Trello is a favorite for task management, known for its simplicity and visual appeal. Its productivity-proven Kanban-style boards make it easy to organize work and collaborate across teams. With over 50 million users worldwide, Trello has built a reputation for being one of the best platforms for teams to simply get more done.

But as you might be able to guess, it’s not always the perfect fit for every workflow. Some teams need more advanced reporting, stronger document management, or deeper integrations. That’s why it's important to explore Trello alternatives.

By branching out to new tools and combining them with IFTTT's free automation, you can streamline your workflow and boost productivity. In this guide, we'll cover the top Trello alternatives for small and large teams, the key features you should look out for, and how to integrate these tools with others for maximum efficiency.

Why consider a Trello alternative?

Trello serves millions of customers, but you've decided to look elsewhere, which is a great first step in deciding how to bring your workflow to the ultimate heights. Trello’s simplicity is its biggest strength, and sometimes, its biggest limitation. Fine-tuning your tools to serve you best can give you the upper hand in productivity.

While Trello excels at visual project management, users often hit a ceiling when trying to handle complex dependencies, track budgets, or manage cross-department workflows.

If any of the above ring a bell, it's time to consider an alternative. Other common Trello hang-ups include:

• - Limited native reporting and analytics.
• - Restricted customization options in free or standard plans.
• - A growing need for automations beyond Trello’s Butler tool.

As far as automation goes, IFTTT allows you to connect Trello or any alternative to over 1000 other tools. Automations can trigger based on updates, emails, or calendar events, helping your workflow move smoothly between platforms. You can enable pre-packaged automations, known as Applets, in just a few clicks, or create your own for ultimate customizability.

Some platforms put the most focus on structure and scalability, while others offer more creative features or AI-heavy interfaces. The best tool for you might not be the best for the next person, which is why we'll cover six different offerings that might just fit your needs perfectly.

Top Trello alternatives for smarter project management

Below are some of the most popular Trello alternatives for teams, freelancers, and individuals, which we personally stand by. We’ll cover key features, pricing, and ease of use. Pro tip: to get started automating any of the tools listed below, simply click the Applet bubbles below each section.

1. ClickUp

Pricing: Free plan available; $7/user/month (Unlimited); $12/user/month (Business).

ClickUp is one of the most well-rounded project management platforms available today, combining Trello’s visual flexibility with a much broader set of tools. Designed for teams that want all-in-one productivity and project tracking, ClickUp brings together task management, goal tracking, documentation, and time tracking into a single workspace.

You can switch between multiple views, like Gantt charts or calendars. Built-in documents, goals, and dashboards make it easy to keep everyone aligned. Plus, it’s the project management tool that gets used nearly every day here at IFTTT!

2. Asana

Pricing: Free plan available; $10.99/user/month (Starter); $24.99/user/month (Advanced).

Asana is a great option that’s ideal for growing teams who need scalability and workload management. Known for its intuitive design and reliability, Asana helps teams plan, execute, and monitor projects with ease.

Users can break down large goals into subtasks, give out responsibilities, and view progress through a timeline or other custom views. Detailed analytics and management features make it easy for you to track productivity at a glance.

3. Airtable

Pricing: Free plan available; $20/seat/month (Team); $45/seat/month (Business).

Airtable combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the sophistication of a database, making it a strong Trello alternative for teams that manage large amounts of structured information.

Its clean, flexible interface allows users to create and organize projects in customizable views such as Kanban, grid, or calendar layouts. Collaboration tools and advanced permissions make it suitable for both small teams and enterprise-level operations.

4. Monday.com

Pricing: Free plan available; $9/user/month (Basic); $12/user/month (Standard).

Although it might not be the favorite day of the week, it is one of our favorite workflow tools. Monday.com (also sometimes just referred to as Monday) brings color and energy to project management, offering an experience that’s perfect for teams who thrive on collaboration and clarity.

Designed for both creative and technical work, Monday.com offers real-time dashboards and workflow automation tools that help teams stay aligned across multiple projects. Whether you’re managing marketing campaigns, client pipelines, or product development, Monday.com’s flexible templates make setup simple.

5. Basecamp

Pricing: One project free, $15/user/month (flat rate).

A lesser-known contender, Basecamp takes a minimalist approach to project management, making it ideal for teams that value straightforward communication over clunky features.

The app combines to-do lists, message boards, and automatic check-ins to keep everyone informed without micromanaging. Centralized file storage and scheduling tools reduce clutter and ensure that every discussion, file, and task lives in one place. Basecamp’s clean, intuitive design makes onboarding a breeze, even for non-technical users.

6. Todoist

Pricing: Free; $4/month (Pro); $6/month (Business).

Last but not least, Todoist is a lightweight yet powerful task manager designed for individuals and small teams focused on personal productivity. Its distraction-free interface and natural language processing make it easy to capture and organize tasks on the fly. Just imagine typing your request into the tool and having it generate events, timelines, and more, exactly how you want them.

Users can also track their progress with Todoist’s unique Karma system and sync effortlessly across devices.

Tips for choosing the right Trello alternative

Every team’s workflow is unique. While Basecamp's minimalist approach might be perfect for the artist or creative, Airtable is likely the right choice for a Fortune 500 company. Ultimately, finding the tool that works best for you, not just which is the cheapest or flashiest, will bring the most benefit to your workflow.

To pick the right tool, consider these key factors:

• - Team size: Some platforms scale better than others.
• - Feature depth: Do you need automation, time tracking, or advanced reporting?
• - Budget: Free options can work for small teams, while enterprises may need premium plans.
• - Integration options: Make sure it connects smoothly to tools you already use, through IFTTT or native connections.

Experimenting with a few tools is often the best way to find your perfect match.

How IFTTT boosts project management

IFTTT helps sandwich all of your favorite productivity tools to each other, opening vast networks of communication you never thought were possible. By automating repetitive actions like creating calendar events, updating spreadsheets, or sending reminders, you can finally eliminate busy work forever and stay focused on what matters.

Our easy-to-use tool helps hundreds of thousands across the globe get started with automation, with no programming experience necessary.

Key benefits of IFTTT automations:

• - Save time: Automate recurring processes like task creation or file organization.
• - Reduce errors: Keep data consistent across platforms.
• - Stay organized: Link communications, tasks, and reminders together automatically.

Here’s how easy it is to create your first IFTTT Applet:

1. Choose a trigger (e.g., “new task added in Airtable”).
2. Choose an action (e.g., “create an event in Google Calendar”).
3. Fine-tune conditions and filters.
4. Test and activate the automation.

Make sure that you run a test of each automation: it's especially important to make sure that they run as expected before depending on them for business-related tasks. For any additional questions or help, please visit our support page here.

Automate and elevate with IFTTT

The best productivity tool isn’t just about features, it’s about how well it fits your rhythm. Whether you choose ClickUp, Asana, Airtable, or Todoist, pairing it with IFTTT unlocks a new level of efficiency.

From automatically logging completed tasks to syncing updates across platforms, automation lets you spend less time managing work and more time getting it done. Whether you’re a student looking for a simple reminder system, a freelancer who needs slick integrations, or a company managing complex workflows, there’s a solution out there that can be tailored to your needs.

Click the button below and join the hundreds of thousands of IFTTTers already saving time and getting more done.