Neural Project InstituteProject management certification for the AI era

Project management tools · Alternatives

Best ClickUp Alternatives in 2026

Thinking of switching from ClickUp? We compared 9 leading alternatives on features, pricing, ease of use and G2 and Capterra ratings, so you can find the right fit for your team.

Key takeaways

Why look for ClickUp alternatives?

ClickUp is best value for feature-rich teams. Teams usually look elsewhere for these reasons:

  • Can feel overwhelming; setup takes effort
  • Some users report performance lags
  • Best AI features cost extra
  • Frequent updates can change familiar workflows

Read our full ClickUp review.

The best ClickUp alternatives

1

Wrike

Best all-in-one work management platform

9.4/10

Choose Wrike if you want more mature enterprise resource and portfolio management. Wrike is a full-featured work management platform that brings project planning, resource management, portfolio views, creative proofing and business intelligence into one place. It takes longer to learn than lighter tools, but few competitors match its depth once a team scales.

Starting priceFree; paid from $10/user/month
Free planYes
User ratingsG2 4.2/5 (4,537)
Capterra 4.4/5 (3,041)
2

monday.com

Best for ease of use and visual workflows

9.1/10

Choose monday.com if you want a simpler, more polished interface. monday.com is a highly visual, flexible work platform with one of the friendliest interfaces on the market. It is easy to adopt and very customisable, though seat bundles and plan limits can push costs up.

Starting priceFree for up to 2 seats; paid from $9/seat/month
Free planYes (up to 2 seats)
User ratingsG2 4.7/5 (17,248)
Capterra 4.6/5 (6,120)
3

Asana

Best for cross-team task and goal management

9.0/10

Choose Asana if you want a cleaner, more focused task experience. Asana is a polished, easy-to-use work management tool that excels at coordinating tasks across teams and linking them to company goals. Advanced capabilities such as portfolios and resource management are reserved for higher plans.

Starting priceFree (Personal); paid from $10.99/user/month
Free planYes (Personal plan, up to 2 users)
User ratingsG2 4.4/5 (14,008)
Capterra 4.5/5 (13,731)
4

Jira

Best for software and Agile teams

8.6/10

Choose Jira if you want dedicated software development tooling. Jira is the industry standard for Agile software teams, with deep Scrum and Kanban support, issue tracking and developer integrations. It is less suited to non-technical teams and has a steep learning curve.

Starting priceFree for up to 10 users; Standard roughly $7.91/user/month
Free planYes (up to 10 users)
User ratingsG2 4.3/5 (7,988)
Capterra 4.4/5 (15,493)
5

Notion

Best for docs and projects in one workspace

8.0/10

Choose Notion if you want a docs-first workspace. Notion combines docs, wikis and databases into a flexible workspace that can be shaped into project trackers. It is excellent for knowledge management and lightweight projects, but lacks native time tracking, resource management and advanced scheduling.

Starting priceFree; paid from $10/member/month
Free planYes
User ratingsG2 4.6/5 (13,862)
Capterra 4.7/5 (2,834)
6

Smartsheet

Best for spreadsheet-style enterprise planning

8.6/10

Choose Smartsheet if you value planning & resource management. Smartsheet combines a familiar spreadsheet grid with Gantt charts, automation and enterprise portfolio tools. It is a natural step up from Excel, though it lost its free plan in 2025 and advanced capabilities are quote-based.

Starting priceFrom $9/member/month (no free plan)
Free planNo (30-day free trial)
User ratingsG2 4.4/5 (22,768)
Capterra 4.5/5 (3,559)
7

Microsoft Planner

Best for Microsoft 365 organisations

8.1/10

Choose Microsoft Planner if you value ease of use. Microsoft Planner is the natural choice for Microsoft 365 organisations, now combining simple task boards with the advanced scheduling formerly in Project for the web. It is convenient and well integrated, but lighter than specialist platforms.

Starting priceBasic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/month
Free planBasic Planner included with Microsoft 365
User ratingsG2 4.2/5 (237)
Capterra 4.3/5 (298)
8

Trello

Best for simple Kanban boards

7.8/10

Choose Trello if you value ease of use. Trello is the simplest way to start managing work visually. Its cards and boards are intuitive and inexpensive, but it lacks the scheduling, resource and portfolio depth needed for complex projects.

