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8.1

SpotScore

Upwave - Project Management Software

Top 10 Upwave Alternatives 2026

Effortlessly manage projects and stay organized.

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User Ratings

Trusted by 2M+ software buyers annually.

Main Features

  • Idea Management
  • Kanban Board
  • Percent-Complete Tracking
  • Project Planning

Pricing

  • Starts from $4/User/Month

  • Free Trial available

Start Free Trial

Upwave is a Project Management Software platform with a user rating of 4.3★ based on 15 reviews. Teams looking for alternatives typically need better pricing flexibility, easier deployment, or a closer feature fit for their specific use case. Below you'll find 10 vetted Project Management Software alternatives ranked by user rating, with filters to narrow by pricing, platform, and features — so you can find the right fit for 2026.

Upwave vs Top Alternatives at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison of pricing, user rating, and free trial availability to help you decide faster.

ToolBest ForPricingRatingFree Option
Upwave CurrentProject Management Software$44.3 ★✓ Yes
QuickbaseProject Management Software$35No reviews✓ Yes
monday Work ManagementProject Management Software$9No reviews✓ Yes
SmartsheetProject Management Software$94.6 ★✓ Yes
ClickUpCollaboration Software$74.9 ★✓ Yes
Pivotal TrackerProject Management Software$6.504.3 ★✓ Yes

Alternatives of Upwave with

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Upwave rating: 4.3 ★Starting from $410 alternatives found

Showing 1-10 out of 10

Top rated

List of the Top Upwave alternatives as of November 2026

Compare business software, products, and services to find the best solution for your business or organization. Use the filters on the left to drill down by category, pricing, features, market segment, user ratings, and more.

9.8

SpotScore

quickbase project management

Quickbase — from $35

RECOMMENDED

Streamline Projects, Boost Productivity

Add to compare

Free plan available

What is Quickbase?

Quickbase is a no-code project management platform that empowers teams to build, automate, and optimize workflows without complex coding. Designed for businesses of all sizes, it enables users to create custom applications tailored to their unique project needs, ensuring efficient collaboration ...

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Common Features

  • Task Management

  • Idea Management

Unique Features

  • Recurring Task Management

  • Contact Management

  • Contact Database

+ 5 more

Pricing

Free Trial available, Try Now

Starts from $35/user/month when yearly, also offers free forever plan

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monday Work Management — from $9

Recommended

A Complete Solution for Streamlined Team Collaboration and Execution

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What is monday Work Management?

Monday Work Management is an all-encompassing platform designed to streamline team collaboration, task execution, and project management. With its user-friendly interface and highly customizable workflows, Monday empowers teams to manage and track their work efficiently, ensuring seamless ...

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Common Features

No common features

Unique Features

  • Collaboration

  • Forms Management

  • Seamless Integration

+ 14 more

Pricing

Free Trial available, Try Now

Starts from $9/seat/month when yearly

9.8

SpotScore

Smartsheet - Project Management Software

Smartsheet — from $9 · 4.56★

RECOMMENDED

Streamline your projects with Smartsheet's powerful tools.

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⭐ Higher rated than Upwave

What is Smartsheet?

Smartsheet is a dynamic project management tool that simplifies tracking and planning for teams of all sizes. Offering a user-friendly interface, it’s designed to adapt to your unique workflows, whether you're managing simple checklists or complex project plans. Smartsheet’s intuitive platform ...

Read more

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

  • Kanban Board

+ 6 more

Unique Features

  • Timeline View

  • Recurring Task Management

  • Resource Management

+ 9 more

Pricing

Free Trial available, Try Now

Starts from $9/month when yearly

9.8

SpotScore

ClickUp - Collaboration Software

Add to compare

⭐ Higher rated than UpwaveFree plan available

What is ClickUp?

ClickUp is a versatile cloud-based project management platform designed to cater to both individual project needs and the complex demands of enterprise-level teams. Offering a customizable planning experience, it allows users to toggle between two distinct views, providing flexibility based on ...

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Common Features

  • Task Management

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

+ 8 more

Unique Features

  • Synchronous Editing

  • Group Calendars

  • Discussion Boards

+ 30 more

Pricing

Free Trial available, Try Now

Starts from $7/User/Month when yearly, also offers free forever plan

8.8

SpotScore

Pivotal Tracker - Project Management Software

Pivotal Tracker — from $6.50 · 4.28★

Streamline project management with Pivotal Tracker.

