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Project management software · 12 alternatives

Trello alternatives: 12 compared

Sebastiaan Smits Editor Sebastiaan Smits · Published October 20, 2026 · Updated October 20, 2026

Teams look past Trello when a free Workspace stops at 10 collaborators and 10 boards, when timeline and table views turn out to be a Premium feature, or when they need an export they can load somewhere else. Most move to Asana or ClickUp for a fuller task model, to Basecamp for flat pricing, or to monday.com for a similar board with more structure.

Short answer: The closest replacements for Trello in our project management software ranking are Asana, ClickUp and monday.com. Choose Asana if your boards have grown into projects with dependencies, owners and deadlines to track. All 12 alternatives below are ranked products from Best Project Management Software in 2026, and each says where it differs from Trello and when Trello is still the better choice.

Visibility in our rankings can be paid for. Payment moves a vendor's position within the shortlist; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review or of this page. The first three alternatives go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category, wherever the category has them; the established names follow in their ranked order. How it works: placement disclosure · editorial process.

Trello at a glance

  • Headquarters: United States
  • Pricing model: Per user / month
  • Pricing: Free for up to 10 collaborators per Workspace and 10 boards, then per-user Standard ($5 a month billed annually, $6 monthly), Premium ($10 billed annually, $12.50 monthly) and Enterprise ($17.50 a month, billed annually) tiers; timeline, table and dashboard views start on Premium.
  • Free option: Free plan
  • Built for: Small teams and individuals tracking light, visual workflows
  • Wrong for: Agencies that need budgets, billable time and client portals, engineering teams that need sprints and issue types, and any department running dozens of interlinked projects. Productive or Teamwork.com suits the first, Jira or Linear the second, ClickUp or Wrike the third.
  • Place in our ranking: #13 of 13
  • Website: trello.com

Facts from our project management software ranking, last checked October 20, 2026.

Why buyers look past Trello

  1. The free Workspace has hard ceilings

    The pricing page lists the free plan as up to 10 collaborators per Workspace and up to 10 boards per Workspace, with 250 command runs a month. Standard lifts the board limit and allows 1,000 command runs. A team that grows past ten people has to pay for every seat.

  2. The views that plan work are on Premium

    Calendar, Timeline, Table, Dashboard and Map views are listed under Premium at $10 per user a month billed annually ($12.50 monthly). Standard, at $5 ($6 monthly), keeps the plain board. A team that chose Trello for its price and then needs a schedule view pays double.

  3. Exporting a board is a one-way street

    The help center says any board member can export raw JSON, but that it is not currently possible to import JSON or CSV to re-create a Trello board. CSV export, and the bulk Workspace export, need Premium. Leaving is easy, arriving elsewhere takes mapping.

12 alternatives at a glance

Closest replacement first. The last column is our place in the full 13-product ranking.

#AlternativeHeadquartersPricingKey differenceSwitch ifOur rank
1AsanaUnited StatesPer user / month; free planTask-first work management with portfolios and goalsyour boards have grown into projects with dependencies, owners and deadlines to track#5
2ClickUpUnited StatesPer user / month; free planConfigurable workspace for tasks, docs, goals and chatyou want boards plus Gantt, docs and time tracking inside one workspace#4
3monday.comIsraelPer seat / month; free planBoard-based work platform with visual automationyou want typed columns, dashboards and automations on a board without leaving that metaphor#6
4BasecampUnited StatesFlat monthly; free planFlat-priced project space built for async communicationyou want one flat monthly bill for a growing team and can live without boards and views#8
5Zoho ProjectsIndiaPer user / month; free planBudget-friendly project tracking with Gantt and timesheetsyou want timesheets, budgets and approvals at a low per-user price#12
6WrikeUnited StatesPer user / month; free planWork management built around intake, approvals and proofingyou run intake forms, approvals or creative proofing across several teams#2
7NotionUnited StatesPer member / month; free planDocs and databases doubling as a project trackeryour boards live next to documents and a wiki and you want one tool for both#11
8Teamwork.comIrelandPer user / month; free planProject delivery and profitability for client-services firmsyou deliver client work and need time tracking, budgets and invoicing in the same tool#3
9SmartsheetUnited StatesPer user / month; free trialSpreadsheet-style project management for PMOsyour planning already lives in spreadsheets and you want those rows to drive Gantt and board views#7
10LinearUnited StatesPer user / month; free planKeyboard-first issue tracking for software teamsyour Trello board has become a bug and feature tracker for a software team#9
11JiraUnited StatesPer user / month; free planConfigurable issue and project tracking at scaleyou need sprints, backlogs and configurable workflows and already use Atlassian products#10
12ProductiveCroatiaPer user / month; free trialAgency operations: projects, budgets, billing, resourcingyou run a services firm and need budgets, resource plans and client margins next to tasks#1

