In this blog we pitch Wrike vs Trello. If you’ve been scouting around for a project management tool that uses Kanban boards, you’ve most likely come across both Wrike and Trello in your searches. Picking the right one can be difficult, so we’ve done a side by side comparison that runs through the pros, cons and all the differences between them. We hope this helps you make the most informed decision for your project management needs.
If you only have a minute, here’s the Wrike vs Trello battlelines summarised in three points.
Trello is a cloud-based, Kanban-style project management tool that mainly uses boards, lists, and cards to facilitate collaboration, planning, and management. One of the biggest selling points is its simplicity and practicality. The board system gives users a quick and easy overview of tasks and progress. It was acquired by Atlassian in 2016 and has grown to over 50 million users worldwide.
Smaller teams that are completely Kanban-based would reap the benefits of Trello’s easy drag-and-drop system, basic automations and workflow management features.
Wrike is a cloud-based project management tool that is also known for easy-to-use Kanban boards. However, Wrike expands beyond Kanban to focus on facilitating holistic start-to-end project management with features like interactive Gantt charts, resource management tools, real-time dashboards, active task time-tracking, and more. Free and paid versions of Wrike have become popular solutions for teams of all sizes.
Wrike is a versatile tool for teams of all sizes who want to benefit from more than Kanban boards alone. As a full project management tool, Wrike can be scaled up to an enterprise-level and handle portfolio management activities.
We have given you a general summary of Wrike vs Trello but here’s the side by side comparison of key features:
While some may argue that the simplicity of the Kanban board is enough to manage projects, this is highly dependent on the size and complexity of the projects in question. Whilst Trello does have certain features beyond its Kanban board structure, Wrike takes the lead in this area.
Wrike completely covers start-to-end, project to portfolio-level management. It boasts in-built resource management, time tracking, reporting, Gantt charts, customised workflows, and much more. Teams can manage budgets, tasks, and pretty much everything on a single platform. For that reason, Wrike takes the crown in this department.
Surprisingly, this is where both Trello and Wrike lose big points to competitors. Neither offers an in-built messaging system, so a third-party app needs to be brought in to facilitate most project communications. Both tools, however, integrate with prominent communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack, as well as email services.
In addition, there is some level of in-app collaboration, mainly through mentions and comments. For Trello, users make comments on cards to explain specific needs or changes. These are all updated in real-time on other users’ devices. Wrike uses a mention approach which keeps users in the loop whilst on the app. So, on this front, both tools are tied.
Today, accessibility is everything. Being able to tap into your information whenever and wherever you may be is a critical asset for the modern business. Thankfully, both Trello and Wrike are available on desktop and mobile versions. However, Trello takes the lead over Wrike when it comes to language accessibility. It has over 20 language settings built-in compared to Wrike’s eight.
When it comes to the UI, Trello again takes the lead. Sometimes less is more, and the simplicity of Trello means that new users have almost no issue starting with this tool. Many users have said that Wrike requires a steeper learning curve and many of its handy tools are hidden within the tool itself. Given Wrike’s unique way of visualising and managing projects, it may take teams a bit of time to fully acclimatise and get the most out of their tool.
Trello wins this round!
Project teams are always using multiple apps or tools to manage their projects, be it a communication tool or an Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP). The most vital quality in project management software is how well it integrates with different tools.
Trello connects with 200+ tools and services , including enterprise tools like Adobe and Google Drive as well as through a custom API service known as Power-Ups. Wrike has double the amount of built-in connectors at 400+, as well as its own API development space. Through sheer quantity alone, Wrike secures a win.
Sometimes a project management tool comes that is perfectly matched with all the features and tools you need, but it quickly loses its appeal due to price points. Fortunately, both Wrike and Trello offer free and paid versions so you can try them out first. Both tools have four standard subscription packages, with Trello’s cheapest package starting at $5/user per month. Wrike’s cheapest starting point is $9.80/ user per month.
However, Wrike does offer specialised packages that cater specifically to the needs of marketing and creative teams, as well as service delivery teams. This may be a tricky battle to settle. While Trello may be cheaper, Wrike still inches out as a better investment if you are growing your team. While you may be able to run on the free version of Trello for a while, you will likely encounter challenges over time.
Check out these other articles on comparisons of project management solutions:
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pmo365 makes bespoke project portfolio management solutions that adapt to your organisation’s specific context and requirements. But its not just a single project tool, when you subscribe to pmo365 you gain a complete library of customisable PPM apps and tools that are all connected with real-time data on a single platform. With pmo365 you gain best practice project portfolio management and connections to over 900 third party services.
If you want to find out more about why pmo365 is a leading PPM solution, make an appoiuntment to chat with one of our PPM experts today!