g., all tasks for Client X across all projects, or all design tasks across all clients).

• Resource management tools: Intuitive resource management tools make project planning, assigning accountability, and aligning team and agency goals easy. See team workload (hours scheduled vs available), identify overallocation (team members scheduled over 100% capacity), and balance work across the team. Available on Business plan and higher.

Pricing structure

• Free - includes unlimited users, 2 GB storage, board and table views, basic task management

• Team: $9.80/user/month (billed annually, 2 users minimum) - adds Gantt charts, shareable dashboards, integrations, 5 GB storage, subtasks, dependencies

• Business: $24.80/user/month (billed annually, 2 users minimum) - includes custom fields, advanced integrations, reports, request forms, approvals, 50 GB storage, time tracking

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds advanced security, admin controls, custom access roles, 100 GB storage

• Pinnacle: Custom pricing - adds work intelligence, performance analytics, workload management, 200 GB storage

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Wrike pricing for current details.

7) Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, databases, and project management with relational linking. It's best for marketing teams (5-20 people) wanting flexible workspace building and knowledge management alongside task tracking. Pricing starts free (unlimited pages for individuals), then $10/user/month for Plus (unlimited file uploads, 30-day page history), scaling to $20/user/month for Business (advanced permissions, Notion AI add-on).

Teams that like lots of control over their projects will quickly embrace Notion's many organizational perks and features. Its seamless experience and the easy way it allows everything to connect with other project facets scored it a spot on our list. Notion offers similar flexibility to ClickUp but with cleaner UX and better performance - though it still requires 3-5 hours of initial setup to build your workspace structure.

Key Notion features and benefits

• Real-time collaboration: Remote teams can easily stay aligned and focused on their tasks and the project as a whole with real-time editing (see cursors and edits live), comments with @mentions, and live updates. Multiple team members can edit the same page simultaneously without conflicts.

• Wikis for knowledge management: Wikis provide a single source of truth for project information including SOPs, brand guidelines, meeting notes, and campaign retrospectives. Create nested page hierarchies (parent pages with child pages), cross-link related pages with backlinks, and build a searchable knowledge base.

• Timeline view for project planning: Timeline view lets you see dependencies and tasks from a bird's eye view to better understand how every aspect fits together. Create database views showing tasks as Gantt-style timelines, set dependencies (Task B can't start until Task A finishes), and drag tasks to reschedule.

• Template system: Customizable tools let you build templates and create PDFs, bug reports, campaign briefs, and more to stop "reinventing the wheel" with every project. Save any page as a template (preserves structure, formatting, and embedded databases), share templates with your team, or use Notion's 100+ community templates.

Pricing structure

• Free - includes unlimited pages and blocks for individuals, 7-day page history, 10 guest invites

• Plus: $10/user/month (billed annually) - adds unlimited file uploads (5 GB per file), 30-day page history, unlimited guests

• Business: $20/user/month (billed annually) - includes advanced permissions, bulk export, SAML SSO, Notion AI add-on available ($10/user/month extra)

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds unlimited page history, advanced security, dedicated success manager

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Notion pricing for current details.

8) Hive

Hive is a project management platform with tasks, messaging, forms, and analytics built from user feedback. It's best for marketing teams (10-50 people) wanting feature-rich project management with better UX than ClickUp. Pricing starts free (unlimited users, 2 projects, basic features), then $12/user/month for Teams (unlimited projects, Gantt charts, time tracking, proofing, analytics) with Enterprise custom-quoted for advanced security and features.

If you've ever felt like the tools your agency uses don't understand your agency, then Hive is the solution for you. Built from user feedback (Hive claims to implement user-requested features within weeks), the software is more intuitive and user-friendly than ClickUp. Hive offers many of ClickUp's features but with cleaner interface and faster performance.

Key Hive features and benefits

• Customizable workflows: Customizable workflows make project planning easy and transparent. Create custom project templates with pre-configured tasks, assignees, and due dates; define workflow stages (e.g., Backlog, In Progress, Review, Complete); and automate task movements based on status changes. Workflows are easier to configure than ClickUp's complex automation builder.

