Trello and monday are two well-known project management solutions. You’ve seen the names a million times in your search.
So you don’t want to beat around the bush. You just want to know which is better and which will serve your business best.
The most cost-efficient. The easiest to use and onboard. The most collaborative.
The one that gives you all the features you need without gouging you for those you don’t. The one that houses all its productivity tools in one place, keeping you from having to juggle a dozen apps.
The app that’s the most productive.
This article will evaluate and compare both apps so you can make an informed decision. By the end, you’ll also see which project management software is the best. The answer may surprise you.
Trello vs. monday in a nutshell
Trello:
Trello is a Kanban-based project management tool that’s easy to set up, use, and navigate. Its interface is simple, intuitive, uncluttered, straightforward, and minimalistic.
Trello’s free plan includes unlimited cards, lists, storage, docs, power-ups, and users added to each project. Its paid plans, which include more advanced features, are more affordable than its competitor, monday.
Among its drawbacks are that it has limited reporting features and no analytics features.
Trello’s robust free plan, affordable paid plans, low learning curve, and user-friendly interface make it an ideal choice for individuals, small businesses, small teams, new teams, and teams with simple in-house projects.
monday:
monday is a highly customizable, flexible, versatile, scalable, and comprehensive project management platform. It offers more native project management-specific features than Trello, including tools for:
Budgeting
Financial management
Time tracking
E-commerce
Marketing
Sales pipeline management
Resource management
Additional features include workflow automations, shared and private dashboards, analytics and reporting tools, a centralized management platform, role permissions, and the ability to lock project data.
Despite its appealing interface, there’s more of a learning curve to monday due to the more comprehensive capabilities. Some users find it challenging to navigate at first and cumbersome to use even beyond the learning curve.
Additional drawbacks include pricier plans, a limited free plan, limited lower-tier paid plans, and limited storage and task dependencies across the board.
With comprehensive offerings, a steep learning curve, and expensive access to advanced features, monday is best for larger organizations and teams, complex projects, and numerous simultaneous projects.
Forgive us for wanting to mention a third contender, our own. Lark is an excellent option for teams of all sorts, including remote, hybrid, and international teams.
Lark supplements its customizable and flexible project tools with various communication and collaboration features.
Trello vs. monday: Which has the best features?
Trello’s features
Trello offers a variety of project views, including the popular Kanban board layout. This provides users with flexibility in how they visualize and organize their projects. Trello also features Butler, a built-in no-code automation functionality available on all plans.
Users can leverage templates, available on all plans, to set up projects quickly. Additionally, assignee and due dates are available across all plans, ensuring users can track tasks and deadlines.
Paid plans offer unlimited boards, power-ups, cards, activity logs, and storage. These uncapped features provide ample room for growth and flexibility in managing multiple projects.
Users can conveniently access and manage their projects from just about anywhere:
Web browsers - Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
Mobile devices - Android, iOS
Desktop - Windows, Mac
monday’s features
monday.com offers robust features designed to enhance project management and collaboration. With over ten project views, including Kanban, Gantt, and Calendar, users can choose the best way to visualize and organize their work.
Real-time dashboards with over 50 widgets provide valuable insights into project progress and performance. And reporting tools, real-time analytics, and resource management tools offer comprehensive project oversight.
Workdocs allows for tagging, real-time collaboration, co-editing, and more. Files enable live annotations, file versioning, secure storage, and other features. Customizable forms streamline data collection.
Additionally, all plans include unlimited messages and updates, over 200 templates, and custom workflows.
All paid plans offer unlimited boards and docs. Users with the Standard plan or higher enjoy unlimited free viewers and over 200 pre-built automation recipes. Pro and Enterprise features include time tracking, workload management, task dependencies, and privacy settings.
Available everywhere Trello is, monday ensures users can stay productive from anywhere.
Verdict
monday has more features than Trello and is a more comprehensive tool if you’re seeking a no-frills, straightforward project management tool. What both tools lack, however, are seamless team collaboration and communication tools. This is where Lark stands out.
With Lark, teams can enjoy unlimited chat, calls, and groups with the added convenience of language translations. They can also leverage its full context search history and video conferencing tools.
Lark provides a collaborative content creation environment platform-wide. Documents, spreadsheets, data tables, flowcharts, project management, and templates foster teamwork and creativity. Automated workflows and notifications help streamline processes and keep teams informed.
Lark Base is its collaborative database platform containing list, Kanban, Gantt, and gallery views. It provides users with versatile ways to organize and manage information.
The calendar includes subscriptions to multiple calendars, schedule browsing, meeting scheduling, and room reservations, ensuring efficient time management. It also includes two-way integration with Google, Exchange, and Outlook calendars.
The platform-wide search function with filters makes it easy to find information quickly.
Lark is available on web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Safari), mobile devices (Android, iOS), desktop (Windows, Mac), and even Linux (beta).
Trello vs. monday: Which has the best integrations?
