monday.com vs Trello [2024]: Which Tool is Best?

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By Rosie Greaves

Last Updated on June 18, 2024 by Ewen Finser

Ok, so you want to setup a project management system, but aren’t sure if Trello or monday.com is the right option?

Great, been there!

Trello and Monday.com are agile project management tools designed for real-time collaboration, are flexible, and able to handle a variety of project type

If this is something you’re craving, then using collaboration software might be the solution to your problems. So, here in this review, we’re going to take a look at two of the most popular project management applications on the market: Trello and monday.com.

Both of these web-based project management tools enable team members to work collaboratively by syncing their work and communications.  



Bottom Line Up Front Summary: If you are looking for something FREE, Trello works fine. However, as you scale, the benefits of monday.com become rather lopsided. This is why overall my top pick here is monday.com.


Main Differences Between Monday vs TrelloThe main differences between monday and Trello are:

  • monday offers a variety of predesigned templates for different business use cases, whereas Trello offers simple Kanban board functionality
  • Trello offers completely free versions, whereas monday only offers free trials
  • monday.com offers more advanced views like Gannt chart, whereas Trello mainly features basic boards
Editor's Choice
Why Go with monday.com?

Make tasks satisfying to finish! monday.com is quickly disrupting the old guard with a sleek interface, hundreds of integrations, and dozens of workviews for visually imagining and tracking your projects. More than just project management.

Start Managing Your Team Better
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Diving into Trello vs monday.com High Level

Let’s start with Trello… 

What is Trello in a Nutshell?

It’s big. More than a million people actively use Trello software worldwide, and to date, it boasts over four million registered users. It’s typically used as either project management and/or collaboration tool. 

Trello’s software permits you to create tasks for your projects in the form of ‘cards’ and ‘boards.’ It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a tool to help you organize complex work projects or coordinate your household to-do lists — Trello does both.  

Overview and History of Trello

Trello, launched in 2011 by Fog Creek Software, has become a staple tool for project management across the globe. Its intuitive, card-based system and user-friendly interface have made it a favorite among teams of all sizes.

Company Background

Initially conceptualized during a “Creek Week” at Fog Creek Software, Trello was officially introduced to the public at TechCrunch Disrupt. With its simple yet effective approach to task and project management, Trello quickly gained traction. The platform’s name, derived from the word “trellis,” reflects its early development stages. By 2014, Trello had spun off into its own entity, Trello, Inc., under the leadership of Michael Pryor, co-founder of Fog Creek.

Development and Updates

Trello’s journey has been marked by significant milestones, including the introduction of the Trello Android app and localized versions for various countries.

In 2017, Trello was acquired by Atlassian, which broadened its reach and added new dimensions to its functionality. This acquisition also introduced Trello to Atlassian’s extensive array of software solutions, enhancing its capabilities with new integrations and features like Butler for automation.

Target Audience

Originally aimed at individuals and small teams, Trello’s simplicity and versatility quickly attracted a diverse user base.

From freelancers to large enterprises, the platform’s ability to scale made it a go-to solution for anyone needing an effective project management tool.

Trello’s design philosophy has always emphasized user-friendliness, making it accessible to a broad audience without specific targeting.

Trello Pricing Tiers

Trello offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate various needs. From a free plan for individuals and small teams to enterprise solutions with advanced features and security, Trello ensures that users only pay for the capabilities they require.

This flexible pricing model has contributed significantly to its widespread adoption and user satisfaction. I still use Trello boards for personal projects!

By continuously evolving and adapting to user needs, Trello has maintained its position as a leading tool in project management, helping teams around the world organize their workflows and enhance productivity.

This is How Trello Works…

You use Trello’s boards as a kind of HQ for overarching projects (cloud-based project management app) and within those boards, you have cards. The cards represent the individual tasks that still need doing.  

The Trello card setup allow you to make agile lists (kanban project management) and keep track of any outstanding jobs. You can also categorize each of these actions to help you and your team get a feel for which items are a priority.  

Trello boards have three privacy settings: Private, Team Visible, and Public. So rest assured, if you’re working on a confidential project, the whole world doesn’t need to hear about it!  

Needless to say, Trello also tracks your teams’ files and tasks — all from the convenience of one place. Plus, you can integrate all manner of apps with your Trello account (see Trello integration options). This works wonders for improving its overall functionality.  

It has a built-in ‘Butler’ agile automation tool that you can add to your Trello board. This stops your team accidentally duplicating tasks and ensures daily tasks are displayed on the correct boards — automatically (without having to manually move tasks).  

Trello software and management app is supported by Windows, Android, Mac, web-based, iPhone, and iPad and is used by small, medium and large businesses (Trello Business Class) and freelancers — so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to use Trello in some capacity.  

Not to mention, Trello’s website has some great blogs, including “How to Stop Thinking About Work (Even When The Workday Is Over), “Top Tips and Tricks For Setting Up Your Trello Team Toolkit” — So, be sure to give these a read.  

Trello also provides its users with easy-to-use tutorials. If you want to make the most out of Trello’s software, these are well worth a look. You’ll get top-notch advice on how to create your first project boards, add lists, cards, and invite members to your board.

Once your team members have accepted your invitation, you can then assign them tasks and start collaborating with greater ease.  

trello sign up for free

Overview and History of monday.com

Monday.com, a cloud-based work management and team collaboration platform, was founded in 2012 by Roy Mann and Eran Zinman. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, the platform has grown significantly since its launch, with additional offices now in New York, San Francisco, and Sydney. Originally known as dapulse, the company rebranded to monday.com in November 2017 to better reflect its broadened vision.

Company Background

The journey of monday.com began when co-founders Roy Mann and Eran Zinman, along with their team, identified a common frustration among rapidly scaling organizations and set out to create a solution that people would love to use.

Their efforts culminated in the launch of monday.com from a modest setup in Tel Aviv. Since then, the company has secured significant funding rounds, achieving a unicorn status with a valuation over one billion dollars, and has expanded its global presence with the opening of its first international office in NYC.

Development and Updates

Since its inception, monday.com has been on a continuous trajectory of growth and innovation. The platform has rolled out numerous updates, including the introduction of mondayDB 1.0, monday workdocs, and various automation and integration tools, enhancing its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its users.

The transformation into a work operating system (Work OS) marked a significant milestone, allowing organizations to build custom apps and manage all aspects of their work more efficiently.

Today, I don’t even think of monday.com as ONLY a project management tool. It can be a full fledged CRM, support ticket center, ITSM platform, and a wide array of “work management” applications.

Target Audience

Designed for versatility, monday.com catifies to a wide range of industries including marketing, IT, and project management, and is used by teams of all sizes from small startups to large enterprises.

The platform’s customizable features such as boards, calendars, and dashboards are tailored to help teams stay organized and improve productivity regardless of their specific sector.

monday.com Pricing Tiers

Monday.com offers a variety of pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. Starting from a free plan for individuals or small teams, the pricing tiers escalate through several levels up to an enterprise plan, which is tailored for larger organizations requiring advanced features and capabilities.

Each tier is designed to provide optimal value, ensuring that businesses can scale their use of monday.com in alignment with their growth and evolving requirements.

By continuously updating its features and expanding its reach, monday.com has established itself as a significant player in the field of work management solutions, helping over 225,000 businesses worldwide streamline their operations and enhance team collaboration.

monday.com vs Trello: Functionality and Features

When comparing the functionality and features of Monday vs Trello, we dive deep into the specifics of task management, project tracking, view customization, and automation capabilities that each platform offers.

These elements are crucial for understanding how each tool can streamline operations and enhance productivity within various business environments.

Task Management

Monday.com excels in task management with its highly versatile toolset, allowing for extensive customization of workflows, views, dashboards, and more.

This platform supports a variety of views such as Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendar views, making it adaptable to different management styles. The ability to automate recurring tasks and set dependencies helps in identifying and addressing blocking issues efficiently, saving valuable time and reducing manual efforts.

Trello, on the other hand, offers a more straightforward approach with its card-based system. It is highly effective for simpler task management needs and can be enhanced with unlimited power-ups (integrations), allowing for a customizable experience. However, it lacks some of the more advanced features found in Monday.com, such as built-in time tracking and detailed dependency settings.

Project Tracking

Monday.com is designed as a comprehensive Work OS, capable of managing complex projects with tools for capacity planning and portfolio management.

Its built-in time tracking and effort logging provide insights into how much time tasks actually take, which is invaluable for accurate project planning and optimization.

Trello’s project tracking capabilities are generally simpler, focusing on the customizable Kanban board and basic automations through its Butler feature.

While effective for smaller projects, I PERSONALLY find that it does not always provide enough depth for managing larger or more complex project portfolios without additional integrations (e.g. software development lifecycles).

View Customization

One of Monday.com’s standout features is its plethora of customizable views. Users can choose from timeline views, Gantt charts, workload views, and more, each adjustable to meet the specific needs of the team. This level of customization ensures that every team member can work in the way that suits them best, enhancing overall efficiency and satisfaction.

Trello’s simplicity is also its strength in view customization. The platform’s intuitive interface allows for quick setup and easy adjustments, making it accessible even to those with minimal technical expertise. BUT, it does not offer as wide a range as Monday.com in terms of detailed project planning and view options.

Automation

Both platforms offer robust automation features to streamline workflow. Monday.com integrates various automation and integration tools that can handle complex workflows and connect with numerous other apps. Its ability to automate repetitive tasks and sync across platforms reduces the need for manual intervention and helps maintain project momentum.

Trello’s automation capabilities, while simpler, are enhanced by the Butler feature, which automates common tasks based on user-defined rules. This can significantly improve efficiency but might require additional configuration to match the automation depth provided by Monday.com.

SO, Monday.com offers a more robust suite of features designed for complex project management and greater customization, making it suitable for larger teams or those needing detailed oversight of multiple projects.

BUT Trello is ideal for smaller teams or projects that require less intricate management processes.

Performance Comparison

When comparing the performance of monday.com and Trello, it’s evident that both platforms cater to different needs effectively. monday.com offers a comprehensive suite of tools that support complex project management and detailed reporting, making it ideal for larger organizations or those requiring detailed oversight.

That said, Trello’s card-based system and intuitive design make it perfect for smaller teams or projects that demand simplicity and quick setup.

So Is Trello or monday.com a Better Pick?

Overall, both Trello and Monday.com are well reviewed online, hitting 90%+ ratings across the board, so really it’s a question of taste and budget. 
Bottom Line Summary: If you are looking for something FREE for project management tasks, Trello works fine. However, as you scale, the benefits of monday.com become rather lopsided. This is why overall my top pick here is monday.comSimply put, monday.com is the best Trello alternative I’ve found.

Editor's Choice
Why Go with monday.com?

Make tasks satisfying to finish! monday.com is quickly disrupting the old guard with a sleek interface, hundreds of integrations, and dozens of workviews for visually imagining and tracking your projects. More than just project management.

Start Managing Your Team Better
We earn a commission at no cost to you which helps keep this blog running!

How Other Project Management Competitors Compare

Here are some other related project management tool (project management software) articles you may be interested in with tools like Trello and Monday.

Other monday Alternatives Compared

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