• Hive Forms for intake: Hive Forms simplify client and product intake with customizable request forms. Create forms with custom fields (text, dropdown, file upload, date), route submissions to specific projects or teams, and auto-create tasks from form responses. The form fill option makes it even easier by pre-populating fields based on previous submissions.

• Hive Chat for real-time communication: Hive Chat connects teammates, aiding collaboration and problem-solving with built-in messaging (no need for separate Slack). Create action cards from chat messages (turn discussions into tasks with one click), search chat history, and keep project conversations organized by context.

• Hive Notes for meeting documentation: Hive Notes enable easy sharing and editing before, during, and after meetings. Take collaborative meeting notes with real-time editing, assign action items directly from notes (become tasks automatically), and attach notes to projects for context. This eliminates the "where are the meeting notes?" problem.

Pricing structure

• Free - includes unlimited users, 2 projects, basic features, 10 GB storage

• Teams: $12/user/month (billed annually) - adds unlimited projects, Gantt charts, time tracking, proofing, analytics, native integrations

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds advanced security, dedicated support, custom onboarding, SSO, unlimited storage

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Hive pricing for current details.

9) Jira

Credit: Jira

Jira is an issue tracking and agile project management platform built for software development teams using Scrum or Kanban methodologies. It's best for development teams (5-100+ people) managing sprints, bugs, and releases - not marketing teams needing general project management. Pricing starts free (up to 10 users, 2 GB storage), then $7.75/user/month for Standard (250 GB storage, user roles, audit logs), scaling to $15.25/user/month for Premium (unlimited storage, advanced roadmaps, sandbox).

Designed with the Agile methodology in mind, Jira offers teams a way to collaborate better and stay in the loop on every project stage. The tool includes key features that serve small, growing teams and larger groups well. It's especially helpful in bringing remote teams together. However, Jira is optimized for software development workflows - marketing teams may find it overly technical and better suited to development use cases than campaign management.

Key Jira features and benefits

• Custom workflows: Workflows and permissions are customizable for your team's convenience. Define workflow stages (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Code Review, Testing, Done), set transitions between stages, add validators (e.g., can't move to Done without test results), and control who can perform each transition. This structure works well for development but can feel rigid for marketing workflows.

• 3,000+ integrations: Wide array of seamless integrations gives project management power users everything they need at their fingertips. Connect Jira to Confluence (documentation), Bitbucket (code), Slack (notifications), GitHub (pull requests), and 3,000+ other tools via the Atlassian Marketplace.

• Agile boards for sprints: Agile boards including Scrum boards (sprint planning, backlog management) and roadmaps break projects into tasks and subtasks to avoid overwhelming stakeholders. Plan sprints (1-2 week iterations), track velocity (story points completed per sprint), and manage backlogs (prioritized work queue). This agile focus makes Jira excellent for development but overkill for marketing.

• Reporting and analytics: In-depth reports stay informed of every facet of a project including burndown charts (work remaining in sprint), velocity charts (team productivity over time), cumulative flow diagrams (work in each status), and custom reports. These metrics are development-focused and less relevant for marketing campaigns.

Pricing structure

• Free - up to 10 users, 2 GB storage, community support, basic features

• Standard: $7.75/user/month (billed annually) - adds 250 GB storage, user roles and permissions, audit logs, 24/7 support

• Premium: $15.25/user/month (billed annually) - includes unlimited storage, advanced roadmaps, sandbox environments, IP allowlisting

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds unlimited instances, centralized administration, enterprise security, 99.9% uptime SLA

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Jira pricing for current details.

10) Smartsheet

Smartsheet is a spreadsheet-based work management platform with grids, Gantt charts, cards, and dashboards for managing projects. It's best for teams (10-50+ people) comfortable with spreadsheets who want project management without abandoning the familiar grid interface. Pricing starts at $7/user/month for Pro (unlimited sheets, 20 GB storage, Gantt view), scaling to $25/user/month for Business (advanced features, 1 TB storage, resource management) with Enterprise custom-quoted.

