Trello vs Asana vs ClickUp: Which is Best for Online Business Owners?

Let me guess, you’ve heard about the Trello vs Asana vs ClickUp battle and have no idea what these are or which one is best for you. 

Choosing the right project management tool can make all the difference in how efficiently you run your business. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the three most popular project management tools – Trello, Asana, and Clickup – and help you determine which one is the best fit for your online business needs.

What is a project management tool?

But first, let’s quickly go over what a project management tool is and why they’re highly recommended for all online business owners. 

A project management tool is a software solution that helps you organize your business, collaborate with team members, track tasks, projects, deadlines and more. 

These tools provide a centralized hub where you can manage your entire business with ease. Whether you’re a blogger, service provider or coach, content or digital product creator, using a project management tool can make your life as an entrepreneur so much easier. 

However, not all tools are equal and not all tools will ‘click’ with your uniquely wired brain, so it’s important to find a tool that aligns with your working style, preferences and business objectives. 

So next, we’ll explore the Trello vs Asana vs ClickUp features to help you make an informed decision.

Note: These features were last verified August 2023.

What is Trello?

Trello is a user-friendly and visually-oriented project management tool that uses a Kanban-style system to organize tasks. This is also the tool that I’ve chosen to manage my entire business due to its simplicity. 

Top Trello Features: Free Plan

Here are some of the top Trello features that make it a great choice for online business owners looking to save time in their days:

• Kanban-style boards for visual task management
• Drag and drop functionality to easily track task progress
• Collaborative features such as comments, assigning team members and due dates
• Integration with other apps and tools for seamless workflow
• Powerful automations (even on the free plan)
• Mobile app for on-the-go access

Trello is commonly referred to as the best project management system for solopreneurs, but I’ve successfully used it with my small team as well.

The best part is that there’s so much you can do on the free plan. In fact, all my Trello templates can be used on the free plan. 😉

Related Post: How to Use Trello to Organize Your Business

What is Asana?

Asana is a robust project management tool designed for teams of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features to help you streamline your projects, communication and collaboration. 

Top Asana Features: Free Plan

Here are some of the reasons why many have chosen Asana as their preferred project management tool to manage their team and online business:

• Team and individual task assignments with due dates and priority levels
• Multiple project views on the free plan (list, board, calendar)
• Good reporting for status updates and ability to export project data

Personally, I found Asana to be more complicated and a bit more complex. However, there are many online business owners who swear by this tool and is commonly referred to as the best one for team management. 

Related Post: Using Strategic Systems to Reduce Your Overwhelm

What is ClickUp?

Clickup is a comprehensive project management tool that combines task management, communication and collaboration features into one platform. 

Top ClickUp Features: Free Plan

Here are some of the extensive range of functionalities ClickUp has to cater to different business requirements:

• Multiple project views (list, board, calendar) 
• Customizable task checklists and statuses for better workflow tracking
• Time tracking and reporting to avoid overscheduling tasks

With the overload of features available inside of ClickUp, it can be overwhelming for small business owners to learn. However, depending on how large your team is and the amount of processes you need to manage, this may be the tool for you. 

Trello vs Asana vs ClickUp: Which is Best?

Now that you know the key differences between Trello vs Asana vs ClickUp, it’s time to determine which one of these project management tools is the best fit for your online business. 

While many business experts may give you their opinion on which tool is best for you, the decision is ultimately yours. 

Choosing a Project Management Tool Considerations

Each tool has its strengths and weaknesses, but here are some things to consider when making your decision:

• Complexity and types of projects you need to manage
• Size of your team now and in the near future
• Integration needs with other tools
• Budget considerations in case you need to upgrade
• Look and feel of the tool (you’ll be working in this daily so you need to like it) 
• Feature must-haves based on your own business 

Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific needs, team size, budget and workflow preferences. 

My Personal Preference 

As a Productivity Strategist, my personal preference leans towards Trello as this is the one I use to manage everything in my business. 

I’ve worked with several hundreds of students inside my Trello courses and have thousands more who have grabbed Trello Templates from me. 

The reasons why I specifically chose Trello several years ago include:

• I love how visual you can make the Trello boards. I like ‘pretty’ and Trello allows me to keep my boards and workspace pretty and organized. 
• I’ve successfully used it with a team up to 3, even if they weren’t using Trello previously.
• You can easily automate your tasks and workflows within Trello to save time, even on the free plan.

Of course, there’s more reasons but these are just some of the top few. 😉

Out of the three tools: Trello, Asana and ClickUp, Trello just ‘clicked’ more with my brain. However, this is my preference. Yours may be different and that’s okay! 

Related Post: Organize Your Brain with Dr. Megan Ehrlich

Tips for Choosing the Right One for YOU

As I’ve mentioned, the important thing here is for you to select a project management tool that’s right for you and your business. 

To help you decide, here’s some tips: 

Sign up for the free trials / plans. 

Take advantage of the free trials offered by Trello, Asana and Clickup. This will allow you to test drive each tool and get a feel for their features and usability.

If you’d like to get a step-by-step walkthrough on how to get started with Trello, check out Getting Started with Trello here.

Complete basic tasks within each tool.

Start with creating a simple project or task within each tool to see the differences between Trello vs Asana vs Clickup, side by side. 

Pay attention to the user experience, customization options and overall ease of use. By using each tool for the same task, you’ll be able to get a feel for each one and start to notice which you gravitate to more. 

Decide on one and stick to it. 

Just like anything else in your business, using a new tool will take some getting used to, no matter how easy it is to use. 

As much as you’re tempted to switch to another tool a few months down the road, don’t. Give it some time for you to make it a habit to use the tool you chose. 

Regardless if you choose Trello, Asana or ClickUp, there are plenty of resources available to help you make the most out of them. 

And if you do decide to go with Trello, I invite you to check out my Trello templates so that you can get them implemented quicker. 😉

Project Management Tools are a Game-Changer

Choosing a project management tool that works for your brain is a total game-changer for your online business. 

Whether you opt for Trello, Asana or Clickup, each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses. Consider your business needs, team requirements and personal preferences to make an informed decision. 

Remember, the goal is to find a tool that enhances your productivity, streamlines your operations and helps you achieve your business goals with ease!

Helping you save time and avoid overwhelm is what I’m all about! If you haven’t yet, I invite you to tune in to the Cheerful Productive Chats Podcast here, where I release a new episode every Wednesday.