Compare the key features of the popular project management software Trello and Monday work management to help you choose the ideal solution for your business.
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with so much project management software solutions, and many with overlapping features, it should come as no surprise that many companies seek help when it comes time to use a tool. Two of the most prominent products in this space, Atlassian’s Trello and Monday Work Management, help your organization stay on top of its projects.
What is Trello?
Trello is a task management tool that focuses on collaboration and making work visible through its intuitive digital kanban boards. Trello’s methods have been so successful that Atlassian bought it in 2017, despite already having a much more comprehensive project management solution in Jira, which also has the ability to display tasks on a digital kanban board. However, Trello’s intuitive and collaborative aspects make it a joy to work with and allow it to continue to thrive amid fierce competition.
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What is Monday Work Management?
Monday work management is a set of tools that provides collaboration and transparency, but with a focus on the processes that get work done versus tasks. This means Monday work management can be tuned to manage just about anything. In addition to its project management capabilities, it can be applied to bug tracking, customer relations, invoices and more as well as these areas where your organization also seeks help in the form of a software solution.
Trello vs. Monday Work Management: Feature Comparison
Both Trello and Monday work management are powerful project management software tools that allow teams to view and organize product tasks and goals. But while Monday work management offers a wide range of capabilities and functionalities useful for larger organizations, Trello offers a successful and intuitive interface suitable for smaller teams.
| Feature | Trello | Monday work management |
|---|---|---|
| Kanban boards | Yes | Yes |
| Gantt Charts | no | Yes |
| Native time tracking | no | Yes |
| Map Level Permissions | no | Yes |
| Software Integrations | Yes | Yes |
| Expiration dates | Yes | Yes |
| Guest access | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited Storage | Yes | no |
Plates vs Lists
One of the main differences between the two products is the basic level at which the tool works. While both tools essentially map and track the progress of tasks, with Trello the map is the foundation of where tasks live. Trello is really focused on one thing: a digital kanban, which is essentially a picture of how your work is progressing. However, if more information is needed, an organization may need third-party integrations to get it directly from Trello.
Trello Home Screen
In Monday work management, the basic element is a list of these tasks, which can later be viewed as a map on a board. In addition, the digital kanban display is not the only display option. For example, you can view the same data as a Gantt chart, which can give you additional information, such as timeline and budget, that isn’t readily available from a kanban board.
monday work management home screen
User experience
User experience is an important aspect of software adoption and has a lot to do with why Trello has become so popular. The fact that Trello is so narrowly focused means that it is very intuitive. With Trello, there is no switching between views because there is only one view. You just write tasks on a card, paste that card into a column, and then slide it around as it works. It’s the closest thing to managing a project with sticky notes and tape, and if that sounds low-tech, know that it can be transformative if done right.
Monday work management, on the other hand, offers much more than Trello does, which is a reflection of the fact that it has a wider range of usage scenarios. As a result, managing work on Mondays can be a bit overwhelming the first time you sign up. You will see an inbox and a profile and search and half a dozen other options. The good news is that there are some great video tutorials out there and you don’t have to dig too deep for it to start clicking.
Roles and permissions
Both Trello and Monday Work Management have several similar concepts when it comes to user roles, even if the naming conventions are a bit different. First, there are actual team or workspace members, and then there are guests or clients. Second, there are administrators and team members, who have different commensurate capabilities.
Where we see a difference is the additional ability Monday work management has to lock down boards and even individual columns. This allows for a more comprehensive strategy, with a more complete picture of the tasks and roles of individuals.
Trello does have a read-only role, but otherwise there’s no way to stop a team member from modifying a card. Writing capability is all or nothing in Trello, and this is a common criticism. For example, an administrator can assign a team member a task with a due date of next week, and that team member can log in and change the due date of the task to next month or even change what the task is.
Choose Trello or Monday Work Manager
When it comes down to it, applying Trello or Monday work management can be beneficial to your project management efforts. However, you should consider how your organization currently manages projects and how you plan to manage them in the future before making a decision.
Plus, Monday work management is great for larger organizations, especially those that also want to keep track of budgets and timelines, and even manage invoices. Trello, on the other hand, is ideal for small teams that want to be agile or as a complement to a wider range of Atlassian tools.