Smartsheet is a great alternative to ClickUp for users who love to work in Excel. Built like a spreadsheet (rows and columns), there's almost no learning curve for newbies - if you can use Excel, you can use Smartsheet. After looking at the extra features and functionality it offers (Gantt charts, automations, dashboards built on top of the spreadsheet foundation), we couldn't leave Smartsheet off this list.

Key Smartsheet features and benefits

• Work Insights for analytics: Work Insights uncover and visualize key trends, activities, and bottlenecks across projects. Build dashboards with charts showing project health, task completion rates, overdue items, and resource allocation. Insights help identify patterns (e.g., design tasks consistently run 20% over estimate) for process improvement.

• Recurring tasks and automation: Recurring tasks and automation reduce repetitive, time-consuming actions. Set tasks to repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or custom intervals; create automations with triggers (row added, date reached, cell changed) and actions (assign person, send notification, lock row, move to another sheet). Automations are more spreadsheet-native than ClickUp's task-based automations.

• Notification center: Notification center keeps you alerted to important tasks and requests including @mentions, task assignments, due date reminders, and automation triggers. Customize notification frequency (real-time, daily digest, weekly summary) to avoid overload.

• Data retention and security: Data Retention Controls protect customer information and data relevancy with automated archiving (move old rows to archive sheets after X days), backup schedules, and compliance features (HIPAA, GDPR). Available on Business and Enterprise plans.

Pricing structure

• Pro: $7/user/month (billed annually, max 10 users) - includes unlimited sheets, 20 GB storage, Gantt view, card view, calendar view

• Business: $25/user/month (billed annually, min 3 users) - adds advanced features, resource management, automated workflows, 1 TB storage, integrations

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds advanced security, control center, premium support, unlimited storage

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Smartsheet pricing for current details.

11) Zoho Projects

Zoho Projects is a project management platform with tasks, Gantt charts, timesheets, and reporting for managing projects affordably. It's best for budget-conscious marketing teams (5-30 people) needing full project management features at lower cost than ClickUp or competitors. Pricing starts free (2 projects, 3 users, 10 MB storage), then $5/user/month for Premium (unlimited projects, Gantt charts, 100 GB storage), scaling to $10/user/month for Enterprise (resource utilization, custom fields, advanced reports).

Another cloud-based project management software tool is Zoho Projects. Plan projects, foster collaboration, and track progress and results with this feature-rich ClickUp alternative. Zoho Projects offers similar breadth to ClickUp but at roughly half the cost - making it attractive for teams prioritizing value over cutting-edge features.

Key Zoho features and benefits

• Time tracking and timesheets: Employee time tracking software (complete with timesheets and timers) lets you bill every possible dollar on a project. Track time with timers or manual entries, categorize as billable or non-billable, set custom billing rates, and generate invoices from tracked time. This is more robust than ClickUp's basic time tracking.

• Charts and reports: Multiple charts and reports including Gantt charts (timeline dependencies), resource utilization chart (percentage of capacity used), task-based completion reports (completed vs total tasks), and more keep users informed and better able to meet project deliverables. Export reports to PDF or Excel for client presentations.

• Task management with dependencies: Task management with drag-and-drop and setting dependencies functionality lets you build project plans quickly. Create tasks, set predecessors (Task B depends on Task A), adjust dates by dragging on Gantt chart, and see how delays cascade through dependencies automatically.

• Collaboration features: Team collaboration with @mentions (notify specific team members), comments (threaded discussions on tasks), and discussing events and due dates directly within the system keeps communication contextual. Discussions attach to tasks, not scattered across email or chat.

Pricing structure

• Free - up to 3 users, 2 projects, 10 MB storage, basic features

• Premium: $5/user/month (billed annually) - adds unlimited projects, Gantt charts, task automation, 100 GB storage, time tracking

• Enterprise: $10/user/month (billed annually) - includes resource utilization, custom fields, advanced reports, workflows, global Gantt chart, portfolio dashboard

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Zoho Projects pricing for current details.

