ClickUp vs DeskTime: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of ClickUp and DeskTime to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
ClickUp
7.1/10
ClickUp is a work management platform with tasks, docs, chat, automations, AI agents and a CRM layer for contacts, companies and deals, aimed at business teams.
DeskTime
6.8/10
DeskTime is an automatic time tracking and productivity monitoring tool for office, remote and hybrid teams, with project time costing and shift scheduling.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.1/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Cost | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 8/10 |
| Analytics | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $12/user/mo Core | $7/user/mo Pro |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free Free Forever | $70/mo Pro |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | Not listed | |
| Dashboards | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| More features | ||
| Collaboration | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | Not listed | |
| Integrations | Not listed | |
| Sales Automation | Not listed | |
| Opportunity Management | Not listed | |
| Contact Management | Not listed | |
| Reporting & Analytics | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
ClickUp vs DeskTime cost by team size
ClickUp costs less at every team size we checked.
| Team size | ClickUp | DeskTime |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeFree Forever | $7/moPro |
| 5 users | FreeFree Forever | $35/moPro |
| 10 users | FreeFree Forever | $70/moPro |
| 25 users | FreeFree Forever | $175/moPro |
| 50 users | FreeFree Forever | $350/moPro |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose ClickUp
- Has a free plan (DeskTime does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $70/mo
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for consultancies (8/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose DeskTime
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Pros & Cons
ClickUp
Pros
- Deals can become delivery projects in the same workspace, which suits agencies and consultancies that sell and deliver client work.
- The free plan allows unlimited members and unlimited tasks, so small teams can try the platform before paying.
- Custom fields, task types, many views and automations let teams model most pipelines and processes without code.
- Enterprise security options include SAML, SCIM, audit logs, data residency and HIPAA support with a BAA.
Cons
- It is not a dedicated CRM. Reviewers report needing Zapier automations for CRM workflows, and the CRM page does not confirm email sync or native calling.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and say new users need hours of training to become proficient.
- G2 and Capterra reviewers report bugs, slow performance and support replies that do not resolve problems.
- The late-2026 pricing change raised per-user list prices for new workspaces, and heavy AI use requires buying extra credits.
DeskTime
Pros
- Tracking runs automatically in the background, so staff do not have to start or stop timers, which reviewers on G2 cite most often.
- ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certification, plus EU-based operation, helps buyers who must comply with GDPR.
- Project time tracking calculates costs from hourly rates, which helps agencies bill clients.
- Premium combines shift scheduling and an absence calendar with time tracking, so these do not need a separate tool.
- Per-user pricing starts at about 6.42 USD a month on annual billing, which is low for this category.
Cons
- Reviewers describe the URL tracking and screenshots as intrusive, and these features may need a legal basis in some jurisdictions.
- Capterra and G2 users report instability, such as tracking stopping or activity being marked as neutral.
- It has no Kanban boards, Gantt charts or task management of its own, so it depends on tools like Jira, Asana or Trello.
- Reviewers say time spent in meetings and offline work are tracked poorly.
- Screenshots and the API are only on Premium.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
ClickUp scores higher on our Project Management criteria: 7.1/10 against 6.8/10 for DeskTime. The largest gap is in Customization: 9/10 for ClickUp and 5/10 for DeskTime.
ClickUp costs less for 10 users: free on its Free Forever plan, against about $70/mo on its Pro plan for DeskTime, billed monthly.
ClickUp has a free plan; DeskTime does not list one.
ClickUp is the better fit for consultancies: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 6/10 for DeskTime.