What each alternative does differently

1. Asana

Task-first work management with portfolios and goals · United States

A task-and-project tool where a card becomes a task with owners, subtasks and a timeline. The free Personal plan is limited to two users, so a team pays from the first paid tier. Timeline and dependencies start on Starter, portfolios and workload on Advanced. Less visual than a plain board.

Switch from Trello if your boards have grown into projects with dependencies, owners and deadlines to track.

Pricing: Free Personal plan limited to 2 users, then per-user Starter and Advanced tiers sold in seat bundles; timeline and dependencies start on Starter, while portfolios, goals and workload sit on Advanced. (free plan)

Full review: #5 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Asana →

2. ClickUp

Configurable workspace for tasks, docs, goals and chat · United States

Keeps a Kanban board as one of many views over the same tasks. The Free Forever plan allows unlimited members, tasks and Kanban boards with 60MB of storage, and paid tiers add Gantt, goals and resource management. The price is a heavier interface, and the AI features are a separate paid add-on.

Switch from Trello if you want boards plus Gantt, docs and time tracking inside one workspace.

Pricing: Free Forever plan, then per-user tiers; the Brain AI features are sold as a separate add-on. (free plan)

Full review: #4 of 13 in our ranking · Visit ClickUp →

3. monday.com

Board-based work platform with visual automation · Israel

The closest board-style rival with more structure. Work sits in boards with typed columns. The free plan stops at two seats and three boards, and paid tiers are sold in seat bundles with a three-seat minimum. Automations and integration actions are capped per month by tier.

Switch from Trello if you want typed columns, dashboards and automations on a board without leaving that metaphor.

Pricing: Free plan for up to two seats, then per-seat tiers sold in bundles with a three-seat minimum; automation and integration actions are capped per month by tier. (free plan)

Full review: #6 of 13 in our ranking · Visit monday.com →

4. Basecamp

Flat-priced project space built for async communication · United States

Replaces per-seat pricing with flat monthly prices. The page shows a free plan with one project and five users, Freelancer at $25 a month for three active projects, and higher tiers up to unlimited projects. It is built around message boards and to-do lists, not card boards.

Switch from Trello if you want one flat monthly bill for a growing team and can live without boards and views.

Pricing: Free for one project and up to 5 users; paid plans are flat monthly prices with no per-user fees, from Freelancer at $25 a month for 3 active projects to the Unlimited Edition at $299 a month billed annually. (free plan)

Full review: #8 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Basecamp →

5. Zoho Projects

Budget-friendly project tracking with Gantt and timesheets · India

Low-priced per-user plans from a company with a wide business suite. The free plan covers up to 5 users and 3 projects, and Premium adds unlimited projects, timesheets and approvals. Baselines and the critical path start on Enterprise. The interface is plainer and the product leans toward formal project plans.

Switch from Trello if you want timesheets, budgets and approvals at a low per-user price.

Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users and 3 projects, then low-priced per-user Premium, Enterprise and Ultimate tiers; baselines, critical path and the portfolio dashboard start on Enterprise. (free plan)

Full review: #12 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Zoho Projects →

6. Wrike

Work management built around intake, approvals and proofing · United States

Built for managed work across teams. A free plan exists for basic task management, then per-user Team and Business tiers billed annually. Request forms, proofing and approvals start on Business. Several add-ons cost extra, and the setup takes more admin effort than a board needs.

Switch from Trello if you run intake forms, approvals or creative proofing across several teams.

Pricing: Free plan for basic task management, then per-user Team and Business tiers billed annually; request forms, proofing and approvals start on Business, enterprise tiers are quoted and several add-ons cost extra. (free plan)

Full review: #2 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Wrike →

7. Notion

Docs and databases doubling as a project tracker · United States

A workspace where a task board is one database view next to docs and wikis. The free plan suits individuals, and paid tiers are priced per member. Task features are lighter than in a project tool, and the fullest AI features come with Business.

Switch from Trello if your boards live next to documents and a wiki and you want one tool for both.

Pricing: Free plan for individuals and light team use, then per-member Plus, Business and Enterprise tiers; the fullest AI features come with Business. (free plan)

Full review: #11 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Notion →

8. Teamwork.com

Project delivery and profitability for client-services firms · Ireland

Aimed at agencies that bill clients. The free plan allows 5 users, and paid tiers have 3- and 5-seat minimums. Budgets and client invoicing start on Accelerate, profitability reporting on Optimize, and client users are free. Too heavy for a team that only wants a simple board.

Switch from Trello if you deliver client work and need time tracking, budgets and invoicing in the same tool.

Pricing: Free plan for up to 5 users and 5 projects, then per-user Basics and Accelerate tiers with 3- and 5-seat minimums and quoted Optimize and Enterprise tiers; budgets and client invoicing start on Accelerate, profitability reporting on Optimize, and client users are free. (free plan)

Full review: #3 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Teamwork.com →

9. Smartsheet

Spreadsheet-style project management for PMOs · United States

A spreadsheet-style grid with Gantt, board and calendar views over the same rows. Pro covers up to 10 members, Business starts at 3, and contributors are free. Control Center, Dynamic View and Resource Management are paid add-ons below the top tier. It rewards teams that already think in rows.

Switch from Trello if your planning already lives in spreadsheets and you want those rows to drive Gantt and board views.

Pricing: Per-member Pro (up to 10 members) and Business (3+ members) plans with free contributors, then quoted Enterprise and Advanced Work Management tiers; Control Center, Dynamic View and Resource Management are paid add-ons below Advanced Work Management. (free trial)

Full review: #7 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Smartsheet →

10. Linear

Keyboard-first issue tracking for software teams · United States

An issue tracker for software teams, not a general board. The free plan allows unlimited members but only 250 issues and 2 teams, and Basic is $10 per user a month billed yearly. Cycles, projects and roadmaps are built around engineering work, so a marketing or operations team will find little to use.

Switch from Trello if your Trello board has become a bug and feature tracker for a software team.

Pricing: Free plan capped at 250 issues and 2 teams with unlimited members, then per-user Basic and Business tiers billed yearly and a quoted Enterprise tier. (free plan)

Full review: #9 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Linear →

11. Jira

Configurable issue and project tracking at scale · United States

Atlassian's own issue tracker, free for up to ten users, then per-user Standard, Premium and Enterprise tiers. It handles backlogs, sprints and workflows that Trello does not. Marketplace apps add their own per-user fees, and admin work is far heavier than on a board.

Switch from Trello if you need sprints, backlogs and configurable workflows and already use Atlassian products.

