Software · head to head
Monday.com vs Shortcut
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Monday.com expensive at scale with 3-seat minimum and costs increasing quickly with team size; Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira
- They diverge on capability: Monday.com covers Customizable workflows, Shortcut covers Stories & epics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Monday.com and Shortcut actually diverge.
| Attribute | Monday.com | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Founded | 2012 | 2014 |
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 Monday.com
- Customizable workflows
- Multiple views (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar)
- Automation engine
- Real-time collaboration
- Forms
- Dashboards
- Workload management
- Gmail
Only in Shortcut
- Stories & epics
- Iterations (sprints)
- Kanban boards
- Roadmaps
- Reporting
- Docs
- API & webhooks
- GitHub
Both cover
- Mobile apps
- Slack
- SOC2
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Monday.com
- Project managementnot Shortcut
- Sales CRMnot Shortcut
- Marketing campaignsnot Shortcut
- HR processesnot Shortcut
- IT ticketingnot Shortcut
Shortcut
- Sprint planningnot Monday.com
- Bug trackingnot Monday.com
- Feature developmentnot Monday.com
- Product roadmappingnot Monday.com
- Team collaborationnot Monday.com
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Monday.com
- Expensive at scale with 3-seat minimum and costs increasing quickly with team size
- Limited free plan with only 2 users and 3 boards
- Mobile app provides reduced functionality compared to web version
- Email CC/BCC limitations for looping in stakeholders without full board access
- WorkForms can only create new items, not update existing ones
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
Monday.com
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Monday.com review.
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 Monday.com if
- You need customizable workflows.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want multiple views (kanban, gantt, calendar).
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 Monday.com or Shortcut better?
- Neither clearly leads. Monday.com 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, Monday.com or Shortcut?
- Monday.com starts at Free and Shortcut at Free.
- Does Monday.com or Shortcut run on more platforms?
- Monday.com runs on Web, iOS, Android. Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- Can I use Monday.com for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Monday.com best used for?
- Monday.com is most often used for project management, sales crm, marketing campaigns, hr processes. Of those, project management and sales crm are not what Shortcut is typically brought in for.
- What can Monday.com do that Shortcut cannot?
- Monday.com covers Customizable workflows, Multiple views (Kanban, Gantt, Calendar), Automation engine, Real-time collaboration. Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Kanban boards, Roadmaps. Both handle Mobile apps, Slack, SOC2, GDPR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Monday.com: Does Monday.com have a free plan?
Yes, Monday.com offers a free plan limited to 2 users and 3 boards. Paid plans start at around $9 per seat per month and require a minimum of 3 seats.
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.
SourceMonday.com: Can I use Monday.com on mobile?
Monday.com is available on iOS and Android, but the mobile app lacks the full depth of the desktop version, making complex board management more difficult on the go.
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.
SourceMonday.com: Does Monday.com support offline work?
Monday.com is primarily a cloud-based platform and does not have robust offline capabilities. You need an internet connection to access and edit boards.
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.
SourceMonday.com: What is Monday.com's pricing based on?
Pricing is based on the number of seats and which product module you choose (Work Management, Sales CRM, Dev, or Service). Each module has different features and pricing.
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