Monday.com Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Monday.com is everywhere. The ads, the sponsorships, the constant "award-winning project management" claims. But does it actually deliver for your team, or is it just another over-marketed SaaS tool?

After extensive testing and research, here's my honest take: monday.com is a solid, highly visual project management platform that works great for teams who need flexibility and customization. But it's not cheap, and several important features are locked behind higher-tier plans that can make the cost add up fast.

Let me break down exactly what you're getting, what you're not, and whether it makes sense for your business.

What Is Monday.com?

Monday.com is a work management platform that helps teams track tasks, manage projects, and collaborate using customizable boards and workflows. It's built around visual boards that you can configure with different views-Kanban, timeline, calendar, Gantt charts-depending on how you work.

The platform offers four main products:

Most people searching for monday.com reviews are looking at the work management product, so that's what I'll focus on here.

Founded in 2012 under the name Dapulse, the company rebranded as monday.com in 2017 and has since grown into one of the most recognizable names in project management software. The platform positions itself as a "Work OS" that can handle everything from simple task lists to complex multi-team projects.

Monday.com Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

Let's talk money, because this is where monday.com gets complicated. For detailed pricing breakdowns, check out our monday.com pricing guide and monday.com cost breakdown.

Here are the current prices (billed annually):

Important: Paid plans start at a minimum of 3 seats, then jump to 5, 10, etc. So if you have 4 people, you're paying for 5. A team of 6 needs to buy the 10-seat plan.

Monthly billing costs about 20% more than annual. For a team of 3 on the Basic plan, you're looking at $27/month (annual) or $36/month (monthly).

The Real Cost for Small Teams

Let's do the math for a 5-person team on the most popular Standard plan:

That's competitive with tools like Asana but pricier than ClickUp's $12/user Pro plan that includes time tracking (which monday.com locks to Pro tier).

Understanding the Seat-Bucket System

The seat-bucket pricing model is one of the most common complaints from users. According to Trustpilot reviews, users report frustration when scaling: "When we had 5 users and added a 6th one, we got billed for 10 onwards ($120 per month). Disgusting company."

This means:

The jumps can be jarring for growing teams. If you're at the lower end of any bracket, you're essentially subsidizing empty seats.

Hidden Costs and Add-Ons

Beyond the base subscription, watch for:

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What Monday.com Does Well

1. Visual, Intuitive Interface

This is monday.com's biggest strength. The interface is clean, colorful, and genuinely easy to navigate. Within a few minutes, most users can create a board, add tasks, and assign team members without training.

The drag-and-drop functionality works smoothly, and the platform feels modern. If your team has struggled with clunky project management tools before, monday.com's polish is refreshing.

User reviews consistently praise this aspect. On Capterra, one reviewer noted: "The platform is highly customizable, which means we were able to build workflows tailored specifically to our construction processes."

2. Highly Customizable Boards

You can configure boards with 20+ column types on paid plans-status, date, person, timeline, numbers, formulas, and more. This flexibility means you can build workflows for almost anything: marketing campaigns, sales pipelines, product roadmaps, or event planning.

The 200+ templates help you get started fast, though most teams end up customizing heavily. Templates span industries from construction to retail to marketing agencies, giving you a solid foundation rather than starting from scratch.

3. Solid Automation System

Monday.com's no-code automations are genuinely useful. You can set up rules like:

The automation builder is visual and doesn't require technical knowledge. Standard plans get 250 automations/month, which is enough for smaller teams. Pro bumps this to 25,000/month.

However, understand the limitations: each automation action counts toward your monthly quota. If you set up an automation that emails 5 people, that's 5 actions consumed. Heavy automation users may hit limits faster than expected on Standard plans.

4. Strong Integration Ecosystem

Monday.com connects with 200+ apps including Gmail, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Calendar, and Google Drive. For teams already using these tools, the integrations reduce context-switching and keep everything centralized.

Popular integrations include:

Integration actions also count toward your monthly automation quota, so factor this into your plan selection.

5. Multiple View Options

Depending on your plan, you can view the same data as:

This flexibility lets different team members work in whatever format makes sense for them. Designers might prefer Kanban, project managers want Gantt, and executives need chart views for reporting.

6. Powerful Dashboard and Reporting Features

Monday.com's dashboard capabilities are where the platform really shines for data-driven teams. Dashboards pull data from multiple boards and display it through customizable widgets.

Available widgets include:

Dashboard limitations vary by plan:

One Reddit user praised dashboards after a year of use: "The ability to create a dashboard that updates every time there are changes to the source data is fantastic. I don't have to worry about having to ask other team managers for reports on our progress."

