Since launching in 2007, Teamwork has become a popular app for team collaboration and project management. That doesn’t mean it’s the perfect solution for every team. Many teams are seeking alternatives to Teamwork that better suit their needs and preferences.
Thankfully, you have many Teamwork alternatives for keeping track of overall team performance.
Let’s delve into some other project management tools, examining their features, advantages, drawbacks, pricing, and user ratings. By exploring these Teamwork alternatives and options, you’ll gain valuable insights into overall software performance and be able to make an informed decision about the most suitable platform for your team.
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What Should You Look for in Teamwork Alternatives?
When considering alternatives to Teamwork, it’s crucial to focus on key features that align with your team’s needs. Look for solutions that offer robust project management capabilities, intuitive task assignment and tracking, and seamless collaboration features.
Let’s discuss some features you should be paying special attention to when evaluating Teamwork alternatives.
Robust reporting features: Keep an eye out for a tool that reports project progress, notifies you about task completion, gives you insights into team productivity, and tracks time
User-friendly interface: You want your dashboards to be clean and intuitive. When you click a tab, pages should load fast. The more complex and data-heavy your project becomes
Powerful task management capabilities: You need complete visibility into project status, task assignments, project priorities, and risks
📮ClickUp Insight: 18% of our survey respondents want to use AI to organize their lives through calendars, tasks, and reminders. Another 15% want AI to handle routine tasks and administrative work.
To do this, an AI needs to be able to: understand the priority levels for each task in a workflow, run the necessary steps to create tasks or adjust tasks, and set up automated workflows. Most tools have one or two of these steps worked out. However, ClickUp has helped users consolidate up to 5+ apps using our platform! Experience AI-powered scheduling, where tasks and meetings can be easily allocated to open slots in your calendar based on priority levels. You can also set up custom automation rules via ClickUp Brain to handle routine tasks. Say goodbye to busy work!
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All-in-one project management with AI, docs, dashboards, and automations
Teams replacing siloed tools with an integrated workspace
Free forever; Customization available for enterprises
Asana
Clean UI with powerful task management and built-in AI summaries
Marketing, operations, and product teams needing visual clarity
Free; Paid plans start at $13.49/user/month
monday.com
Highly visual workflows with custom boards and automation
Teams needing quick setup, dashboards, and flexible workflows
Free; Paid plans start at $12/user/month
Wrike
Enterprise-grade project planning with AI risk detection
Large orgs managing complex, multi-department projects
Free; Paid plans start at $10/user/month
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-style PM with dashboards, automation, and AI
Teams transitioning from Excel to structured project management
Free; Paid plans start at $12/user/month
SmartSuite
No-code customizable work apps with linked records and dashboards
Startups and agencies needing tailored workflows without dev effort
Free; Paid plans start at $15/user/month
ProofHub
Straightforward task and file approvals with built-in chat and Gantt
Creative teams needing fast feedback and centralized reviews
Paid plans start at $50/month
Microsoft Teams
Messaging, file sharing, video meetings, and AI Copilot in MS 365
Enterprises already using Microsoft 365 for collaboration
Free; Paid plans start at $4.80/user/month
Slack
Real-time messaging with deep integrations and AI summaries
Remote and agile teams needing async collaboration and tool connectivity
Free; Paid plans start at $8.75/user/month
Workzone
Structured PM with dashboards, to-do lists, and reporting
Mid-sized teams managing multiple projects and clients
Custom pricing
* Please check the tool’s website for the latest pricing.
Not sure which collaboration tool is right for your team? This video breaks down the top online collaboration platforms with pros, cons, and use cases—so you can pick what works best for your workflow:
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The 10 Best Teamwork Alternatives You Should Know About
How we review software at ClickUp
Our editorial team follows a transparent, research-backed, and vendor-neutral process, so you can trust that our recommendations are based on real product value.
Below, we’ll talk about how each of these 10 Teamwork alternatives might better suit your needs.
1. ClickUp – Best for teams that want to plan, manage, and execute everything in one place
ClickUp’s 15+ views provide organizations with a wall-to-wall solution for every team
ClickUp is the platform I always come back to when I need full visibility into complex work. Whether I’m launching a campaign, reviewing content, or syncing with cross-functional teams, ClickUp helps me stay organized without juggling six different apps.
What sets ClickUp apart is how seamlessly it blends project planning, task management, docs, dashboards, and AI—all inside a single workspace. I can map out a full quarterly roadmap, tag dependencies, assign work, and monitor progress without switching tabs.
🌟 Visualize your entire workflow
The 15+ views in ClickUp (List, Gantt, Timeline, Calendar, Board, and more) let me choose exactly how I want to view work—whether I’m in execution mode or doing a leadership check-in. I’ll use the Gantt view for launch planning, switch to a Kanban Board when managing in-flight content, and open Calendar View to monitor timelines across the month.
