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ClickUp vs Trello: Which Is Better in 2026?

Reviewed by the SaaS Compare editorial team · Last updated: May 21, 2026

ClickUp logo
ClickUp From $7/mo
vs
Trello logo
Trello From $5/mo
Quick answer: ClickUp is the better choice, with a 4.7 G2 rating versus Trello's 4.4 and native support for task dependencies, time tracking, and advanced automationΓÇöcritical for teams managing complex workflows. Starting at $7/month, ClickUp delivers more power for growing teams.

ClickUp Wins for Teams Needing Advanced Project Management and Workflow Automation ClickUp wins

ClickUp outperforms Trello for teams managing complex projects with dependencies and time-sensitive work. Its native task dependencies, time tracking, and 5,000 automations per month on the Business plan ($19/month) eliminate the need for third-party workarounds. Trello's simplicity appeals to smaller teams, but ClickUp's depth scales with your business.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature ClickUp Trello
Task Dependencies Yes Finish-to-start and other dependency types available on all plans; dependency warnings displayed when blocked tasks are accessed. No No native task dependency feature in Trello; dependencies must be simulated via checklists or third-party Power-Ups like Planyway.
Time Tracking Yes Native time tracking on tasks available from Unlimited plan; Free Forever supports time tracking only via integrations. No No native time tracking in Trello; time tracking requires third-party Power-Ups such as Harvest or Toggl Track.

Verdict Scores How we score →

ClickUp 98/100
Trello 97/100

Feature Comparison

Feature ClickUp Trello
Task Dependencies Yes Finish-to-start and other dependency types available on all plans; dependency warnings displayed when blocked tasks are accessed. No No native task dependency feature in Trello; dependencies must be simulated via checklists or third-party Power-Ups like Planyway.
Time Tracking Yes Native time tracking on tasks available from Unlimited plan; Free Forever supports time tracking only via integrations. No No native time tracking in Trello; time tracking requires third-party Power-Ups such as Harvest or Toggl Track.
Calendar & Timeline / Gantt View Yes Gantt charts (Timeline view) unlock on Unlimited plan and above; Calendar view available on Free Forever plan. Yes Timeline (Gantt) view and Calendar view (full access) require Premium plan; Planner view-only mode available on Free and Standard plans.
Comments & @Mentions Yes Threaded comments with @mention notifications and assigned comments available on all plans; comment reactions supported. Yes Card comments with @mention notifications available on all plans; no threaded replies; activity log on every card tracks all changes.
Custom Workflows & Rules (Automation) Yes Automations available from Unlimited plan; Business plan includes 5,000 automations/month; Free Forever plan has no automation runs. Yes Butler no-code automation built into every board: Free gets 250 Workspace command runs/month, Standard 1,000, Premium unlimited command runs.
Dashboards & Progress Tracking Yes Basic dashboards on Free; Unlimited Dashboards with Advanced Cards (charts, portfolio views) unlock on Business plan. Yes Dashboard view (charts and reporting) available on Premium plan only; no portfolio-level dashboards; basic board activity log on all plans.
Due Dates & Deadlines Yes Start dates, due dates, time estimates, and recurring tasks available on all plans including Free Forever. Yes Due dates and start dates on cards available on all plans; recurring cards require Butler automation available from Free plan.
File Sharing & Document Collaboration Yes Native Docs (collaborative pages) with real-time co-editing on all plans; Free plan limited to 100 MB storage; Unlimited plan provides unlimited storage. Yes File attachments on cards: Free plan limited to 10 MB/file, Standard 250 MB/file; no native document co-editing; Google Drive Power-Up available.
Guest / Client Access Yes Guest access with permission control available from Unlimited plan; Free Forever plan allows unlimited free plan members but no granular guest permissions. Yes Single-board guests (one board only) available from Standard; multi-board guests require Enterprise; Free plan limited to 10 Workspace collaborators.
Kanban / Board View Yes Board (Kanban) view with swimlanes and card customisation via custom fields available on all plans including Free Forever. Yes Kanban board is Trello's core UI on all plans; no native WIP limits; swimlanes not available; card colour labels and custom field badges on Standard+.
Project Templates Library Yes Extensive template library with 1,000+ templates across categories like marketing, engineering, HR, and sales; community templates available. Yes Trello template gallery with 100+ community and official templates across business, engineering, design, and personal productivity categories.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Yes Admin, member, and guest roles on all plans; custom roles and advanced permissions (space/folder level) require Business plan or higher. Yes Workspace admin, member, and Observer (view-only) roles; Observers require Premium; org-wide permissions and Power-Up admin require Enterprise.
Task Creation & Assignment Yes Supports multiple assignees per task, unlimited subtask nesting, and bulk task actions on all plans including Free Forever. Yes Cards (tasks) support multiple members per card and due dates on all plans; advanced checklists with sub-item assignees require Standard plan.
Third-Party App Integrations Yes Unlimited integrations (Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, Salesforce, HubSpot) from Unlimited plan; Free Forever plan includes 50+ native integrations. Yes Unlimited Power-Ups (200+ integrations) on all plans including Free; Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, Salesforce integrations available via Power-Ups and API.