Trello’s integrations
Trello integrates with nearly 200 third-party tools. Its integration with Zapier opens up connections with hundreds of additional apps. On top of that, you can supercharge specific Trello boards by choosing from over 300 pre-existing “power-ups” or building your own.
monday’s integrations
monday has over 200 third-party integrations, app add-ons, and an open API. However, only users with the Standard plan or higher can use integrations; none are included with the free or Basic plans. There are also monthly action limits on using integrations.
Verdict
Both tools include hundreds of app integrations, allowing you to build even more. You should incorporate either tool into your pre-existing tech stack with little conflict.
Trello vs. monday: Which has the best pricing?
Trello’s pricing (billed annually)
Trello offers a free plan with unlimited storage, users, power-ups, and activity logs. It also includes up to 10 boards and built-in automation. The paid plan structure is as follows:
Standard plan: $5 per user per month
Premium plan: $10 per user per month
Enterprise plan: $17.50 per user per month
All plans, including the free plan, include unlimited users. A free 14-day trial of the Premium plan is available, with no credit card required.
monday’s pricing (billed annually)
monday’s free plan includes up to two seats, no integrations, 500 MB of storage, a one-week activity log, up to three boards, and no access to automations. The pricing structure for paid plans is listed below:
Basic plan: $9 per seat per month
Standard plan: $12 per seat per month
Pro plan: $19 per seat per month
Enterprise plan: Contact for pricing
All paid plans include unlimited seats and unlimited free viewers. You can sign up for a free-14-day trial of the Pro plan, with no credit card required.
Verdict
The tool with the best pricing depends on your objective. If you’re a larger business that needs all the project management bells and whistles, monday’s offerings far exceed Trello’s. Their pricing is very similar, so monday’s premium offerings are more valuable than Trello’s.
However, if your project needs are less complex or your budget’s tighter, Trello will give you more bang for your buck.
That said, Lark’s value for the price is even better than Trello and monday. Lark offers its feature-rich free plan, one premium paid plan, and one enterprise solution:
Free Starter plan available for up to 50 users
Pro plan: $12 per month per user for up to 500 users
Enterprise plan: Contact for pricing for unlimited users
Trello vs. monday: Which has the best customer service?
Trello’s customer service
Trello’s customer support resources include guides, help articles, and on-demand webinars on its website. It also hosts a customer community with forums, groups, and events. These self-help resources are the only available help options for the free plan.
Cloud support is available for local business hours (9/5) to standard plan subscribers and 24/5 to premium subscribers. Phone support and a dedicated senior support team are available 24/7 to enterprise subscribers.
monday’s customer service
monday’s help center contains a knowledge base with video tutorials and how-to articles.
It also contains an academy where users can access interactive courses, webinars, and live training sessions. Certifications for building out and implementing monday.com accounts are also available.
Like Trello, monday has a customer community that hosts forums, groups, and live and virtual events. Only self-help resources are available on the free plan.
All paid accounts include 24/7 live chat and email support. Account holders can request a callback for billing-related questions only. Enterprise plans include access to a dedicated customer success manager.
Verdict
You’re less likely to need customer support in the first place from Trello than from monday due to its ease of use. That said, monday has the most readily available and accessible customer support with 24/7 availability and phone, email, and live chat support options for all paid plans.
And yet, Lark offers 24/7 online customer support (excluding US holidays) for all plans, including the free plan. Technical support is available for paid plans five days a week, for 21 hours each day.
Like Trello and monday, Lark also offers self-help resources. Lark’s Help Center houses help articles and videos, and Lark Academy contains video courses on using the platform.
The Pro plan includes a standard Customer Success Manager, and the Enterprise plan includes a dedicated one. Professional Services & Consulting can be purchased as an add-on by all users, including freemium plan holders.
Trello vs. monday: Which is the easiest to use?
Trello’s ease of use
According to most user reviews, Trello is easy to set up, use, navigate, and onboard. This is due to its narrow focus on Kanban-style project and task management. It has a simple and intuitive interface and a low learning curve.
monday’s ease of use
monday’s users report that the comprehensive platform can initially be overwhelming and may translate to a steeper learning curve.
However, the guided set-up feature helps ease the onboarding process. Once you get the hang of it, monday’s intuitive and stylish interface is reportedly much easier.
Verdict
For a tool that you can dive right into while barely missing a beat, look no further than Trello. But if you need a more comprehensive platform, working through monday's learning curve may be worth it. You’ll have smooth sailing once you get over that curve anyway.
Users also report Lark to have a learning curve with its wide variety of features. But Lark’s Help Center includes a series of Getting Started articles that guide new users through installation, signup, and setup.
Trello vs. monday: Which is the most secure and compliant?
Trello’s security and compliance
All Trello plans include two-factor authentication and mobile device management. Users on all plans can also purchase Atlassian Access, a separate security subscription, as an add-on. Atlassian Access comes standard with Enterprise plans.