✍️ Plan and collaborate in real-time with ClickUp Docs
ClickUp Docs are where I write briefs, build campaign plans, and outline product specs. What I love most is that they’re fully connected to tasks—so I can embed task lists, assign action items, and even @mention teammates directly inside a doc. Docs support real-time editing, comments, and rich media, making it easy for teams to co-create and keep knowledge up to date.
📌 Pro tip: Use Docs + Custom Fields to link project briefs to goals and status updates without leaving the page.
💬 Stay connected with ClickUp Chat
Communicate and collaborate with your team without leaving ClickUp, thanks to built-in ClickUp Chat
ClickUp Chat brings instant messaging right into your workspace, so you can brainstorm, share updates, and make decisions without switching tools. Create dedicated chat channels for projects, teams, or topics, and keep conversations organized alongside your tasks and docs. You can also turn messages into actionable tasks with a single click, ensuring nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
💡 Pro Tip: Pin important messages or threads in Chat to keep key information front and center for your team.
⚙️ Automate and scale your operations
ClickUp Automations save me hours each week. I’ve built flows that assign tasks when forms are submitted, change statuses when a subtask is complete, and notify me when blockers are tagged. It keeps everything moving—even when I’m not checking in.
ClickUp Brain is my personal AI assistant built right into the workspace. I use it to summarize meeting notes, extract key takeaways from a long doc, and even generate follow-up tasks based on status updates. It’s powered by GPT, Claude, and Gemini models—and it’s fast. It’s powered by leading AI models and is deeply integrated into every part of the platform.
💡 Ask Brain questions like: “Which design tickets are still in review?” “What were the blockers called out in our last sync?” …and get contextual answers instantly.
With ClickUp Brain, I can summarize docs, ask natural language questions across tasks and dashboards, generate project briefs, and even automate updates using advanced AI automation features (availability may vary by plan).
It also enables natural language search across all workspace content—tasks, docs, chats, and attachments—so I can instantly surface relevant information and insights. It can generate action items, summarize project updates, and suggest next steps based on recent activity, helping teams stay proactive and aligned. AI can also assist directly within Docs and comments, helping draft, rewrite, or summarize content for faster collaboration.
💡 Pro Tip: Use ClickUp Brain to onboard new team members by summarizing project history or surfacing key docs in seconds.
Integration across your workflow
ClickUp integrates with popular tools like Slack, GitHub, and Google Drive, and offers robust permission controls to keep your collaboration secure. You can also use collaborative Whiteboards for brainstorming, mapping out workflows, or visualizing ideas together in real time.
💡 Pro Tip: While ClickUp Brain is powerful, it’s not a replacement for all specialized tools—use it to enhance your workflow, not to replace dedicated code review, design, or analytics platforms.
⏩ AI Capability: With Brain Max and AI Agents, ClickUp takes automation to the next level. Brain Max unlocks advanced AI features for large-scale workspaces, enabling deeper insights, faster processing, and more robust natural language understanding. AI Agents can be configured to handle repetitive tasks, automate complex workflows, and even answer workspace-specific questions—freeing up your team to focus on high-impact work.
Ideal for:
Team size: Any—solo creators, startups, and large enterprises Who it’s best for:
Teams replacing multiple siloed tools
Cross-functional orgs juggling docs, tasks, and reports
Managers who want instant visibility across projects
ClickUp best features:
15+ project views to manage work the way you prefer
ClickUp Docs with live editing, rich formatting, and embedded tasks
Whiteboards for visual brainstorming and planning
Goals and Portfolios for tracking OKRs and company-wide initiatives
Form View to collect inputs and instantly turn them into tasks
ClickUp Brain to summarize content, automate updates, and answer questions
Automations to streamline routine actions
Dashboards with widgets for sprint velocity, workload, and blockers
Time tracking, reminders, and notifications built-in
1,000+ integrations with tools like Slack, HubSpot, GitHub, Figma
Pros:
Combines tasks, docs, dashboards, and AI in one place
High level of customization for every team type
AI functionality that’s actually useful in day-to-day work
Cons:
Can feel overwhelming for first-time users
Takes time to configure views and automations for larger projects
ClickUp pricing
free forever
Best for personal use
Free Free
Key Features:
60MB Storage
Unlimited Tasks
Unlimited Free Plan Members
unlimited
Best for small teams
$7 $10
per user per month
Everything in Free Forever plus:
Unlimited Storage
Unlimited Folders and Spaces
Unlimited Integrations
Most Popular
business
Best for mid-sized teams
$12 $19
per user per month
Everything in Unlimited, plus:
Google SSO
Unlimited Teams
Unlimited Message History
enterprise
Best for many large teams
Get a custom demo and see how ClickUp aligns with your goals.
Absolutely. If you’re tired of stitching together tools like Asana, Notion, Google Docs, and Trello—ClickUp gives you everything in one clean, powerful workspace. I use it daily to keep campaigns on track, automate repetitive tasks, and create documents that actually drive work forward. With ClickUp Brain and Whiteboards now built-in, it’s the one tool I recommend without hesitation for any team that wants to do more—with fewer tabs open.