Dashboards update in real-time, so stakeholders always see current data without manual exports or refresh cycles.

7. Advanced Features for Power Users

For teams that need more sophisticated functionality:

Where Monday.com Falls Short

1. Important Features Locked Behind Higher Tiers

This is my biggest complaint. Time tracking-a basic feature in many project management tools-requires the Pro plan ($19/seat/month). That's a significant upgrade just for one feature.

Single sign-on (SSO), which many businesses consider essential for security, requires the Enterprise plan. Even recurring tasks are technically automations and require Standard or higher.

Other features locked to higher tiers:

As one Trustpilot reviewer noted: "The tools work well and easy to manage, but the pricing becomes tough to justify. A lot of essential admin control and deeper features are locked behind higher plans."

2. Gets Expensive as You Scale

The seat-bucket pricing model can bite you. If your team grows from 5 to 6 people, you suddenly need the 10-seat plan-paying for 4 seats you're not using. The cost escalates faster than you might expect.

For a 10-person team on Pro, you're looking at $190/month or $2,280/year. Add more users and the costs multiply quickly, especially compared to per-user pricing from competitors.

3. Gantt Charts Are Weak

If you need serious project scheduling with dependencies and critical path analysis, monday.com's Gantt view is underwhelming. It's fine for basic timeline visualization but lacks the depth of dedicated project management tools like Microsoft Project.

The timeline view doesn't offer automatic schedule recalculation, resource leveling, or earned value tracking-features professional project managers often rely on for complex initiatives.

4. Learning Curve for Complex Setups

While basic use is intuitive, building complex workflows with automations, dependencies, and cross-board connections takes time. The flexibility that makes monday.com powerful also means there's a lot to learn.

One Capterra reviewer shared: "The set up was not the easiest thing to do. Sometimes setting triggers or columns was a lot harder than you would think they should be."

Expect to invest time in training, especially for teams unfamiliar with visual project management systems. Monday.com does offer tutorials and support articles, but the breadth of options can feel overwhelming initially.

5. Mobile App Limitations

The mobile app works but doesn't match the desktop experience. Users report performance issues when switching boards or loading large projects. If your team works primarily from mobile, this could be frustrating.

Multiple Software Advice reviewers noted: "The mobile app is slow, and some features are only available in the paid plan."

The mobile experience feels like an afterthought compared to the robust desktop interface. Critical functions like bulk editing, complex automation setup, and dashboard customization are better handled on desktop.

6. No Built-in Timesheets

For teams billing clients by the hour, the lack of native timesheet functionality is a gap. You can track time on individual tasks (Pro plan), but generating proper timesheets requires workarounds or integrations.

The time tracking feature logs hours per task, but consolidating this into billable reports requires either manual export or third-party tools like Everhour.

7. Automation Limits Can Surprise You

Standard plans get 250 automation/integration actions per month. For active teams, this quota disappears faster than expected.

Consider: if you have an automation that notifies 3 people when a status changes, and this happens 20 times per day, you're consuming 1,800 actions per month-exceeding your Standard plan limit.

When you exceed your quota, monday.com deducts overages from next month's allocation, creating a cascading problem. The only solution is upgrading to Pro (25,000 actions) or Enterprise (250,000 actions).

8. Mirror Column Limitations

Mirror columns let you display data from connected boards, but they're read-only. You can't trigger automations based on mirrored data or use it in formulas, which limits cross-board workflow potential.

Third-party apps like Autoboost attempt to address this limitation, but they come with additional costs.

9. Subitem Restrictions

Subitems are useful for breaking down tasks, but they don't support the same level of automation and coordination as main items. You can't easily roll up subitem data to parent items without custom formulas or workarounds.

10. Customer Service Inconsistencies

While some users praise monday.com's support, others report frustrating experiences. Trustpilot reviews show mixed sentiment: "I have tried for the past 2 days to talk to somebody but you cannot get past email communications."

Support quality appears to vary by plan tier, with Enterprise customers receiving priority treatment and dedicated success managers.

Who Should Use Monday.com?

Monday.com works best for:

Who Should Skip Monday.com?

Monday.com vs. The Competition

Wondering how monday.com stacks up? Here's the quick comparison:

Monday.com vs. Asana

Similar pricing, but Asana has stronger project templates and timeline features. Monday.com is more visually customizable. Asana's free plan is more generous, allowing unlimited tasks and file storage. For a deeper comparison, see our monday.com vs Asana breakdown.

