Wrike Alternatives: Top Project Management Tools to Consider

Wrike delivers powerful project management features — Gantt charts, time tracking, custom workflows — but it comes with a steep learning curve, high costs for small teams, and a free plan that barely scratches the surface. If you’re spending more time fighting the interface than managing projects, or if your team is drowning in Wrike’s complexity, you’re not alone.

We’ve worked with 110+ teams migrating from various project management tools to platforms that better match their needs. This guide breaks down seven Wrike alternatives — what they do well, where they fall short, and who should actually use them.

Why Teams Leave Wrike

Based on user reviews and our consulting experience, here are the top reasons teams look for Wrike alternatives:

Pain Point	What Users Report
Steep learning curve	New team members take weeks to get productive
High cost for small teams	Pricing jumps quickly beyond basic plans
Limited free plan	Only 2GB storage, no Gantt charts, capped at 5 users
Performance issues	Slow loading times with large projects

Quick Comparison: Top 7 Wrike Alternatives

Tool	Best For	Starting Price	Free Plan
monday.com	Visual workflows + automation	$9/user/month	✅ 2 seats
Asana	Task management simplicity	$10.99/user/month	✅ 15+ users
ClickUp	All-in-one flexibility	$7/user/month	✅ Unlimited users
Smartsheet	Spreadsheet-style planning	$9/user/month	❌ 30-day trial
Teamwork	Client project delivery	$10.99/user/month	✅ 5 users
Basecamp	Simple team coordination	$15/user/month	✅ 1 project
Notion	Docs + lightweight PM	$8/user/month	✅ Unlimited users

1. monday.com — Best Overall Wrike Alternative

monday.com combines visual project boards with powerful automation and integrations — without Wrike’s complexity. Teams get up and running in hours, not weeks.

Why monday.com Beats Wrike

Feature	monday.com	Wrike
Learning curve	Hours to productivity	Days to weeks
Visual boards	10+ customizable views	5 views, less flexible
Automation	250+ actions/month (Standard)	Enterprise-only advanced automations
Free plan storage	500MB	2GB

monday.com Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price/User/Month	Key Features
Free	$0	2 seats, 3 boards, mobile apps
Basic	$9	Unlimited items, 5GB storage
Standard	$12	250 automations/month, timeline view
Pro	$19	Time tracking, formula columns

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Intuitive drag-and-drop interface	Can get expensive with add-ons
Powerful automation on Standard+ plans	Limited free plan (only 2 seats)
200+ integrations built-in	Some advanced features require Pro
Excellent mobile apps	Reporting limited on lower tiers

Real Story: From Wrike to monday.com

A 35-person event management company was spending 4+ hours weekly just updating Wrike boards. Team members constantly asked “where do I find this?” The operations manager switched to monday.com, rebuilt their workflows in 2 days using visual boards, and automated status updates. Result: Board maintenance dropped from 4 hours to 20 minutes per week.

Who Should Choose monday.com

• Teams frustrated by Wrike’s complexity
• Operations managers who need automation without code
• Companies using Wrike’s mid-tier plans but wanting better value
• Anyone who learns visually rather than through menus

Need help setting up monday.com workflows? Schedule a free consultation to see how BoardBridge extends monday.com with advanced forms and cross-board automation.

2. Asana — Best for Task-Focused Teams

Asana strips away Wrike’s enterprise complexity and focuses on one thing: task management done right. If your team needs clear task assignments, deadlines, and dependencies without the overhead, Asana delivers.

Why Asana Beats Wrike

Feature	Asana	Wrike
Task dependencies	Clear visual indicators	Buried in menus
Free plan	15+ users	5 users max
Mobile experience	Consistently rated 4.7/5	Performance complaints
Onboarding time	1-2 hours	1-2 weeks

Asana Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price/User/Month	Key Features
Personal	$0	Unlimited tasks, unlimited projects
Starter	$10.99	Timeline view, custom fields
Advanced	$24.99	Portfolios, goals, advanced reporting

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Clean, uncluttered interface	Time tracking requires integration
Excellent task dependencies	Limited form capabilities
Strong free plan (unlimited users)	Automation only on Starter+
Fast search and filtering	No native Gantt on free plan

Real Story: Healthcare Compliance Team

A 12-person healthcare compliance team left Wrike because it was “too much tool for what we needed.” They only used task lists and deadlines — nothing else. Asana’s free plan gave them everything: task assignments, due dates, project timelines, and a mobile app their field staff actually used. Savings: $1,440/year compared to Wrike’s Team plan.

