Asana vs Shortcut
Asana is work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage projects, while Shortcut is project management for software teams with a focus on simplicity and collaboration. Shortcut comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Asana is built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views, whereas Shortcut targets mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light.
| Feature | Asana | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| API | — | ✓ |
| Automations | ✓ | — |
| Epics | — | ✓ |
| Forms | ✓ | — |
| Goals | ✓ | — |
| Iterations | — | ✓ |
| Milestones | — | ✓ |
| Portfolios | ✓ | — |
| Stories | — | ✓ |
| Timeline View | ✓ | — |
Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Asana's free plan: Free for up to 10 users, limited views. Shortcut's free plan: Free for up to 10 users. When you outgrow the free tier, Shortcut is the cheaper option at $8.50/user/mo vs. $10.99/user/mo for Asana — roughly 29% less.
Feature gaps: Asana offers Automations, Forms and Goals that Shortcut lacks. Shortcut brings API, Epics and Iterations that Asana does not have.
Team fit: Asana is geared toward mid-size teams teams, while Shortcut is aimed at small teams teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.
Where each tool shines: Asana's biggest strengths are: multiple views: list, board, timeline, calendar. intuitive interface that non-technical users love. Shortcut's biggest strengths are: right balance of features without jira's complexity. clean, intuitive interface.
Watch out for: With Asana, users commonly note that expensive compared to alternatives. With Shortcut, the main complaint is that smaller market share means less community content.
choose Asana if
- You need a tool built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views
- You specifically need Automations and Forms
- You care about intuitive interface that non-technical users love
- Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Asana is designed for
- The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users, limited views
choose Shortcut if
- You need a tool built for mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light
- You want to save on per-user costs — Shortcut is $2.49/user/mo cheaper
- You specifically need API and Epics
- You care about clean, intuitive interface
- Your team size fits the small teams profile Shortcut is designed for
frequently asked
What is the difference between Asana and Shortcut?
Asana is work management platform for teams to organize, track, and manage projects, while Shortcut is project management for software teams with a focus on simplicity and collaboration. Shortcut comes in cheaper, but price alone does not tell the full story. Asana is built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views, whereas Shortcut targets mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light.
Should I use Asana or Shortcut?
Asana is built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views. Shortcut is built for mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light. Pick the one that fits.
When should I choose Asana over Shortcut?
Choose Asana if You need a tool built for cross-functional teams that need multiple project views; You specifically need Automations and Forms; You care about intuitive interface that non-technical users love; Your team size fits the mid-size teams profile Asana is designed for; The free tier works for you: free for up to 10 users, limited views.
When should I choose Shortcut over Asana?
Choose Shortcut if You need a tool built for mid-size software teams that find jira too heavy and trello too light; You want to save on per-user costs — Shortcut is $2.49/user/mo cheaper; You specifically need API and Epics; You care about clean, intuitive interface; Your team size fits the small teams profile Shortcut is designed for.
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