12) nTask

nTask is a task management platform with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, time tracking, and meeting management for basic project coordination. It's best for small marketing teams (3-15 people) on tight budgets needing simple project management. Pricing starts free (5 workspaces, 100 MB storage, basic features), then $3/user/month for Premium (unlimited workspaces, 5 GB storage, time tracking), scaling to $8/user/month for Business (10 GB storage, risk management, issue tracking) with Enterprise custom-quoted.

nTask is especially valuable in aligning and fostering productivity in remote team management. nTask offers basic project management features at the lowest price point on our list - making it attractive for startups or small teams with limited budgets.

Key nTask features and benefits

• Kanban boards for visual tracking: Kanban boards help you stay organized and collaborate with other team members using visual cards and columns. Create custom columns for workflow stages, drag tasks between stages, and see work in progress at a glance. Boards are simpler than ClickUp's but sufficient for basic project tracking.

• Meeting management: Meeting management works with physical and virtual meetings including agenda creation, meeting minutes, action items, and follow-up tracking. Schedule recurring meetings, assign meeting roles (facilitator, note-taker), and convert meeting notes into tasks automatically. This feature is unique among budget tools.

• Linked project elements: Software connections between teams, tasks, projects, and milestones help you track and address issues that could stall the project. Link related tasks, group tasks by milestone, and see dependencies across projects. This provides basic relationship tracking without ClickUp's complex hierarchy.

• Real-time collaboration: Real-time collaboration lets you assign tasks, attach files (drag-and-drop from desktop), and receive real-time notifications when teammates update tasks, add comments, or change due dates. Notifications appear in-app and via email based on your preferences.

Pricing structure

• Free - includes 5 workspaces, 100 MB storage, basic task management, unlimited users

• Premium: $3/user/month (billed annually) - adds unlimited workspaces, 5 GB storage, time tracking, Gantt charts, custom fields

• Business: $8/user/month (billed annually) - includes 10 GB storage, risk management, issue tracking, meeting management, project templates

• Enterprise: Custom pricing - adds dedicated support, advanced security, custom integrations

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit nTask pricing for current details.

13) Airtable

Airtable is a flexible database platform combining spreadsheet simplicity with relational database power for custom project tracking. It's best for marketing teams (5-30 people) that outgrew spreadsheets but want more flexibility than traditional project management tools provide. Pricing starts free (1,000 records per base, 2 GB attachments), then $20/user/month for Team (50,000 records, 20 GB attachments, Gantt view), scaling to $45/user/month for Business (125,000 records, 1 TB attachments, admin panel).

Airtable project management software has its roots in the world of spreadsheets, but the platform has evolved significantly. It marries spreadsheet flexibility with the power of database queries to deliver a robust project management tool. It offers rich field types (text, number, date, attachment, linked records, formulas), linking between tables (e.g., link Tasks to Campaigns to Team Members), and different views (grid, calendar, Kanban, Gantt, gallery) so teams can organize their tasks, collaborate in real-time, and track progress more efficiently. When I needed to track blog posts, campaigns, and authors with relationships between them, Airtable's relational structure made it possible - something ClickUp's flat task structure struggles with.

Key Airtable features and benefits 

• Interface designer for custom dashboards: Interface designer lets teams customize dashboards, fields, and views to match their unique needs without code. Create role-specific interfaces (e.g., writer view shows only their assigned posts, manager view shows all work grouped by status), add charts and metrics, and build buttons for common actions. Interfaces make Airtable accessible to non-technical team members.

• Relational database structure: No-code app-building platform extends Airtable's functionality in dramatic ways by linking related data across tables. Create bases with multiple linked tables (e.g., Posts table links to Campaigns table links to Authors table), then filter and view data from different perspectives. This relational power surpasses ClickUp's flat task hierarchy.

• Data visualization: Data visualization tools transform data into interactive charts and graphs including bar charts (task counts by status), line charts (progress over time), pie charts (work distribution by team member), and custom dashboards. Visualizations update automatically as data changes, providing real-time project insights.

