Looking for ClickUp alternatives to kickstart your year? We’ve got you covered.
While ClickUp offers a lot of features, it’s not the right fit for every team. Whether you’re after a simpler tool, a better free plan, or specific features, there are plenty of options that might work better for you.
ClickUp claims to be "The everything app, for work", but this is not the case. Many businesses are finding that the grass is greener when they explore project management software and collaboration tools that better suit their needs.
In this post, we’ll break down the 10 best ClickUp alternatives in 2025, comparing key features, pricing, and more to help you find the right tool for your team.
Understanding ClickUp: Breakdown
ClickUp is a project management software designed to help individuals and teams efficiently manage their work and meet deadlines. Think of it as a digital command center where projects come to life, tasks stay on track, and productivity gets a serious upgrade.
The ClickUp app enables users to plan, track, and collaborate within a centralized hub. It’s designed to streamline workflows and make teamwork effortless.
Image source: Clickup
Teams use ClickUp for:
Task management
Progress tracking
Team coordination
Ideation and planning
Who uses ClickUp?
Project managers
Department leaders
Remote teams
Small businesses to large enterprises
Anyone seeking an all-in-one work hub
For example, a marketing coordinator at a tech startup might use ClickUp to manage campaigns, tracking completed tasks and upcoming deadlines to keep the team on track.
However, ClickUp isn’t the only solution. While it’s widely used, it may not meet every team’s needs. Many global teams, for instance, prefer Lark for its auto-translation capabilities — something ClickUp lacks.
ClickUp strengths: Why is ClickUp so popular?
ClickUp helps teams deliver timely tasks with its custom workflows and task management features.
It’s a popular option for project managers as it turns complex projects into manageable tasks.
Key features
Highly-customizable task management workflows
Workflow automation
Goal setting and tracking
Image source: Clickup
Free and paid plans
ClickUp’s free plan makes it easy to get started. There are three paid plans available, all with a 14-day full trial.
Free Forever: Ideal for solopreneurs
100MB storage
Unlimited tasks
Real-time chat and more
Unlimited ($7/user per month): Best for small teams
Unlimited everything from storage to integrations
Advanced dashboards
Business ($12/user per month): Gives mid-sized teams more control
Advanced automations
Detailed time tracking
Enterprise: Custom solutions for large, complex teams
White labeling
Enhanced security options
In addition, you can add the AI feature “ClickUp Brain” to any of the ClickUp plans for an additional $7 per user/month.
Integrations and add-ons
ClickUp offers over 1,000 apps in its extensive integration library.
These include popular integrations like Slack, Dropbox, Zendesk, HubSpot, and Zoom.
Image source: Clickup
You can also link to Zapier to connect more tools.
There are handy add-ons, such as a Chrome Extension, advanced automations, and email.
Security and data protection
ClickUp keeps work safe with auto-backups, two-factor authentication (2FA), and encryption.
It meets the highest GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 standards, so your data is secure, whether at rest or in transit.
Accessibility
ClickUp is a great pick for teams who need accessibility features, such as a hands-free mouse, voice commands, and text-to-speech.
ClickUp weaknesses: Where ClickUp falls short
While ClickUp excels in essential task management, it's not without limitations.
Let’s explore how ClickUp struggles to handle some of the more comprehensive team needs.
User-friendliness
The new layout has stirred up some user complaints.
Lots of users find the interface less intuitive than expected.
This challenge makes team management difficult for users who previously enjoyed its intuitive interface.
Communication
ClickUp’s communication features are geared up for task-related discussions, but it lacks a robust, all-in-one approach like other project management alternatives. For example, it does not provide built-in video meeting or call features in the ClickUp app.
Content creation
ClickUp works fine for scheduling tasks but can’t help you complete them.
There’s no functionality to help users generate content directly within the platform to support tasks or contribute to a knowledge base.
Business insights
ClickUp provides insights into project progress and time management. But there’s limited visibility into broader business processes.
Teams often need more detailed dashboards to guide strategic decisions and optimize operations.
