ClickUp vs Notion: the match-up of project management tools in 2025
ClickUp and Notion: two project management heavyweights that promise to revolutionize the way we work. One focuses on all-in-one productivity, the other on the flexibility of a modular workspace. But when you're looking for the right tool to structure your ideas, manage your tasks or collaborate with your team, the choice can quickly become... a real headache.
👉 Whether you're a freelancer, a startup or a well-established project team, these two platforms have a lot to offer:
- ClickUp shines with its functional richness (some would say too much),
- while Notion charms with its more visual and flexible approach, halfway between note-taking, database and personalized workflow.
In this article, we take a close look at both tools: features, interface, automations, integrations, pricing... Nothing has been left to chance, to help you choose the solution best suited to you and your team's way of working.
What is ClickUp?
ClickUp overview
ClickUp is the Swiss Army Knife of project management tools. Designed to centralize all team work in a single space, it offers a multitude of views (list, calendar, Gantt, Kanban board, etc.), an ultra-pushed hierarchy, and features designed for both technical and marketing teams.
🎯 Its aim is to replace all other tools. Docs, tasks, messaging, automations, goals, reporting... ClickUp aims to be the single platform on which your entire organization rests.
Since its launch, the platform has continued to evolve, pushing ever further for customization, automations and integration with third-party tools. In 2025, it's a complete project management tool for startups, SMEs, large corporations and even ultra-organized freelancers.
ClickUp's key features
Before delving into the tool's strengths and weaknesses, let's take a quick tour of its features.
⚒️ Here are the key features that make ClickUp a platform as powerful as it is feared for its learning curve:
- advanced task management: custom statuses, sub-tasks, dependencies, load points, priorities... ;
- multiple project views: list, Kanban board, Gantt chart, calendar, inbox view ;
- docs and Wiki: create collaborative project documents (alternative to Google Docs or Notion');
- goals and OKRs: goal tracking, team alignment, measurable progress;
- automations: customizable workflows to automate repetitive actions;
- templates: ready-to-use templates for projects, tasks, meetings, internal processes;
- dashboards: advanced reporting with customizable widgets to track workspace activity.
ClickUp
Advantages and disadvantages of ClickUp
ClickUp is often perceived as an ultra-ambitious "all-in-one" tool, but this promise comes at a price: complexity. We're dealing here with a platform designed for power users, with a steep learning curve... unless you stick to basic use.
✅ Here are the advantages most often cited by users on the web:
- ultra-complete: everything from task tracking to reporting to docs ;
- customizable view: each team member can adapt his or her own interface;
- powerful, code-free automation;
- solid value for money;
- well thought-out templates to save time right from the start;
- responsive support team and active community.
❌ But beware: who says "all-in-one tool" also says "complex tool". Here's what often comes up in reviews:
- too much functionality kills functionality: risk of overload ;
- dense interface, sometimes difficult to learn;
- slow loading times with large workspaces;
- limited mobile version compared to web interface;
- not always suited to small teams looking for simplicity.
What is Notion?
Notion overview
Notion is the champion of flexibility. At the crossroads between a note-taking tool, a collaborative wiki, a task manager, and a visual database, Notion lets you build it all... provided you know what you want.
🎯 Unlike ClickUp, which structures for you, Notion starts from a blank page. You lay the bricks of your workspace, according to your needs: a CRM, an editorial calendar, a task management system or a team documentation space.
Extremely popular with freelancers, startups and content creators, Notion has also won over large corporations thanks to its new collaborative features, advanced permissions and ability to adapt to any workflow.
Notion's key features
Notion is not a tool that imposes its own logic. It's a toolbox where each element can become a functionality, provided you know how to assemble it.
⚒️ Here are the most commonly used building blocks:
- nested page system: structure your content like a website or document tree;
- customizable blocks: each element (text, image, database, checklist, embed...) is an editable block;
- databases: to manage projects, tasks, content or any type of data (with Kanban views, tables, calendars, galleries, etc.);
- templates: hundreds of templates (official or created by the community) to get you started quickly;
- real-time collaboration: comments, mentions, permissions by role;
- Notion AI: integrated editorial assistant for automatic text generation, summarization and structuring;
- integrations & embeds: connectivity with Slack, GitHub, Google Drive, Figma... + dynamic display of external content.
Notion
Advantages and disadvantages of Notion
What makes Notion powerful is also what can make it confusing. The tool offers total freedom, but this freedom can also lead to a lack of framework. Especially in a team.
✅ Before examining the critics, let's take a look at what's so appealing about Notion:
- total organizational freedom ;
- clear, minimalist design, very pleasant to use;
- powerful, flexible databases;
- documentation + project management in a single tool;
- large community with thousands of templates available;
- Notion AI integrated at no extra cost right from paid plans.
❌ But not everything is perfect, especially when looking for a tool for more rigid or industrialized workflows:
- no real native task management (no advanced automations like ClickUp) ;
- sometimes slow performance with large files or pages ;
- limited advanced functionality on mobile devices;
- learning curve to build an efficient system;
- can quickly become chaos without real organizational rigor.
