Software · head to head
ClickUp vs Shortcut
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; Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira
- They diverge on capability: ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Shortcut covers Stories & epics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ClickUp and Shortcut actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Shortcut
- Stories & epics
- Iterations (sprints)
- Kanban boards
- Roadmaps
- Reporting
- Docs
- API & webhooks
- Mobile apps
Both cover
- Slack
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Zapier
- SOC2
- 2FA
- SSO
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ClickUp
- Project managementnot Shortcut
- Software developmentnot Shortcut
- Marketing campaignsnot Shortcut
- Product roadmapsnot Shortcut
- Client managementnot Shortcut
Shortcut
- Sprint planningnot ClickUp
- Bug trackingnot ClickUp
- Feature developmentnot ClickUp
- Product roadmappingnot ClickUp
- Team collaborationnot 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
Shortcut
- Limited reporting compared to Jira
- Designed specifically for software teams, not general project management
- Can experience slow loading times with very large projects
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$12/user/month
- Sprint reporting
- Private docs
- All Unlimited features
- Business Plus$null/custom
- Advanced features
Shortcut
Free- FreeFree
- Kanban boards
- Sprints
- Roadmaps
- Team$8.5/user/month
- Unlimited users
- Advanced reports
- WIP limits
- Business$12/user/month
- Unlimited workspaces
- OKRs
- Advanced custom fields
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Volume discounts
- SSO/SCIM
- Premier 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 Shortcut if
- You need stories & epics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- You also want iterations (sprints).
Questions people ask
- Is ClickUp or Shortcut better?
- Neither clearly leads. ClickUp starts at Free and Shortcut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ClickUp or Shortcut?
- ClickUp starts at Free and Shortcut at Free.
- Does ClickUp or Shortcut run on more platforms?
- ClickUp runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- 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 Shortcut is typically brought in for.
- What can ClickUp do that Shortcut cannot?
- ClickUp covers Multiple view types, Custom fields, Automation, Time tracking. Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Kanban boards, Roadmaps. Both handle Slack, GitHub, GitLab, Zapier.
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.
SourceShortcut: Does Shortcut have a free plan?
Yes, Shortcut offers a free plan for up to 10 users with core features like kanban boards, roadmaps, sprints, and reports. Paid plans start at $8.50 per user per month.
SourceClickUp: 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.
SourceShortcut: Does Shortcut integrate with GitHub?
Yes, Shortcut has native GitHub integration that automatically syncs pull requests and commits to stories, and includes GitLab and Bitbucket support as well.
SourceClickUp: 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.
SourceShortcut: Can I use Shortcut for non-technical projects?
Shortcut is built for software teams, though you can customize workflows for other use cases. Linear and Asana may be better suited for non-technical project management.
SourceClickUp: 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.
SourceShortcut: Does Shortcut support SSO and SCIM?
Yes, SSO and SCIM support are available on the Enterprise plan, allowing centralized identity management for large organizations.
SourceShortcut: What's the difference between Shortcut and Jira?
Shortcut is lighter and faster with less setup required, while Jira offers deeper customization and enterprise features. Shortcut works better for modern software teams wanting simplicity; Jira suits enterprises needing extensive configuration.
Source