Let’s explore how Lark and other alternatives address these challenges.
Language options in the ClickUp app
ClickUp is not available in many languages including Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.
This limitation makes it less ideal for global teams or organizations operating in these regions.
Top 10 ClickUp alternatives
There are many project management software options out there, and ClickUp is just one of them. Whether you’re looking for alternatives to ClickUp for your team or a ClickUp free alternative for personal use, there’s something for every need.
But with so many options, it can be tough to pick the right tool. To make it easier, here’s a simple breakdown of some popular alternatives to ClickUp that might be the perfect fit for your team.
1. Lark - Best overall alternative to ClickUp
For teams seeking a centralized workspace to boost productivity and collaboration, Lark is the best ClickUp alternative out there.
While it offers project views like Gantt, calendar, and Kanban, Lark also delivers AI-powered automation to eliminate repetitive workflows and boost productivity. Perfect for visual thinkers and teams, it provides flexible tools to track and manage work efficiently, making it a standout replacement for ClickUp.
Beyond scheduling and tracking, Lark is a comprehensive platform where global teams can plan, discuss, and execute projects seamlessly. With built-in chat, video, email, and document collaboration—plus real-time AI-powered translations—it breaks language barriers and simplifies teamwork.
Key Features
Task management and workflow automation simplify complex processes and eliminate repetitive tasks, making team operations more efficient.
Includes Lark Base, a no-code project management solution that can be tailored for sales management, CRM, or other project needs.
Real-time video and chat features, combined with auto-translation, enable seamless communication for teams across the globe.
Docs and collaboration tools make it easy to create, share, and work on documents together in real time.
Data tracking and dashboards provide actionable insights into task and project performance, helping teams stay on top of their goals.
AI-powered tools accelerate content generation and transcription, saving time and optimizing productivity.
Pros of Lark
Comprehensive communication tools (chat, calls, and video) eliminate the need for external integrations.
Available in multiple languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, and more, making it perfect for global teams.
Advanced project management features with a variety of templates to help you get started.
Comprehensive reporting and insights into broader business processes.
Cons of Lark
It may take time for teams to fully leverage its extensive features.
Integrations
Lark’s app library includes a variety of integrations, with thousands more accessible through Zapier. Key integrations include:
Meegle
DocuSign
Zoom
Dropbox
Mockplus
Pricing
Free Starter plan: Supports up to 20 users with essential features.
Pro Plan: $12 per user/month for expanded capabilities.
Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing tailored to your business needs.
To learn more about Lark plans, visit the Lark pricing plan page.
Free Trial: Lark’s Pro Plan offers a free trial, which includes:
Unlimited chat with full message history.
Custom and secure business email.
Automatic language translation.
100 GB of storage.
Unlimited meeting lengths.
Looking for an all-in-one solution for project management, team collaboration, and task execution? Sign up for a free account and test it yourself.
2. Trello - Best for traditional Kanban boards
Trello is a task and project management software known for its simple-to-use Kanban boards, making it a great alternative to ClickUp for teams seeking a visual tool for task tracking.
Image Source: Trello
Trello is a favorite for teams who value a straightforward and intuitive approach to project planning. With its visually appealing Kanban boards, Trello makes it easy to organize tasks and track progress using drag-and-drop functionality and customizable lists. Designed for teams that prioritize ease of use, it combines simplicity with the flexibility to manage various projects, from marketing campaigns to product development, while seamlessly integrating with popular tools like Slack and Google Drive.
Key features:
Visual Kanban boards
Custom workflow automation
Power-Ups to integrate with other tools
Pros of Trello:
Simple and easy to learn
Highly customizable boards, workflows, and Power-Ups
Free plan with good functionality
Cons of Trello:
Limited reporting and analytics in the free plan
Can become cluttered with complex workflows
Integrations:
Slack
Google Drive
Jira
Dropbox
Zapier
Pricing: Trello offers four plans:
Free plan for up to 10 collaborators per workspace.
