BLUEPRINT

Advertiser Disclosure

Business

Best Monday.com alternatives in 2024

Dawn Allcot

Verified By
Alana Rudder
Alana Rudder

Alana Rudder

Verified by an expert

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

BLUEPRINT

Updated 4:13 p.m. UTC April 17, 2024

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.

Monday.com is a project management software that also integrates marketing, sales, CRM, HR and operations. The cloud-based software provides the ability to customize workflows, centralize work, processes and tools and view elements in a colorful visual board. If Monday.com isn’t quite what your business needs, consider alternatives Asana, ClickUp, Zoho Projects, Teamwork and Trello.

Featured project management software offers

Monday.com

Learn More

Via Monday.com’s site

Monthly fee

$10 per user, with a minimum of three users

Free version

Yes, for two users

24/7 customer support

Yes, with paid plans

HubSpot

Learn More

Via Hubspot’s website

Free demo

Available

Free version available

Yes

24/7 customer support

Yes

ClickUp

Learn More

Via Clickup’s website

Monthly fee

$10 per user

Free version

Yes, for unlimited members

24/7 customer support

Yes

Best Monday.com alternatives

  • ClickUp: Best for agile project management.
  • Zoho Projects: Best for software development startups.
  • Asana: Best for remote team management.
  • Teamwork: Best for client-facing agencies.
  • Trello: Best for small creative teams.

Why trust our small business experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 22 companies reviewed.
  • 20 hours of product testing.
  • 689 data points analyzed.

Best for agile project management

ClickUp

Blueprint Rating
Learn More
Via Clickup's website

Monthly fee

$10 per user

Free version

Yes, for unlimited members

24/7 customer support

Yes

What you should know

For companies looking for something super-simple and easy for clients, freelancers and employees, ClickUp may be a better solution than Monday.com.

“When we work with contractors who have to use our clients’ Monday boards, we have to onboard them — and there’s still resistance to use Monday. I’ve never had a contractor or team member complain about ClickUp. Its simplicity is the big differentiator for us,” said Liz Sweeney, owner at Dogwood Solutions, a marketing and PR agency.

Her organization switched from Monday to Teamwork and, finally, to ClickUp for its simplicity without sacrificing the app integrations it uses the most, such as Google Drive, Outlook and Slack.

ClickUp also has a budget-friendly pricing structure, with a fee of $10 per user and a free version for unlimited members as well.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Over 15 project management views.
  • Real-time chat.
  • Native time-tracking features.
Cons
  • Only Enterprise plans can access white-labeling tools.
  • Steeper learning curve than Trello or Todoist.
  • Single sign-on (SSO) doesn’t come with lower plan tiers.

Best for software development startups

Zoho Projects

Blueprint Rating

Monthly fee

$5 per user

Free version

Yes, for three users

24/7 customer support

Yes

What you should know

Zoho is half the cost per user than Monday, but lacks the templates Monday offers. There is also no option for 24/7 customer support unless you pay more for the service. But if you are looking for a budget-friendly project management solution, Zoho offers its own apps for CRM, mail, bookkeeping, help desk and remote support. With support for Gannt charts and Scrum project management, Zoho fits a variety of project management styles and methods for companies on a budget.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Most affordable enterprise version for DevOps.
  • Project forums for organized discussions.
  • Blueprints for custom workflows.
Cons
  • Limited project templates.
  • File storage tops out at 120 GB.
  • Fewer integrations than Asana.
  • Must pay extra for 24/7 support.

Best for remote team management

Asana

Blueprint Rating

Monthly fee

$13.49 per user

Free version

Yes

24/7 customer support

Only with the Enterprise plan

What you should know

Asana users like Sara Jensen of Brighter Messaging digital marketing agency say they like sharing the “client view” of Asana. “Asana’s pricing is based on the number of users, but there’s a caveat to that. We can add as many client users as we want without paying for extra accounts. We pay for seats for our core team members only. This is a hugely helpful feature that makes it easy to communicate with clients and collect feedback within the app,” she said.

Monday.com has this feature, too, but you can only invite three guests on a standard plan and must pay for additional guests as team members. The free version of Asana also allows 10 users, while Monday limits users to two team members on the free plan.

Like Monday, Asana has customizable processes and designs, along with integration with 200+ apps if you need it.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Drag-and-drop workflow builder.
  • Unlimited file storage, even with the free version.
  • Centralized inbox and task management.
Cons
  • Fewer views than ClickUp.
  • No native client billing tools.
  • No real-time chat support option.