Start Free Trial

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✦ Editor’s PickFree plan available

What is Pivotal Tracker?

The Pivotal Tracker platform is the first agile project management software that isn't a pain to use. It's designed as a beautiful web application that facilitates communication, collaboration, and visibility. See the status of all your projects in one place. Track the progress of each ...

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What reviewers like about Pivotal Tracker

  • Clean interface with quick onboarding and minimal learning curve.
  • Organizes tickets, prioritizes tasks, and manages backlogs without complexity.
  • Integrates with GitHub and Slack for shared workflow and communication.

Where Pivotal Tracker falls short

  • Limited customization of card workflows and progression may restrict advanced use cases.
  • Better suited for smaller or less complex projects; larger projects may hit ceiling.
  • No in-depth time-tracking tools, which can challenge detailed project management.

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

  • Kanban Board

+ 5 more

Unique Features

  • Milestone Tracking

  • Issue Management

  • Budget Management

Pricing

Free Trial available, Try Now

Starts from $6.50/User/Month, also offers free forever plan

8.5

SpotScore

Inspire Planner - Project Management Software

Inspire Planner — from $24 · 4.75★

Streamline your projects with effortless ease.

Start Free Trial

4.8

(2)

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⭐ Higher rated than UpwaveFree plan available

What is Inspire Planner?

Introducing Inspire Planner - the perfect solution for simplifying project management. Designed specifically for Salesforce, this app streamlines the process of managing even the most complex projects, making it easy and intuitive. Our journey began as a boutique Salesforce implementation ...

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What reviewers like about Inspire Planner

  • Inspire Planner seamlessly integrates with Salesforce, making it an ideal solution for teams already using the Salesforce ecosystem for customer relationship management.
  • Inspire Planner provides flexibility to tailor project management workflows to your organization's unique needs, ensuring better alignment with team objectives.
  • Unlike other project management tools, Inspire Planner offers a more affordable solution without compromising on essential features or functionality.

Where Inspire Planner falls short

  • The app is only compatible with Salesforce, which might limit its appeal for organizations not already using the Salesforce platform.
  • While Inspire Planner is simple and efficient, it may lack some advanced features found in other project management tools designed for larger teams or more complex workflows.

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

  • Kanban Board

+ 6 more

Unique Features

  • Timeline View

  • Resource Management

  • Portfolio Management

+ 3 more

Pricing

Free Trial available

Starts from $24/User/Month, also offers free forever plan

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8.3

SpotScore

Worksuite - Project Management Software

Worksuite — from $45 · 4.8★

Streamline your projects with Worksuite's powerful management tools.

Start Free Trial

4.8

Add to compare

⭐ Higher rated than Upwave

What is Worksuite?

Worksuite is project management software designed to help business people manage projects more effectively and in a fraction of the time. Worksuite provides a platform for keeping track of your project plans, for effective team collaboration to make sure tasks are completed on time and an ...

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What reviewers like about Worksuite

  • Effective project tracking
  • Easy team collaboration
  • Detailed reporting engine

Where Worksuite falls short

  • Limited customization options
  • Steep learning curve
  • No mobile app

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Kanban Board

  • Time & Expense Tracking

+ 5 more

Unique Features

  • Timeline View

  • Resource Management

  • Milestone Tracking

+ 2 more

Pricing

Free Trial available, Try Now

Starts from $45One-Time Payment

8.3

SpotScore

Merlin Project - Project Management Software

Merlin Project — from $5.83 · 2.75★

Effortlessly manage and collaborate on projects.

See Plans & Pricing

2.8

(2)

Add to compare

What is Merlin Project?

Experience professional-quality project management with the Merlin Project. A trusted platform for various industries, including Media & Agencies, Architecture & Construction, Education, and Research & Development. With over 17 years of proven excellence, Merlin Project caters to the daily ...

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What reviewers like about Merlin Project

  • With over 17 years of experience and usage in over 160 countries, Merlin Project has earned its reputation as a reliable platform for professional project management across various industries.
  • The software allows easy creation of workflows, defining durations, dependencies, and setting milestones to efficiently track and manage project progress.
  • Features like Kanban view and real-time collaboration for projects, tasks, and resources make it simple for teams to stay connected and work together.

Where Merlin Project falls short

  • Merlin Project is predominantly suited for desktop users and lacks broader mobile application support for on-the-go project management.
  • For users transitioning from simpler tools, Merlin Project might take some time to master due to its full capabilities and detailed interface.