Standard plan for $5 per user/month (unlimited boards and custom fields)
Premium plan for $10 per user/month (Different views and unlimited Workspace runs)
Enterprise plan with custom pricing (advanced features and permissions)
Free trial: Trello has a 14-day free trial of its Premium plan.
3. Hive - Best for flexible project viewing
Hive is a dynamic and versatile project management tool designed to help teams stay organized and productive.
Image source: Hive
Hiver offers a range of flexible board views, including Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendars, and table views, making it easy to visualize and manage tasks in a way that suits your team’s needs. Hive’s adaptability makes it an excellent choice for teams looking to streamline their workflows and customize their project management experience.
One of Hive’s standout features is its ability to transform unique team processes into highly visual workflow templates and dashboards. Whether your team thrives with a traditional Kanban setup, prefers the timeline-focused approach of Gantt charts, or needs calendar-based task tracking, Hive has you covered.
Key features:
Flexible views with Kanban boards, Gantt charts, calendars, and more
Automated actions and workflows
Resource tracking and management
Pros of Hive:
Highly visual and customizable dashboard
Built-in chat, comments, and mentions
Powerful reporting and analytics
Cons of Hive:
Steep learning curve
Free plan is limited to one project and ten users
Integrations:
Google Drive
Dropbox
Slack
Outlook
Zapier
Pricing: Hive has four different packages:
Free plan for up to 10 workspace members
Starter plan for $5 per month/user (unlimited storage and up to 10 projects)
Teams plan for $12 per month/user (unlimited workspace members and time tracking)
Enterprise plan with custom pricing (enhanced security and enterprise API)
Free trial: Hive offers a 14-day free trial of any Hive plan.
4. Asana - Best for small teams with simple processes
Asana is a valuable project management tool that’s very easy to use, making it an excellent choice for organizations seeking a straightforward solution.
Image source: Asana
Asana’s intuitive design makes it an excellent choice for organizations looking for a straightforward solution to manage their workflows effectively. Whether you're a small team, a startup, or even a larger organization with simple processes, Asana adapts seamlessly to your needs.
One of Asana's biggest strengths is its ease of use. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started, making it perfect for teams looking to streamline their project management without spending hours learning a complicated system. Its clean, visually appealing interface allows users to quickly create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and monitor progress—all in one place.
Key features:
Clear and focused task management
Powerful search and filtering
Team communication and collaboration tools
Pros of Asana:
Easy-to-learn user-friendly interface
Comprehensive mobile app
Good functionality in the free plan
Cons of Asana:
Limited customization
Too rigid for complex organizations
Integrations:
Google Drive
Zoom
Salesforce
Slack
Zapier
Pricing: Choose from four Asana plans:
Free plan for up to 15 users and limited features
Premium plan for $10.99 per user per month (unlimited tasks, projects, and collaborators)
Business plan for $24.99 per user per month (advanced features and reporting)
Enterprise plan with custom pricing (additional security and support)
Free trial: Asana has a 30-day free trial of its Premium plan
5. Wrike - Best for complex projects
Wrike is a project management tool designed to simplify complex workflows and help teams stay organized. It's a great ClickUp alternative for teams with intricate needs and is suitable for both small and large teams.
Image source: Wrike
Wrike’s intuitive features and versatile tools make it particularly well-suited for managing multi-step projects and keeping everyone on the same page. Whether you’re tracking tasks, collaborating on projects, or managing deadlines, Wrike provides the structure and flexibility teams need to succeed.
Key Features:
Highly customizable workflows
Real-time collaborative editing
Workload management features
Pros of Wrike:
Handles intricate projects well
Flexible and scalable
In-depth reporting and insights
Cons of Wrike:
Learning curve steeper than simpler tools
Its feature-richness feels overpowering for small teams
Integrations:
Google Drive
Dropbox
Slack
Adobe Creative Suite
Zapier
Pricing: Pick from five different price plans:
Free plan with limited features
Team plan for $10 per user/month (up to 15 users and unlimited custom fields)
Business plan for $24.80 per user/month (up to 200 users and unlimited dashboards)
Enterprise plan with custom pricing (unlimited users and admin permissions)
Pinnacle plan with custom pricing (All Wrike features)
Free trial: There’s a 14-day free trial of Wrike’s Business plan.