2. Asana — Best for clarity and structured team collaboration
Asana is my go-to when I need to organize work in a clean, intuitive layout—without spending hours configuring settings. It’s incredibly easy to get started, but still powerful enough for complex projects with layered subtasks, approvals, and cross-team workflows.
I’ve used Asana to manage everything from content calendars to product launch roadmaps. It’s especially great for teams that value visual clarity and need a reliable task-tracking system that doesn’t feel overwhelming.
📌 Plan everything in one place
Asana lets me create Projects using List, Board, or Timeline views. I typically use the List view for sprint planning and the Timeline view for campaign roadmaps—drag-and-drop Gantt-style charts make it easy to adjust timelines on the fly.
Each task can include descriptions, due dates, subtasks, assignees, dependencies, and even approvals—so I don’t have to switch tools to manage accountability.
🔄 Automate repetitive work
Asana’s custom rules and automation builder help me eliminate manual updates. I’ve set up flows to auto-assign tasks based on project stage, update due dates when dependencies change, and alert stakeholders when blockers are tagged. It’s simple, powerful, and saves time every week.
💡 Pro tip: Use “Mark as Milestone” to add visual clarity for major project checkpoints in Timeline view.
📊 Monitor progress across teams
The Reporting section is a huge win. I can create real-time dashboards with charts tracking overdue tasks, status by project owner, or campaign health. For leadership reviews, I often use Portfolios to show how each team’s initiatives ladder up to broader goals.
⏩ AI Capability: Asana now includes AI features through the new “Asana Intelligence” suite. I’ve used it to auto-generate task summaries, draft project plans, and surface bottlenecks based on historical task behavior. It’s not just chat-based AI—it’s woven into the workflows.
You can even ask: “What’s at risk this week?” and Asana will flag late tasks, at-risk milestones, and dependencies without manual checking.
Ideal for
Team size: 10–500+ Who it’s best for:
Marketing, operations, and product teams that need project visibility
Agencies managing multi-client workflows
Team leads who want built-in accountability and structure
Asana best features
Multiple views: List, Board, Timeline, Calendar
Timeline view with dependencies and milestones
Rules-based automation for task routing, due dates, and alerts
Portfolios for multi-project visibility
Workload tracking to monitor bandwidth by teammate
Asana Intelligence: AI-generated summaries and project insights
Project templates for recurring workflows
Built-in goals and reporting dashboards
Approvals and feedback loops embedded in tasks
Integration with Slack, Google Workspace, Loom, Figma, Zoom, and 100+ others
Pros
Easy to adopt for new users
Clean UI with strong UX for task collaboration
Cons
Some features (like Timeline and Workload) are locked behind higher tiers
Doesn’t scale well for massive enterprises with custom processes
Asana pricing
Free
Starter – $13.49/user/month
Advanced – $30.49/user/month
Enterprise – Custom
Enterprise+ – Custom
Asana ratings and reviews
G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.5/5 (8,000+ reviews)
Do I recommend Asana?
Yes—especially for teams that care about clarity, accountability, and structured execution. It’s one of the easiest tools to adopt and is trusted across industries for a reason. If your team outgrows static spreadsheets or is drowning in Slack messages with no task tracking, Asana gives you a clean, scalable way to run projects with precision.
3. monday.com — Best for building visual workflows fast
monday.com is one of the first tools I recommend when a team wants something visual, flexible, and quick to set up. The interface is clean and colorful without being overwhelming—and behind the aesthetic, there’s a surprisingly powerful Work OS.
I’ve used monday.com to manage editorial pipelines, product development sprints, and hiring workflows. What stands out is how customizable everything is—from how data is displayed to how it moves across stages.
🧩 Build workflows that reflect how your team works
monday.com uses boards (think: tables on steroids) that I can tweak for almost any use case. I start with a template, then add columns like dropdowns, dependencies, timelines, people, and status fields. It’s as easy to configure as a spreadsheet but as functional as a project tracker.
For example, when managing a product launch, I’ll use one board for development, another for marketing, and link them together using automations.
🤖 Automate and connect your tools
monday.com’s automations are simple but effective. I’ve set up triggers like “when status changes to Done, notify the team” or “when a due date arrives, move item to this group.” Combined with integrations (Slack, Google Drive, GitHub, etc.), it becomes a true hub—not just a project list.
💡 Use mirrored columns to display data from another board without duplicating it—perfect for tracking progress across departments.
📈 Track progress in real time
Dashboards let me track project health, upcoming deadlines, or workload by teammate. I can drag in charts, timelines, and status indicators to create a visual control center for any project. It’s ideal for leadership check-ins or sprint reviews.
⏩ AI Capability: monday.com now includes AI Assistants that help with writing updates, summarizing project statuses, and suggesting next steps. I’ve used it to clean up task descriptions, auto-generate summaries, and even surface blockers based on overdue items. It’s context-aware and built into the platform—not just a chatbot bolted on.
