What is the difference between ClickUp and Hive?

ClickUp is best for Teams that want one tool to replace many, while Hive is best for Teams wanting project management with built-in email. ClickUp starts at $7/user/mo and Hive starts at Free.

Is ClickUp or Hive cheaper?

ClickUp starts at $7/user/mo with a free tier. Hive starts at Free with a free tier.

Is there a free alternative to Hive?

Both ClickUp and Hive offer free tiers.

ClickUp vs Hive

ClickUp is all-in-one productivity platform combining project management, docs, goals, and whiteboards, while Hive is project management with Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and integrated email within the platform. The biggest difference up front: Hive is free, while ClickUp starts at $7/user/mo. ClickUp is built for teams that want one tool to replace many, whereas Hive targets teams wanting project management with built-in email.

At a glance

	ClickUp	Hive
Best for	Teams that want one tool to replace many	Teams wanting project management with built-in email
Starting price	$7/user/mo	Free
Free tier	✓	✓
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	✓	✓
Open source	—	—
Analytics	—	✓
Custom Views	✓	—
Docs	✓	—
Email Integration	—	✓
Forms	—	✓
Gantt Charts	—	✓
Goals	✓	—
Time Tracking	✓	—
Whiteboards	✓	—

ClickUp

Strengths

Feature-rich — replaces multiple tools
Generous free tier
Highly customizable views and workflows
Good value for money

Weaknesses

Overwhelming number of features — steep learning curve
Can feel slow and buggy
Trying to do too much means nothing is best-in-class
UI can be cluttered

Try ClickUp → Full review

Hive

Strengths

Gantt charts visualize project timelines with task dependencies at a glance
Includes Email Integration as a core feature, purpose-built for project management workflows
Free for up to 10 users — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Established product with 11+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Migrating existing projects from another tool can be time-consuming
Mobile experience lags behind the desktop version in features and polish

Try Hive → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Hive is completely free (Free for up to 10 users), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. ClickUp starts at $7/user/mo, but Free tier with 100MB storage. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: ClickUp offers Custom Views, Docs and Goals that Hive lacks. Hive brings Analytics, Email Integration and Forms that ClickUp does not have.

Team fit: ClickUp is geared toward any size teams, while Hive is aimed at mid-size teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: ClickUp's biggest strengths are: feature-rich — replaces multiple tools. generous free tier. Hive's biggest strengths are: gantt charts visualize project timelines with task dependencies at a glance. includes email integration as a core feature, purpose-built for project management workflows.

Watch out for: With ClickUp, users commonly note that overwhelming number of features — steep learning curve. With Hive, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.

Choose ClickUp if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams that want one tool to replace many
You specifically need Custom Views and Docs
You care about generous free tier
Your team size fits the any size profile ClickUp is designed for
The free tier works for you: free tier with 100mb storage

Choose Hive if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: teams wanting project management with built-in email
Budget is a hard constraint — Hive is free, ClickUp is not
You specifically need Analytics and Email Integration
You care about includes email integration as a core feature, purpose-built for project management workflows
Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Hive is designed for