Alternatives

12 Best Asana Alternatives

Ruud CarisEditor-in-Chief

Updated: 7 January 2026About Asana →

Asana is a market leader in project management, but users often look for alternatives due to rising costs per user and increasing interface complexity. Where Asana tries to be everything for everyone, teams now more often choose specialized tools that better fit their specific workflow, such as software development or content creation.

136+ toolscompared

✓No sponsored rankings

My recommendations

Best Overall

Clickup

★ 4.1/5

Most features for a lower price than Asana

View Clickup →

Best for Beginners

Trello

★ 4.4/5

Start immediately without a learning curve or complex setup

View Trello →

Best for Power Users

Notion

★ 4.4/5

Fully customizable workspace and databases

View Notion →

Best for Teams

Monday.com

★ 4.5/5

Visually strongest interface for project planning

View Monday.com →

At a glance

ToolScoreBest for

Clickup

★4.1/5

Teams that want to consolidate all work tools in one platformView →

Monday.com

★4.5/5

Marketing and creative teams that work visuallyView →

Trello

★4.4/5

Small teams that want to get started visually right awayView →

Linear

★4.5/5

Software teams that want speed and keyboard shortcutsView →

Notion

★4.4/5

Teams that want to integrate documentation and tasksView →

Todoist

★4.6/5

Freelancers and small teams looking for speedView →

Basecamp

★4.1/5

Teams that consider communication more important than planningView →

Smartsheet

★4/5

Teams that like to work in Excel or spreadsheetsView →

Jira

★4.2/5

Technical teams that work Agile/ScrumView →

Airtable

★4/5

Teams that want to combine data and projectsView →

Wrike

★4/5

Medium to large teams with complex workflowsView →

SmartSuite

★4.2/5

Teams that want to manage processes and projectsView →

All Asana alternatives at a glance

Clickup

Teams that want to consolidate all work tools in one platform

★ 4.1/5 · Free / from 7 dollar

ClickUp positions itself as the 'one app to replace them all' and offers tasks, documents, chat, and goals in one platform. It is a direct competitor to Asana with similar features like lists, boards, and timelines, but often at a lower rate. The tool is extremely configurable, which is both a strength and a weakness; new users can get lost in the many options. The free version is very extensive, but performance and loading times can sometimes be slower than Asana.

Difference: All-in-one approach including native docs and whiteboard

Choose this if: budget is a priority over speed

✓ What we like

✓Enormous customizability
✓Generous free plan
✓Versatile view options
✓Powerful automations

✗ What we don't like

✗Steep learning curve
✗Slow loading times
✗Overwhelming interface

View Clickup →More details →

Monday.com

Marketing and creative teams that work visually

★ 4.5/5 · Free / from 9 dollar

Monday.com stands out with a very visual, colorful interface based on columns and rows. Instead of Asana's traditional task list, you work here with 'pulses' on a board that you fully customize to your workflow. It is strong in automations and dashboards that show project status at a glance. A significant disadvantage is the pricing model: you have to pay for bundles of users (for example 3, 5, or 10), which means you sometimes pay for empty seats.

Difference: Column-based structure instead of task-based

Choose this if: visual overview is more important than subtask depth

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive visual interface
✓Powerful no-code automations
✓Many integrations (Slack, Gmail)
✓Free plan for 2 users

✗ What we don't like

✗Confusing pricing structure (tiers)
✗Time tracking only in Pro
✗Gantt charts feel limited
✗Steep learning curve for advanced features

View Monday.com →More details →

Trello

Small teams that want to get started visually right away

★ 4.4/5 · Free / from 5 dollar

Trello is the pioneer of the Kanban board and remains the standard for simplicity and ease of use. Where Asana is a complete project suite, Trello focuses purely on moving cards through lists. This makes it ideal for linear processes. However, for complex projects with dependencies or Gantt charts, you have to rely on 'Power-Ups' (plugins), which can make the tool less stable than Asana's native features. The free version is more than sufficient for small teams.

Difference: Focus purely on Kanban boards without feature bloat

Choose this if: simplicity and speed are leading

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive interface
✓Visual Kanban boards
✓Generous free version
✓Simple automation

✗ What we don't like

✗Limited reporting options
✗No native time tracking
✗Expensive Premium subscriptions

View Trello →More details →

Linear

Software teams that want speed and keyboard shortcuts

★ 4.5/5 · Free / from 8 dollar

Linear is specifically built for software development teams that demand speed and efficiency. Unlike Asana's general approach, Linear enforces a specific workflow with 'Cycles' and 'Issues'. The tool is fully keyboard-operable and blazingly fast. However, it lacks the general project management features for non-technical departments like marketing or HR, making it less suitable as a company-wide solution if not everyone is a developer.