Ideal for
Team size: 5–500+ Who it’s best for:
Teams looking for flexible, visual project management
Ops, HR, and marketing teams managing repeatable workflows
Agencies that want to onboard clients into shared boards
Dashboard widgets for tracking KPIs and project status
Automation builder for task handoffs, alerts, and updates
Built-in templates for CRM, recruiting, content calendars, and more
Workdocs for collaborative note-taking and content planning
AI Assistant to summarize, write, and recommend task updates
200+ integrations, including Slack, Jira, Zoom, Google Workspace, and HubSpot
Pros
Extremely customizable with minimal learning curve
Great for teams moving from spreadsheets to structured work
Cons
Boards can get cluttered as you scale
AI features are still catching up to competitors in depth
monday.com pricing
Free
Basic – $12/user/month
Standard – $14/user/month
Pro – $24/user/month
Enterprise – Custom pricing
monday.com ratings and reviews
G2: 4.7/5 (10,000+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)
Do I recommend monday.com?
Yes—especially for teams that want to get up and running fast with a clean, intuitive platform. monday.com shines when you need something that’s both structured and flexible. It’s easy to mold into a CRM, a hiring tracker, a project dashboard, or all three—without needing technical help. If you want visual workflows and light automation out of the box, monday.com is an excellent choice.
4. Wrike — Best for managing complex workflows at scale
Wrike is one of the most powerful project management tools I’ve used for enterprise-scale work. When I’m juggling dozens of projects across departments—each with their own timelines, dependencies, and approvals—Wrike gives me the granular control I need to keep everything moving.
It’s not just a task manager. Wrike combines detailed project planning with cross-functional visibility, resource allocation, and real-time reporting—all in one workspace.
🧱 Structure large projects with precision
What I love about Wrike is how easy it is to layer complexity without creating chaos. I can break down projects into phases, assign dependencies between tasks, and set dynamic timelines. The Gantt chart view makes rescheduling effortless—even when priorities shift.
For distributed teams, Wrike’s folder system helps organize work by department, client, or program. I use this to set up separate spaces for marketing campaigns, product development, and customer support—without losing the big picture.
⚙️ Automate, prioritize, and scale
Wrike’s automation engine is built for scale. I’ve configured it to auto-assign tasks when a request form is submitted, escalate overdue items, and alert stakeholders when critical milestones are at risk. It’s especially useful when managing hundreds of tasks across multiple teams.
💡 Pro tip: Use the Request Forms feature to collect structured inputs (like creative briefs or support requests) and instantly convert them into tasks with predefined assignees, priorities, and due dates.
📊 Dashboards and reporting for full visibility
The real-time dashboards in Wrike give me instant insight into project health, resource allocation, and team performance. I can customize widgets to show overdue work, completed milestones, budget burn, or any custom KPI—and share those dashboards with execs or clients.
For PMOs and senior leadership, Wrike’s built-in time tracking and resource management features make it easier to justify headcount, shift timelines, or reassign workloads based on capacity.
⏩ AI Capability: Wrike’s AI features help predict project risk based on task history and user behavior. I’ve seen it flag at-risk work before delays happen—using signals like missed dependencies or comment frequency. It also assists with work prioritization, giving suggestions on where to focus first.
Ideal for
Team size: Mid-sized to large enterprises Who it’s best for:
PMOs managing multi-departmental or cross-functional initiatives
Agencies with client-specific workflows and approvals
Teams needing granular permissions and reporting for audits or compliance
Wrike best features
Folder structure and custom workflows for layered project management
Dynamic Gantt charts with critical path and dependencies
Real-time dashboards with custom KPIs and workload views
Request Forms to collect inputs and trigger workflows
Time tracking, resource management, and utilization reporting
Built-in proofing for creative assets and approvals
Risk prediction and prioritization with Wrike AI
Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud, Salesforce, Jira, Google Workspace, and more
Pros
Enterprise-level features without sacrificing usability
Scales effortlessly as project scope expands
Cons
Initial setup takes time, especially for teams new to PM software
Can feel bloated if you only need basic task tracking
Wrike pricing
Free
Team – $10/user/month
Business – $25/user/month
Enterprise – Custom pricing (contact sales)
Wrike ratings and reviews
G2: 4.2/5 (2,500+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.3/5 (2,000+ reviews)
Do I recommend Wrike?
Yes—if you’re running complex, multi-layered projects across departments or clients. Wrike isn’t the lightest tool, but it’s incredibly powerful once configured. It’s a favorite among teams that need serious operational oversight, structured approvals, and enterprise-grade reporting. If you’ve outgrown Trello, Teamwork, or Asana, and want more control—Wrike is a smart step up.
5. Smartsheet — Best for spreadsheet-native teams managing projects at scale
If your team already lives in spreadsheets but needs project management features layered on top—Smartsheet is the perfect middle ground. I’ve used it with operations teams, finance groups, and even compliance units that didn’t want to fully abandon the familiar grid layout.
