Monday.com vs ClickUp: Which Project Management Tool is Better in 2025?
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Quick Verdict
| Criteria | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | ClickUp | More features, better value, extensive customization |
| Easiest to Use | Monday.com | More intuitive interface, colorful and visual |
| Best Value | ClickUp | $7/user vs $9/user, more generous free plan |
| Best for Large Teams | ClickUp | Better scalability and advanced features |
| Best for Non-Technical Teams | Monday.com | Simpler, more visual, less overwhelming |
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Monday.com | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9/user/month | $7/user/month |
| Free Plan | Up to 3 users | Unlimited users |
| Views | 8 views (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar, etc.) | 15+ views including Everything view |
| Built-in Docs | Basic docs | Advanced docs with nested pages |
| Time Tracking | Via integration | Built-in native |
| Goals Management | Limited | Advanced goals with progress tracking |
| Automation | 250+ automations | 100+ automations (more runs on free plan) |
| Learning Curve | 1 week | 2-3 weeks |
| Overall Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Try It | Try Monday.com → | Try ClickUp → |
Executive Summary
After 80+ hours testing Monday.com and ClickUp across real-world projects, we found these are two of the most powerful project management platforms available in 2025. Monday.com excels with its beautiful, colorful interface that makes project management feel intuitive and visual. ClickUp dominates with sheer feature depth, offering an all-in-one workspace that can replace 5+ separate tools.
Key Takeaways:
- 🏆 ClickUp wins for feature depth - docs, goals, time tracking, 15+ views built-in
- 🎨 Monday.com wins for visual appeal - colorful interface, easier learning curve
- 💰 ClickUp offers better value at $7/user vs Monday.com's $9/user
- 👥 ClickUp's free plan supports unlimited users vs Monday.com's 3-user limit
- ⚡ Monday.com is faster to implement - 1 week vs 2-3 weeks for ClickUp
If you want the most powerful all-in-one platform and don't mind a learning curve, choose ClickUp. If you prioritize ease of use and visual workflows over feature depth, choose Monday.com. Both are excellent choices for teams of 10+ people.
Monday.com Overview
What is Monday.com?
Monday.com is a Work Operating System (Work OS) used by over 150,000 customers including Coca-Cola, Adobe, and Canva. Known for its colorful, visual interface, Monday.com makes project management accessible to non-technical teams. The platform uses boards with customizable columns, multiple views, and visual automations that are easy to understand.
Monday.com's strength is its balance between power and simplicity. It's more advanced than Asana or Trello, but less overwhelming than ClickUp. The interface feels polished and professional, making it popular with marketing teams, creative agencies, and operations departments.
Key Features
1. Colorful Visual Interface
Monday.com's signature feature is its vibrant, color-coded interface. Status columns use traffic light colors (red/yellow/green), making project health visible at a glance. The board view is clean, modern, and visually appealing - important for getting team buy-in.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Why it matters: The visual approach reduces friction for non-technical team members. People actually enjoy using Monday.com, which increases adoption rates.
2. Multiple Views (8 Types)
Switch between Kanban, Gantt (Timeline), Calendar, Chart, Map, Workload, and Table views. Each view updates in real-time. Marketing teams love Calendar view, developers prefer Kanban, managers use Gantt charts for planning.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Why it matters: Different stakeholders need different views. Having 8 built-in views means everyone can visualize work their way without leaving the platform.
3. Visual Automation Builder
Create automations using a visual interface: "When status changes to Done, notify John and move item to Archive board." Over 250+ automation templates available. No coding required - select triggers and actions from dropdowns.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Why it matters: Automations save hours weekly on repetitive tasks. Monday.com's visual approach makes automation accessible to non-technical users.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
|
| Basic | $9/user/month |
|
| Standard | $12/user/month |
|
| Pro | $16/user/month |
|
ClickUp Overview
What is ClickUp?