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

  • Kanban Board

+ 6 more

Unique Features

  • Timeline View

  • Resource Management

  • Portfolio Management

+ 3 more

Pricing

Starts from $5.83/User/Month when Billed Yearly

7.9

SpotScore

Leankor - Project Management Software

Leankor — 4★

Effortlessly streamline your team's projects and goals.

Get Pricing Details

4.0

(1)

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What is Leankor?

Leankor is a cloud-based work and project management platform created to support companies of all sizes reach their goals. It provides key visibility and 360-degree view into enterprise portfolios, resources, timelines, priorities and finances from order to delivery, ensuring continuous ...

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What reviewers like about Leankor

  • 360-degree project visibility
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Resource management features

Where Leankor falls short

  • May be complex for beginners
  • Limited reporting features
  • Pricing not transparent

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

  • Time & Expense Tracking

+ 3 more

Unique Features

  • Timeline View

  • Budget Management

Pricing

Leankor offers custom pricing plan

8.6

SpotScore

Beesbusy - Project Management Software

Beesbusy — from $11.99 · 4.73★

Streamline project management and meet deadlines effortlessly.

Try for Free

4.7

(34)

Add to compare

⭐ Higher rated than UpwaveFree plan available

What is Beesbusy?

Beesbusy is a user-friendly project management tool that ensures deadlines are always met. It lets administrators and their teams collaborate, make changes in real-time, and efficiently manage workloads. With team schedules, visibility, decision-making, and task allocation features, projects ...

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What reviewers like about Beesbusy

  • Project management interface works for both professionals and non-experts.
  • Collaborative features support team coordination and communication.
  • Supports multiple project views including Kanban and Gantt charts.

Where Beesbusy falls short

  • Some users find Gantt chart functionalities and planning dependencies lacking advanced task linking options (e.g., start-to-finish relationships).
  • Limited integration with external tools and platforms like Office 365, leaving room for improvement.
  • Missing features like task descriptions and richer group functionalities in lower-tier subscription models.

Common Features

  • Project Templates

  • Idea Management

  • Kanban Board

+ 5 more

Unique Features

  • Timeline View

  • Recurring Task Management

  • Resource Management

+ 4 more

Pricing

Starts from $11.99/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

Who competes with Upwave?

Upwave competes with 10 other project management software tools tracked on Spotsaas. The closest by feature overlap are Quickbase, monday Work Management and Smartsheet. Each is compared against Upwave on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Sites and apps like Upwave

Searches for "sites like Upwave" and "apps like Upwave" land on the same set of options as "Upwave alternatives" — the 10 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why we picked these Upwave alternatives

Pivotal Tracker8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Clean interface with quick onboarding and minimal learning curve.

Watch for: Limited customization of card workflows and progression may restrict advanced use cases.

Inspire Planner8.5Best for teams of all sizes

Inspire Planner seamlessly integrates with Salesforce, making it an ideal solution for teams already using the Salesforce ecosystem for customer relationship management.

Watch for: The app is only compatible with Salesforce, which might limit its appeal for organizations not already using the Salesforce platform.

Worksuite8.3Best for small & mid-size businesses

Effective project tracking

Watch for: Limited customization options

Merlin Project8.3Best for small & mid-size businesses

With over 17 years of experience and usage in over 160 countries, Merlin Project has earned its reputation as a reliable platform for professional project management across various industries.

Watch for: Merlin Project is predominantly suited for desktop users and lacks broader mobile application support for on-the-go project management.

Leankor7.9Best for mid-size & enterprise teams

360-degree project visibility

Watch for: May be complex for beginners

Beesbusy8.6Best for teams of all sizes

Project management interface works for both professionals and non-experts.

Watch for: Some users find Gantt chart functionalities and planning dependencies lacking advanced task linking options (e.g., start-to-finish relationships).

Why teams look for an Upwave alternative

A few recurring complaints tend to drive the move off Upwave:

  • Pricing at $4 per user per month after the free trial may not suit larger teams with tight budgets.
  • Some users reported occasional bugs, app hanging, and cloud-based delays.
  • Notifications and automation need improvement, as delays or inaccuracies are occasionally reported.
  • No Android app, limiting access for mobile-first users.

The factors that matter in an Upwave alternative

Stacked against each other, the 10 alternatives compare this way: 8 offer a free tier; and ClickUp is the highest rated at 4.87★ across 2889 reviews.

How the ranking holds up.

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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].