What I love is that Smartsheet feels instantly familiar if you’ve used Excel or Google Sheets, but it adds structure, automation, and visibility without becoming overwhelming.
📋 Manage work in a grid that actually works
At its core, Smartsheet looks like a spreadsheet—but with powerful enhancements. I can add dropdowns, checkboxes, status fields, file attachments, and even formulas to rows. And with the ability to switch between Grid, Gantt, Card, and Calendar views, it’s easy to move between high-level planning and day-to-day execution.
I typically start with Grid View to map out deliverables, then flip to Gantt for dependencies and critical path tracking. And when managing creative assets or task stages, I’ll use Card View for Kanban-style sorting.
🔁 Automate routine workflows
Smartsheet’s automation builder lets me trigger alerts, reminders, task assignments, and approval requests—without writing a single line of code. I’ve used this to set up automated follow-ups for overdue items and alerts for budget thresholds.
💡 Pro tip: For multi-step processes like procurement or hiring, I link sheets together so that approved requests automatically create new tasks in the downstream process.
📊 Reporting and resource management
Smartsheet’s dashboards are great for visualizing key metrics. I can build custom reports to track overdue tasks, form submissions, time tracked, or resource allocation. It also supports robust permission control—so I can safely share dashboards with external vendors or leadership.
⏩ AI Capability: Smartsheet’s AI tools help clean data, summarize sheets, and suggest automations. It’s especially handy when importing messy CSVs or standardizing responses. Combined with dynamic cell linking and conditional logic, AI helps keep large datasets clean and decision-ready.
Ideal for
Team size: 10–500+ Who it’s best for:
Operations, finance, or compliance teams used to spreadsheets
Cross-functional teams needing structure without changing their workflow
Organizations with complex approval chains or vendor collaboration
Smartsheet best features
Familiar spreadsheet interface with PM layers on top
Grid, Gantt, Card, and Calendar views
Automation builder for notifications, approvals, and status updates
Sheet linking to pass data across projects
Forms for structured data intake
Resource management and capacity planning
Dashboards with real-time KPIs and charts
Permission settings for internal/external sharing
AI for data cleanup and automation recommendations
Integration with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and more
Pros
Easy transition from spreadsheets to structured PM
Powerful for approval-heavy or data-driven workflows
Cons
Learning curve for those unfamiliar with formula-driven tools
Not ideal for agile or fast-paced creative teams
Smartsheet pricing (billed annually)
Free
Pro – $12/user/month
Business – $24/user/month
Enterprise – Custom pricing
Advanced Work Management – Custom pricing
Smartsheet ratings and reviews
G2: 4.4/5 (8,000+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.5/5 (3,500+ reviews)
Do I recommend Smartsheet?
Yes—especially for spreadsheet-savvy teams managing structured projects, compliance workflows, or recurring processes. Smartsheet bridges the gap between Excel and project management without forcing teams into an entirely new way of working. If you’ve tried tools like Asana or monday.com and felt they were too “freeform,” Smartsheet gives you the structure and data control you’re looking for.
6. SmartSuite — Best for building customized work solutions without coding
SmartSuite is the tool I turn to when a team says, “We need something that works exactly the way we do.” It’s not just a project management platform—it’s a fully flexible workspace where I can build apps, workflows, and dashboards that match any process.
What makes SmartSuite special is that it blends the customization of Airtable with the usability of monday.com. I’ve used it to manage client pipelines, hiring workflows, editorial calendars, and internal audits—all with a clean UI and no technical overhead.
🛠 Build your own system—without developers
SmartSuite uses modular apps made of “solutions”—think CRM, HR tracker, content calendar, or product roadmap. I can pick a pre-built solution or create my own from scratch. Each record is highly customizable, with field types ranging from text and numbers to checkboxes, files, tags, formulas, and lookups.
💡 For a content ops workflow, I linked the Editorial Calendar app with a Custom Briefs app, allowing editors to see project status, assignee, deadlines, and approvals in one place.
🔄 Cross-app automation and collaboration
What impressed me most was SmartSuite’s cross-app linking and automations. I’ve created flows where completing a task in one solution auto-updates fields in another—keeping everything in sync without manual work. With collaboration built in (comments, mentions, real-time updates), it also becomes a central place for team communication.
SmartSuite also lets me control how users interact with the system. I can build filtered views, assign role-based access, and even design front-end forms for teammates or clients to submit data.
📊 Dashboards and reporting that flex with your needs
The dashboard builder lets me combine charts, KPIs, activity feeds, calendars, and more. It’s great for tracking campaign status, task velocity, or overdue work across departments. Unlike static dashboards in other tools, SmartSuite’s reporting layers are fully interactive—so I can drill down and act right away.