ClickUp positions itself as "One app to replace them all" - and they're not exaggerating. With 15+ views, built-in docs, goals, time tracking, whiteboards, and chat, ClickUp aims to consolidate your entire tech stack. Used by companies like Google, Uber, and Netflix, ClickUp serves over 10 million users worldwide.
ClickUp's philosophy is maximum customization. You can configure almost everything - custom statuses, fields, views, workflows. This flexibility is powerful but creates a steeper learning curve. Teams that invest time in ClickUp setup often find it becomes the single source of truth for all work.
Key Features
1. Everything View (Unified Inbox)
ClickUp's Everything view shows all tasks across all projects in one unified inbox. Filter, sort, and group by any criteria. This single view eliminates context switching - see everything assigned to you across the entire workspace.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Why it matters: Unique to ClickUp. Prevents tasks from falling through cracks when you're working across multiple projects simultaneously.
2. Built-in Docs & Wikis
Create nested docs, wikis, and knowledge bases directly in ClickUp. Docs support rich formatting, embeds, and can be linked to tasks. Real-time collaboration like Google Docs. Many teams eliminate Notion or Confluence after adopting ClickUp Docs.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Why it matters: Consolidates documentation with project management. Monday.com has docs but they're more basic. ClickUp Docs are a full Notion alternative.
3. Goals with Progress Tracking
Set measurable goals (OKRs, KPIs) and track progress automatically based on task completion. Goals can have multiple targets (number, currency, true/false). Perfect for sales teams tracking quotas or dev teams tracking sprint goals.
Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Why it matters: Connects daily tasks to high-level objectives. Monday.com lacks comparable goals functionality - you'd need a separate OKR tool.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | $0 |
|
| Unlimited | $7/user/month |
|
| Business | $12/user/month |
|
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
|
Detailed Feature Comparison
| Feature | Monday.com | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Views | 8 views | 15+ views |
| Built-in Docs | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Advanced (Notion-like) |
| Time Tracking | ⚠️ Pro plan only | ✅ Free plan |
| Goals/OKRs | ❌ | ✅ Full goals system |
| Whiteboards | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Form Builder | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Email Integration | ✅ Good | ✅ Excellent |
| Mobile App | ✅ Excellent (4.7/5) | ✅ Excellent (4.6/5) |
| Custom Fields | ✅ Extensive | ✅ Extensive |
| Dependencies | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Pros & Cons
Monday.com
Pros
- ✅ Beautiful, colorful, intuitive interface
- ✅ Faster learning curve (1 week)
- ✅ Visual automation builder
- ✅ Great for non-technical teams
- ✅ Professional, polished feel
- ✅ 8 different view types
Cons
- ❌ More expensive ($9/user vs $7/user)
- ❌ Free plan limited to 3 users
- ❌ Lacks advanced docs and goals
- ❌ Time tracking only on Pro plan
- ❌ Fewer integrations than ClickUp
- ❌ Less customizable than ClickUp
ClickUp
Pros
- ✅ More affordable ($7/user/month)
- ✅ Free plan with unlimited users
- ✅ All-in-one platform (replaces 5+ tools)
- ✅ Advanced docs, goals, time tracking
- ✅ 15+ views including Everything view
- ✅ Extremely customizable
Cons
- ❌ Steeper learning curve (2-3 weeks)
- ❌ Can feel overwhelming initially
- ❌ Interface less polished than Monday.com
- ❌ Too many options can slow decision-making
- ❌ Requires more setup time
Best Use Cases
Choose Monday.com If...
- ✅ Your team is non-technical (marketing, creative, operations)
- ✅ You need team buy-in quickly with a beautiful interface
- ✅ You want visual workflows without complexity
- ✅ You're willing to pay more for ease of use
- ✅ You need solid project management but not an all-in-one workspace
- ✅ Your team is smaller than 20 people
Choose ClickUp If...