ClickUp vs Notion: compare features
When it comes to choosing a project management tool, it's all about functionality. Some people are looking for a complete cockpit with powerful automations, while others prefer a more modular and creative interface. ClickUp and Notion don't play in the same category... but they target the same users.
| Functionality | ClickUp | Notion |
| Task management | Highly advanced | Basic but customizable |
| Multiple views (list, kanban, Gantt...) | Complete | Limited to table, calendar |
| Document editor | Built-in docs | Powerful native editor |
| Automations | Built-in, no code | ❌ Very limited (via external tools) |
| Databases | Simple (task tables) | Flexible and powerful |
| Dashboards and reporting | Customizable | ❌ Almost non-existent |
| Real-time collaboration | Very fluid | Very fluid |
| Integrated AI | Productivity assistant | Notion AI (writing + analysis) |
| Templates | Professional and industry-specific | Community richness |
| Mobile interface | Functional but dense | Fluid and well thought-out |
Focus on task and project management
ClickUp offers ultra-structured task management:
- personalized statuses,
- sub-tasks,
- priorities,
- dependencies,
- time estimation,
- time tracking,
- comments...
... it's a real war machine. Ideal for tech, product or agency teams.
Notion, on the other hand, is based on customizable databases that can be transformed into Kanban boards or calendars. Less native structure, but great flexibility. Perfect for creating lightweight visual workflows.
💡 Verdict:
- for project teams who need structure: ClickUp;
- for creatives who want to adapt the tool to their method: Notion
Focus on automations and workflows
ClickUp integrates code-free automations:
- change the status of a task,
- automatically assign a person,
- send a notification...
This is a real plus when it comes to saving time in recurring workflows.
Notion, on the other hand, remains very limited in this respect. You'll have to rely on external tools like Zapier or Make to automate anything, and that requires a modicum of technique.
💡 Verdict: ClickUp largely dominates on this point.
Focus on documents and note-taking
Notion was born as a note-taking tool. And on this point, it excels:
- uncluttered interface,
- wealth of blocks,
- intuitive hierarchy,
- fluid formatting.
You can create real knowledge bases, wikis, guides, content templates...
ClickUp does include a Docs function, but it remains more limited in terms of customization. On the other hand, integration between docs and tasks is very fluid.
💡 Verdict:
- for editing and wikis, Notion is unbeatable ;
- for project-related documents, ClickUp is very efficient.
Focus on databases
Notion shines in this area. It lets you create relational databases, with :
- filters,
- tags,
- multiple views (table, calendar, gallery, etc.).
It can be used to manage a CRM, an editorial calendar or a product roadmap.
ClickUp offers a hierarchical structure (Spaces > Folders > Lists > Tasks), but no real, modelable databases. Each task remains independent, even if you can play around with custom fields.
💡 Verdict: Notion is the obvious choice if you need a database-style structuring tool.
Focus on dashboards and reporting
If you want to manage your projects with visual KPIs, ClickUp offers a complete Dashboard module:
- charts,
- progress bars,
- team stats,
- customizable widgets... it's all there for real-time monitoring.
Notion, on the other hand, is virtually silent on this point. It's possible to tinker with calculation or synthesis systems, but nothing native or visual.
💡 Verdict: ClickUp is the best option for visual reporting, especially for managers.
ClickUp vs Notion: compare prices
| Plan | ClickUp | Notion |
| Free | Free Forever:
|
Yes :
|
| Basic | Unlimited - €8.51/user/month
|
Plus - €9.50/user/month :
|
| Intermediate | Business - €10.21/user/month
|
Business - €19.50/user/month :
|
| Enterprise | Enterprise - on request:
|
Enterprise - on request:
|
ClickUp vs Notion: which interface is more intuitive?
A good management tool is no good if you get lost in it. And in this area, ClickUp and Notion adopt radically different approaches. One favors functional richness, the other visual simplicity. So, who's the winner when it comes to ergonomics?
| Criteria | ClickUp | Notion |
| Quick to grasp | ❌ Complex at first | Very accessible |
| Overall ergonomics | ❌ Dense interface | Streamlined interface |
| Visual customization | Very extensive (views, colors, layout) | High (themes, icons, blocks) |
| Navigation | ❌ Rigid hierarchical tree structure | Fluid navigation between pages |
| Mobile (App) | Functional but perfectible | Very fluid and intuitive |
| Collaborative experience | Highly optimized for teams | Natural and efficient |
🧠 Verdict:
- if you like framed, powerful tools with complex management functions, choose ClickUp, but allow time for adaptation ;
- if you prefer a light, modular interface that's pleasant to use on a daily basis, choose Notion, without hesitation.
ClickUp vs Notion: compare integrations
The more easily a tool can be integrated into your digital stack, the more indispensable it becomes to your organization. For product, marketing or IT teams, the ability of software to dialogue with other tools is a key factor: less friction, more automation, and a smoother workflow.
👉 Number of available integrations
- ClickUp: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Over 1,000 integrations available, via native connections or via Zapier, Make, Webhooks or API REST. There are the classics: Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, GitHub, Zoom, HubSpot, Salesforce... The ecosystem is rich, but some integrations require a bit of manual configuration.