⏩ AI Capability: SmartSuite recently introduced SmartDocs AI, which helps summarize records, generate insights from structured data, and even automate responses. I’ve used it to create dynamic summaries for client reports and auto-fill common task details based on historical patterns.
Ideal for
Team size: Startups to mid-size enterprises Who it’s best for:
Teams replacing multiple niche tools with a unified system
Agencies or internal teams needing custom workflows
Operations, HR, and project leads tired of rigid platforms
SmartSuite best features
Modular workspace with 200+ ready-to-use templates
Custom apps and field types for any workflow
Linked records to sync data across apps
Role-based views, permissions, and user filters
Automation builder with triggers, conditions, and actions
Dashboards for real-time reporting and data visualization
Form builder for intake workflows or client-facing submissions
Native time tracking, file storage, and progress bars
SmartDocs AI for summarizing, generating insights, and auto-filling fields
Integrations with Slack, Google Drive, Make, Zapier, and more
Pros
Combines the flexibility of Airtable with project management structure
Easy to scale across departments or client teams
Cons
Fewer native integrations compared to legacy tools
Smaller brand footprint, so documentation can be sparse
SmartSuite pricing
Free – $0/user/month
Team – $15/user/month
Professional – $34/user/month
Enterprise – $50/user/month
Signature – Custom pricing
SmartSuite ratings and reviews
G2: 4.8/5 (600+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.7/5 (250+ reviews)
Do I recommend SmartSuite?
Yes—especially if your current stack is cobbled together with forms, spreadsheets, and outdated PM tools. SmartSuite gives you the freedom to design your own work OS without writing code. It’s ideal for operational teams, consultants, and scaling businesses that need a platform to grow with them—not restrict them. If you’ve ever said, “I wish this tool could just do X,” SmartSuite is the one that probably can.
7. ProofHub – Best for teams that want simplicity with built-in reviews and approvals
When I work with teams that want something straightforward—without feature overload—ProofHub is one of the first tools I recommend. It’s clean, easy to navigate, and includes all the essentials for managing projects, collaborating with teams, and getting client approvals in one place.
Unlike some tools that require a lot of setup, ProofHub works well right out of the box. I’ve used it for creative teams, small marketing squads, and client service agencies that needed clarity over complexity.
🗂 Organize your work without friction
ProofHub uses a project-based structure where each project includes tasks, milestones, discussions, and files. I can create task lists, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines—all without digging through nested menus.
The Kanban view lets me visualize progress by stage, while Gantt charts give a clear timeline view. It’s great for campaign planning or production workflows where visibility matters.
✅ Approvals built into the workflow
What really makes ProofHub shine is the built-in proofing and approval features. I’ve used them to speed up feedback loops on design assets, blog drafts, and video edits. Teammates or clients can leave comments directly on files, request changes, or approve them—without leaving the platform.
💡 For content-heavy workflows, this saves hours every week that would otherwise be spent chasing email threads or switching tools.
💬 Centralized communication
Instead of scattered chats or email chains, I use ProofHub’s Discussions feature to keep conversations project-specific. The platform also includes built-in Notes, file sharing, and a real-time chat feature, so I don’t need to rely on third-party communication tools for small teams.
⏩ AI Capability: ProofHub doesn’t currently offer deep AI features like some other tools on this list, but it’s strong where it counts: making project management easier for non-technical teams. That said, they’ve hinted at bringing more automation and smart suggestions in future updates.
Ideal for
Team size: 5–100 Who it’s best for:
Creative and client-facing teams that need a built-in feedback loop
Small businesses that want to centralize tasks, timelines, and team communication
Agencies managing recurring project types like campaigns, videos, or deliverables
ProofHub best features
Task lists and Kanban boards for visualizing progress
Gantt charts to manage timelines and dependencies
Built-in proofing for review and approval of files and creatives
Discussions, Notes, and Chat to centralize team communication
Time tracking for billable hours or internal productivity
Role-based permissions for clients and stakeholders
Project templates to save time on repeatable work
Daily agenda emails and calendar view for planning
Supports multiple languages and white labeling
Pros
Intuitive interface that’s easy for new users to adopt
Built-in approvals streamline creative feedback
Cons
Limited integrations with third-party tools
Lacks deeper customization or AI automation
ProofHub pricing
Essential: $50/month
Ultimate Control: $99/month
ProofHub ratings and reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (80+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.6/5 (80+ reviews)
Do I recommend ProofHub?
Yes—if you want a lightweight, no-fuss platform that still covers everything from task tracking to creative approvals. It’s particularly useful for creative teams and agencies that rely on file feedback, and for teams that don’t need advanced integrations or automation. ProofHub may not be flashy, but it gets the job done—and fast.
8. Microsoft Teams — Best for communication-focused teams in the Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft Teams isn’t a full project management platform—but if your organization is deeply embedded in Microsoft 365, it’s one of the most powerful hubs for collaboration and communication. I’ve used it in corporate environments where work revolves around shared documents, recurring meetings, and real-time chat across departments.