Highlighted rows indicate features where the tools differ.

Pros & Cons

Based on G2 reviews. Source: our review methodology.

ClickUp

Pros
Users find ClickUp remarkably easy and simple to use, allowing for efficient task management and organization.
Users value the flexible task management features of ClickUp, enabling customized workflows and streamlined collaboration.
Users appreciate the ease of use and functionality of ClickUp, enhancing task management and team collaboration.
Users value ClickUp for its streamlined project management, consolidating tasks and resources for enhanced team efficiency.
Cons
Users find the missing features of ClickUp, like subfolders, hinder their workflow and usability.
Users note a steep learning curve with ClickUp, noting its overwhelming features and complex initial setup.
Users find the limited features of ClickUp restrictive, especially for newcomers needing essential functionalities.
Users find the platform not intuitive, often overwhelmed by features and struggling with user-friendly navigation.

Trello

Pros
Very easy to use with helpful templates that streamline project management effortlessly.
Intuitive task management, allowing effortless tracking, prioritization, and collaboration on projects.
Intuitive project management, enabling easy tracking and organization of tasks visually.
Effective team collaboration features that simplify task assignments and enhance workflow integration.
Cons
Limited features hinder effective project management and advanced task tracking.
Lacks advanced features, making larger project management more challenging and less efficient.
Limited functionality is inadequate for large projects and lacks advanced features compared to other tools.
Handling crowded boards and task management can be challenging, impacting overall productivity.

Pricing

ClickUp

Free tier available
PlanMonthlyAnnual
Free Free Free
Starter $10/mo $7/mo
Business $19/mo $12/mo
Enterprise Custom

Trello

Free tier available
PlanMonthlyAnnual
Free Free Free
Starter $6/mo $5/mo
Pro $13/mo $10/mo
Enterprise Custom $18/mo

Ratings & Reviews

ClickUp

4.7/5 G2 · 11,476 reviews
4.6/5 Capterra
Users consistently praise ClickUp for its flexibility and ease of use, allowing teams to manage tasks, documents, and communication all in one place. The platform's ability to integrate various tools and streamline workflows enhances productivity and organization. However, many note a common learning curve that can be overwhelming for new users.

Trello

4.4/5 G2 · 13,983 reviews
4.5/5 Capterra
Users consistently praise Trello for its ease of use and visual organization, which simplifies task management and enhances team collaboration. The intuitive board and card system allows for quick updates and clear visibility of project progress, making it a favorite for both personal and professional use. However, some users note that it can become cluttered with larger projects, and advanced features often require a paid plan.

Who Should Choose Which?

Choose ClickUp if…

You are a project manager overseeing multiple interdependent initiatives with strict deadlines. You need native task dependencies to prevent blocked work, time tracking to monitor team capacity, and advanced automation to reduce manual status updates. ClickUp's Gantt charts (Unlimited plan), dependency warnings, and 5,000 monthly automations (Business plan) give you visibility and control. Trello lacks native dependencies and time tracking, forcing you to build workarounds with Power-Ups.

Choose Trello if…

You are a small team lead managing straightforward task lists and simple workflows without complex dependencies. Your priority is ease of adoption and visual simplicity. Trello's Kanban board and intuitive interface get your team productive immediately, with no learning curve. At $6/month (Starter), Trello is cost-effective for basic project tracking. ClickUp's feature depth and steeper learning curve would be overkill for your needs.

Bottom Line

ClickUp is the better choice for teams managing complex projects with dependencies, time tracking, and automation needs.

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