6. Infinity - Best for customizable project viewing
Infinity is a versatile project management and work organization tool that stands out for its unique, customizable views and flexible layouts.
Image source: Infinity
Designed to adapt to the needs of any team or workflow, Infinity makes managing projects and organizing tasks simple and efficient.
One of Infinity’s key features is its variety of project views, including Kanban boards, lists, calendars, Gantt charts, and even mind maps. These options allow teams to visualize their work in the way that works best for them, ensuring a clear understanding of progress and priorities.
Key Features:
Lots of dashboard view options, including mind maps, Kanban boards, calendars, tables, etc.
Drag-and-drop customization
Advanced filtering and search
Pros of Infinity:
Highly visual and adaptable
Intuitive and engaging
Centralized hub for tasks and projects
Cons of Infinity:
Intricate customization can feel overwhelming
Limited in-app collaboration features
Integrations:
Google Drive
Clockify
Trello
Pabbly
Zapier
Pricing: Infinity offers five pricing options:
Basic plan for $6 per user/month (up to 15 members and 50 GB storage)
Pro plan for $9 per user/month (Up to 15 members and 80 GB storage)
Unlimited plan for $112 flat rate/month (Unlimited members and 100 GB storage)
Agency plan for $262 flat rate/month (5 workspaces and unlimited members)
Echo plan with custom pricing (All Infinity features and custom limits)
Free trial: Infinity offers a 14-day free trial of its Pro plan.
7. Basecamp - Best for non-linear communication
If ClickUp feels like too much, Basecamp offers a simpler, more focused approach to project management and team collaboration.
Image source: Basecamp
Basecamp is a digital campfire where teams gather to collaborate, communicate, and stay organized. With features like message boards, to-do lists, and file storage, it prioritizes transparency and simplicity. Unlike ClickUp, Basecamp avoids feature overload, making it a great alternative for teams seeking a straightforward, distraction-free platform for project management.
Key Features:
Campfire central message board for discussions, file sharing, and project updates
To-do features
Automatic check-ins
Pros of Basecamp:
Helpful with team alignment
Simple and intuitive
Reduces information overload
Cons of Basecamp:
Limited functionality for complex projects
May feel restrictive and minimalist to some teams
Integrations:
CozyCal
Clarity
Toggl
Zoho Flow
Zapier (connects to thousands of tools)
Pricing: Basecamp has three plans:
Basecamp Free plan (one project and 1 GB storage)
Basecamp Plus plan for $15 per user/month (unlimited projects and 500 GB storage)
Basecamp Pro Unlimited for $299 per month (unlimited projects and 5 TB storage)
Free trial: There's a 75-day free trial of Basecamp Pro Unlimited available.
8. Airtable - Best for spreadsheet-style management
Airtable blends the simplicity of spreadsheets with the power of a database, making it perfect for teams managing data-heavy workflows.
Image source: Airtable
Airtable includes customizable views, linked records, and rich field types that support everything from project planning to report generation. If your team loves organizing data but needs more flexibility than a standard spreadsheet, Airtable is an ideal choice.
Key features:
Customizable views
Powerful automations
Built-in formulas and functions
Pros of Airtable:
Easy for spreadsheet users to learn
Very customizable
Detailed reporting and insights
Cons of Airtable:
It feels a little structured for non-spreadsheet users
Limited collaboration features
Integrations:
Google Drive
Salesforce
Zendesk
Eventbrite
Zapier
Pricing: Choose from four different pricing plans:
Free plan available with limited features and collaborators.
