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Technology · head to head

Shortcut vs Trello

Shortcut logo

Shortcut

Technology

Project management for software teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Trello logo

Trello

Project Management

Organize anything, together

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira; Trello free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace
  • They diverge on capability: Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Trello covers Cards & lists.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shortcut and Trello actually diverge.

Attributes where Shortcut and Trello differ
AttributeShortcutTrello
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos
CategoryTechnologyProject Management
Founded20142011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Shortcut

  • Stories & epics
  • Iterations (sprints)
  • Roadmaps
  • Reporting
  • Docs
  • API & webhooks
  • Mobile apps
  • GitLab

Only in Trello

  • Cards & lists
  • Drag-and-drop interface
  • Activity feed
  • Due dates & reminders
  • File attachments
  • Comments & mentions
  • Power-Ups ecosystem
  • Google Drive

Both cover

  • Kanban boards
  • GitHub
  • Slack
  • Zapier
  • SOC2
  • SSO
  • 2FA

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Shortcut

  • Sprint planningnot Trello
  • Bug trackingnot Trello
  • Feature developmentnot Trello
  • Product roadmappingnot Trello
  • Team collaborationnot Trello

Trello

  • Project trackingnot Shortcut
  • Content calendarsnot Shortcut
  • Sales pipelinesnot Shortcut
  • Onboarding processesnot Shortcut
  • Personal task managementnot Shortcut

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Shortcut

  • Limited reporting compared to Jira
  • Designed specifically for software teams, not general project management
  • Can experience slow loading times with very large projects

Trello

  • Free tier limited to 10 boards and 10 collaborators per workspace
  • Free tier automation capped at 250 monthly Butler runs
  • No offline access; web-based platform requires internet connection
  • Advanced views (timeline, table, dashboard) not available on Standard plan
  • SSO only available on Enterprise plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Shortcut

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Kanban boards
    • Sprints
    • Roadmaps
  • Team$8.5/user/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced reports
    • WIP limits
  • Business$12/user/month
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • OKRs
    • Advanced custom fields
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Volume discounts
    • SSO/SCIM
    • Premier support

Trello

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 10 boards/workspace
    • Up to 10 collaborators
    • 250 monthly Butler automation runs
  • Standard$5/user/month
    • Unlimited boards
    • Unlimited Power-Ups
    • 1,000 monthly Butler runs
  • Premium$10/user/month
    • All Standard features
    • Timeline, table, dashboard, calendar views
    • Unlimited automation
  • Enterprise$17.5/user/month
    • All Premium features
    • Unlimited workspaces
    • SSO and user provisioning

Which should you pick?

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).
Shortcut review

Choose Trello if

  • You need cards & lists.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want drag-and-drop interface.
Trello review

Questions people ask

Is Shortcut or Trello better?
Neither clearly leads. Shortcut starts at Free and Trello at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shortcut or Trello?
Shortcut starts at Free and Trello at Free.
Does Shortcut or Trello run on more platforms?
Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. Trello runs on Web, Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
Can I use Shortcut for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Shortcut best used for?
Shortcut is most often used for sprint planning, bug tracking, feature development, product roadmapping. Of those, sprint planning and bug tracking are not what Trello is typically brought in for.
What can Shortcut do that Trello cannot?
Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Roadmaps, Reporting. Trello covers Cards & lists, Drag-and-drop interface, Activity feed, Due dates & reminders. Both handle Kanban boards, GitHub, Slack, Zapier.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shortcut: 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.

Source
Trello: What are the free tier limitations for Trello?

Trello Free supports up to 10 boards per workspace, unlimited cards, 250 monthly Butler automation runs, and up to 10 Power-Up attachments. Limited to 10 collaborators per workspace.

Source
Shortcut: 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.

Source
Trello: What features are included in the Standard plan?

Standard ($5-6/user/month) adds unlimited boards, custom fields, advanced checklists, 1,000 monthly automation runs, list colors, and calendar view access.

Source
Shortcut: 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.

Source
Trello: Does Trello offer SSO and on which plan?

SSO through Atlassian Guard is included only on the Enterprise plan ($17.50/user/month or $210/year per user).

Source
Shortcut: Does Shortcut support SSO and SCIM?

Yes, SSO and SCIM support are available on the Enterprise plan, allowing centralized identity management for large organizations.

Source
Trello: How many file attachment options are available?

Free tier includes 2 Power-Ups per board, Standard adds unlimited Power-Ups, and Premium and above offer full Power-Up marketplace access with custom integration options.

Source
Shortcut: 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
Trello: Is there offline access to Trello boards?

Trello is a web-based application requiring internet connection. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android but do not support true offline editing.

Source
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