Simplr vs ClickUp
ClickUp offers tasks, docs, whiteboards, time tracking and more, and lets you configure them for any team. Simplr chooses a narrower path: one connected workflow for account teams, creatives and clients.
01 / THE DIFFERENCE
ClickUp gives you the parts. Simplr gives agencies a workflow where those parts already connect to the client.
ClickUp clients join as guests, limited by the number of paid users on your plan. Simplr clients use a branded portal, free on every plan.
Simplr connects the brief, the accepted scope, every creative version and each approval to the client. In ClickUp, you build that with lists, statuses and custom fields.
ClickUp tracks billable time on its paid plans, then exports it. Simplr Plus turns approved time, milestones and retainers into numbered invoices.
02 / SIDE BY SIDE
What each tool offers an agency out of the box, and what you would need to add or build.
| Feature | Simplr | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| Clients and scope | ||
| Client records and account teams | Built in: Client records with an account lead, creative director and team, and a one-client view | Partly, or with add-ons or setup: Built with spaces, lists and custom fields |
| Briefs, scope and change requests | Built in: Versioned briefs and scope the client accepts; change requests record price and workload impact | Partly, or with add-ons or setup: Forms and Docs for briefs; change control is set up by you |
| Creative review and clients | ||
| Creative versions and approvals | Built in: Version history, pinned image comments and a creative director → account lead → client sign-off | Partly, or with add-ons or setup: Proofing with annotations on Business; clients can change an approval status as guests |
| Client portal | Built in: Branded portal on every plan, free for clients: approve versions, send briefs, accept scope, download files | Partly, or with add-ons or setup: No dedicated portal. Limited guest seats on Core; 10, plus 5 per paid user on Business |
| Planning, time and budgets | ||
| Resource planning | Built in: Daily bookings by person against weekly availability (Plus) | Built in: Workload and resource views from Core |
| Time tracking and approval | Built in: Timers, manual entries and time approval (Plus) | Built in: Time tracking from Core; timesheets on Business; timesheet approvals on Enterprise |
| Project budgets | Built in: Planned hours, rate and fee per job, with planned against actual hours (Plus) | Partly, or with add-ons or setup: Billable rates per member; budget tracking is set up by you |
| Billing | ||
| Client invoices | Built in: Numbered PDF invoices from approved time, milestones or retainers, with payments recorded (Plus) | Not built in: Not built in; invoice templates and CSV export of billable time |
| Retainers | Built in: Retainer agreements invoiced monthly, quarterly or yearly (Plus) | Not built in: Not built in |
| Setup and price | ||
| Setup | Built in: An agency workflow from intake to delivery from the start, adjustable per client | Partly, or with add-ons or setup: Highly configurable, with agency templates to start from |
| Price | Essentials $20, Plus $50 per person / month, billed annually. Clients are always free. | Core $8, Business $17 per user. AI uses included credits; extra credits are sold separately. |
Details about ClickUp come from its public pricing and help pages, checked on 6 October 2026, and prices are per person per month, billed annually, in USD. Plans change, so confirm current details with ClickUp. “(Plus)” marks Simplr features on the Plus plan.
03 / THE RIGHT FIT
04 / FAQ
ClickUp’s per-seat price is lower: $17 for Business against $20 for Simplr Essentials and $50 for Plus. Simplr includes a free client portal, versioned scope and change requests, and on Plus, client invoicing and retainers. Teams on ClickUp often build these themselves or add other tools.
Yes. Clients can join as guests and change an approval status, and proofing is available on Business. Simplr records each version, routes it through creative director and account lead, and asks the client to approve in its branded portal.
There is no automatic ClickUp import yet. Most agencies start with their active clients and jobs, and our team helps you set them up during your walkthrough.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Bring a real brief, a client and an approval you’re chasing. We’ll walk through how it runs in Simplr.