The key advantage? It centralizes conversations, files, and video calls within the tools teams are already using—like Word, Excel, and Outlook.
💬 Real-time messaging with threaded context
Teams makes it easy to organize communication through channels, chats, and threaded replies. When I work with cross-functional teams, I set up separate channels for projects, teams, or clients, so everyone has access to context-rich discussions and shared files without email overload.
The chat interface also supports file sharing, inline replies, and quick video huddles—so a brainstorming session is never more than one click away.
💡 Pro tip: Use the “Planner” and “To Do” integrations to create lightweight task boards inside your Teams workspace.
📁 Deep integration with Microsoft apps
One of the biggest benefits is how seamlessly Teams works with other Microsoft tools. I often co-edit Word documents, collaborate on PowerPoint slides, or analyze Excel sheets—without leaving the Teams interface.
Every time a file is shared in a chat or channel, it’s automatically stored in a connected SharePoint folder—so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
🎥 Built-in video conferencing
Microsoft Teams includes video calls, screen sharing, breakout rooms, and live captions—all built in. It’s perfect for recurring check-ins, sprint retros, or even virtual team-building events. For larger teams, I’ve used the webinar mode to host trainings and company-wide updates with up to 1,000 participants.
⏩ AI Capability: Teams recently introduced Microsoft Copilot—a powerful AI assistant that integrates with chats, meetings, documents, and emails. I’ve used it to summarize conversations, pull out action items from meeting transcripts, and even draft follow-up emails based on what was said.
Copilot is especially useful during meetings—it’ll highlight key moments, suggest responses, and update project notes live.
Ideal for
Team size: Medium to enterprise Who it’s best for:
Organizations using Microsoft 365 for document collaboration
Remote teams that rely on real-time communication and video calls
Corporate departments needing tight security and compliance controls
Microsoft Teams best features
Organized channels and threaded discussions
Deep integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Video conferencing with whiteboards, live captions, and breakout rooms
File storage via SharePoint and OneDrive
App integrations (Planner, Forms, To Do, Trello, GitHub)
Copilot AI for summarizing meetings, extracting action items, and drafting responses
Admin controls for compliance, access, and user management
Webinar and large meeting support
SSO, encryption, and enterprise-grade security
Pros
Seamlessly connects all Microsoft tools in one interface
Great for large, distributed teams
“We no longer use Slack or Zoom—Teams covers it all.” — G2 Review
Cons
Less intuitive for non-Microsoft users
Not ideal for standalone project management
Microsoft Teams pricing
Free
Essentials – $4.80/user/month
Business Basic – $7.20/user/month
Business Standard – $15/user/month
Enterprise – $5.25/user/month(billed annually)
Premium – $10/user/month(billed annually)
Microsoft Teams ratings and reviews
G2: 4.3/5 (13,0800+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.5/5 (9,000+ reviews)
Do I recommend Microsoft Teams?
Yes—if your team already works inside Microsoft 365. It’s not built for complex project tracking, but it’s excellent for communication, document collaboration, and remote coordination. When paired with Planner, To Do, or a project management integration like ClickUp, it becomes a powerful communication backbone for your team.
9. Slack — Best for fast, real-time communication across distributed teams
Slack is my default communication tool when working with fast-moving, remote teams. It’s built for speed and flexibility—making it easy to spin up discussions, share files, and stay aligned across multiple projects without the need for constant meetings or long email threads.
What makes Slack shine is how fluid it feels. Whether I’m troubleshooting with developers, syncing with marketing, or handing off a design to the client team, I can keep the conversation moving without delays.
💬 Organized, async communication
Slack uses channels to group conversations by topic, team, or project. I set up public channels for visibility (like #product-launch), private ones for sensitive initiatives, and use DMs for quick one-off chats. With threads, I can respond to specific messages without cluttering the main chat—keeping things focused.
I’ve also found Slack’s search incredibly powerful. I can pull up a message from six months ago or find that file someone linked during a sprint retro—in seconds.
💡 Use pinned messages and emoji reactions to highlight key takeaways or assign quick approvals.
🔗 Connect your tools to work faster
Slack’s app directory is one of the most expansive I’ve used. I’ve connected tools like ClickUp, GitHub, HubSpot, Google Drive, and Zoom so I never miss updates—like when a task is completed, a PR is merged, or a lead is closed.
The ability to act directly from Slack—approve requests, check project status, or log time—is a huge time saver.
🎥 Huddles and video calls built in
Slack Huddles let me start spontaneous audio or video calls with screen sharing. I use it all the time for quick brainstorming sessions, design reviews, or informal check-ins. It feels more casual than a scheduled Zoom call and keeps things moving fast.
⏩ AI Capability: Slack AI (rolling out progressively) now lets me summarize channel threads, highlight key takeaways from conversations, and even surface missed messages when I return from time off. It helps cut through noise—so I focus on what matters without reading 500 messages.
