Notion vs ClickUp 2025: Which Project Management Tool Wins?
A detailed comparison of Notion and ClickUp in 2025. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and help you decide which tool fits your workflow.
Quick Summary
✅ What We Liked
- + Both offer generous free plans for individuals
- + Notion excels at documentation and knowledge bases
- + ClickUp has superior task management and time tracking
- + Both have strong integrations with popular tools
- + Active development — both ship major features regularly
❌ What Could Be Better
- − Notion can feel slow with large databases
- − ClickUp has a steeper learning curve due to feature density
- − Neither is perfect — most teams end up wanting features from both
- − ClickUp's mobile app lags behind the desktop experience
The Big Question
Notion and ClickUp are two of the most popular productivity tools in 2025, but they approach work management from very different angles. Notion is a flexible workspace that bends to your needs. ClickUp is a feature-packed project management powerhouse.
Which one should you use? We tested both extensively to give you a clear answer.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Notion | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Docs, wikis, light PM | Full project management |
| Free plan | Generous | Very generous |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Steep |
| Task management | Good | Excellent |
| Documentation | Excellent | Good |
| Time tracking | No (needs integration) | Built-in |
| Automation | Basic | Advanced |
| AI features | Notion AI ($10/mo add-on) | ClickUp Brain (included in paid plans) |
| Starting price | $10/user/mo | $7/user/mo |
Notion: Best For Documentation-First Teams
Notion shines when your work revolves around knowledge management, documentation, and flexible databases. It’s the tool of choice for:
- Content teams managing editorial calendars
- Startups building internal wikis
- Solo operators who want one tool for notes, tasks, and docs
What Notion Does Best
The block-based editor is incredibly flexible. You can create anything from a simple to-do list to a complex CRM — all without code. The learning curve pays off in customization.
Where Notion Falls Short
Task management features are functional but basic compared to dedicated PM tools. No built-in time tracking, Gantt charts, or workload views without workarounds.
ClickUp: Best For Task-Heavy Teams
ClickUp is built for teams that need serious project management. It has every feature you could want (and some you didn’t know you needed):
- Development teams running sprints
- Agencies juggling multiple client projects
- Operations teams tracking complex workflows
What ClickUp Does Best
Task management is unmatched. Multiple views (List, Board, Gantt, Calendar, Timeline), custom fields, automations, time tracking, goals, and dashboards — all built in.
Where ClickUp Falls Short
Feature overload is real. New users can feel overwhelmed. The mobile app, while improving, doesn’t match the desktop experience.
Pricing Breakdown
Notion
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited pages, 7-day page history |
| Plus | $10/user/mo | Unlimited file uploads, 30-day history |
| Business | $18/user/mo | SAML SSO, advanced permissions |
ClickUp
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100MB storage, unlimited tasks |
| Unlimited | $7/user/mo | Unlimited storage, integrations, dashboards |
| Business | $12/user/mo | Advanced automations, time tracking |
The Verdict
Choose Notion if: Your work is documentation-heavy, you value flexibility over structure, and you want a beautiful, customizable workspace.
Choose ClickUp if: You need robust task management, time tracking, and project oversight — especially for teams running multiple projects.
Our recommendation: For most teams, start with the free plan of each and test with a real project. You’ll know within a week which one clicks with your workflow.
Overall Score: 4.5/5 — Both are excellent; the right choice depends on your workflow.