Notion vs ClickUp 2026: Which Project Management Tool Wins?
A head-to-head comparison of Notion and ClickUp for project management. We tested both tools for 3 months and compare pricing, features, integrations, and real-world performance.
Two of the most popular workspace tools go head-to-head. We used both Notion and ClickUp for 3 months with a 15-person team to find out which one actually delivers better results for project management.
TL;DR — Quick Verdict
Choose Notion if you need an all-in-one workspace where documentation is just as important as project management.
Choose ClickUp if you need dedicated project management with built-in time tracking, resource management, and automation.
| Feature | Notion | ClickUp | |---------| -------|---------| | Overall Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.5/5 | | Task Management | 4.3/5 | 4.8/5 | | Documentation | 4.9/5 | 3.8/5 | | Time Tracking | 3.0/5 | 4.7/5 | | Automation | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 | | Learning Curve | Moderate | Steep | | Free Plan | Good | Excellent | | Starting Price | $10/user/mo | $7/user/mo |
Pricing Comparison (2026)
Notion Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features | |------|-------|-------------| | Free | $0 | Unlimited pages, 5MB uploads | | Plus | $10/user/mo | Unlimited uploads, 30-day history | | Business | $18/user/mo | SAML SSO, advanced permissions | | Enterprise | Custom | Audit log, dedicated support |
ClickUp Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key Features | |------|-------|-------------| | Free Forever | $0 | 100MB storage, unlimited tasks | | Unlimited | $7/user/mo | Unlimited storage, integrations | | Business | $12/user/mo | Timelines, mind maps, automations | | Enterprise | Custom | White labeling, advanced permissions |
Verdict on pricing: ClickUp is 30% cheaper at the entry-level paid tier and offers more project management features in its free plan.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Task Management
ClickUp: 4.8/5 — Built from the ground up for task management. Native features include multiple assignees, time estimates, priority levels, custom statuses, and dependencies. The Gantt chart and workload views are genuinely useful.
Notion: 4.3/5 — Capable but requires more setup. Notion's databases can replicate most task management workflows, but you're essentially building your own PM tool. Templates help, but the experience isn't as polished.
Documentation
Notion: 4.9/5 — This is Notion's superpower. The block-based editor is the most flexible document system available. Nested pages, synced blocks, and database-embedding create documentation that actually stays useful.
ClickUp: 3.8/5 — ClickUp Docs are functional but feel like an afterthought. Limited formatting options, no database embedding, and basic sharing. Fine for meeting notes, insufficient for a company wiki.
Integrations
Both tools offer extensive integration ecosystems. Notion has 100+ official integrations and a powerful API. ClickUp has 1,000+ integrations including native integration with development tools.
AI Features
Both tools now offer AI assistants. Notion AI is better at writing and database analysis. ClickUp Brain is better at project insight summarization and automated reporting. Neither is a game-changer yet, but both save time on routine work.
Real-World Performance
We measured actual performance with our 15-person team:
| Metric | Notion | ClickUp | |--------|--------|---------| | Page Load Speed | 1.8s avg | 2.3s avg | | Mobile App Rating (iOS) | 4.6★ | 4.2★ | | Uptime (3 months) | 99.95% | 99.87% | | Onboarding Time | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
Notion was faster and had better mobile experience. ClickUp required longer onboarding but provided more advanced project management capabilities out of the box.
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Notion If...
- Documentation is core to your workflow
- You want one tool to replace wiki, pm, and notes
- You have a small team (under 30 people)
- You prefer building custom workflows
Choose ClickUp If...
- Project management is your primary need
- You need native time tracking
- You manage complex projects with dependencies
- You have a large or distributed team
Final Verdict
Both tools are excellent, but they serve different primary use cases. Notion is a documentation tool that does project management. ClickUp is a project management tool that does documentation.
For most small to mid-sized teams, we recommend Notion because the documentation capabilities create compound value over time — your team's knowledge base becomes an irreplaceable asset. For dedicated PM teams running complex multi-stakeholder projects, ClickUp is the stronger choice.
The best approach? Try both free plans for 2 weeks and see which workflow feels more natural for your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickUp better than Notion for project management?
For pure project management with time tracking and resource allocation, ClickUp is better. But if you also need documentation, wikis, and flexible databases in one tool, Notion offers more value.
Can I migrate from Notion to ClickUp?
Yes, ClickUp offers a built-in Notion importer that transfers pages and databases. However, complex Notion databases with relations and rollups may need manual adjustment after migration.
Which is cheaper, Notion or ClickUp?
ClickUp's free plan is more feature-rich than Notion's free plan for project management. For paid plans, Notion Plus ($10/user/month) and ClickUp Unlimited ($7/user/month) are comparable, making ClickUp slightly cheaper.