- ✅ You want an all-in-one platform replacing multiple tools
- ✅ Budget is important (better free plan, cheaper paid plans)
- ✅ You need advanced features like goals, docs, and time tracking
- ✅ Your team is tech-savvy and willing to learn
- ✅ You want maximum customization and flexibility
- ✅ You're scaling beyond 50 people
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickUp better than Monday.com?
ClickUp is better for teams wanting an all-in-one workspace with maximum features and customization. It offers better value, more features, and a generous free plan. Monday.comis better for teams prioritizing ease of use and visual appeal. It has a more polished interface and faster learning curve. Choose ClickUp for power and value, Monday.com for simplicity and aesthetics.
Which is cheaper, Monday.com or ClickUp?
ClickUp is significantly cheaper. ClickUp Unlimited costs $7/user/month vs Monday.com Basic at $9/user/month. ClickUp's free plan supports unlimited users while Monday.com limits free plans to 3 users. For a team of 10, you'd pay $70/month for ClickUp vs $90/month for Monday.com - saving $240 annually. ClickUp also includes more features (docs, goals, time tracking) on lower-tier plans.
Can Monday.com replace ClickUp?
Monday.com can replace ClickUp for visual project management and team collaboration, but you'll lose advanced features like built-in docs, goals management, and native time tracking. If you only need project tracking with multiple views and automations, Monday.com is sufficient. If you want an all-in-one workspace replacing Notion, Harvest, and OKR tools, stick with ClickUp.
Which is better for remote teams?
Both are excellent for remote teams. ClickUp edges ahead with built-in chat, whiteboards, and docs - creating a more centralized remote workspace. Monday.com requires integrations for chat and advanced documentation. However, Monday.com's cleaner interface might reduce communication friction with less tech-savvy remote workers.
Can I migrate from Monday.com to ClickUp?
Yes. ClickUp offers a native Monday.com import tool that transfers boards, tasks, and data. The migration takes 30-60 minutes for most teams. However, you'll need to reconfigure automations and customize ClickUp's interface to match your workflows. Plan for 1-2 weeks of transition time.
Which has better integrations?
ClickUp has more integrations (1,000+ via Zapier and native integrations) compared to Monday.com's 200+ integrations. Both integrate with essentials like Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, and Salesforce. ClickUp's API is also more developer-friendly for custom integrations. However, Monday.com's integrations are generally more polished and easier to set up.
Final Recommendation
Best Overall Value: ClickUp
ClickUp wins for most teams due to superior value, extensive features, and all-in-one approach. At $7/user/month with unlimited users on the free plan, ClickUp offers unbeatable economics. The platform can genuinely replace 5+ separate tools (project management, docs, time tracking, goals, wikis), consolidating your tech stack.
Best for:
- Teams wanting an all-in-one workspace
- Budget-conscious teams needing maximum features
- Tech-savvy teams comfortable with complexity
- Scaling companies (50+ people)
Best for Ease of Use: Monday.com
Monday.com wins for teams prioritizing user experience and rapid adoption. The colorful, visual interface reduces learning time to one week versus ClickUp's 2-3 weeks. For non-technical teams (marketing, operations, creative) who value polish and simplicity over feature depth, Monday.com is worth the premium.
Best for:
- Non-technical teams needing visual workflows
- Companies prioritizing ease of use over feature count
- Teams wanting fast implementation (1 week vs 3 weeks)
- Marketing agencies and creative teams
Quick Decision Framework
Choose ClickUp if you want maximum features, best value, and are willing to invest learning time
Choose Monday.com if you prioritize beautiful UI, ease of use, and faster team adoption
Budget matters? ClickUp saves $240/year for a 10-person team and includes more features
Our Recommendation: Start with ClickUp's Free Plan
ClickUp's free plan is remarkably generous (unlimited users, core features). Start there for 2-3 weeks and invest time in setup. If your team struggles with complexity after a month, switch to Monday.com's simpler approach. Most teams that push through ClickUp's learning curve never look back.