Who Should Choose Asana

• Teams overwhelmed by Wrike’s feature bloat
• Task-focused workflows (not resource planning)
• Small teams (Asana’s free plan is generous)
• Anyone who values simplicity over flexibility

3. ClickUp — Best for Customization Flexibility

ClickUp gives you nearly unlimited customization — custom fields, views, automations, and workflows. If Wrike feels rigid, ClickUp is the opposite. Configure anything, anywhere.

Why ClickUp Beats Wrike

Feature	ClickUp	Wrike
Custom fields	Unlimited on Free	Limited to paid plans
Task views	15+ views	5 views
Free plan users	Unlimited	5 max
Automations	100/month (Unlimited plan)	Enterprise-gated

ClickUp Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price/User/Month	Key Features
Free	$0	Unlimited users, 100MB storage
Unlimited	$7	Unlimited storage, integrations
Business	$12	Advanced automations, timelines

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Unmatched flexibility and customization	Can be overwhelming (too many options)
Best free plan of any PM tool	Performance lags with large workspaces
Built-in time tracking and docs	Notifications can get noisy
Strong automation on Business plan	Mobile app less polished than desktop

Real Story: Marketing Agency Project Chaos

A 20-person marketing agency was using Wrike but couldn’t adapt workflows per client — every project forced into Wrike’s structure. They moved to ClickUp and built custom views: one for design projects (Kanban), one for content calendars (Calendar view), and one for campaign tracking (Gantt). Each client got a tailored workspace. Result: Client onboarding time cut from 3 days to 4 hours.

Who Should Choose ClickUp

• Teams that hit the ceiling of Wrike’s rigidity
• Power users comfortable with configuration
• Companies managing diverse project types
• Anyone tired of “Wrike’s way or the highway”

4. Smartsheet — Best for Spreadsheet Lovers

Smartsheet looks and feels like a spreadsheet but functions like a project management tool. If your team lives in Excel and finds Wrike too different, Smartsheet is the bridge.

Why Smartsheet Beats Wrike

Feature	Smartsheet	Wrike
Familiar interface	Excel-like grid	Custom UI (new learning)
Formulas	Full Excel formula support	Limited formula engine
Import from Excel	Native, preserves formatting	Clunky import process
Gantt charts	Automatic from dates	Manual configuration

Smartsheet Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price/User/Month	Key Features
Pro	$9	4 views, unlimited sheets
Business	$19	Advanced automations, reporting
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited storage, premium support

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Zero learning curve for Excel users	No true free plan (trial only)
Powerful formulas and cell-linking	Interface feels dated vs competitors
Auto-generated Gantt from dates	Collaboration features lag others
Great for complex dependencies	Limited integrations compared to rivals

Who Should Choose Smartsheet

• Teams deeply comfortable with Excel/Sheets
• Project managers who think in grids, not boards
• Finance or construction teams with complex schedules
• Anyone migrating from spreadsheet chaos

5. Teamwork — Best for Client Projects

Teamwork was built for agencies and consultancies delivering client work. It includes client billing, profitability tracking, and client portals — features Wrike charges extra for or doesn’t offer.

Why Teamwork Beats Wrike

Feature	Teamwork	Wrike
Client billing	Built-in time + invoicing	Requires integrations
Profitability tracking	Native on all paid plans	Enterprise add-on
Client portal	Included	Not available
Retainer tracking	Monthly budget burn-down	Manual tracking

Teamwork Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price/User/Month	Key Features
Free Forever	$0	5 users, 2 projects
Deliver	$10.99	Unlimited projects, time tracking
Grow	$19.99	Profitability, budgets, workload

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Built for client work (not internal PM)	Overkill if you don’t bill clients
Native time tracking and invoicing	Steeper than Asana (simpler tools)
Strong budget and profitability reports	Free plan very limited (2 projects)
Solid client communication features	Interface less modern than rivals

Who Should Choose Teamwork

• Agencies and consultancies billing hourly
• Teams tracking project profitability
• Anyone using Wrike + FreshBooks/Harvest
• Client-facing project delivery teams

6. Basecamp — Best for Simplicity

Basecamp is the anti-Wrike. No Gantt charts. No custom fields. No complex workflows. Just message boards, to-do lists, schedules, and file storage. If Wrike feels like flying a 747 when you need a bicycle, Basecamp is that bicycle.

