Best Trello Alternatives in 2026: Ranked by Features and Value
Editorially independent. This page may contain affiliate links and clearly-labeled paid placements — see our advertising disclosure. Paid placements never change the ranking order below. Prices are indicative ($) and change often.
We evaluated ten project management platforms against Trello’s core Kanban functionality, focusing on pricing tiers, automation limits, and native feature sets. This ranking is designed for teams seeking alternatives to Trello’s restricted free tier and paid Power-Up dependencies, prioritizing tools with integrated time tracking, advanced views, and scalable automation.
How we ranked these
At a glance
| # | Product | Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ClickUp | 9.4 | $7/user/month | Overall value and feature-rich project management for teams needing integrated time tracking and advanced views without extra costs. |
| 2 | Monday.com | 9.1 | $9/seat/month | Visual project management and customization for small teams that need advanced views without complex setup. |
| 3 | Jira Software | 8.9 | $7.91/user/month | Software development teams requiring Agile-specific workflows and higher free-tier user limits. |
| 4 | Asana | 8.7 | $10.99/user/month | Teams needing structured work management and automation rules who can accommodate seat-block pricing. |
| 5 | Hive | 8.5 | $5/user/month | Teams needing AI features and multiple visualization modes on a strict budget. |
| 6 | Basecamp | 8.2 | $15/user/month | Teams prioritizing simplicity and predictable flat-rate costs over advanced visualization features. |
ClickUp
$7/user/month 9.4- Unlimited members on the free tier
- Includes Gantt charts, calendar, and timeline views in the free tier
- Native time tracking is included without extra Power-Ups
- Unlimited automations available on the Unlimited plan
- Requires annual billing to achieve the $7/user/month rate
- Feature density can create a steeper learning curve for simple Kanban users
Best for: Overall value and feature-rich project management for teams needing integrated time tracking and advanced views without extra costs.
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Monday.com
$9/seat/month 9.1- Native Gantt charts, calendar, and timeline views are standard features
- Strong visual customization for project boards
- Competitive entry price of $9/seat/month
- Free tier is limited to only 2 users
- Lacks the unlimited member count found in ClickUp’s free tier
Best for: Visual project management and customization for small teams that need advanced views without complex setup.
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Jira Software
$7.91/user/month 8.9- Specifically designed for Agile development workflows
- Free tier supports up to 10 users, doubling Trello’s free collaborator limit
- Low entry price of $7.91/user/month
- Interface is optimized for software development, potentially overkill for non-tech teams
- Less intuitive drag-and-drop simplicity compared to Trello’s native Kanban
Best for: Software development teams requiring Agile-specific workflows and higher free-tier user limits.
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Asana
$10.99/user/month 8.7- Includes Timeline view and custom fields on the Starter plan
- Automatic rules and unlimited automations are available on the Starter plan
- Structured work management beyond simple boards
- Seats are sold in blocks above five users (e.g., a team of six pays for ten seats)
- Free tier is restricted to only 2 users
- Higher per-user cost at $10.99/month compared to ClickUp and Jira
Best for: Teams needing structured work management and automation rules who can accommodate seat-block pricing.
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Hive
$5/user/month 8.5- Lowest entry price at $5/user/month
- Free tier includes Gantt charts for up to 10 users
- AI-powered project management features and multiple view options
- Free tier caps at 10 users, matching Trello’s limit
- Less established ecosystem compared to Atlassian or Monday.com
Best for: Teams needing AI features and multiple visualization modes on a strict budget.
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Basecamp
$15/user/month 8.2- Flat-rate pricing model simplifies budget forecasting
- Prioritizes simplicity over complex feature sets
- Predictable costs without hidden Power-Up fees
- Highest per-user cost at $15/month among top contenders
- Free tier is limited to only 1 project
- Lacks advanced Gantt/Timeline views found in ClickUp or Monday.com
Best for: Teams prioritizing simplicity and predictable flat-rate costs over advanced visualization features.
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How to choose
If your team exceeds 2 users, choose ClickUp (unlimited members) or Jira/Hive (up to 10 users). Avoid Asana and Monday.com if you have more than 2 free users, as their free tiers cap at 2.
Select ClickUp or Teamwork if native time tracking is required. ClickUp includes it in the Unlimited plan ($7/mo), while Teamwork includes it from the free plan. Trello requires paid Power-Ups like Everhour.
For high-volume automation, choose ClickUp (unlimited automations on Unlimited plan) or Asana (unlimited automations on Starter). Trello caps automations at 250/month on free and 1,000/month on Standard.
Check seat blocks if you have 6+ users. Asana sells seats in blocks above five users (e.g., 6 users pay for 10 seats). ClickUp and Hive charge per actual user, potentially saving costs for small teams.
Our verdict
ClickUp is the top choice for overall value due to its unlimited free members, native time tracking, and included advanced views at $7/month. For software-specific Agile needs, Jira offers the best fit with a higher free-tier limit of 10 users.
Frequently asked questions
Which alternative has the best free tier for teams?
ClickUp offers unlimited members on its free tier, whereas Jira Software allows up to 10 users, Hive allows up to 10 users, and Asana/Monday.com limit free tiers to 2 users.
Do these alternatives include time tracking?
Yes, ClickUp includes native time tracking on its Unlimited plan, and Teamwork includes native time tracking from its free plan. Trello requires paid Power-Ups for this feature.
Which tool is cheapest per user?
Hive is the cheapest at $5/user/month, followed by ClickUp at $7/user/month and Jira Software at $7.91/user/month.
How do automation limits compare?
ClickUp offers unlimited automations on its Unlimited plan, and Asana offers unlimited automations on its Starter plan. Trello limits automations to 250/month on the free tier and 1,000/month on Standard.