- Notion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Notion has long lagged behind on this point, but since 2023, things have changed for the better. It now offers native integrations with Slack, Jira, GitHub, Google Drive, Figma, Asana and more. Best of all, a well-documented public API enables custom connections to be developed. Many integrations still go through third-party tools like Zapier.
👉 Ease of configuration
- ClickUp: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Most native integrations are simple to activate. But as soon as you get into more advanced cases (CRM, multi-step automations), you have to dig into the docs or go through an external connector. The ClickUp Apps Center helps, but not everything is plug & play.
- Notion: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
The most basic integrations (like Slack or Google Calendar) are easy enough to activate. But as soon as it comes to creating synchronized workflows, the configuration becomes more technical. You often have to go through the Notion, Zapier or Make APIs, which can put off non-technical users.
👉 Customization and automation
- ClickUp: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Big plus point. Integrations can be linked to internal automations (task assignment, conditional creation, notifications...). You can create very specific automation scenarios, without writing a line of code, provided you understand the available triggers.
- Notion: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Notion offers some basic automations with Notion AI (automatic summarization, text completion) and connectors with Make or Zapier to automate email sending, task creation, etc. But everything depends on external tools: automation remains dependent on a third-party ecosystem.
💡 Conclusion
- ClickUp takes the lead thanks to its more mature integrations, robust API and powerful native automations. It's an excellent choice for teams looking to centralize actions between multiple tools without coding ;
- Notion, on the other hand, is making progress but remains more suited to modular, manual use, or to technical users able to build their own workflows via external tools.
When to choose ClickUp or Notion?
ClickUp and Notion are two powerful tools... but they don't always target the same types of teams or projects. Choosing the right tool means first and foremost understanding your needs: structure or freedom? Automation or customization? Macro or micro management? Let's find out.
ClickUp use cases
ClickUp is designed for those who like (or need) structure, centralization and operational control. It excels in contexts with complex workflows , large teams and multi-dimensional projects.
📌 Here are the contexts where ClickUp is an obvious choice:
- tech, dev, product or support teams with rigid workflows and the need for status-based management ;
- growing agencies or startups that want to centralize their tools (tasks, documents, reporting...) ;
- managers with multiple projects and personalized dashboards to track progress;
- organizations looking to automate their internal processes without developing ;
- companies with complex onboarding or structured HR tracking requirements;
- cross-functional teams needing to align with common objectives (OKRs, product roadmap, etc.).
Examples of Notion use cases
Notion shines in contexts where creativity, flexibility and documentation are priorities. It appeals to those who like to build their own system, page by page, block by block.
📌 Here are the profiles that get the most out of Notion:
- freelancers, content creators, coaches or consultants who want an all-in-one, elegant workspace;
- marketing or communications teams who manage their content, editorial planning or campaigns in a single tool ;
- organizations creating a living, well-structured knowledge base;
- users who want a hybrid tool between note-taking, lightweight project management and database;
- companies wishing to document their internal processes, HR policies or product guides;
- any team that values aesthetics, customizable templates and intuitive navigation.
ClickUp or Notion: your next management tool depends on your working style
In the end, the question isn't so much which tool is better... but which tool is best for you. Because between ClickUp and Notion, we're not comparing two similar pieces of software, but two work philosophies.
👉 ClickUp is all about structure, automation and performance. Perfect for :
- demanding project teams,
- complex workflows,
- organizations seeking to centralize everything.
It requires a little mastery, but it quickly becomes an ultra-powerful cockpit for managing all your work.
👉 Notion is all about flexibility, creativity and fluidity. Ideal for :
- build a workspace that reflects your image,
- document your ideas,
- manage projects without rigidity.
Accessible to all, it adapts to your logic (and not the other way round).
And if you're still hesitating... why not give them both a try ? Both tools offer a free plan, so you can get an idea without breaking the bank.
FAQ - ClickUp vs Notion: your frequently asked questions
Is ClickUp better than Notion for managing a team?
Yes, especially if you need structuring, task prioritization, fine-grained permissions and performance monitoring. ClickUp is designed for team management, whereas Notion is more flexible, but less equipped for complex projects.
Can Notion be used as a complete project management tool?
Yes, but with a few limitations. Notion lets you create Kanban boards, calendar views and customized databases. This is sufficient for simple to medium-sized projects. On the other hand, it lacks native automations, conditional statuses or advanced reporting like ClickUp.
Can Notion and ClickUp be used together?
Absolutely. Many teams use Notion for documentation (wiki, content, internal guides) and ClickUp for operational management (tasks, deadlines, sprints). The two tools can be connected via Zapier, Make or the API to synchronize certain elements.
Which tool is easier to learn?
Notion is easier for beginners: clear interface, intuitive navigation, very fluid content creation. ClickUp is more complete, but takes a little time to get to grips with all its features.
Which tool is more interesting in its free version?
Both offer a generous free plan, but :
- ClickUp Free is richer in project functionalities (multiple views, task management, docs...) ;
- Notion Free shines in its flexibility to create wikis, databases or personal spaces, without too many limits.
Article translated from French