Quick comparison
Shortlist first, details second. Always double-check current pricing and plan limits on the vendor site.
| Tool | Best for | Setup time | Pricing | Why it’s here | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| monday.com Top pick | Agency delivery visibility | 1–2 hours | Paid | Great dashboards and easy adoption | Can sprawl if you create too many boards |
| Asana | Structured PM | 1–2 hours | Paid | Clean task management and good governance | Less “database” flexibility than ClickUp |
| Notion | Docs + lightweight PM | Half day | Paid | Great for SOPs + lightweight projects | Not a true PM tool for complex workloads |
How we picked
- Optimized for agency workflows: delivery visibility, client collaboration, and handoffs.
- Prioritized low-friction setup and sane permissions (so you actually adopt it).
- Checked reporting and “share with clients” realism (not just feature checkboxes).
- Included a clear watch-out for each option to avoid bad fits.
Pricing checked: 7 Jan 2026. Evaluated on: setup friction, permissions, reporting, and handoff realism.
monday.com
Best for: teams that want visibility without chaos
monday.com is a strong ClickUp alternative when you want easy workflows and reporting without deep configuration.
- Dashboards make it easier to show progress to clients.
- Templates help standardize delivery.
- Good fit for teams that want to stay organized.
Asana
Best for: teams that want a more opinionated PM tool
Asana is best when your main goal is clarity, not infinite customization.
- Great for task hygiene and consistent process.
- Less temptation to overbuild.
- Solid for cross-team coordination.
Notion
Best for: agencies that run on SOPs + documentation
Notion shines as a workspace for docs and simple project tracking, especially for smaller teams.
- Combine SOPs, briefs, and tasks in one place.
- Flexible and fast to write in.
- Use it when delivery is simple and standardized.
Bottom line
If ClickUp is getting messy, switch to a tool that matches your delivery style: monday.com for visibility, Asana for structure, or Notion for doc-driven workflows.
FAQ
Is monday.com or Asana closer to ClickUp?
monday.com is closer in flexibility; Asana is more opinionated and structured.
Should I move docs out of my PM tool?
Often yes. Agencies do well with docs in Notion/Google Docs and delivery in a PM tool.
What’s the biggest migration tip?
Reduce custom fields and statuses before moving. Clean inputs make any tool work better.