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Comparison · PM
ClickUp vs SmartSuite
A side-by-side editorial comparison of ClickUp and SmartSuite — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:mcp
ClickUp vs SmartSuite: at a glance
| Feature | ClickUp | SmartSuite |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | PM | PM |
| Velocity score | 5.0 | 7.5 |
| Sparks · 30d | 0 | 1 |
| Top themes | project-management, ai-agents, mcp, ai-coworker | work management, scripting, automation, mcp |
| Last editorial update | 2mo ago | 3d ago |
| Website | — | — |
What is ClickUp?
ClickUp folds MCP into Super Agents, wiring outside tools into its AI coworker
ClickUp's recent shipping is dominated by Brain² and Super Agents: the Brain² takeover release enumerated artifact generation, model routing and memory, and Release Notes 4.07 extended MCP server connections to Super Agents while scoping Custom Fields by task type. The newest entry is smaller and commercial rather than functional — PayPal is rolling out as an additional payment option in India, explicitly not a pricing change, with other markets to follow. Classic project-management work like Gantt Baselines continues underneath the AI releases.
What is SmartSuite?
SmartSuite adds a scheduled JavaScript runtime with secrets and run history.
SmartSuite is a no-code work management platform that is adding developer and agent surfaces. Script Engine, a new admin page, lets workspaces write, schedule and monitor JavaScript with memory and timeout limits, secrets by reference and per-run history. It builds on Managed Secrets, released two weeks earlier, and the hosted MCP server from early October.
ClickUp vs SmartSuite: editorial side-by-side
ClickUp
5.0PM
ClickUp folds MCP into Super Agents, wiring outside tools into its AI coworker
◆ Current state
ClickUp's recent shipping is dominated by Brain² and Super Agents: the Brain² takeover release enumerated artifact generation, model routing and memory, and Release Notes 4.07 extended MCP server connections to Super Agents while scoping Custom Fields by task type. The newest entry is smaller and commercial rather than functional — PayPal is rolling out as an additional payment option in India, explicitly not a pricing change, with other markets to follow. Classic project-management work like Gantt Baselines continues underneath the AI releases.
◆ Where it's heading
The arc is from work-management app to AI work-execution platform, and the recent releases are about widening what the agents can reach rather than announcing new agents. Connecting any publicly hosted MCP server to Super Agents is the clearest expression of that: ClickUp is content to be the place agents run, not the place every tool lives. The payment-option work is a reminder that the same period includes ordinary commercial plumbing aimed at growth markets.
◆ Prediction
Expect the PayPal rollout to expand country by country as stated, and the MCP surface to keep absorbing capability that would previously have shipped as a named ClickUp integration. Nothing in these entries indicates a change to how Brain² is priced.
SmartSuite adds a scheduled JavaScript runtime with secrets and run history.
◆ Current state
SmartSuite is a no-code work management platform that is adding developer and agent surfaces. Script Engine, a new admin page, lets workspaces write, schedule and monitor JavaScript with memory and timeout limits, secrets by reference and per-run history. It builds on Managed Secrets, released two weeks earlier, and the hosted MCP server from early October.
◆ Where it's heading
SmartSuite is becoming programmable on three fronts: a hosted MCP server for agents, managed secrets, and now a scheduled code runtime. Together they let teams run integrations inside the platform instead of in Zapier or external cron jobs. Mobile dashboard parity and admin recovery tools continue alongside.
◆ Prediction
Expect scripts to gain record-event triggers beyond schedules, and links between Script Engine and the automation builder.
Alternatives to ClickUp and SmartSuite
Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either ClickUp or SmartSuite.
NocoBase
NocoBase's Runner Agent gets conversation management, task links and agent switching mid-thread.
Camunda
Camunda opens the 8.11 cycle with job-worker fixes and variable metadata across gRPC, REST and MCP.
Todoist
Todoist's 2026 bets are on capture: voice via Ramble, photos and files via Task Capture.
Atarim
Atarim's AI experts now propose changes to live pages as drafts, and the app runs on phones.
Fibery
Fibery's MCP server can now upload local files, so AI assistants can attach screenshots and images.
See all ClickUp alternatives → · See all SmartSuite alternatives →
Recent activity from ClickUp and SmartSuite
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 6d agoSmartSuiteSmartSuite Script Engine ⚡
- 13d agoSmartSuiteFilter Widget: Multiple Operators in Dynamic Filters
- 13d agoSmartSuiteRecycle Bin: Restore Team
- 21d agoSmartSuiteManaged Secrets
- 21d agoSmartSuiteMobile: Data Schema Widget
- 27d agoSmartSuiteMobile: Pivot Table Widgets on Dashboards
- 2mo agoClickUpPayPal payments begin rolling out in India
- 2mo agoClickUpMCP servers reach Super Agents; Custom Fields scope by task type
- 3mo agoClickUpBrain² takeover: artifacts, model routing, memory, and MCP ⚡
- 4mo agoClickUpReddit AMA with ClickUp's Head of AI on Brain²
- 4mo agoClickUpBrain² announced as ClickUp's multi-model company AI
- 5mo agoClickUpGantt Baselines, Brain on mobile, ClickUp inside ChatGPT and Cursor
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ClickUp and SmartSuite?
Both compete on the same themes — mcp — within PM. SmartSuite is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is ClickUp better than SmartSuite?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. SmartSuite is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to ClickUp?
Top ClickUp alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "ClickUp alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/clickup for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to SmartSuite?
Top SmartSuite alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "SmartSuite alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/smartsuite for the full list with editorial commentary on each.