Difference: Opinionated workflow specifically for developers

Choose this if: the team consists primarily of developers

✓ What we like

✓Blazing fast interface
✓Full offline mode
✓Excellent GitHub integration
✓Intuitive keyboard shortcuts

✗ What we don't like

✗Limited reporting options
✗High guest user costs
✗Steep learning curve for shortcuts

View Linear →More details →

Notion

Teams that want to integrate documentation and tasks

★ 4.4/5 · Free / from 10 dollar

Notion is not a traditional project management tool, but a modular workspace where you combine tasks, wikis, and databases. You build your own alternative to Asana from scratch here. This offers unprecedented flexibility; you determine which properties a task has. The downside is that standard PM features like recurring tasks or workload management must be built manually or are less advanced. It requires 'maintenance' of your system.

Difference: Document-based structure instead of task-based

Choose this if: maximum customizability is required

✓ What we like

✓All-in-one workspace (docs/tasks)
✓Huge customizability & flexibility
✓Powerful databases with relations
✓Relatively good mobile app

✗ What we don't like

✗No full offline mode
✗Slowness with large databases
✗Steep learning curve for beginners
✗No password protection on pages

View Notion →More details →

Todoist

Freelancers and small teams seeking speed

★ 4.6/5 · Free / from 5 dollar

Todoist is at its core a personal task list that has been expanded with team features. It excels at quick input via 'Natural Language Processing' (e.g., type 'tomorrow at 2pm meeting'). For freelancers or small teams who find Asana too cumbersome and complex, this is a relief. However, it lacks the heavy project management features like portfolios, extensive reporting, and resource planning that large organizations need.

Difference: Focus on quick task input via text recognition

Choose this if: Asana feels too complex for simple tasks

✓ What we like

✓Powerful natural task input
✓Reliable synchronization
✓Intuitive interface
✓Quick task adding

✗ What we don't like

✗Reminders behind paywall
✗Calendar view not free
✗Limited project management
✗Awkward subtasks

View Todoist →More details →

Basecamp

Teams that value communication more than planning

★ 4.1/5 · Free / from 299 dollar

Basecamp chooses a radically different approach than Asana. Instead of complex task dependencies and timelines, it focuses on communication and files. Projects consist of message boards, to-do lists, and documents. The unique pricing model (flat rate for unlimited users) makes it financially attractive for growing companies. However, it lacks the granular control over tasks and sub-tasks that project managers are used to in Asana.

Difference: Flat rate per month, regardless of number of users (Pro)

Choose this if: want to stop paying per user

✓ What we like

✓Flat rate ($299/month) great for large teams
✓Free guest access for clients
✓Unique Hill Charts for visual progress
✓All-in-one: chat, files, and tasks

✗ What we don't like

✗No task dependencies or Gantt charts
✗Lack of real subtasks (only lists)
✗Limited native integrations (mainly Zapier)
✗Rigid structure, little customizability

View Basecamp →More details →

Smartsheet

Teams that like to work in Excel or spreadsheets

★ 4/5 · From 9 dollar

Smartsheet is the bridge between Excel and project management. If your team is used to spreadsheets but wants more functionality, this is the logical step. It offers powerful formulas and conditional formatting that Asana lacks. The interface feels familiar to spreadsheet users, but may seem outdated or rigid to others. It is less suitable for fast, agile teams looking for a modern 'drag-and-drop' experience.

Difference: Spreadsheet interface with formulas

Choose this if: data analysis and formulas are crucial

✓ What we like

✓Powerful automation
✓Flexible workflows
✓Familiar spreadsheet interface
✓Comprehensive reporting

✗ What we don't like

✗Pricey add-ons
✗Steep learning curve
✗Slow mobile app

View Smartsheet →More details →

Jira

Technical teams working Agile/Scrum

★ 4.2/5 · Free / from 8 dollar

Jira is the industry standard for agile software development. Where Asana has tasks, Jira has 'Issues' and extensive support for Scrum and Sprints. It is extremely powerful in reporting (Burndown charts) and integrations with development tools. However, for non-technical teams, the configuration is often too complex and the terminology too specific. It is a tool you choose for functionality, not for the simple user experience.

Difference: Deep focus on issue tracking and sprints

Choose this if: works strictly according to Agile methodology

✓ What we like

✓Powerful Agile and Scrum tools
✓Huge number of integrations possible
✓Fully customizable workflows
✓Scalable for large enterprises

✗ What we don't like

✗Steep learning curve for beginners
✗Slow interface with large projects
✗Complex configuration requires admin
✗Overwhelming for non-IT teams

View Jira →More details →

Airtable

Teams that want to combine data and projects

★ 4/5 · Free / from 20 dollar

Airtable combines a database with a spreadsheet interface. It is much more powerful than Asana when it comes to managing structured data, such as a content calendar or inventory. You can visualize data in countless ways (Grid, Calendar, Gallery). As a pure task manager, it sometimes falls short; features such as reminders and subtasks are less intuitively present than in Asana and often require workarounds or automations.