Why Basecamp Beats Wrike

Feature	Basecamp	Wrike
Flat pricing	$299/month unlimited users	Per-seat pricing scales fast
Onboarding	15 minutes	Hours to days
Feature count	~10 core features	100+ features
Learning curve	None	Steep

Basecamp Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	1 project, 20 users
Plus	$15/user/month	Unlimited projects, priority support
Pro Unlimited	$299/month	Unlimited users + projects

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Dead simple — anyone can use it	No Gantt charts or dependencies
Flat pricing for large teams	Limited reporting and analytics
Excellent for async communication	Not suitable for complex projects
Zero feature creep or bloat	Can feel too basic for power users

Who Should Choose Basecamp

• Small teams drowning in Wrike’s complexity
• Companies with 50+ users (flat pricing wins)
• Marketing or creative teams (not engineering)
• Anyone who wants “good enough” fast

7. Notion — Best for Docs + Lightweight PM

Notion started as a documentation tool and added project management features. It’s not a Wrike replacement for complex projects, but if your team needs knowledge management + task tracking, Notion combines both.

Why Notion Beats Wrike

Feature	Notion	Wrike
Documentation	Wikis, knowledge base built-in	Requires separate tool
Templates	5,000+ community templates	Limited template library
Free plan	Unlimited users, unlimited blocks	5 users, 2GB storage
Databases	Linked databases, relations	Rigid folder structure

Notion Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price/User/Month	Key Features
Free	$0	Unlimited blocks, 10 guests
Plus	$8	Unlimited file uploads, history
Business	$15	Advanced permissions, analytics

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Combines docs + tasks + wiki	Not built for heavy project management
Most generous free plan	No native time tracking
Incredible flexibility and customization	Can get messy without structure
Strong collaboration features	Limited Gantt / timeline features

Who Should Choose Notion

• Teams needing documentation + light PM
• Startups and small teams (free plan wins)
• Knowledge workers (not construction/manufacturing)
• Anyone leaving Wrike for being “too PM-focused”

Pain Points Solved by Each Alternative

Different tools solve different Wrike problems. Here’s the breakdown:

Wrike Pain Point	Best Alternative	Why
Too complex	Basecamp	Strips to essentials
Expensive for small teams	ClickUp Free	Unlimited users
Steep learning curve	Asana or monday.com	Hours to productivity
Poor mobile experience	Asana	4.7/5 mobile rating

Feature Comparison Matrix

Feature	monday.com	Asana	Smartsheet
Task dependencies	✅ Pro+	✅ Starter+	✅ Pro+
Time tracking	✅ Pro+	❌ Integration only	✅ Business+
Gantt charts	✅ Standard+	✅ Starter+	✅ Pro+
Automation	✅ Standard+	✅ Starter+	✅ Business+

Feature	Teamwork	Basecamp	Notion
Task dependencies	✅ Deliver+	❌	❌
Time tracking	✅ Deliver+	❌	❌
Gantt charts	✅ Deliver+	❌	❌
Automation	✅ Grow+	❌	❌

Migration Considerations

Data Export from Wrike

Wrike allows CSV/Excel export for tasks, but custom fields, attachments, and time logs require manual work. Plan 2-3 weeks for a clean migration.

Export Item	Difficulty	Notes
Tasks	Easy	CSV export available
Custom fields	Medium	Manual remapping required
Attachments	Hard	Download and re-upload
Time logs	Medium	CSV export, needs formatting

What to Migrate vs. Archive

Data Type	Recommendation
Active projects	Migrate fully
Completed projects (last 6 months)	Migrate key data only
Old projects (6+ months)	Archive in Wrike, don’t migrate
Templates	Rebuild from scratch (faster than export)

Typical Migration Timeline

Phase	Duration	Key Activities
Planning	1 week	Choose tool, map workflows
Setup	1 week	Configure new tool, build boards
Migration	1-2 weeks	Import data, rebuild automations
Training	1 week	Team onboarding, documentation

Need migration help? Book a free consultation to plan your Wrike exit strategy and data migration.

