5 Best ClickUp Alternatives in 2025

Riley Walz

Jul 26, 2025

Managing projects and teams can be a challenge, but it becomes even more complicated when you use software that doesn't suit your needs. If you're looking for a user-friendly alternative to ClickUp, you're not alone. Many users complain about the app's overwhelming features and complex interface. If you're part of this crowd, keep reading. This guide integrating ChatGPT with Google Sheets will introduce you to five ClickUp alternatives in 2025 that can help you manage and track projects with ease.

One excellent option to help you explore these alternatives is the spreadsheet AI tool from numerous. This spreadsheet software uses artificial intelligence to help you create, organize, and analyze data quickly. The tool can help you compare various project management options to determine the one that best suits your needs.

Table of Content

What Is ClickUp, and Why Do People Look for Alternatives?

ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform designed to manage projects, tasks, documentation, and communication in a single workspace. It’s used by teams ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies to plan work, assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate across departments.

Core functionalities include

Task Management: Create to-dos, subtasks, checklists, priorities, and recurring tasks
Docs & Wikis: Write internal docs and link them to tasks or projects
Views: Multiple work views like Kanban, List, Gantt, Timeline, and Calendar
Time Tracking: Track time spent on functions manually or via integrations
Goals & OKRs: Set measurable goals, assign them to team members, and track completion
Automation: Build no-code automation for routine actions (e.g., auto-assigning tasks)

It’s built to replace tools like Trello, Asana, Jira, and Google Docs all at once — making it ideal for teams that want everything under one roof.

Why Do People Look for ClickUp Alternatives?

Despite its popularity, ClickUp may not be the perfect fit for every team. Many users search for alternatives after facing the following common challenges:

1. Overwhelming Complexity

ClickUp is packed with features — and that can be both a blessing and a curse. For small teams or non-technical users, the sheer number of options (views, spaces, permissions, automations) can create steep onboarding curves and decision fatigue.

Example: A freelance designer just wants a board and a to-do list, but ClickUp asks them to set up Spaces, Folders, Lists, and statuses — a bit too much for their needs.

2. Slow Performance at Scale

As your workspace grows with thousands of tasks, ClickUp can become laggy or glitchy. Users often report slow loading times and occasional syncing issues, especially on large teams.

3. Feature Overload

Sometimes, you don’t need all your goals, sprints, documents, and integrations in one place. Many teams use only a fraction of ClickUp’s full capabilities, yet they are still charged based on the tool’s all-in-one promise.

4. Pricing Increases

ClickUp offers a generous free plan, but its pricing can climb quickly for teams that need advanced permissions, time tracking, or integrations. This prompts some users to seek more cost-effective and streamlined tools.

5. Interface Isn’t for Everyone

ClickUp has a highly customizable UI, but this also means it requires some setup. For teams used to “plug-and-play” tools, the learning curve can create friction, especially compared to visually intuitive platforms like Trello or Notion.

How to Choose the Right ClickUp Alternative

1. Start with Your Use Case (Not the Features)

Before comparing tools, ensure you have a clear understanding of why you need a project management tool in the first place.

Are you managing software sprints? Tools like Jira may be a better fit for you.
Are you a small team of freelancers? Tools like Notion or Trello may be more lightweight and intuitive.
Are you dealing with heavy operations, client work, or content pipelines?

Tools like Numerous, Asana, or Monday.com may provide better task granularity.

Tip

Write down 3–5 “must-have tasks” you do weekly. Any ClickUp alternative should handle these smoothly.

2. Assess the Learning Curve

ClickUp can feel overwhelming — so your replacement should simplify life, not complicate it.

Ask

Can a new team member learn this tool in 30 minutes?
Is it clean, intuitive, and friendly for non-tech users?
Does it require onboarding sessions or outside documentation?

If ease of use is a priority, alternatives like Numerous, Trello, or Notion often win because they focus on clarity over complexity.

3. Integration with Existing Tools

Think of your current stack: Google Workspace? Slack? GitHub? Zapier? Notion?

Now ask

Does this alternative integrate smoothly?
Can it sync real-time data (e.g., from Google Sheets via API or extensions)?

Numerous, for instance, stands out because it integrates tightly with Google Sheets — making it perfect for teams that rely on spreadsheets for project tracking, reporting, and automation.

4. Team Size & Collaboration Needs

For solo users or small teams → Go for minimalist, flexible tools like Trello, Notion, or Numerous. For large teams or cross-department collaboration, → You may want more structure and permissions (e.g., Asana or Monday.com).

Also consider

How many people need access?
Will external clients or stakeholders use it?
Do you need different access levels or approvals?

5. Automation & AI Capabilities

The future of productivity is automation — and not every tool is ready.

Look for

Built-in automations (e.g., task assignment triggers, status updates)
AI assistance (e.g., task summarization, smart due dates)
Custom logic (e.g., using formulas or conditional workflows)

Numerous options, for example, allow you to automate repetitive spreadsheet tasks using AI directly inside Google Sheets — saving hours on manual entry and data updates.

6. Mobile Experience and Offline Access

If you or your team members work on the go, don’t overlook mobile usability.

Does the app function well on Android/iOS?
Can you access or edit tasks offline?
Is the mobile version cluttered or intuitive?

Some ClickUp alternatives perform poorly on mobile, so test them before migrating.