Team plan for $20 per seat/month (50,000 records per base and 25,000 automation runs)
Business plan for $45 per seat/month (125,000 records per base and 100,000 automation runs)
Enterprise Scale plan with custom pricing (500,000 records per base and 500,000 automation runs)
Free trial: Airtable offers a 14-day free trial of its Team plan
9. monday.com - Best for visual project management
Monday brings a vibrant, visual approach to project management, making it easy for teams to stay organized and on track. Its simple design might be appealing to users who find the ClickUp app a little overwhelming.
Image source: Monday
Monday has colorful, customizable boards that provide clear overviews of tasks and progress, ideal for teams that value transparency and intuitive design. With its user-friendly automation builder, Monday helps accelerate workflows and reduce manual tasks, streamlining even the most complex projects.
Whether you’re managing deadlines, tracking progress, or collaborating with your team, Monday offers a dynamic and efficient solution tailored to your needs.
Key features:
Highly visual, customizable dashboards
Automated workflows
Collaborative features
Pros of monday.com:
Highly visual and engaging
Easy to learn and use
Flexible and customizable
Cons of monday.com:
Unique way of working takes time to learn
Extensive customization can lead to cluttered dashboards
Integrations:
Google Workplace
Canva
Miro
Salesforce
Zapier
Pricing: Pick between monday.com’s five plans:
Free plan for individual use with limited features.
Basic plan for $9 per user/month (unlimited items and 5 GB of file storage)
Standard plan for $12 per user/month (250 automation runs per month and more views)
Pro plan for $19 per user/month (25,000 automation runs per month and private boards)
Enterprise plan with custom pricing (all of Monday’s features)
Free trial: There’s a 14-day free trial of its Standard plan.
10. Jira - Best for agile software development
Jira is a robust agile project management tool tailored for development teams.
Image source: Atlassian
It excels at managing iterative cycles, tracking backlogs, and resolving issues, making it an essential platform for teams working in agile frameworks. With features like customizable workflows, sprint planning, and detailed reporting, Jira helps software development teams streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
Key features:
Designed for agile development teams
Excellent issue tracking
Insightful dashboards and reports
Pros of Jira:
Agile-fluent built-in features
Very flexible and customizable
Detailed data-driven insights
Cons of Jira:
Very steep learning curve
The complexity of the customization options can be overwhelming
Integrations:
Google Workspace
Microsoft Team
Slack
Confluence (Atlassian's content collaboration platform)
Zapier (connects to 1000s of tools)
Pricing: Jira offers four pricing plans:
Free plan for up to 10 users with limited features.
Standard plan for $7.53 per user/month (user roles and permissions)
Premium plan for $13.53 per user/month (Atlassian Intelligence AI and unlimited storage)
Enterprise plan with custom pricing (all of Jira’s features)
Free trial: Jira has a 7-day free trial of its Standard plan.
Why Lark outperforms ClickUp
Lark delivers what ClickUp lacks by offering a seamless, all-in-one platform where teams—whether in-house, hybrid, or remote—can plan, schedule, and collaborate effortlessly.
Unlike ClickUp, which focuses mainly on traditional project management and scheduling, Lark brings together communication, collaboration, and task management into one superapp. Here's why Lark is a superior choice for dynamic teams.
Comprehensive communication & collaboration
Lark combines communication and project management in one platform, unlike ClickUp, which lacks flexible in-built communication tools such as video calls.
Lark’s features include:
Messenger: Private and group chats with file-sharing features.
Meetings: Video conferencing with screen sharing, live captions, and real-time translation.
Docs: A collaborative space for creating and editing documents in real time.
Email: A built-in email client that consolidates your inbox and tasks in one place.
These communication and collaboration features streamline workflows, keeping your team connected without toggling between apps.
Customizable project management workflows
Agile businesses need flexible workflows, and Lark delivers. While ClickUp provides some customization, it often feels overly complex or rigid. Lark, on the other hand, offers intuitive solutions for creating custom workflows tailored to your needs.
Base: Build automated workflows and custom databases with advanced data visualization tools, providing insights into everything from customer data to project progress.
Meegle: Easily create customizable project fields, reports, and views to match your team's requirements.
This combination helps teams adapt and manage projects more efficiently, without the frustration of rigid setups.
