“What’s the status of that campaign?”
“Is that ad design ready yet?”
“The reports are due tomorrow. What are we missing?”
Project management software helps businesses keep track of tasks, deadlines and progress — yet only 22% of companies use it. Meanwhile, 77% of high-performing projects rely on these tools, according to GoRemotely.
If you’re considering ClickUp, this review covers its key features, strengths and challenges. Zoe Marketing & Communications has used ClickUp since 2019 to manage complex marketing projects. Over time, we’ve found both advantages and a learning curve.
Here’s what you need to know to determine if ClickUp is the right fit for your business.
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8 key features of ClickUp worth considering
1. The structure of ClickUp
ClickUp offers a six-layer hierarchy to organize tasks and projects:
- Workspaces: The highest-level container, often used for companies, departments or major projects.
- Spaces: A second layer that segments different functions or projects.
- Lists: Organizes tasks into categories, like a marketing campaign or event planning.
- Folders: Groups related lists together for easy navigation.
- Tasks/Subtasks: The core of the platform, where individual assignments, deadlines and details live.
- Nested Subtasks: A further breakdown of subtasks for highly detailed workflows.
This layered approach is great for complex projects but may feel overwhelming for smaller teams. Fortunately, you can use only the levels you need.
2. Task management
ClickUp offers a range of tools to create and manage tasks efficiently:
- Project templates: Pre-built task lists for various industries, from marketing to event planning.
- Recurring tasks: Automate tasks to repeat at custom intervals.
- Custom fields: Add extra details to any task, such as approval stages or budget tracking.
- Prioritization: Set urgency levels (none, low, medium, high) to keep teams aligned.
These features help streamline workflows, but setting up a project can take time — especially when training a team on the platform.
3. Workflows
ClickUp’s workflow tools help teams visualize progress. The default “Kanban” board organizes tasks into to-do, in progress and done, but you can customize these categories.
This at-a-glance approach keeps teams updated without excessive emails or internal messaging. It’s a simple but effective way to track tasks without micromanaging.
4. Team communication and collaboration
ClickUp integrates key teamwork functions, including:
- Task assignments: Assign tasks with clear deadlines and responsibilities.
- Dependencies: Link tasks to ensure one is completed before another begins.
- Watchers: Allow users to follow updates on specific tasks.
- Comments and attachments: Add notes, tag teammates and upload files directly to tasks.
A “Chat View” also mimics a Slack-style discussion thread, though it may be redundant if your team already uses external messaging tools.
5. Integrations for outside apps
ClickUp connects with over 50 tools, including Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Zoom and Outlook.
Through Zapier, you can access 1,000+ additional integrations, allowing seamless workflow across platforms.
6. Time management tools
ClickUp includes a built-in time tracker. Users can start and stop timers within tasks, helping track productivity, estimate project costs and optimize team efficiency.
This feature is useful for billing clients or analyzing workflow bottlenecks. Manual entry is also available for flexibility.
7. Goal setting and tracking
ClickUp allows teams to set high-level goals, such as increasing leads or improving revenue. These goals can be broken down into targets, which track progress in four formats:
- Number: Measure increases or decreases.
- True/false: A simple “completed” or “not completed” checkbox.
- Currency: Track financial progress toward a goal.
- Task: Link specific assignments to a goal.
For growing businesses, this is a valuable way to ensure long-term strategic alignment.
8. Pricing
ClickUp offers several pricing tiers:
- Forever Free: Basic tools with limited storage (100 MB).
- Unlimited: $5/user/month ($9 if paid monthly); adds integrations and custom fields.
- Business: $12/user/month ($19 monthly); includes advanced features and analytics.
- Business Plus: $19/user/month ($29 monthly); ideal for managing multiple teams.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for large organizations.
Choosing the right plan depends on your team’s needs and the complexity of your projects.
Next steps for getting your marketing organized
ClickUp is a powerful platform with deep customization. It excels at managing complex projects but requires setup time and team training. If you want a simple solution, though, the learning curve may be a drawback.
Zoe Marketing & Communications has used ClickUp successfully for years. If you’re looking for marketing solutions that integrate seamlessly into project workflows, talk to us.
Still exploring? These resources can help:
