Tool Reviews

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

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

14 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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