Monday.com vs. ClickUp

ClickUp offers more features at lower price points (time tracking at $7/user). However, ClickUp's interface is more cluttered and has a steeper learning curve. Monday.com wins on polish and ease of use, but ClickUp delivers better value for feature-hungry teams.

Monday.com vs. Notion

Notion offers more flexibility as a general workspace tool with better documentation features. Monday.com is better for structured project management with automations and reporting. Notion excels at knowledge management; monday.com excels at project execution. Different tools for different needs.

Monday.com vs. Trello

Trello is simpler and cheaper ($5/user/month) but far less powerful. Monday.com offers dramatically more customization, views, and automation capabilities. Trello works for basic Kanban boards; monday.com handles complex multi-team workflows.

Monday.com vs. Jira

Jira is purpose-built for software development with superior agile features, sprint planning, and issue tracking. Monday.com is more user-friendly and better for non-technical teams. If you're managing software development, Jira might be better-priced for your use case.

For more options, check our guides to best project management software and free project management tools.

Deep Dive: Monday.com Features

Automation Capabilities

Monday.com's automation system is one of its standout features, but understanding how it works is crucial for maximizing value.

How Automations Work:

Automations follow a "when this happens, do that" logic. You select a trigger (like status change or date arrival) and define actions (notify someone, create item, move to group).

The platform offers pre-built "recipes" for common scenarios:

Custom Automations:

You can build custom automations using the workflow builder (Pro+ plans). This lets you chain multiple actions, add conditions, and create sophisticated workflows without coding.

Integration Actions:

Integrations with external tools (Gmail, Slack, etc.) also consume automation actions. A single trigger that posts to Slack AND sends an email counts as 2 actions.

Rate Limits:

Beyond monthly quotas, monday.com enforces rate limits-each automation recipe can trigger a certain number of times per minute to prevent server overload. Heavy users may encounter delays if they hit these limits.

Dashboard and Reporting Excellence

Monday.com's dashboard system transforms raw project data into actionable insights. Here's what makes it powerful:

Widget Variety:

With 30+ widget types, you can visualize data in virtually any format. Popular widgets include:

Cross-Board Reporting:

Dashboards can pull data from multiple boards, giving executives high-level visibility without diving into individual projects. This is where the board limits per plan tier matter-Pro users can combine up to 10 boards per dashboard.

Real-Time Updates:

Unlike static reports that require manual refreshes, monday.com dashboards update automatically as underlying data changes. This ensures stakeholders always see current information.

Sharing and Permissions:

Dashboards can be shared with team members or external stakeholders. You can control whether viewers can edit the dashboard or simply view it. Shareable links let you distribute reports to people outside your organization.

Limitations:

Advanced reporting features like pivot tables and consolidated cross-workspace dashboards are Enterprise-only. If you need organization-wide reporting across departments, expect to upgrade.

Collaboration Features

Monday.com facilitates team collaboration through several mechanisms:

Updates Section:

Each item has an updates section where team members can comment, share files, and @mention colleagues. This keeps conversations contextual rather than scattered across email or chat.

File Sharing:

Attach files directly to items or store them in the files column. Integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive let you link cloud files without duplicating storage.

Notifications:

Monday.com's notification system keeps team members informed without overwhelming them. You receive alerts when:

Users can customize notification preferences to control email vs. in-app alerts.

Board Discussions:

Beyond item-level updates, board discussions let teams communicate about the project as a whole rather than specific tasks.

Guest Access:

Invite external collaborators (clients, contractors) as guests. They can access specific boards without requiring full team member licenses, though functionality is limited.

AI Features and monday AI

Monday.com has introduced AI capabilities under the "monday AI" brand, though features are still evolving:

AI Assistant (Sidekick):

The AI assistant can:

Currently in beta, results vary depending on use case. Users report mixed success-it's helpful for routine text generation but struggles with complex analysis.

AI Credits:

AI features consume "AI credits" allocated monthly based on your plan. Basic plans get 500 credits per account, while higher tiers receive more. Once exhausted, you must wait for next month's refresh or purchase additional credits.

AI-Powered Formulas:

Recent updates include AI-powered date-based formulas that help track deadlines, assess project risks, and prioritize work based on intelligent analysis.

Template Library

Monday.com offers 200+ templates across industries and use cases. Popular categories include:

Templates provide structure but are fully customizable. Most teams use templates as starting points and adapt them to specific workflows.

