Tool Reviews

15 Best Wrike Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid Project Management Tools)

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

13 min read

Tips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.

Wrike starts at $9.80/user/month (minimum 2 users). For a 10-person team, that's $98/month before you even add features.

Quick answer: Monday.com for visual teams, ClickUp for free, Teamwork for agencies.

Skip to: Top 3 Picks | Feature Comparison | Free Alternatives

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Why Teams Switch From Wrike

Common complaints:

  • Pricing too high for small teams
  • Steep learning curve
  • Too complex for simple projects
  • Missing integrations they need

The real issue: Wrike is built for enterprise. If you're a small team or marketing agency, you're paying for features you don't need.

Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

What's the main reason teams switch from Wrike?


Top 3 Picks

Best Overall

Monday.com

Visual project management with better UX than Wrike

From $9/user/month

Best Free

ClickUp

Most generous free plan with unlimited users

Free forever plan

Best for Agencies

Teamwork

Client billing and time tracking built-in

From $5.99/user/month


Full Comparison: 15 Wrike Alternatives

1. Monday.com

Best for: Visual project management, marketing teams

ProsCons
Intuitive drag-drop interfaceGets expensive with add-ons
200+ templatesMinimum 3 seats on paid plans
Excellent automationsStorage limits on lower tiers
Better mobile app than Wrike

Pricing: Free (2 users) → $9/user/month (Basic) → $12/user/month (Standard)

Wrike comparison: Monday is easier to learn and has better visual boards. Wrike has more advanced reporting.


2. ClickUp

Best for: Teams wanting Wrike features at lower cost

ProsCons
Everything app (docs, goals, time)Can feel overwhelming
Generous free planPerformance issues with large workspaces
Highly customizableLearning curve
Unlimited free users

Pricing: Free → $7/user/month (Unlimited) → $12/user/month (Business)

Wrike comparison: ClickUp matches most Wrike features at 30-50% lower cost. Less polished interface.


3. Asana

Best for: Teams focused on task management

ProsCons
Clean, simple interfaceLimited free plan (15 users max)
Great for workflowsReporting needs upgrade
Strong integrationsNo time tracking built-in
Timeline view

Pricing: Free (15 users) → $10.99/user/month (Premium) → $24.99/user/month (Business)

Wrike comparison: Asana is simpler and cleaner. Wrike offers more features but more complexity.


4. Teamwork

Best for: Agencies and client work

ProsCons
Client billing built-inFewer integrations
Time tracking includedLess visual than competitors
Unlimited client users
Project templates

Pricing: Free (5 users) → $5.99/user/month → $9.99/user/month

Wrike comparison: Teamwork is purpose-built for client work. Better value for agencies.


5. Notion

Best for: Knowledge-heavy teams, documentation

ProsCons
Flexible workspaceNot a true PM tool
Excellent documentationNo Gantt charts
AffordableLimited reporting
Great for wikis

Pricing: Free → $8/user/month (Plus) → $15/user/month (Business)

Wrike comparison: Notion excels at documentation where Wrike is weak. Wrike is better for traditional project management.


6. Basecamp

Best for: Simple project communication

ProsCons
Flat pricing (unlimited users)Limited features
No per-user costsNo Gantt/timeline
Simple interfaceBasic reporting
All-in-one communication

Pricing: $15/user/month or $299/month flat (unlimited)

Wrike comparison: Basecamp is intentionally simple. Choose it if Wrike feels like overkill.


7. Smartsheet

Best for: Spreadsheet-loving teams

ProsCons
Excel-like interfaceDated UI
Powerful formulasSteep learning curve
Strong reportingExpensive
Enterprise features

Pricing: $9/user/month (Pro) → $19/user/month (Business)

Wrike comparison: Similar feature set. Smartsheet suits teams comfortable with spreadsheets.


8. Trello

Best for: Kanban-style project management

ProsCons
Free forever planLimited views
Simple Kanban boardsNo timeline/Gantt
Easy to startNeeds Power-Ups for features
Great for beginners

Pricing: Free → $5/user/month (Standard) → $10/user/month (Premium)

Wrike comparison: Trello is the anti-Wrike. Dead simple but limited. Great for small projects.


9. Airtable

Best for: Database-driven project management

ProsCons
Flexible database structureLearning curve
Beautiful interfacesGets complex
Great integrationsExpensive at scale
Custom apps

Pricing: Free → $20/user/month (Team) → $45/user/month (Business)

Wrike comparison: Airtable is more flexible, Wrike is more structured. Different philosophies.


10. Zoho Projects

Best for: Teams using Zoho ecosystem

ProsCons
AffordableBasic UI
Zoho integrationLess intuitive
Good Gantt chartsFewer templates
Issue tracking

Pricing: Free (3 users) → $4/user/month → $9/user/month

Wrike comparison: Zoho Projects costs 50% less with similar core features. Less polished.


11. Hive

Best for: Flexible teams wanting multiple views

ProsCons
Multiple project viewsSmaller user base
Time trackingLimited free plan
Good automations
Clean interface

Pricing: Free (2 projects) → $12/user/month (Teams)

Wrike comparison: Hive offers similar flexibility to Wrike with a cleaner interface.


12. ProofHub

Best for: Teams wanting flat-rate pricing

ProsCons
No per-user pricingBasic integrations
All features includedLess modern UI
Proofing toolsFewer templates
Time tracking

Pricing: $45/month (Essential) → $89/month (Ultimate) — unlimited users

Wrike comparison: ProofHub's flat pricing beats Wrike for teams over 10 people.


13. nTask

Best for: Budget-conscious teams

ProsCons
Very affordableLimited free plan
Risk managementSmaller community
Meeting managementBasic integrations
Issue tracking

Pricing: Free (5 members) → $3/user/month → $8/user/month

Wrike comparison: nTask costs 70% less than Wrike. Good for basic project management.


14. Freedcamp

Best for: Free project management

ProsCons
Generous free planDated interface
Unlimited users freeLimited integrations
Task managementBasic features
Good for basics

Pricing: Free → $1.49/user/month → $7.49/user/month

Wrike comparison: Freedcamp is the cheapest alternative. Good for simple needs.


15. Workzone

Best for: Mid-market teams

ProsCons
Solid project managementHigher starting price
Good reportingLess modern
Dedicated supportFewer integrations
Workload management

Pricing: From $24/user/month (minimum 5 users)

Wrike comparison: Similar price point to Wrike with different strengths. Better support.


Feature Comparison Table

ToolFree PlanStarting PriceGanttTime TrackingBest For
Monday.com2 users$9/userAdd-onVisual teams
ClickUpUnlimited$7/userFeature seekers
Asana15 users$10.99/userNoTask management
Teamwork5 users$5.99/userAgencies
NotionYes$8/userNoNoDocumentation
BasecampNo$15/userNoNoSimplicity
TrelloYes$5/userNoNoKanban
Zoho Projects3 users$4/userZoho users
Quick Knowledge Check
Test your understanding

Which tool offers the best FREE plan for unlimited users?


Free Wrike Alternatives

Best completely free options:

  1. ClickUp Free. Unlimited users, 100MB storage, most features.
  2. Trello Free. Unlimited boards, 10 Power-Ups.
  3. Asana Free. Up to 15 users, basic features.
  4. Notion Free. Unlimited pages, limited blocks.
  5. Freedcamp Free. Unlimited users and projects.

The catch: Free plans typically limit storage, integrations, or advanced features.


How to Choose

Choose based on your priority:

If budget is tight: ClickUp, nTask, or Zoho Projects

If you need simplicity: Trello, Basecamp, or Notion

If you run an agency: Teamwork or ProofHub

If you want Wrike features cheaper: ClickUp or Monday.com

If you're in the Zoho ecosystem: Zoho Projects

If you need flat pricing: Basecamp or ProofHub


Migration Tips

Moving from Wrike:

  1. Export your data first. Wrike allows CSV exports.
  2. Map your workflow. Document current processes before migrating.
  3. Start fresh on structure. Don't replicate Wrike's complexity if you don't need it.
  4. Migrate in phases. Move one team or project first.
  5. Allow adjustment time. Budget 2-4 weeks for team adaptation.

Most alternatives offer migration assistance — Contact their support before switching.


Bottom Line

Wrike isn't bad — it's just expensive and complex for what many teams need.

Best alternatives by category:

  • Overall: Monday.com (best balance of features and usability)
  • Free: ClickUp (most features without paying)
  • Agencies: Teamwork (built for client work)
  • Simple needs: Trello or Basecamp
  • Budget: Zoho Projects or nTask

Try 2-3 options before committing. Most offer free trials.

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