ClickUp vs Trello: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between ClickUp and Trello? Both are popular project management tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.
ClickUp is for: Teams who want tasks, docs, whiteboards, chat and goals in one workspace and are willing to configure it.
Trello is for: Small teams and individuals who want visual Kanban boards with almost no setup.
Quick verdict
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose ClickUp if you want tasks, docs, whiteboards and chat in one tool. Choose Trello if you want a Kanban board your whole team understands on day one.
ClickUp vs Trello — Side by Side
| ClickUp | Trello | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Project Management | Project Management |
| What it is | All-in-one work management platform | Kanban board tool |
| How work is organised | Spaces, folders, lists and tasks with many views | Boards, lists and cards |
| How you pay | Per user, yearly discount | Per user, monthly or annual |
| Free access | Unlimited members, 60 MB storage | 10 collaborators per workspace, 10 boards |
| SAML SSO | Enterprise and Max (Google SSO from Business) | Enterprise, through Atlassian Guard |
| Pricing | Free · paid from $9/user/mo | Free · paid from $5/user/mo |
| Starting price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Free tier | ||
| Best for | Project Management — all-in-one, customisable views, docs and tasks | Project Management — Kanban boards, small teams, simple setup |
Pros & Cons
- Tasks, docs, whiteboards and chat in one workspace
- Unlimited members on the free plan
- Many views and custom fields
- Takes time to configure well
- Free plan has only 60 MB of storage
- SAML SSO only on Enterprise and Max
- Kanban boards with almost no setup
- Unlimited Power-Ups on every plan
- Low per-user price for unlimited boards
- Free plan stops at 10 collaborators per Workspace
- Timeline, Calendar and Dashboard views need Premium
- Not built for sprints or issue triage
Key Features Compared
ClickUp
- Free Forever: unlimited members, 60 MB storage, 5 spaces, 100 automation actions a month, sprints and time tracking
- Core: $9 per user a month billed yearly (listed regular price $12); unlimited storage, Gantt charts, 1,000 automations a month
- Business: $17 per user a month billed yearly (listed regular price $25); advanced dashboards, 10,000 automations, timesheets, Google SSO
- Max: $100 per user a month billed yearly; unlimited AI fields and Autopilot agents, MCP connections
- AI credits pooled per workspace: 500 on Free, 1,000 per user on Core, then $10 per 10,000 extra
Trello
- Free: up to 10 collaborators per workspace, 10 boards, 10 MB per file, 250 workspace command runs a month
- Standard: $5 per user a month billed annually or $6 monthly; unlimited boards, custom fields, AI features, 1,000 command runs
- Premium: $10 per user a month billed annually or $12.50 monthly; Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views, unlimited command runs
- Enterprise: $17.50 per user a month billed annually; SSO and user provisioning with Atlassian Guard
- Unlimited Power-Ups per board on every plan
Choose ClickUp if…
- You want tasks, docs, whiteboards and chat in one tool.
- You want unlimited members on a free plan with sprints and time tracking.
- You want many views and custom fields and have someone to set them up.
Choose Trello if…
- Budget is tight — paid plans start lower ($5/mo vs $9/mo).
- You want a Kanban board your whole team understands on day one.
- Your team is 10 people or fewer and fits in 10 boards.
- You want a low per-user price for unlimited boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickUp better than Trello?⌄
There’s no single winner; pick on your constraint. Choose ClickUp if you want tasks, docs, whiteboards and chat in one tool. Choose Trello if you want a Kanban board your whole team understands on day one.
What is the difference between ClickUp and Trello?⌄
What it is — ClickUp: All-in-one work management platform. Trello: Kanban board tool. How work is organised — ClickUp: Spaces, folders, lists and tasks with many views. Trello: Boards, lists and cards. How you pay — ClickUp: Per user, yearly discount. Trello: Per user, monthly or annual. Free access — ClickUp: Unlimited members, 60 MB storage. Trello: 10 collaborators per workspace, 10 boards. SAML SSO — ClickUp: Enterprise and Max (Google SSO from Business). Trello: Enterprise, through Atlassian Guard.
ClickUp vs Trello: which is cheaper?⌄
ClickUp pricing: Free · paid from $9/user/mo. Trello pricing: Free · paid from $5/user/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.
When should I skip both ClickUp and Trello?⌄
Skip ClickUp if you want a tracker with fewer options to configure. Linear and Trello are narrower. Skip Trello if you need Gantt charts or timelines without the Premium plan. Asana includes timeline and Gantt on Starter.
Sources · tool facts checked November 2026
See more options in our guide to the best project management tools for startups.
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