Pricing structure 

• Free - includes 1,000 records per base, 2 GB attachments per base, unlimited bases

• Team: $20/user/month (billed annually) - adds 50,000 records per base, 20 GB attachments, Gantt and timeline views, 2-way sync

• Business: $45/user/month (billed annually) - includes 125,000 records per base, 1 TB attachments, admin panel, advanced integrations, field permissions

• Enterprise Scale: Custom pricing - adds unlimited records, advanced security, dedicated support

Pricing accurate as of December 2025. Visit Airtable pricing for current details.

How to choose the right ClickUp alternative

Choosing the right ClickUp alternative depends on why you're leaving ClickUp and what you need instead. If you're leaving because ClickUp is too complex, choose simpler tools like Trello (visual boards), Basecamp (all-in-one simplicity), or Asana (clean task management). If you're leaving because ClickUp lacks client services features, choose Teamwork (time tracking, budgets, resource management, client billing). If you're leaving because of performance issues, choose tools with better performance in large workspaces like Monday, Wrike, or Notion. If you're leaving because of cost, choose budget-friendly options like Zoho Projects ($5-$10/user/month) or nTask ($3-$8/user/month).

Decision criteria:

1. What's our primary pain point with ClickUp? Complexity = choose simpler tools; missing features = choose specialized tools; cost = choose budget options.

2. What's our team size and growth trajectory? Under 10 = Trello or Basecamp; 10-30 = Teamwork, Asana, or Monday; 30+ = Wrike or Smartsheet.

3. Are we doing client services work? If yes, choose Teamwork (only tool with robust time tracking, budgets, and resource management). If no, Asana or Monday suffice.

4. Do we need extreme customization? If yes, stick with ClickUp or try Notion/Airtable. If no, choose opinionated tools with better out-of-box usability.

Start with a 14-30 day trial (all tools offer free trials), migrate 2-3 real projects (not dummy data), and test with your actual workflows before committing. Measure setup time (hours to productive state), adoption rate (percentage of team using daily after 30 days), and time saved (hours saved weekly vs ClickUp). If the alternative doesn't achieve 80%+ adoption or save 3+ hours weekly within 30 days, it's not the right fit - try another option or reassess whether ClickUp's complexity is actually your core problem.

Key insight: Most teams don't need ClickUp's complexity

ClickUp was built for power users who want infinite customization - but most marketing teams need reliable project management, not a platform to configure. The paradox: teams choose ClickUp for its features, then spend 10+ hours configuring it and struggle with adoption. The fix: choose opinionated tools (Teamwork for client services, Asana for task management, Basecamp for simplicity) that work well out-of-box without extensive configuration. Trade-off: ClickUp's infinite flexibility vs simpler tools' faster time-to-value and higher adoption. Action: Calculate your "configuration tax" - how many hours monthly does your team spend maintaining ClickUp (adjusting views, fixing automations, training new users)? If it's 5+ hours, simpler tools will save time and frustration even if they're less customizable.

Streamline efficiency by downloading Teamwork.com today

If you're frustrated with ClickUp's complexity, performance issues, or missing client services features, Teamwork.com offers a better path forward for agencies and marketing teams managing client work. Unlike ClickUp (which requires extensive configuration), Teamwork.com provides structured workflows optimized for client services out-of-the-box - time tracking for billing, budget management for profitability, resource management for preventing burnout, and client collaboration features for seamless handoffs.

Consider your own team, their strengths, and the type of workflows you tackle as you're deciding whether to stick with ClickUp or switch to an alternative. If you're delivering client work, managing billable hours, or tracking project profitability, Teamwork.com's focused feature set will serve you better than ClickUp's overwhelming flexibility.

Teamwork.com is an all-in-one tool that's packed with features to help your organization collaborate effectively, both async and in real time. With tons of templates (pre-built for client services workflows), transparent work views (Kanban, Gantt, table, list), and user-friendly features (proofs hub, resource management, utilization reporting), your team can start experiencing this software's true value from the moment you sign up - without spending 10 hours configuring the platform.

Start your free 30-day trial (no credit card required) or book a demo to see how Teamwork.com can replace ClickUp and simplify your workflows.