7. Data Portability & Export Options

This is critical if you ever want to switch again:

Can you efficiently export tasks, documents, or files?
Does the tool lock you into a closed system?

Tools like Notion, Airtable, and Numerous offer easy export/import options via CSV, Excel, and API — giving you more flexibility in the long run.

8. Pricing That Scales With You

Finally, don’t get lured by flashy free tiers — look at long-term pricing.

Are core features locked behind paywalls?
Does the price per user grow exponentially?
Are you paying for features you don’t need?

Numerous, for instance, provides free usage with powerful features baked in, especially if your workflow is spreadsheet-centric — making it cost-effective for early-stage teams.

Numerous is an AI-powered tool that enables content marketers, E-Commerce businesses, and more to automate tasks many times over through AI, such as writing SEO blog posts, generating hashtags, mass categorizing products with sentiment analysis and classification, and many more functions by simply dragging down a cell in a spreadsheet.

With a simple prompt, Numerous returns any spreadsheet function, complex or straightforward, within seconds. The capabilities of Numerous are endless. It is versatile and can be used with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Get started today with Numerous.ai so that you can make business decisions at scale using AI, in both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Learn more about how you can 10x your marketing efforts with Numerous’s ChatGPT for spreadsheets tool.

5 Best ClickUp Alternatives to Try in 2025

1. Numerous: The Best ClickUp Alternative for Spreadsheet-Driven Teams

Numerous is the best alternative to ClickUp if your team relies on spreadsheets to manage projects. This ClickUp alternative is designed for teams that utilize Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to manage projects, update tasks, and track progress. Numerous transforms that work with AI automation and innovative collaboration. Instead of replacing your sheets, Numerous works are inside them.

2. Asana – Best for Structured Teams Needing Robust Workflows

Why switch to Asana

If your team is mid-sized or enterprise-level and needs a strong hierarchy, process flow, and detailed task mapping, Asana makes visual project tracking easy.

Key Features

Timeline view, kanban boards, calendar, and list views
Custom fields and forms for intake workflows
Automation for repetitive tasks and approvals
Deep integrations with Slack, Google Workspace, Outlook, and more
Goals, milestones, and workload balancing

Best For

Product teams, HR teams, design agencies, and organizations managing multiple departments.

Why does it beat ClickUp?

Asana offers a more straightforward UI and fewer bugs. While ClickUp tries to do too much at once, Asana focuses on stability, clean design, and clarity in collaboration.

3. Monday.com – Best for Visual Thinkers and Cross-Team Collaboration

Why switch to Monday

For teams that want to see everything at a glance, Monday’s boards and dashboards are incredibly visual and intuitive. You can easily customize it for project management, sales CRM, content planning, and more.

Key Features

Color-coded, drag-and-drop boards for every kind of workflow
Pre-built templates for marketing, dev, HR, CRM, and more
Automations for status changes, alerts, and assignments
Integrates with Google Sheets, Excel, Teams, Slack, and Outlook
High-level dashboards for tracking KPIs and workload

Best For

Marketing teams, sales teams, HR departments, and service-based businesses.

Why does it beat ClickUp?

Monday is easier to set up for non-technical teams and offers smoother UI with less training time. It’s also ideal for businesses that want “all-in-one dashboards.”

4. Trello – Best for Simple, Visual Task Management

Why switch to Trello

If you’re a freelancer, small team, or creative group that needs a kanban-style system without overthinking things, Trello is a minimal and flexible solution.

Key Features

Drag-and-drop kanban boards with cards and checklists
Power-ups for calendar view, time tracking, integrations, and AI
Butler automation for recurring tasks or rules
Collaboration via comments, tags, and attachments
Mobile-friendly and fast to learn

Best For

Designers, freelancers, startups, small teams, anyone who wants qa uick setup without the noise.

Why does it beat ClickUp?

ClickUp often feels bloated and technical. Trello strips it down to the bare essentials — and lets you build up only what you need.

5. Airtable – Best for Database-Style Project Management with Creative Flexibility

Why switch to Airtable

If you’re running editorial calendars, managing assets, or building custom workflows — Airtable’s table-meets-app interface is perfect. It works like a super-powered Google Sheet that connects with everything.

Key Features

Robust grid, kanban, gallery, and calendar views
Custom fields, linked records, and relational data setup
Pre-built templates for marketing, content, operations, and more
Integration with Slack, Notion, Zapier, and Google tools
Airtable Automations for repetitive workflows

Best For

Creative agencies, content teams, production pipelines, knowledge bases, and any team that thrives in databases.

Why does it beat ClickUp?

Airtable offers more customization and flexibility without rigid structures. It’s ideal for creative operations that want freedom over formality.

Make Decisions At Scale Through AI With Numerous AI’s Spreadsheet AI Tool

Numerous is an AI-powered tool for Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel that helps marketers, and online businesses automate various tasks. Its functionalities can help you to create SEO blog posts, generate hashtags, mass categorize products, and much more. You simply type a prompt into a cell and let Numerous AI work its magic. With a simple click, this tool returns spreadsheet functions —complex or straightforward —in seconds. The capabilities of Numerous are endless. You can automate any task that involves writing or organizing data.

Table of Content

What Is ClickUp, and Why Do People Look for Alternatives?

ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity platform designed to manage projects, tasks, documentation, and communication in a single workspace. It’s used by teams ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies to plan work, assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate across departments.