Technology · head to head
ClickUp vs Ory Kratos
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ClickUp the free plan is capped at 60MB of storage, 5 spaces, 1 form and 3 whiteboards, so the limits are structural rather than just a seat count; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- They diverge on capability: ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ClickUp and Ory Kratos actually diverge.
| Attribute | ClickUp | Ory Kratos |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | Open-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows | Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted |
| Category | Technology | Cybersecurity |
| Founded | 2017 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in ClickUp
- Multiple view types
- Custom fields
- Automation
- Time tracking
- Goal tracking
- Document collaboration
- Whiteboards
- Mind maps
Only in Ory Kratos
- Headless API
- Self-service flows
- Multi-factor authentication
- Pluggable identity schemas
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ClickUp
- Project managementnot Ory Kratos
- Software developmentnot Ory Kratos
- Marketing campaignsnot Ory Kratos
- Product roadmapsnot Ory Kratos
- Client managementnot Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos
- Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot ClickUp
- Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot ClickUp
- Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot ClickUp
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
ClickUp
- The free plan is capped at 60MB of storage, 5 spaces, 1 form and 3 whiteboards, so the limits are structural rather than just a seat count
- Gantt charts, time tracking and goals require Unlimited at $7 per user per month billed yearly
- Automations are rationed by tier, at 5,000 a month on Business and 250,000 on Enterprise
- SAML SSO, custom roles and HIPAA compliance are Enterprise only
- AI is charged separately, at $9 per user per month for Brain and $28 for Everything AI
- Monthly billing is substantially dearer, at $10 and $19 against the yearly rates
Ory Kratos
- Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
- More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
- Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
- Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb
Pricing, plan by plan
ClickUp
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited tasks
- 60 MB storage
- Collaborative docs
- Unlimited$7/user/month
- Unlimited storage
- All views
- Time tracking
- Business$12/user/month
- Sprint reporting
- Private docs
- All Unlimited features
- Business Plus$undefined/custom
- Advanced features
Ory Kratos
Free- Self-hostedFree
- Full identity server
- All flows
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose ClickUp if
- You need multiple view types.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want custom fields.
Choose Ory Kratos if
- You need headless api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want self-service flows.
Questions people ask
- Is ClickUp or Ory Kratos better?
- Neither clearly leads. ClickUp starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ClickUp or Ory Kratos?
- ClickUp starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free.
- Does ClickUp or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
- ClickUp runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- Can I use ClickUp for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is ClickUp best used for?
- ClickUp is most often used for project management, software development, marketing campaigns, product roadmaps. Of those, project management and software development are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
- What can ClickUp do that Ory Kratos cannot?
- ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Custom fields, Automation, Time tracking. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
ClickUp: How many views does ClickUp support?
ClickUp includes List, Table, Board, Calendar, Gantt, and Inbox views, plus Whiteboards for collaboration and multiple specialized views for different workflows.
SourceOry Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?
Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.
ClickUp: What is ClickUp Brain?
ClickUp Brain is the AI feature providing workspace Q&A, task summaries, and AI-powered automation available as an add-on at $9 or $28/user/month depending on usage.
SourceOry Kratos: What does headless mean here?
Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.
ClickUp: How long does it take to set up ClickUp?
Initial setup typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on team size and complexity needs, which is longer than Monday.com (1-2 days) but necessary for ClickUp's flexibility.
SourceOry Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?
No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.
ClickUp: Does ClickUp have built-in time tracking?
Yes, time tracking is included in the first paid plan (Unlimited) at $7/user/month, allowing teams to track project hours without additional tools.
SourceRelated pages
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