Wrike vs ClickUp vs Teamwork (2025): Which Project Management Tool Wins for Agencies & Service Teams?
The right project management software can make or break your agency’s productivity and in 2025, Wrike, ClickUp and Teamwork dominate the market.
Whether you’re managing creative workflows, consulting clients, or large enterprise projects, each platform brings unique strengths in collaboration, pricing, and scalability.
In this definitive comparison, we break down what sets these tools apart, how they perform for agencies, marketing teams, and SMBs, and which platform delivers the best ROI this year.
Why Agencies Need a Different Kind of Project Management Tool
Agencies juggle client expectations, timelines, approvals, and billable hours all while keeping creative and operational teams aligned.
That’s why generic task apps like Trello or Notion often fall short.
Agency-focused tools must provide:
Client portals for transparency
Time tracking and billing
Cross-department collaboration
Automation and templates
Scalability for growing accounts
Top Tip: If your agency manages more than five concurrent client projects, pick a PM platform that supports custom reporting + workload views. It will save hours every week in admin time.
Quick Comparison Table: Wrike vs ClickUp vs Teamwork (2025)
| Platform | Starting Price | Best For | Client Portals | Time Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrike | From $9.80/user | Enterprise & Ops Teams | Yes | Yes |
| ClickUp | From $7/user | Hybrid & Marketing Teams | Yes | Yes |
| Teamwork | From $8.99/user | Agencies & Client Services | Yes | Yes |
Wrike Overview: Best for Enterprise & Cross-Department Teams
Wrike has positioned itself as the enterprise-level project management powerhouse, offering advanced automation, detailed analytics, and enterprise-grade permissions.
It’s ideal for agencies with complex approval chains or multiple teams (marketing, ops, IT) working together on deliverables.
Key Benefits
Advanced custom dashboards and OKR tracking
Detailed resource allocation features
Strong security & compliance (SOC 2, SSO, 2FA)
Excellent for enterprise reporting and workflows
Drawbacks
Can feel heavy for small teams
Slightly steeper learning curve
Pricier at scale
Top Tip: Wrike is ideal for agencies handling regulated or enterprise clients. It is granular permissions and reporting meet corporate procurement standards.
ClickUp Overview: Best All-in-One Platform for Versatile Teams
ClickUp continues to be a favorite among small to mid-sized agencies in 2025 for its feature-packed free tier, customizable dashboards, and flexible views (List, Gantt, Board, Timeline).
It’s the Swiss Army knife of PM tools equally capable for marketing teams, agencies, startups, and consulting firms.
Key Benefits
Affordable all-in-one pricing
Built-in Docs, Chat, Whiteboards, Goals, and Automations
Unlimited dashboards on paid tiers
Extensive integration ecosystem
Drawbacks
Occasional feature bloat (too many options)
Reporting tools still catching up to Wrike’s depth
| ClickUp Plan | Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | $0 | Solo freelancers / small teams |
| Unlimited | $7/user | Small agencies |
| Business | $12/user | Mid-size agencies needing automations |
| Enterprise | Custom | Scaling multi-department orgs |
Top Tip: ClickUp’s automation builder can replace third-party tools like Zapier for recurring agency workflows — saving up to $25/month in external costs.
Teamwork Overview: Best for Agencies & Client Collaboration
Teamwork has carved out its niche as the agency-focused project management solution - built from the ground up to handle client billing, time tracking, and retainers.
If your business delivers client services (creative, marketing, consulting, or web development), Teamwork’s built-in tools for invoicing and profitability tracking are unmatched.
Key Benefits
Native client portal with branded access
Integrated time tracking + invoicing
Project profitability dashboards
Integrates with HubSpot, Harvest, and QuickBooks
Drawbacks
Slightly less automation than ClickUp
Fewer advanced analytics than Wrike
Top Tip: Teamwork is ideal for agencies that bill by the hour or retainer — time tracking and client reporting are built-in, saving hours in manual accounting.
Feature Comparison Breakdown (2025)
| Feature | Wrike | ClickUp | Teamwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
| Client Portals | Yes | Yes | Advanced |
| Automation | Advanced | Custom | Limited |
| Reporting & Dashboards | Enterprise-grade | Moderate | Client-centric |
| Whiteboards / Collaboration | Yes | Yes | Minimal |
| Best For | Large Agencies | Versatile SMBs | Client-Service Firms |
Real-World Use Cases
| Agency Type | Recommended Tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Agency | ClickUp | All-in-one tool with campaign templates |
| Consulting Firm | Teamwork | Time tracking + invoicing integration |
| Creative Studio | Wrike | Detailed project timelines + proofs |
| Enterprise Agency | Wrike | Compliance + department collaboration |
| Boutique Digital Agency | ClickUp | Low cost + visual dashboards |
Top Tip: Choose based on your billing model.
Retainer-based agencies: Teamwork
Project-based agencies: ClickUp
Enterprise contracts: Wrike
Pricing Comparison Summary
| Tool | Entry Plan | Mid Plan | Enterprise Plan | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrike | $9.80 | $24.80 | Custom | 14 days |
| ClickUp | $7 | $12 | Custom | Free Forever |
| Teamwork | $8.99 | $13.99 | Custom | 30 days |
The Verdict: Which Tool Wins in 2025?
Each platform dominates its niche:
Wrike: best for enterprise-scale agencies that need compliance, reporting, and cross-department control.
ClickUp:most versatile, budget-friendly, and flexible for SMBs and marketing teams.
Teamwork: tailored for client-service agencies that bill time and manage multiple retainers.
If your agency is small but growing fast, start with ClickUp and upgrade to Wrike or Teamwork as your client base expands.
ScaleUp Tip
Many agencies use ClickUp for internal collaboration and Teamwork for client management, creating a seamless workflow between in-house planning and client delivery.
FAQs: Wrike vs ClickUp vs Teamwork (2025 Edition)
Q1. Which project management software is best for agencies?
Teamwork leads for agencies that bill clients directly. Wrike is ideal for enterprise-level oversight, and ClickUp suits small teams or hybrid setups.
Q2. Which tool is most affordable in 2025?
ClickUp with its $7 Unlimited plan, it offers the most value for SMBs and small agencies.
Q3. Which is easiest to implement?
ClickUp has minimal setup and onboarding resources for small teams.
Q4. Which software has better reporting?
Wrike’s enterprise dashboards and custom analytics outperform others for large operations.
Q5. Does Teamwork include billing tools?
Yes. It supports integrated invoicing, time logs, and retainer management which is a major plus for agencies.