Ideal for
Team size: Startups to enterprise Who it’s best for:
Remote and hybrid teams that rely on constant communication
Agile teams needing fast decision-making loops
Teams that want deep integrations across tools they already use
Slack best features
Channel-based messaging and threaded replies
File sharing with searchable history
Slack Huddles for lightweight audio/video collaboration
Powerful search and message filtering
Workflow builder to automate routine tasks (e.g., standup check-ins)
Integrations with 2,000+ tools including ClickUp, Asana, Zoom, and Google Workspace
Slack Connect for external client/vendor communication
Slack AI to summarize, catch up, and flag key insights
Mobile app with full functionality on the go
Pros
Highly responsive, well-designed interface
Reduces meeting load while keeping teams aligned
“Slack keeps us talking—and cuts 50% of our meetings.” — G2 Review
Cons
Can get noisy if not managed well
Lacks native project/task management features
Slack pricing
Free – $0/user/month
Pro – $8.75/user/month
Business+ – $18/user/month
Enterprise+ – Custom pricing
Enterprise Grid – Custom pricing (
Slack ratings and reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (31,000+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.7/5 (23,000+ reviews)
Do I recommend Slack?
Yes—if your team thrives on async, real-time communication and already uses multiple productivity tools. Slack isn’t a project management system, but it excels at keeping people connected, aligned, and informed. Pair it with ClickUp or another PM tool, and it becomes the communication backbone for fast-moving teams.
Workzone is a solid pick for teams that have outgrown basic tools like Trello or Basecamp but don’t want the complexity of an enterprise system like Wrike. I’ve recommended it to mid-sized marketing and operations teams that need better project structure, visibility into workloads, and collaborative features without steep onboarding.
What stands out about Workzone is its focus on accountability and reporting. It keeps teams focused and organized without adding unnecessary bloat.
🧭 Stay on track with personalized to-do lists
One of my favorite features is the individual to-do list that updates automatically across projects. I can see exactly what I need to work on, what’s coming next, and where I’m waiting on others. It’s helpful for both individual contributors and managers trying to balance multiple priorities.
Each task can include dependencies, attachments, discussions, and time estimates—so everything you need is in one place.
💡 You can also use project templates to replicate repeatable processes like campaigns or onboarding checklists—saving tons of time.
📊 Get full visibility with reports and dashboards
The dashboard gives a clean bird’s-eye view of all projects, deadlines, and team workloads. I’ve used it during weekly standups to quickly review what’s on track, what’s slipping, and what’s overdue—without needing to dig through emails or spreadsheets.
Reports are also easy to customize by user, project, or date range. I’ve pulled client-ready status updates in seconds, without manual formatting.
💬 Centralized communication and file sharing
Every task has space for comments, discussions, and attached files. No more digging through inboxes or Slack threads. I also like the file versioning feature—it ensures that only the latest version is in play when reviewing creative assets or deliverables.
⏩ AI Capability: Workzone hasn’t rolled out full AI features yet, but it does offer automation-like functionality through recurring tasks, reminders, and pre-built templates. The focus remains on reliable project delivery and real-time status reporting, which it does very well.
Ideal for
Team size: 10–200 Who it’s best for:
Mid-sized teams managing multiple client or departmental projects
Marketing, ops, and agency teams needing visibility and consistency
Project managers who want strong reporting and user accountability
Workzone best features
Personalized to-do lists that update across projects
Project templates for recurring workflows
Gantt charts and workload reports for real-time visibility
Centralized task communication and file versioning
Role-based access for clients and stakeholders
Approval workflows and deadline alerts
Time tracking and task duration estimates
Dashboards with project health, task status, and late items
Unlimited workspaces with tiered access levels
Pros
Offers just enough structure without being overwhelming
Easy to onboard cross-functional or client-facing teams
“Workzone helped us clean up project chaos and stay ahead of deadlines.” — G2 Review
Cons
No free version available
UI feels slightly dated compared to newer platforms
Workzone pricing
Team: Custom pricing
Professional: Custom pricing
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Workzone ratings and reviews
G2: 4.2/5 (50+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.7/5 (180+ reviews)
Do I recommend Workzone?
Yes—for teams that need structured project execution, real-time tracking, and reliable reporting without the bells and whistles. Workzone isn’t trying to be everything for everyone—it’s focused on helping you hit deadlines, manage multiple projects, and keep your team aligned. If your current tool feels too lightweight or messy, Workzone brings the order without overcomplication.
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Find the Best Teamwork Alternative for Your Team
If you’re using Teamwork right now and it’s not really working for your team members, the good news is there are plenty of options to consider when looking for the best project management tool. When you do start evaluating all the tools available, make sure that you take your time with them and investigate every platform thoroughly to find the best Teamwork alternative.
We’ve given you some options to consider already, but if you want to speed up the process, start with ClickUp. Sign up for a free trial today and see why many consider ClickUp the ultimate task management software and work management solution to improve team performance.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
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