Pricing: Free for up to ten users, then per-user Standard, Premium and Enterprise tiers; marketplace apps add their own per-user fees. (free plan)

Full review: #10 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Jira →

12. Productive

Agency operations: projects, budgets, billing, resourcing · Croatia

Targets agencies and consultancies. Plans are per user with a 3-seat minimum and a 14-day free trial. Budgets and resource planning start on Essential, rate cards on Professional, and clients join free. It manages money and capacity first, and is a poor fit for a team that wants a simple to-do board.

Switch from Trello if you run a services firm and need budgets, resource plans and client margins next to tasks.

Pricing: Per-user Essential, Professional and Ultimate tiers with a 3-seat minimum and a 14-day free trial; budgeting and resource planning start on Essential, rate cards and recurring budgets on Professional, revenue forecasting on Ultimate. Clients join free. (free trial)

Full review: #1 of 13 in our ranking · Visit Productive →

When Trello is still the right choice

Trello is still the right choice for a small team that wants a visual board and nothing else. The free Workspace gives unlimited cards, Power-Ups and mobile apps, and Standard at $5 per user a month billed annually adds unlimited boards and card mirroring. Stay if you have under ten collaborators, one or two simple workflows, and no need for timelines.

What to expect when you switch from Trello

  1. Trello exports cannot be re-imported into Trello

    Trello exports JSON, and Premium adds CSV. Neither can be imported back into Trello. In practice each target tool's own CSV or Trello importer decides what survives. Check the target's import page before you cancel, and run a test with one board first.

  2. Comments, history and attachments need care

    The JSON export holds only the 1,000 most recent actions on a board, comments included. A full comment history needs the Premium Workspace export. Attachments are linked unless you choose Include raw attachments, which puts the files in a ZIP. Archived cards are left out of the CSV unless you add .csv to the board link.

  3. Cancel last and know what the downgrade does

    A Workspace plan is cancelled at the end of its billing period and becomes a free Workspace. Boards beyond the ten most active are closed, not deleted, and boards are view-only above 10 collaborators. Data from paid features is hidden, not deleted. Export before the period ends, and note subscription changes only work in the web version.

Questions and answers

What can I export from Trello, and in which format?

Any board member can export a board as raw JSON from the board menu under Print, Export, and Share. Premium Workspaces can also export boards as CSV and export every board in a Workspace in both formats, with an option to include raw attachments in a ZIP.

Can I import a Trello export into another tool?

Only if the other tool has its own importer, because Trello states it is not currently possible to import JSON or CSV to re-create a board, and it has no generic import tool. Its documented routes are pasting lines of text, the Trello API and third-party Power-Ups.

What happens to my boards when I cancel a paid Trello plan?

The plan is cancelled at the end of the billing period and the Workspace becomes free. The 10 most active boards stay open, other boards are closed but not deleted, and boards go view-only while there are more than 10 collaborators. Data from paid features is hidden, not deleted.

How much does Trello cost compared with moving to a per-user rival?

Standard is $5 per user a month billed annually ($6 monthly), Premium is $10 ($12.50 monthly) and Enterprise is $17.50 billed annually. Rivals such as Asana, ClickUp and Linear also bill per user, so the saving usually comes from needing fewer features, not from a cheaper seat.

Does the export include comments?

Partly. The JSON export includes the 1,000 most recent actions on a board, and that includes comments. The CSV export leaves comments out. To get every comment, use the Premium Workspace export that covers all boards.

Do archived cards leave with the export?

The CSV export only includes cards that are not archived. Typing .csv at the end of the board link downloads a file with open and archived cards. Checking this before you close the old board saves a lot of rework.

Sources

Prices, plan limits and product facts about Trello on this page were checked against the vendors' own pages on October 20, 2026. Vendors change both without notice, so treat the figures as of that date.

Who wrote this

Sebastiaan Smits Sebastiaan Smits, Founder, wrote, edited and fact-checked this page. Founder of The Interregnum and of 2 Steps Ahead, an AI search visibility agency. Editorially responsible for every page here; research and drafting are AI-assisted. Last reviewed October 20, 2026. How we review.