What Is ClickUp?
ClickUp combines collaboration tools, project-tracking tools, reporting dashboards, workflow creations and document organization to create an all-in-one productivity platform. The feature-rich platform is one of the most popular project management software platforms on the market. It is no wonder why ClickUp made our list of the Best Project Management Software of 2024.
Its free plan offers users a robust number of features such as collaborative docs, whiteboards, Kanban boards, unlimited tasks and Sprint management that help it stand out as a highly versatile project management tool. The platform’s three paid plans add features to make the software more customizable and more suitable for larger teams or multiple teams. The software allows users to choose multiple views for project tracking such as a list view for to-dos, a board view for workflows, or a Gantt view for project schedules. The customization software allows users to adjust color, themes and descriptions to customize their own workspaces.
The large number of features does come with a steep learning curve and it is lacking a few functions compared to its competitors but, overall, ClickUp is a highly capable, affordable project management tool that can replace all the other apps.
Pros
ClickUp listens to its customers. The platform is constantly improving by releasing new customer-requested features almost every week. In addition to a plethora of task management, time management and collaboration tools, it has a few features that virtually no other project management software platforms have such as in-app video recording.
Cons
New users must contact support to access the free trial. And in general, support is not overly helpful. Its live chat support connects users to a chatbot, which redirects users to its help center.
Featured Partners
1
monday.com
Yes
From $8 monthly per user
Zoom, LinkedIn, Adobe, Salesforce and more
2
HubSpot
Yes
Available
Google Contacts, Mailchimp, Xero, Aircall, Airtable and more
3
Smartsheet
Yes, for one user and two editors
$7 per user per month
Google Drive, Slack, Tableau, Miro, Zapier and more
4
ClickUp
Yes, for unlimited members
$7 per month
Slack, Microsoft Outlook, HubSpot, Salesforce, Timely, Google Drive and more
ClickUp Core Features
ClickUp’s core features include task management, time management and collaboration tools. To help organize tasks, track change and manage teams, users can build workflows with one of its 12-plus views, such as list, box, Gantt, board or calendar view. To further customize workflows, the software also allows users to create a workflow with a customizable view.
ClickUp’s time management features include the ability to create schedules, organize calendars, manage capacity and track time. Collaboration tools such as adding comments to any task or document, assigning comments with action items, chatting in real time, sharing attachments and sending in-app video recordings are also cornerstone features of the platform.
ClickUp Tiered Pricing and Plans
Unlimited
ClickUp’s Unlimited plan includes unlimited storage, unlimited list, board and calendar views, unlimited integrations, unlimited dashboards and unlimited custom fields—hence the plan’s name, Unlimited. It includes all the views such as list, board, calendar, Gantt, timeline, map, mind maps, chat and whiteboards. Activity view, timeline view and workload view, however, are limited to just 100 views and the activity is stored for just seven days.
One major drawback to the unlimited plan is that it limits a user’s custom exports to five, which means if you want to export your lists or table views as an Excel or CSV file, you can only do so five times. Also, automations are limited to 1,000 per month as opposed to 10,000 and 25,000 per month on the other plans.
The Unlimited plan is perfect for individuals or small teams that do not need much automation per month.
Business
The Business plan is great for businesses, hence the name, because it is the plan that removes the limits on most features, allowing teams to use the software as much as they need. The Business plan unlocks unlimited use of activity, timeline and workload views, custom task IDs, advanced time tracking features, workload management features and dashboard features.
This plan includes features with teams in mind. For example, the advanced dashboard allows project managers to quickly identify team members who are overloaded with work as well as team members who need more tasks. It also includes the Work in Progress (WIP) Limits ClickApp to help manage a team’s work capacity and time-tracking widgets that include billable reports and timesheets.
This plan also steps up security a notch by protecting the software from any unauthorized access with ClickUp’s two-factor authentication and also enables Google’s single sign-on. One major drawback to the Business plan is that it is not HIPAA compliant. If your business requires HIPAA compliance to store your sensitive data, you will have to upgrade to its Enterprise plan.
ClickUp Ease Of Use
The downside of ClickUp’s wide range of features and customizable interface is a steeper learning curve for people who are new to the platform. The vast number of features can also be overwhelming for those who are looking for a simple project management tool. Some reviews of the software include comments about it being too complicated for its main use and the ability to be overwhelmed with the number of features that are included.
ClickUp Security
ClickUp follows PCI’s strict regulations for managing credit card data online. The software platform encrypts all its data as well as actively monitors ongoing security and performance on a 24/7/365 basis.
