ClickUp Does Everything.
You Don't Need Everything.
ClickUp is packed with features. That's its strength and its weakness. If your team spends more time configuring views than doing actual work, Thicket might be what you need.
When "Everything App" Becomes the Problem
ClickUp calls itself the "everything app." For some teams that works. For small teams, it usually means:
Feature overload
15+ views, custom fields, automations, dashboards, whiteboards, mind maps, time tracking, goals, sprints, forms, docs. Most teams use maybe 20% of it.
Slow onboarding
New team members take weeks to figure out how everything is set up. Which view should they use? Where do tasks go? What are all these custom statuses?
Setup paralysis
So many configuration options that teams spend more time debating how to set things up than actually managing projects.
Per-user pricing adds up fast
ClickUp Unlimited is $7/user/mo. Business is $12/user/mo. AI Brain adds $5-7/user/mo on top. At 25 people on Business + AI, you're paying $475/mo. And it grows every time you hire.
Thicket's Approach: Do Less, Better
We built the features small teams actually use, and left out everything else.
5-Minute Setup
Create a project, add tasks, invite your team. No configuration debates. No view paralysis. You're working in minutes.
$49/mo Flat
Not per user. Not per workspace. One price for your whole team. Add interns, contractors, clients. No budget math required.
HR Forms Built In
ClickUp doesn't have employee onboarding forms, PTO tracking, or timesheets. Thicket does. One fewer tool to manage.
The 2026 Price Difference
ClickUp Business: $12/user/mo + AI Brain: $5-7/user/mo vs Thicket: $49/mo total
| Team Size | ClickUp Business | + AI Brain | Thicket | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 users | $60/mo | $95/mo | $49/mo | $46/mo |
| 10 users | $120/mo | $190/mo | $49/mo | $141/mo |
| 25 users | $300/mo | $475/mo | $49/mo | $426/mo |
| 50 users | $600/mo | $950/mo | $49/mo | $901/mo |
* ClickUp Business ($12/user/mo) + AI Brain add-on ($7/user/mo) pricing as of March 2026.
Real Example: 10 Users
ClickUp Business + AI
10 users x $12/mo = $120
10 users x $7/mo AI Brain = $70
Total: $190/mo ($2,280/yr)
Thicket Pro
Unlimited users = $49/mo
All features included
Total: $49/mo ($588/yr)
You save $1,692/year with Thicket
What You Get with Thicket
Project management plus HR tools that ClickUp doesn't offer.
Project Management
HR Tools (ClickUp doesn't have these)
HR Features ClickUp Doesn't Have
Small teams need more than task management. Thicket includes people ops tools that would require separate software on ClickUp.
Employee onboarding forms
Collect W-4s, emergency contacts, and equipment requests with conditional logic forms. No Google Forms needed.
PTO and leave tracking
Employees request time off, managers approve with one click, and the team calendar updates automatically.
Employee directory
A single place to see who is on the team, their role, contact info, and reporting structure.
Incident reports
Built-in incident reporting for workplace safety and compliance. No separate system required.
Timesheet management
Employees log hours, managers approve timesheets, and you export to payroll. All in one tool.
Custom form builder
Build any form your team needs: feedback surveys, equipment requests, expense reports, and more.
Why Teams Leave ClickUp
These are the complaints we hear most from teams switching to Thicket.
"It takes forever to load"
Large ClickUp workspaces suffer from slow page loads, especially dashboards and list views with custom fields. Teams report 3-5 second load times on complex spaces.
"New hires take weeks to learn it"
The flexibility that power users love is the same thing that confuses newcomers. Spaces, folders, lists, views, custom statuses, custom fields. There is no obvious right way to set things up.
"We only use 10% of the features"
Most small teams create tasks, assign them, and check due dates. They do not need whiteboards, mind maps, sprint planning, or 100+ automation templates. But they pay for all of it.
"The price keeps going up"
ClickUp Business is $12/user/mo. Add AI Brain at $5-7/user/mo. Every new hire increases the bill. A team that grew from 10 to 20 people saw their annual cost jump from $2,280 to $4,560.
Want to see how all PM tools compare on price?
Read our 2026 Pricing ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
Is Thicket as feature-rich as ClickUp?
No, and that's the point. ClickUp has hundreds of features and views. Thicket focuses on what small teams actually use: tasks, discussions, file sharing, and kanban boards. Plus, Thicket includes HR tools (employee forms, PTO, timesheets) that ClickUp doesn't have.
How does pricing compare in 2026?
ClickUp Unlimited is $7/user/month. Business is $12/user/month. AI Brain adds $5-7/user/month. A 10-person team on Business + AI pays $170-190/mo. Thicket is $49/mo flat for unlimited users. The more people you have, the more you save.
Can I migrate from ClickUp to Thicket?
Our support team can help you get set up and migrate your projects. Most teams are up and running within a day.
Does Thicket have a free plan?
Yes. Free plan: up to 5 users, 3 projects. Pro plan: $49/mo (or $39/mo annually) with unlimited users, projects, and all features.
Ready for Project Management That Doesn't Need a Manual?
Sign up free. No credit card required for the free plan.
Start Free Trial