Resource management made easy
Effective resource management is key to optimizing project outcomes, but ClickUp falls short in this area. Its tools lack features for booking meeting rooms, managing office supplies, and centralizing knowledge sharing.
Lark fills these gaps effortlessly. Lark Rooms makes booking meeting spaces simple, eliminating the need for multiple systems and simplifying coordination.
With Lark Approval, teams can easily request office supplies or resources, while management or HR can review and approve them directly within the platform.
Lark Wiki empowers teams to create, organize, and manage content collaboratively, keeping all company knowledge in one easily accessible hub. This ensures teams have the information they need when they need it, boosting efficiency and clarity.
AI-powered multilingual collaboration
In a global work environment, real-time communication across languages is essential. While ClickUp lacks multilingual features, Lark offers AI-powered auto-translation for both chats and meetings, breaking down language barriers and enabling seamless collaboration across regions.
AI content generation for faster project execution
Creating content quickly is crucial, and Lark’s OpenAI integration speeds up this process. While ClickUp focuses on task management, Lark enables content creation within the platform, enhancing efficiency without switching tools.
Lark’s OpenAI Integration: Generate everything from social media posts to code snippets directly in Lark, accelerating your workflow.
Actionable business insights
For informed decision-making, comprehensive insights into your processes and workflows are crucial. While ClickUp offers some analytics, its reports are limited to project progress and time management, lacking depth for broader business analysis. Lark’s advanced analytics provide multi-dimensional insights across your entire organization.
Seamless data integration: Easily import and analyze data from Excel, enabling insightful reports without manual entry.
Defect tracking: Efficiently track and report bugs, improving quality control.
Comprehensive analytics: Lark’s dashboards offer a holistic view of business performance, covering areas like expense tracking, inventory management, and client satisfaction, beyond just project progress.
Built-in productivity tools
Lark takes productivity to the next level with tools like:
Minutes: Automatically transcribe meeting recordings into searchable notes, making follow-up actions easier.
Approval: Simplify document and workflow approvals to reduce bottlenecks and speed up processes.
Calendars: Sync team schedules and reduce scheduling conflicts with Lark's calendar integration.
These built-in tools foster a more efficient and streamlined workflow, enhancing overall productivity.
Centralized knowledge hub
Lark Wiki offers a centralized repository for all your team’s knowledge, eliminating the need to switch between apps. Store and share essential documents in one place while ensuring secure access control.
FAQs about ClickUp alternatives
Is ClickUp free to use?
Yes, ClickUp offers a free plan that provides a set of features for personal use. However, if you’re looking for a project management platform that goes beyond basics in its free plan, we recommend trying Lark. For example, with the Lark free plan, you get access to more than 13 different Lark products each designed to enhance efficiency and collaboration.
What are the pricing options for ClickUp?
ClickUp pricing ranges from its free plan to several paid tiers. The paid plans start at $5 per user per month (when billed annually) and include enhanced features such as unlimited storage, advanced reporting, and team-specific permissions.
What are some ClickUp alternatives for personal use?
If you’re seeking alternatives to ClickUp for personal use, Trello or Lark are excellent options. While Trello focuses on simplicity, Lark combines task management with built-in communication tools, offering a more integrated experience for individual users.
Choosing your ClickUp alternative
While there are many ClickUp alternatives to consider, Lark stands out as a top choice for teams seeking a fully integrated solution. It goes beyond traditional project management by combining team communication, collaboration, and task execution into one cohesive platform.
With its intuitive interface, powerful automation tools, and AI-driven features, Lark streamlines workflows and boosts productivity. It also features AI-powered translations, making it ideal for global teams looking to overcome language barriers.
For small businesses or those focused on reducing costs, Lark is the best ClickUp alternative that is free to use forever. Its streamlined, user-friendly design delivers unmatched flexibility and value—whether for managing projects, enhancing communication, or automating tasks.
Discover how Lark can transform your team’s workflow and elevate collaboration to the next level.
