Overview: ClickUp vs Monday.com
Choosing between ClickUp and Monday.com comes down to your team’s preferred balance of customization, ease of use, and pricing flexibility. Both serve as leading project management platforms, popular among small businesses and enterprises alike. While ClickUp leans into comprehensive customization and built-in documentation tools, Monday.com is praised for visual simplicity and quick onboarding.
ClickUp is best for teams wanting granular control over workflows and broad feature sets without immediately upgrading to higher tiers. Monday.com primarily attracts those who favor visual dashboards and an easy learning curve, especially if you prioritize core project management views and guarded, incremental expansion.
Key Takeaways
- ClickUp features more customization and built-in views at lower tiers, while Monday.com emphasizes simplicity and fast start-up.
- Both platforms offer free plans, but ClickUp’s paid tiers start slightly lower per user than Monday.com’s.
- Both solutions offer SOC 2 and GDPR compliance; ISO 27001 is not publicly specified for either.
- Automation and integration limits exist on free plans for both, with extended capabilities paid tiers.
| Feature | How ClickUp handles it | How Monday.com handles it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing tiers | Free plan; paid from $7/user/month | Free plan; paid from $8/user/month | ClickUp: lower entry price; Monday.com: visual focus |
| Workspaces | Supported; details not publicly specified | Supported; details not publicly specified | Both, but setup complexity differs |
| Automation | Limited in free plan; expands on paid | Limited in free plan; expands on paid | Both—ClickUp for customization, Monday.com for ease |
| Integrations | Limits in free plan; details not publicly specified | Limits in free plan; details not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| SOC 2 compliance | Yes | Yes | Both |
| ISO 27001 | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Permissions management | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified | Not publicly specified |
| Time tracking | Supported; details not publicly specified | Supported; details not publicly specified | Both |
| Gantt charts | Available; included in lower-tier plans | Available; may require higher-tier | ClickUp for broader access |
| Kanban boards | Available | Available | Both |
Pricing and Plans
ClickUp offers a free plan with limited storage and integrations. Its paid plans start at $7 per user per month, unlocking more features, automations, and storage. Monday.com also offers a free plan but limits it to two users, restricted boards, and capped automation/integration actions. Paid Monday.com plans start at $8 per user per month. As you climb both platforms’ paid tiers, additional automation, storage, and advanced project management features become available—though exact storage amounts on higher plans are not publicly specified.
Feature Comparison
ClickUp delivers more advanced features and customization in its lower-tier plans compared to Monday.com. These include customizable task statuses, advanced project views (like Gantt charts and Kanban boards), and built-in document collaboration capabilities. Monday.com, while robust, tends to require higher-tier subscriptions to access some advanced functionality. This includes more complex automation and richer board views.
User Interface and Experience
Monday.com stands out for its easy-to-use, visually intuitive dashboard. Teams new to work management apps typically find onboarding fast and learning curves gentle. ClickUp, on the other hand, offers extensive customization, which can make it feel complex for beginners. For experienced power users or teams with unique processes, ClickUp allows you to tailor nearly every project management element.
Task and Project Management Views
Both ClickUp and Monday.com provide Gantt charts and Kanban boards. ClickUp includes Gantt charts in lower-tier plans, whereas Monday.com may require an upgrade for the same. ClickUp also supports custom task statuses and document collaboration natively. Monday.com’s visual boards make task tracking easy but may have limitations in status customization unless you’re on a higher plan.
Automation and Integrations
Each platform imposes automation and integration limits on free plans, which are lifted or increased with paid subscriptions. Both allow expanding automation capacity as you scale, but the full breadth of supported integrations and their technical specifics aren’t publicly specified. Typically, teams outgrowing free plans get deeper automation on paid tiers and support for third-party tools needed for workflow orchestration.
Security and Compliance
Both ClickUp and Monday.com have SOC 2 compliance and adhere to GDPR. This means both platforms provide robust controls over user data and organizational privacy by default. There’s no public information regarding ISO 27001 certification or dedicated permissions management features for either ClickUp or Monday.com yet, so you may need to request details directly if those certifications are critical for your organization.
Who Should Choose Which Platform?
If your team values deep customization, numerous project views, and built-in documentation at lower-tier prices, ClickUp is the practical choice—especially if you have advanced workflow requirements and technical admin capabilities. On the other hand, if you prioritize easy adoption, visual reporting, and a quick learning curve, Monday.com’s intuitive interface is ideal, particularly for teams getting started or those less concerned with advanced customization from day one.
For cost-sensitive teams, ClickUp’s slight pricing advantage and feature-rich entry-level plan may be decisive. However, if your organization prefers simple, user-friendly layouts and can accept the limitations of the free plan, Monday.com remains a strong option.
Conclusion
ClickUp and Monday.com both excel at project tracking and team collaboration, but their ideal user profiles differ. ClickUp leans toward customization and feature access at lower price points, while Monday.com serves best those who want visual clarity and ease of use, even if it means some features are locked behind higher-tier plans. Match your team’s workflow preferences, automation needs, and budget to determine the best fit.
Which is better for project management, ClickUp or Monday.com?
ClickUp is better for those who need customization and more advanced features early. Monday.com is suited for users preferring fast onboarding and visual project tracking.
How do ClickUp and Monday.com compare on pricing for small teams?
ClickUp offers a lower entry price at $7/user/month versus $8/user/month for Monday.com. Both have free plans, but limits vary. ClickUp tends to provide more features at lower tiers.
What are the key security features of ClickUp vs Monday.com?
Both feature SOC 2 and GDPR compliance. ISO 27001 and specifics about permissions management are not publicly specified.
How do integrations differ between ClickUp and Monday.com?
Both impose integration limits on free plans, lifting restrictions on paid tiers. Exact integration numbers and partner lists are not publicly specified.
Can you migrate easily from Monday.com to ClickUp or vice versa?
Not publicly specified; migration complexity likely depends on workspace structure and data volume. You may need to consult each vendor.
Which platform has better automation capabilities?
Both allow more automation on paid plans. ClickUp is known for greater customization, while Monday.com focuses on straightforward automations via visual workflows.
Is either ClickUp or Monday.com more suited for enterprise use?
Both serve enterprise clients. Feature requirements and admin capabilities, such as advanced security or permissions management, may require direct vendor evaluation.
What support options are available for ClickUp vs Monday.com?
Not publicly specified. Both likely offer self-service resources and support for paying customers, but details should be requested from each provider.