monday.com vs ClickUp (2026): features, security and which one to buy
monday.com and ClickUp compared on what they do, who they suit, their key features, pros and cons, and what each vendor publishes on security, admin and contract terms, with every fact checked on October 24, 2026.
monday.com or ClickUp: the short answer
Choose monday.com if
- Small and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations.
- Teams that need data hosting in the US, Germany or Australia.
Choose ClickUp if
- Small and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps.
- Teams that need a free plan with unlimited members.
- Teams comfortable configuring custom fields and automations.
What are monday.com and ClickUp?
monday.com
Board-based work management platform with a 3-seat minimum on paid plans and quote-based pricing above 40 users. Customizable boards and generous automation quotas suit small and mid-size teams. Before signing, count seats: paid plans begin at three, and above 40 users you must request a quote. German, US or Australian hosting is selectable, and time tracking needs Pro.
ClickUp
All-in-one work management platform with tasks, docs, whiteboards and AI credits, sold per user with a free tier. Teams that want one configurable workspace in place of several apps can start free with unlimited members. Allocate time for building custom fields and automations, since beginners report a steep learning curve. SAML SSO and SCIM require an Enterprise contract.
monday.com vs ClickUp: features compared
| monday.com | ClickUp | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Board-based work management platform with a 3-seat minimum on paid plans and quote-based pricing above 40 users. | All-in-one work management platform with tasks, docs, whiteboards and AI credits, sold per user with a free tier. |
| Best for | Small and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations. | Small and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps. |
| Company size | G2 Learn article reports 63% small business, 29% mid-market, 8% enterprise users. | Free tier to enterprise; Enterprise and Max for large orgs. |
| Task views and planning | Timeline/Gantt and calendar from Standard. | Not published |
| Workflow automation | 250 actions/month Standard, 25,000 Pro, 250,000 Enterprise. | 1K automations/month on Core, 10K on Business (pricing page) |
| Workload and resource management | Portfolio and resource management on Enterprise. | Not published |
| Time tracking and budgets | Time tracking on Pro. | Timesheets listed from Business plan. |
| Integrations | 250 integration actions/month Standard, 25,000 Pro. | Not published |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan, Free trial | Free plan |
| Starting price | $9 per seat/month billed annually (Basic), min. 3 seats | $9 per user/month billed annually (Core; regular $12) |
| G2 rating | 4.7 (15,000 reviews) | 4.6 (13,158 reviews) |
Pros and cons
monday.com
Cons
- Reviewers often cite price as the main drawback.
ClickUp
Pros
- Very flexible way to organize tasks.
- Broad feature set in one place.
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners.
- Some features restricted on lower plans.
- Slow loading and unintuitive interface for some.
monday.com vs ClickUp pricing
For 20 users on the cheapest plan that fits, monday.com costs $2,160 a year and ClickUp $2,160 at list price.
| monday.com | ClickUp | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | per user | per user |
| Per seat per month | $12 per seat/month billed annually (Standard, 3 seats minimum); $19 on Pro for time tracking. | $17 on Business billed annually (regular price $25) |
| Billing | Monthly and annual. | Monthly and annual. |
| 20 users per year | $2,160 (Basic) | $2,160 (Core) |
| Add-ons | Not published | AI Super Credits $10 per 10,000 credits; Certified Agents (custom); ClickUp Assist 2 hours/month expert time (price not listed) |
Security, admin and contract: monday.com vs ClickUp
What each vendor states publicly about single sign-on, provisioning, audit logs, data location and the contract. A blank is a question for the sales call, not a no.
| monday.com | ClickUp | |
|---|---|---|
| SAML SSO | Not published | Google SSO on Business; SAML, Okta, Microsoft SSO on Enterprise and Max. |
| SCIM provisioning | Not published | Enterprise and Max. |
| Audit logs | Not published | Enterprise and Max. |
| Data residency | US, Germany, Australia data centers; assigned by account creator location. | Enterprise: US, Europe (Ireland) or Asia Pacific (Australia, Singapore) on AWS. |
| DPA | Not published | Yes, public at clickup.com/terms/dpa. |
| Contract | Annual paid upfront; yearly plans cancelled within 30 days get partial refund; no refund for downgrades. | Cancel anytime; 30-day satisfaction refund window; bank transfer for Enterprise orders above a minimum. |
Differences most comparisons miss
Worth knowing about monday.com
- Paid plans have a 3-seat minimum; above 40 users a quote is required.
- Per vendor FAQ monthly billing is not discounted and annual saves 18%.
- Resource and portfolio management only on Enterprise; time tracking only from Pro.
- Data is hosted in the US, Germany or Australia based on where the first account creator is located.
Worth knowing about ClickUp
- SAML, Okta and Microsoft SSO, SCIM and audit trails need Enterprise; Business only has Google SSO.
- Pricing shows a promotional annual price next to a higher regular price ($17 vs $25 Business)
- AI usage is metered: pooled credits per user, extra 10,000 credits cost $10.
- Enterprise can choose US, EU (Ireland) or Asia Pacific data hosting at no extra cost.
monday.com vs ClickUp: frequently asked questions
Which is better, monday.com or ClickUp?
It depends on the team. monday.com is the stronger pick for small and mid-size teams that want customizable boards and many automations, while ClickUp suits small and mid-size teams that want one flexible tool replacing several apps. Compare the feature rows above against your must-haves before you look at price.
Do monday.com and ClickUp support SAML single sign-on?
monday.com: not stated on its public pages. ClickUp: google SSO on Business; SAML, Okta, Microsoft SSO on Enterprise and Max. Confirm the plan in writing before you compare prices.
Is monday.com cheaper than ClickUp?
At list price for 20 users on the cheapest plan that fits, monday.com costs $2,160 a year and ClickUp $2,160. Add-ons, higher tiers and annual versus monthly billing can change that order.
Can I try monday.com and ClickUp for free?
monday.com: free plan, free trial. ClickUp: free plan.
Sources
Both columns use the same sources: vendor pricing and product pages, documentation, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Full source lists are on the monday.com and ClickUp reviews.