To help further secure private data, all plans, including the free plan, include two-factor authentication to access the website. The Business plan requires two-factor authentication (2FA) and have the option for a Google single sign-on (SSO).
ClickUp Customer Service and Support
Users of all plans, including the free plan, have 24/7 access to ClickUp’s Help Center, which includes ClickUp API documents, ClickUp University, ready-to-use templates and webinars. All paid plans come with live support chat while the Business plan comes with priority support that helps resolve issues quickly.
ClickUp Additional Features
The in-app video recording is a unique feature to ClickUp. Available on all plans, including the free plan, the feature allows team members to quickly send screen recordings to convey messages without the need for an email chain or in-person meeting. This can be used to clearly convey instructions on an upcoming task.
ClickUp Alternatives and How They Compare
ClickUp vs. monday.com
ClickUp and monday.com are two great project management software options. While they both can be time-consuming to set up the onboarding and project implementation, they are both easy to use even for those without any coding experience. They both offer users great project management features including time tracking, multiple ways to view a project, budgeting tools, goals, custom exporting and milestones.
ClickUp offers users more automations per month for the basic and mid-tier plans. ClickUp’s basic plan includes 1,000 automations per month while monday.com’s basic plan does not include any automations. ClickUp’s mid-tier plan includes 10,000 automations per month compared to monday.com’s 250 automations per month. In addition, monday.com doesn’t offer email, whereas all paid plans in ClickUp provide at least one free email account per workspace.
ClickUp vs. Trello
While both Trello and ClickUp are priced the same, ClickUp includes more features, such as a wide range of time-tracking capabilities, budgeting tools, customizable features and automation applications. This broader range of features makes ClickUp more desirable for small to medium-sized businesses.
ClickUp’s wide range of features, however, can create a steep learning curve for new users. Trello, on the other hand, is easy for users to get up and running in no time. While Trello does not have a long list of sophisticated features to accommodate more ambitious projects, the intuitive design and ease of use make it a great platform for solopreneurs, small teams and personal projects.
ClickUp vs. Asana
Both Asana and ClickUp are great project management tools that feature task organization, progress tracking and workload management. One of the biggest differences between them is price. Asana only has two paid plans as opposed to ClickUp’s three paid plans. Asana’s paid plans start at $10.99 a month as opposed to ClickUp’s $7 a month (paid annually) while its next tier is $24.99 per month as opposed to ClickUp’s $12 a month (paid annually).
Featured Partners
1
monday.com
Yes
From $8 monthly per user
Zoom, LinkedIn, Adobe, Salesforce and more
2
HubSpot
Yes
Available
Google Contacts, Mailchimp, Xero, Aircall, Airtable and more
3
Smartsheet
Yes, for one user and two editors
$7 per user per month
Google Drive, Slack, Tableau, Miro, Zapier and more
4
ClickUp
Yes, for unlimited members
$7 per month
Slack, Microsoft Outlook, HubSpot, Salesforce, Timely, Google Drive and more
Is ClickUp Right for You or Your Business?
ClickUp is a great project management tool to help you plan, organize, budget and track the progress of any project. In fact, because of its robust free version, affordable paid plans, user-friendly design and a high number of top-quality features, it is one of the best project management platforms available today. ClickUp’s free version is a great option for freelancers or solo workers while its paid plans are great for small to medium businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is ClickUp’s free plan really free?
ClickUp has a forever-free plan with no strings attached. Despite being free, the plan includes top-notch features such as unlimited tasks, collaborative documents, whiteboards, real-time chat, Kanban boards and in-app video recording. It is a great plan for budget-conscious users looking for simple project management software.
How secure is ClickUp?
ClickUp is PCI compliant, which means it follows strict regulations for managing credit card data in an online environment. ClickUp also encrypts all its data as well as actively monitors ongoing security and performance on a 24/7/365 basis.
What does project management software do?
Project management software allows solopreneurs, businesses and small teams to organize projects at a glance, collaborate with teams, track progress at a glance and follow goals. Powerful project management software solutions have scheduling, resource allocation, budgeting, time tracking and real-time collaboration features.
Is project management software secure?
Like most types of software, the best project management software programs offer many levels of security. When choosing this type of software, you want to look for security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) or multifactor authentication (MFA), documentation that shows frequent security updates and patches, intrusion detection, the monitoring of user activities, data encryption and privacy protection.