Difference: Relational database functionality

Choose this if: projects contain many data fields

✓ What we like

✓Powerful relational database features
✓Flexible 'spreadsheet on steroids' interface
✓Extensive automation capabilities
✓Versatile templates for various use-cases

✗ What we don't like

✗Expensive, especially when scaling teams
✗Steep learning curve for advanced features
✗Mobile app lacks features and stability
✗Limited native reporting/dashboards

View Airtable →More details →

Wrike

Medium to large teams with complex workflows

★ 4/5 · Free / from 10 dollar

Wrike is a direct enterprise alternative to Asana. It uses a unique folder structure where tasks can live in multiple folders at once without duplication. It offers very advanced features for time tracking, budgeting, and proofing (approving files), which at Asana often cost extra or are missing. However, the interface is often experienced as less modern and more cluttered than that of Asana.

Difference: Tasks can exist in multiple folders at once

Choose this if: extensive reporting and time-tracking are required

✓ What we like

✓Extensive customizability
✓Powerful reporting
✓Versatile views
✓Strong security

✗ What we don't like

✗Steep learning curve
✗High costs
✗Slow loading times

View Wrike →More details →

SmartSuite

Teams that want to manage processes and projects

★ 4.2/5 · Free / from 12 dollar

SmartSuite is a newer player trying to bridge the gap between Airtable's databases and Asana's project management. It works with 'Solutions' and offers a very modern, visual interface. It distinguishes itself through fields that are specific to business processes (such as products, customers). Although it is feature-rich, the ecosystem of integrations is still smaller than that of the established order like Asana.

Difference: Focus on business processes instead of just tasks

Choose this if: looking for a more modern Airtable experience

✓ What we like

✓Intuitive interface
✓Powerful automations
✓Flexible data structure
✓Good value for money

✗ What we don't like

✗Limited mobile app
✗Steep learning curve
✗Fewer native integrations

View SmartSuite →More details →

For whom is Asana the best choice?

Asana is built for medium to large teams managing complex projects with multiple dependencies and stakeholders. The tool offers portfolio overviews and workload management that you won’t find in most alternatives. For teams working with 5+ parallel projects and needing clear reporting to management, Asana remains the logical choice due to its depth in planning and tracking.

Also for marketing teams and agencies planning campaigns with fixed workflows and templates, Asana has advantages: the combination of timelines, forms for intakes, and automatic task assignment works well for repetitive processes. The investment of € 10,99 to € 24,99 per user per month is then justified by the time savings in project coordination.

Are you working with external partners or clients who are already in Asana? Then you avoid duplicate work by staying within the same platform. The integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace make it possible to create tasks from your existing tools without constantly switching between platforms.

Why would you look for an Asana alternative?

The price is an important factor for many users. For teams of 15 people, you’re already paying € 164,85 per month for the Premium subscription, which amounts to € 1.978,20 per year. For small teams or startups who mainly want to track task lists and deadlines, that’s difficult to justify. Tools like ClickUp and Notion offer comparable basic functionality starting at € 5 to € 8 per user.

Another frequently mentioned reason is the learning curve and complexity. Asana offers multiple views, custom fields, rules, and templates that are often overkill for teams of 3 to 5 people. New users need an average of 2 to 3 weeks to fully understand the tool. Alternatives like Trello offer a simpler kanban board that you can get started with within an hour.

For software teams, Asana falls short in specific development workflows. The tool doesn’t offer native sprint planning, story points, or code integrations with GitHub and GitLab. Developers switch to Linear or Jira because those tools are built for agile methodologies and offer keyboard shortcuts that work faster than clicking. The lack of offline access is also a dealbreaker for teams that regularly work without internet.

Finally

The choice depends on your priorities. For teams that want to consolidate all work tools, ClickUp is the best option with docs, whiteboards, and time tracking in one platform. On a limited budget, Trello offers the most value for simple projects under € 5 per user. Software teams already working in GitHub benefit from the native integrations in Linear. Looking for the most overlap with Asana in terms of features? Then Monday.com comes closest with comparable timelines and automations. For teams that want to combine documentation and tasks, Notion is better suited due to its flexible database structure and wiki functionality.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export my data from Asana to ClickUp or Monday?

Yes, most major competitors like ClickUp, Monday, and Notion have specific import tools. You export your Asana projects as a CSV file and upload them in the new tool, where fields are often automatically recognized.

Which alternative has the best free version?

ClickUp and Trello offer the most usable free versions. ClickUp gives access to almost all features with limits on storage, while Trello offers unlimited cards and members but limited 'views' (no timeline).

Is there an Asana alternative that offers one-time payment?

Virtually all serious project management tools work with a subscription (SaaS). Basecamp is an exception with an optional fixed amount per month for unlimited users, but no one-time purchase.

Do these alternatives work offline?

Most web-based tools (ClickUp, Monday, Asana) have limited offline functionality. Tools with native apps like Todoist and Trello often offer a better offline experience where data syncs as soon as you have a connection again.

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All alternatives →