Best for client-facing agencies

Teamwork

Blueprint Rating

Monthly fee

$8.99 per user, with a minimum of three users

Free version

Yes, for 5 users

24/7 customer support

No

What you should know

Teamwork offers a free version for up to five users, and costs $8.99 per users with a minimum of three users, just like Monday. It does not offer 24/7 support on any plans.

Sweeney said that Teamwork has a “cleaner, simpler interface” than Monday. It is also good for agencies and companies that work with multiple clients, with features that include billable time tracking and retainer management.

The ability to switch from list view to board view also helps agencies track workflow for each of their clients. It also has Gantt views, the ability to set dependencies, custom fields, unlimited client users on some plans and time-tracking abilities.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Billable time tracking with all plans.
  • Centralized client views in all plans.
  • Team chat and collaboration tools.
Cons
  • More limited file storage than Asana.
  • Lacks the issue management tools that Zoho Projects offers.
  • Limited support options.

Best for small creative teams

Trello

Blueprint Rating

Monthly fee

$6 per user

Free version

Yes, for your whole team

24/7 customer support

Yes, with Premium and Enterprise plans

What you should know

Trello is an extremely cost-effective option for businesses of any size to manage projects. The free version is available for teams of any size, while the paid version costs $6 per user per month. Only the Enterprise plan offers 24/7 customer support, while all of Monday.com’s plans offer this.

One drawback of Trello is a lack of capability to create dependencies. However, the colorful graphic user interface makes it easy to track projects and see tasks at a glance. The ease of use and ease of setup earn it high marks, along with its affordable price. Unlimited storage for file attachments and unlimited users in the free version set Trello apart from some other alternatives.

Read more: Check out our Trello vs. Monday comparison.

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Unlimited team members if free version.
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop functionality.
  • Unlimited Trello integrations (power-ups) and storage.
  • Custom fields for cards.
Cons
  • No native time-tracking functionality.
  • Can’t monitor hours for client billing purposes.
  • Lacks live chat.
USA TODAY Blueprint may earn a commission from this advertiser.
Ad

Our Partner

ClickUp

Learn More
Via Clickup's website

Monthly fee

$10 per user

Free version

Yes, for unlimited members

24/7 customer support

Yes

Featured project management software offers

Monday.com

Learn More

Via Monday.com’s site

Monthly fee

$10 per user, with a minimum of three users

Free version

Yes, for two users

24/7 customer support

Yes, with paid plans

HubSpot

Learn More

Via Hubspot’s website

Free demo

Available

Free version available

Yes

24/7 customer support

Yes

ClickUp

Learn More

Via Clickup’s website

Monthly fee

$10 per user

Free version

Yes, for unlimited members

24/7 customer support

Yes

What is Monday.com and how does it work?

PROSCONS
  • Easy to use and easy to understand.
  • Supports multiple apps.
  • 24/7 customer support available.
  • Pricier than some competitors.
  • Mobile apps may be harder to use than the desktop version.
  • Paid plans require at least three users.

Methodology

We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.

We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the best project management software of 2024.

The best project management software has positive user reviews on customer review sites. Project management companies should provide customers with fast and reliable support. Using a combination of phone support, live chat and knowledge bases, customers should be able to quickly resolve issues 24/7.

Project management software should include robust mobile apps and desktop platforms that allow project managers and tasked employees to work collaboratively in real time to meet their goals and deadlines. It should be affordable compared to competitors and free versions should be offered for testing purposes. Software should include role assignment features, timelines and dependencies to ensure that project members stay on track. Various project views, such as kanban boards and gantt charts, should be available to help visualize project progress. Budgeting features should be built into the software to ensure that project managers are tracking the project’s budget along with timelines and helpful software integrations should be available to link your project management software with your other business tools.

All project management software should expand on a basic feature set that includes customizable templates, milestone tracking, expense tracking, billing and invoicing and guest/client access.

As a project management software, Monday.com brings a lot of benefits to the table. 

Gerrod Clarke, founder and CEO of Deponce.io, said the program is easy for managers and employees to use and understand. He also listed multiple features about Monday.com that he likes: “It notifies team members when tasks are assigned to them. It is fairly priced. And it integrates with Slack,” he said. “But my favorite thing is attaching the information for a task to the exact line item on the project.” 

Chevalier-Jordan noted that he chose Monday for its user-friendliness. “It strikes a balance that’s perfect for both newcomers and seasoned users,” he said. “The intuitive interface means minimal ramp-up time.” 

In addition, many other features of Monday help it stand out in a crowded marketplace of project management systems. 