Pricing Comparison: 10-User Team

Here’s what a 10-user team pays annually for each alternative:

Tool	Annual Cost (10 users)	Plan Tier
Wrike Team	$2,400	Team plan
monday.com	$1,440	Standard
Asana	$1,319	Starter
ClickUp	$840	Unlimited
Smartsheet	$1,080	Pro
Teamwork	$1,319	Deliver
Basecamp	$3,588	Pro Unlimited
Notion	$960	Plus

Savings tip: ClickUp and Notion offer the best value for small teams. Basecamp’s flat pricing wins at 30+ users.

Integration Ecosystem Comparison

Tool	Integration Count	Notable Integrations
Wrike	400+	Salesforce, Adobe, Microsoft
monday.com	200+	Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace
Asana	200+	Slack, Microsoft, Google
ClickUp	1,000+	Everything via Zapier/native

Decision Framework: Which Alternative to Choose

Choose monday.com if you need:

• Visual workflows without complexity
• Strong automation on affordable plans
• Balance of power and usability
• Excellent mobile experience

Choose Asana if you need:

• Pure task management simplicity
• Generous free plan (15+ users)
• Fast onboarding (hours, not days)
• Clean, uncluttered interface

Choose ClickUp if you need:

• Maximum customization and flexibility
• Best free plan (unlimited users)
• All-in-one (docs, wikis, PM, goals)
• Willingness to configure everything

Choose Smartsheet if you need:

• Spreadsheet-style interface
• Complex formulas and cell-linking
• Familiarity for Excel power users
• Traditional Gantt chart workflows

Choose Teamwork if you need:

• Client billing and profitability tracking
• Agency/consultancy workflows
• Native time tracking + invoicing
• Client portals and communication

Choose Basecamp if you need:

• Maximum simplicity (anti-Wrike)
• Flat pricing (large teams)
• Async communication focus
• “Good enough” over “perfect”

Choose Notion if you need:

• Documentation + lightweight PM
• Incredible flexibility and templates
• Best free plan for small teams
• Knowledge management + task tracking

How TaskRhino Can Help

We’ve helped 110+ teams migrate from Wrike, Asana, Trello, and spreadsheets to monday.com — and extended it with BoardBridge for advanced forms, cross-board automation, and email workflows.

Our migration process:

1. Discovery call — Understand your Wrike workflows, pain points, and goals
2. Platform recommendation — Which alternative fits best (we support all 7)
3. Data migration — Clean export from Wrike, structured import to new tool
4. Workflow rebuild — Automations, boards, dashboards, integrations
5. Team training — Hands-on sessions so your team hits the ground running

monday.com + BoardBridge customers report:

• 70% reduction in manual board updates
• Forms that update existing items (impossible in Wrike without Enterprise + custom dev)
• Cross-board automations that Wrike charges Enterprise pricing for
• Email automations with CC/BCC (not available in Wrike)

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your Wrike migration and see how BoardBridge extends monday.com beyond native capabilities.

Final Verdict: The Best Wrike Alternative

For most teams leaving Wrike: monday.com offers the best balance of power, usability, and price. You get visual workflows, strong automation, 200+ integrations, and a modern interface — without Wrike’s learning curve or enterprise-gated features.

For task-focused simplicity: Asana strips away complexity and nails task management with an unbeatable free plan.

For maximum flexibility: ClickUp lets you configure anything — if you’re willing to invest the setup time.

For spreadsheet lovers: Smartsheet feels like Excel but functions like Wrike.

For agencies billing clients: Teamwork includes profitability tracking and client portals out of the box.

For simplicity above all: Basecamp removes 90% of features and delivers clarity.

For docs + lightweight PM: Notion combines wikis and task tracking in one tool.

The right choice depends on your team size, workflows, and what frustrated you about Wrike in the first place. Most of these tools offer free trials — test 2-3 finalists with real projects before committing.

Ready to leave Wrike behind? We’ll help you choose the right alternative, migrate your data, and set up workflows that actually work for your team. Book your free consultation now.