Starting priceFree; paid from $5/user/month
Free planYes (up to 10 collaborators per workspace)
User ratingsG2 4.4/5 (14,063)
Capterra 4.5/5 (23,628)
9

Basecamp

Best for simple team and client communication

7.6/10

Choose Basecamp if you value ease of use. Basecamp keeps projects simple: message boards, to-dos, schedules, docs, chat and client access in one place, with flat pricing and no per-user fees. It deliberately avoids complex PM features.

Starting priceFree (1 project, up to 5 users); paid from $25/month flat
Free planYes (1 project, up to 5 users)
User ratingsG2 4.1/5 (5,489)
Capterra 4.4/5 (14,449)

ClickUp alternatives compared

ToolBest forStarting priceRatingsCompare
WrikeGrowing teams and enterprises that want one platform for projects, resources, portfolios, approvals and reportingFree; paid from $10/user/monthG2 4.2/5 (4,537)
Capterra 4.4/5 (3,041)
ClickUp vs Wrike
monday.comTeams that want a colourful, intuitive platform they can shape into almost any workflowFree for up to 2 seats; paid from $9/seat/monthG2 4.7/5 (17,248)
Capterra 4.6/5 (6,120)
ClickUp vs monday.com
AsanaOrganisations that want clean, reliable task management connected to goals and portfoliosFree (Personal); paid from $10.99/user/monthG2 4.4/5 (14,008)
Capterra 4.5/5 (13,731)
ClickUp vs Asana
JiraSoftware development and IT teams running Scrum or KanbanFree for up to 10 users; Standard roughly $7.91/user/monthG2 4.3/5 (7,988)
Capterra 4.4/5 (15,493)
ClickUp vs Jira
NotionTeams that want documents, wikis and lightweight project tracking in one flexible workspaceFree; paid from $10/member/monthG2 4.6/5 (13,862)
Capterra 4.7/5 (2,834)
ClickUp vs Notion
SmartsheetOrganisations comfortable with spreadsheets that need enterprise-grade planning and reportingFrom $9/member/month (no free plan)G2 4.4/5 (22,768)
Capterra 4.5/5 (3,559)
ClickUp vs Smartsheet
Microsoft PlannerOrganisations standardised on Microsoft 365 and TeamsBasic Planner included in Microsoft 365; Plan 1 from $10/user/monthG2 4.2/5 (237)
Capterra 4.3/5 (298)
ClickUp vs Microsoft Planner
TrelloIndividuals and small teams that want simple, visual Kanban boardsFree; paid from $5/user/monthG2 4.4/5 (14,063)
Capterra 4.5/5 (23,628)
ClickUp vs Trello
BasecampAgencies and small businesses that want calm, communication-centred projects with flat pricingFree (1 project, up to 5 users); paid from $25/month flatG2 4.1/5 (5,489)
Capterra 4.4/5 (14,449)
ClickUp vs Basecamp

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to ClickUp?

It depends on why you are switching. Choose Wrike if you want more mature enterprise resource and portfolio management. Choose monday.com if you want a simpler, more polished interface.

Why do teams look for ClickUp alternatives?

The most common reasons are: can feel overwhelming; setup takes effort; some users report performance lags; best ai features cost extra.

Is there a free alternative to ClickUp?

Yes: Wrike, monday.com, Asana, Jira, Notion, Trello, Basecamp have free plans.

What is a cheaper alternative to ClickUp?

Trello (from $5/user/month) and ClickUp (from $7/user/month, annual) are among the lowest-priced paid options; Basecamp's flat pricing can be cheaper for large teams.

What is an easier alternative to ClickUp?

Trello and monday.com are the easiest tools to learn, followed by Asana and Basecamp.

What is the best ClickUp alternative for enterprises?

Wrike, Smartsheet and monday.com offer the strongest enterprise features in our review.

What is the best ClickUp alternative for software teams?

Jira is the standard for software teams; ClickUp is a flexible, lower-cost option.

Which ClickUp alternative has the best user ratings?

On G2, monday.com (4.7), ClickUp (4.6) and Notion (4.6) have some of the highest ratings among the tools we reviewed (checked 5 October 2026).

Can I migrate from ClickUp to another tool?

Most tools offer CSV import and many provide direct importers from popular competitors. Plan a pilot project, map fields and statuses, and migrate active work first.

How did you choose these ClickUp alternatives?

We compared the other nine tools in our top 10 on features, pricing, ease of use, scalability and published G2 and Capterra ratings, and ordered them by how well they address common reasons for switching.