What Users Actually Say

Across review platforms, monday.com consistently scores well, but with recurring themes:

Positive Feedback

From verified user reviews:

On Capterra: "My overall experience with monday.com has been excellent. It transformed how we manage our tasks, collaborate across departments, and stay on top of deadlines."

On G2: "The attractive UI, automations, dashboarding, and simple intuitiveness of using the platform for new hires. I've never heard anyone prefer to use another product after using monday."

On Software Advice: "Monday.com is an intuitive and versatile platform that has made managing projects and team collaboration much easier."

Common Praise:

Negative Feedback

On Trustpilot: "When we had 5 users and added a 6th one, we got billed for 10 onwards ($120 per month). Disgusting company."

On Reddit: One user advised to "avoid this software at all costs" after spending $20,000 on setup and encountering persistent issues with complex implementations.

On tl;dv blog review: "One big downside of Monday is that existing customers often report feeling trapped. They've built their entire workflows around Monday and now they feel the price is increasing incessantly."

Common Complaints:

The Pattern

Users love the interface and flexibility but find the pricing structure-especially the locked features and seat buckets-causes friction. The platform works well for teams that stay within their tier's boundaries, but scaling reveals cost concerns.

Security and Compliance

For enterprise buyers, security features matter:

Data Protection

Monday.com backs up critical user data every 5 minutes and non-critical data daily. Attachments are encrypted and delivered on a per-user-access controlled basis.

The platform maintains strict employee access controls, preventing staff from accessing customer data without authorization.

Compliance Certifications

Monday.com holds several certifications:

Enterprise Security Features

Available on Enterprise plans only:

The fact that SSO is Enterprise-only frustrates many mid-sized businesses that consider it a security baseline, not a premium feature.

Security Concerns

One Reddit user reported discovering a significant security loophole, though monday.com's response to such issues isn't publicly documented. As with any cloud platform, understand your data residency requirements and ensure monday.com's infrastructure meets your compliance needs.

Implementation and Onboarding

For Small Teams (1-10 users)

Getting started is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for the 14-day Pro trial (no credit card required)
  2. Select a template or create a board from scratch
  3. Customize columns to match your workflow
  4. Invite team members and assign tasks
  5. Set up basic automations
  6. Create a dashboard for visibility

Most small teams can self-onboard within a few days. Monday.com's tutorial videos and support articles cover basic functionality.

For Mid-Sized Teams (10-100 users)

Expect a more deliberate rollout:

  1. Planning phase - Map existing workflows to monday.com structure
  2. Pilot program - Start with one department or project
  3. Configuration - Build boards, automations, and dashboards
  4. Training - Conduct workshops for team members
  5. Rollout - Expand to additional teams gradually
  6. Optimization - Refine based on user feedback

Mid-sized implementations typically take 2-4 weeks for initial setup, with ongoing optimization for months.

For Enterprises (100+ users)

Enterprise implementations require professional services:

One Reddit user reported spending $20,000 on enterprise setup (described as a "mid figure") with implementation taking over six months. Results were mixed, with the user citing complexity, flaws, and frustration.

Monday.com offers implementation services, but costs vary widely based on scope. Always get detailed quotes before committing to enterprise rollouts.

Use Case Examples

Marketing Team Campaign Management

A marketing team uses monday.com to:

Automations send notifications when content needs approval, deadlines approach, or campaigns complete. The timeline view helps visualize overlapping campaigns.

Sales Pipeline Management

A sales team leverages monday CRM to:

Integration with Gmail captures emails automatically, keeping all client communication in context.

Software Development Sprints

A development team uses monday dev to:

While not as feature-rich as Jira for agile development, monday dev works well for small to mid-sized engineering teams.

Event Planning

An events team manages:

Automations notify team members when vendors confirm, deposits are due, or milestones complete.

Is Monday.com Worth It?

Here's the bottom line: monday.com is a genuinely good project management tool with one of the best user interfaces in the category. If your team values visual workflows, needs solid automation, and can afford the Standard or Pro plan, it delivers real value.

But go in with eyes open. Know that you'll likely want features locked behind higher tiers. Understand the seat-bucket pricing before your team grows. And compare alternatives if time tracking or budget constraints are priorities.

When Monday.com Makes Sense

Choose monday.com if you:

When to Look Elsewhere

Skip monday.com if you:

For teams managing marketing campaigns, product launches, or cross-functional projects who can budget $12-19/seat/month, monday.com is a strong choice. For everyone else, shop around first.