Atlassian Access provides enhanced security features, including SAML SSO and enforced two-factor authentication. It starts at an extra $4/month/user for the first 250 users and decreases in average price as more users are added. A free 30-day trial is available.
monday’s security and compliance
All monday plans include SOC 2 Type II compliance and two-factor authentication available on all plans. Private boards, docs, and Google authentication are available only on Pro and Enterprise plans.
Enterprise-only security and privacy features include SSO (Okta, One login, Azure AD, Custom SAML), HIPAA Compliance, Integration Permissions, IP restrictions, and Content Directory.
Verdict
monday’s security features are more extensive than Trello’s and don’t cost extra like Trello’s. However, Lark wins this round as well.
Lark is powered by AWS Cloud Services and benefits from their advanced security measures. Data centers in the US, Singapore, and Japan ensure region-specific data compliance.
It also possesses SOC 2 (Type II) and SOC 3 compliance, SSO, data centers in three countries, administration tools, user permissions, and additional extensive security, privacy, and compliance features.
Trello vs. monday: What are other users saying?
Users of Trello often praise its ease of use, making it accessible for teams to collaborate and manage projects effectively. Its project and task management tools help users organize and track their work.
The intuitive user interface is frequently mentioned, helping users easily navigate and understand the platform. Additionally, users appreciate the detailed individual cards, which allow for comprehensive task management.
However, users looking for more advanced functionalities report missing or limited features. Some find it difficult to use Trello for large projects, as it may not scale effectively for their needs.
Board issues are also a concern for some users, impacting their experience. Additionally, some users have reported unhelpful customer support, which can be frustrating in a pinch. Overall, Trello's reviews are very good:
G2: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 stars
TrustRadius: 4 out of 5 stars
monday.com users praise its flexibility and functionality, allowing them to customize workflows to their unique needs.
They also love the task automation features, which streamline processes and improve efficiency. Integrations with other tools and platforms are appreciated, enhancing its usability.
Users frequently mention the intuitive interface, which facilitates team collaboration and project management.
Additionally, users value monday's great customer service that promptly addresses issues and questions.
However, some users find the layout confusing and have difficulty following each task's chain of events. The learning curve for new users can be steep, and some find automation features challenging to implement.
Some users cite missing features and board issues that hinder their experience. The app functionality is also sometimes criticized.
Still, users generally appreciate monday.com's ease with organization, archiving and retention capabilities, browsing history, and cataloging/categorization features. It’s a highly rated platform:
G2: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Capterra: 4.6 stars
TrustRadius: 4 out of 5 stars
Verdict
Both tools have reported strengths and weaknesses. Most Trello users applaud its ease of use and project management features. However, they also report poor customer service and limited features.
monday users applaud the flexibility, customization, project management features, and excellent customer service. But they also report a steep learning curve, cluttered interface, and lack of some desired features.
Some of Lark’s users also report a learning curve, challenging onboarding, and some overwhelm with the amount of features. However, many others praise it for its ease of use and navigation and for being an all-in-one tool that reduces reliance on additional tools.
Reviews also praise its video conferencing features, screen sharing, video quality, communication and collaboration features, security, and document sharing. Its ratings are listed below:
G2: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Capterra: 4.4 out of 5 stars
TrustRadius: 5 out of 5 stars
Trello vs. monday: Which is right for you?
The right choice for you depends on your organizational needs. Trello is enough to satisfy you if you’re just starting out or simply looking for simple project and task management on a budget.
Trello’s simplicity, narrow focus, and pricing make it best for:
Individuals
Small businesses
Small teams
Startups
Simpler in-house projects
Tight budgets
monday may serve you best if you have complex needs or are growing increasingly complex as you scale.
monday’s comprehensive offerings, flexibility, and pricing make it best for:
Larger businesses and teams
More complex projects
Numerous projects
Extensive needs
Client work
Larger budgets
If you’re looking for a solution where flexibility and high functionality meet affordability and ease of use, look no further than Lark.
Lark is stacked with project management features that rival monday's for a price that rivals Trello's premium pricing. It also carries a wide range of communication and collaboration tools that exceed the capabilities of both monday and Trello.
Lark is also a formidable contender due to its low price, straightforward pricing structure, and feature-rich free plan.
Which tool will be the newest addition to your business?
Hopefully, you see now which project management tool is best:
The best bang for your buck
The most intuitive
The most collaborative
The most integrated
Trello and monday are decent, but Lark is the all-in-one productivity super app you’ve been looking for.
Don’t just take our word for it. Sign up for Lark’s free Starter Plan and explore its capabilities yourself. You’ll learn firsthand that Lark is the ideal platform for your business.
To learn more about how Lark measures up to both Trello and monday individually, check out the following comparison articles:
Lark vs. Trello: Which project management tool is right for your business in 2023?
Lark vs. monday.com: Which collaboration platform is right for your business?
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