  • Tailored templates: Choose from more than 200 predesigned templates that highlight the aspects of a project most important to your team. 
  • Gantt visualizations: A Gantt chart offers a visual representation of deadlines, milestones and how well a project is progressing. Monday offers Gantt chart templates to make it easy to keep teams on track. 
  • Integration with other apps: Monday integrates with 200 apps and cloud-based software systems to improve collaboration and work seamlessly. You can track your budget, productivity and return on investment with Monday’s integrations. 

When should you look for Monday.com alternatives?

For smaller agencies that don’t need hundreds of app integrations or dozens of templates, a less expensive and less robust project management software may work better. Also, for companies running a service-based, client-facing business, Monday may not be the best solution. 

“While Monday allows a lot of flexibility and custom fields, we find working with clients who have Monday that they don’t understand how to use them,” said Sweeney. “It’s rare for companies to really understand how to set up Monday and use it in a meaningful way unless the company has a full-time project manager who deeply understands the program.” 

Sweeney also mentioned that she prefers the cleaner, simpler interface of other programs, such as Teamwork or ClickUp. 

How to choose the best project management system

Monday.com might not be for every organization, however. When you’re choosing a project management system, you need to consider the factors and features that are most important to you. 

Pricing

Find a project management system that is within your business’ budget. But, remember that the cheapest option won’t always be the best option. There are many companies that offer different pricing tiers, so you can choose what is best for your business. Some companies also have free plans for you to consider.

Features

When it comes to features, you will need to decide what your business needs. Will you need time-tracking abilities, multiple view options, document storage or 24/7 customer support? You will also want to look at integrations that come with each project management system to ensure it will be compatible with the tools your team can’t do without. 

Ease of use

A project management system should be easy for your team to use and easy for you to train new staff members on. If there are too many features, a system can seem more complicated. You may want a lot of view options because each employee may want their dashboard organized differently.

“When it comes to project management software, I’ve learned that ease of use and usefulness are paramount,” said Brian Chevalier-Jordan, chief marketing officer at NationalBusinessCapital.com. “Cost, while important, takes a backseat.” 

Customer service

For most companies, it is more convenient for a project management system to offer 24/7 customer service. However, that isn’t always the case. Some companies will only offer 24/7 customer service in higher-tier plans or as an add-on, which means your business will need to pay more to access these features.

Featured project management software offers

Monday.com

Learn More

Via Monday.com’s site

Monthly fee

$10 per user, with a minimum of three users

Free version

Yes, for two users

24/7 customer support

Yes, with paid plans

HubSpot

Learn More

Via Hubspot’s website

Free demo

Available

Free version available

Yes

24/7 customer support

Yes

ClickUp

Learn More

Via Clickup’s website

Monthly fee

$10 per user

Free version

Yes, for unlimited members

24/7 customer support

Yes

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

There are many alternatives to Monday with free versions. Trello is free for an unlimited number of users, although you can upgrade to a paid version for 24/7 service and enhanced capabilities.

Google does not have project management software like Monday.com. But Wrike is a project management system that is recognized as a Google Apps Premier Technology Partner. 

As such, Wrike integrates with Google Drive, Gmail and other Google apps. It also has a Chrome Extension to turn web pages into actionable tasks within the system.

If you have multiple tasks to track or clients to manage, you might benefit from a project management system. Businesses of all sizes, from solo-preneurs to Fortune 500 companies, use project management systems to manage workflows.

With more than 180,000 users worldwide, many household name brands use Monday.com. Monday users include HOLT/CAT, Coca-Cola, Lionsgate, Canva, Nissan, Uber and Citizens Bank.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Dawn Allcot

BLUEPRINT

Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer and content marketing specialist who geeks out about finance, real estate, small business, e-commerce, and technology. Her lengthy list of publishing credits includes the USA Today – Blueprint, U.S. Chamber of Commerce website, CNET, GOBankingRates, MSN, Nasdaq, Chase Bank, and others. She is the founder and owner of GeekTravelGuide.net, a travel, technology, and entertainment website. She lives on Long Island, New York, with her husband, their two teens, and a veritable menagerie that includes three cats and three lizards of varying sizes and personalities. Learn more at www.allcotmediamarketing.com.

Alana Rudder

BLUEPRINT

Alana is the deputy editor for USA Today Blueprint's small business team. She has served as a technology and marketing SME for countless businesses, from startups to leading tech firms — including Adobe and Workfusion. She has zealously shared her expertise with small businesses — including via Forbes Advisor and Fit Small Business — to help them compete for market share. She covers technologies pertaining to payroll and payment processing, online security, customer relationship management, accounting, human resources, marketing, project management, resource planning, customer data management and how small businesses can use process automation, AI and ML to more easily meet their goals. Alana has an MBA from Excelsior University.

More Stories