Start Your Free Monday.com Trial →

Getting Started with Monday.com

If you decide to try monday.com, here's my recommendation:

  1. Start with the 14-day free trial - You'll get Pro features to actually test what you'd be paying for
  2. Build one real workflow - Don't just poke around. Set up an actual project your team will use
  3. Test automations early - This is where monday.com shines, so make sure they work for your use case
  4. Create a dashboard - Experience the reporting capabilities with real data
  5. Invite team members - Get feedback on usability from actual users
  6. Track your automation usage - Monitor the account usage page to see if Standard's 250 actions will suffice
  7. Evaluate at day 10 - Decide if you need Pro features or if Standard is enough
  8. Calculate true cost - Factor in future growth and seat-bucket pricing

Tips for Successful Implementation

Alternatives to Consider

If monday.com doesn't feel right, consider these alternatives:

For Better Value

ClickUp - More features at lower prices, including time tracking on cheaper plans. Interface is busier but offers incredible depth.

Notion - Better for documentation-heavy teams. More flexible but requires more setup effort.

For Enterprise Teams

Asana - Stronger project templates and portfolio management. Better free plan. Similar pricing to monday.com.

Jira - Purpose-built for software development. Superior agile features but steeper learning curve.

For Budget-Conscious Teams

Trello - Simple Kanban boards at $5/user. Limited but affordable.

Airtable - Database-meets-spreadsheet approach. Different paradigm but powerful for data-centric workflows.

For Advanced Project Management

Microsoft Project - Traditional PM tool with robust scheduling, resource leveling, and earned value management.

Smartsheet - Spreadsheet-based PM with strong reporting and enterprise features.

Need help getting up to speed? Check out our monday.com tutorial and how to use monday.com guide.

If monday.com isn't the right fit, our monday.com alternatives guide covers the best options for different needs and budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does monday.com offer a free plan?

Yes, but it's extremely limited. The free plan supports only 2 users, 3 boards, and lacks automations, integrations, and advanced views. It's useful for testing but insufficient for serious work.

Can I cancel monday.com anytime?

Yes, though annual plans are paid upfront. If you cancel, you can use the service until your subscription period ends. One complaint: monday.com displays a "Your account will be blocked" message to all users daily after cancellation, which users find annoying.

How many automations do I really need?

It varies widely. Small teams with simple workflows might use 50-100 actions monthly. Active teams with complex automations and integrations can easily consume 500+ actions. Monitor your usage during the trial to understand your needs.

Is monday.com HIPAA compliant?

Yes, but only on Enterprise plans with specific configuration. If you handle protected health information, contact sales to ensure proper setup.

Can I import data from other tools?

Yes, monday.com supports imports from Excel, CSV files, Trello, Asana, and other project management tools. The process is straightforward for simple data but may require cleanup for complex boards.

Does monday.com work offline?

Limited offline functionality exists in the mobile app, allowing you to view and update items. However, monday.com is primarily cloud-based and requires internet connectivity for full functionality.

How does monday.com pricing compare to competitors?

Monday.com sits in the mid-to-upper range. It's pricier than ClickUp ($7-12/user) and Trello ($5/user) but comparable to Asana ($10.99-24.99/user). The seat-bucket model makes direct comparison difficult.

What happens if I exceed my automation limit?

Monday.com deducts overages from next month's allocation. If you consistently exceed limits, you must upgrade to a higher tier.

Can I get a discount on monday.com?

Annual billing saves ~20% versus monthly. Non-profits and educational institutions may qualify for special pricing. Some users report receiving discounts (up to 28%) on multi-year commitments after negotiation.

Final Verdict

Monday.com is a powerful, polished project management platform that excels at visual workflows, customization, and user experience. It's genuinely good software that many teams love using daily.

However, it's not perfect. The seat-bucket pricing model, feature gating, and automation limits create friction points that frustrate users as they scale. The platform works best for mid-sized teams (10-100 people) who can afford Standard or Pro plans and whose workflows fit within plan boundaries.

If you value aesthetics, ease of use, and visual project management, monday.com deserves serious consideration. Just make sure you understand the total cost of ownership, including potential upgrades as you grow.

For teams managing complex projects across departments with budget flexibility, monday.com delivers excellent value. For startups, freelancers, or budget-conscious teams, more affordable alternatives might better serve your needs.

The best approach? Use the 14-day trial to build a real workflow with your team. Monitor automation usage, test the features you need, and calculate the true cost including future growth. Only then can you determine if monday.com's undeniable polish justifies the premium pricing.

Try Monday.com Free for 14 Days →