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Comparison · PM

SmartSuite vs ClickUp

A side-by-side editorial comparison of SmartSuite and ClickUp — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Shared themes:automation

SmartSuite vs ClickUp: at a glance

FeatureSmartSuiteClickUp
SectorPMPM
Velocity score7.56.3
Sparks · 30d01
Top themesno-code, work-management, forms, governanceproject-management, ai-agents, ai-coworker, model-routing
Last editorial update16h ago20h ago
Website

What is SmartSuite?

SmartSuite grinds through Forms 2.0, governance, and an AI Center refresh — no-code aimed at GRC and PMO.

SmartSuite is a no-code work-management platform positioning hard at regulated operations — GRC, ITSM, PMO, and service desk. The current release stream is dominated by three arcs: a year-long Forms 2.0 buildout, a Default Values framework spanning field types, and governance features like Dynamic Record Permissions. Its AI Center keeps a multi-provider, bring-your-own-model catalog (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini) current.

Read the full SmartSuite trajectory →

What is ClickUp?

ClickUp bets its future on Brain², a ground-up AI coworker rebuilt to complete work

ClickUp's changelog has shifted almost entirely onto AI. After launching Super Agents in early 2026, it has now rebuilt ClickUp Brain from the ground up as Brain², positioned not as a chatbot but as a context-aware AI coworker that self-improves, routes across models, and completes work: building sites, slides, and managing projects, all under one price. Conventional release notes (Gantt Baselines, Google Drive automations, task-type management) still ship underneath, but they've become the supporting cast to the AI narrative.

Read the full ClickUp trajectory →

SmartSuite vs ClickUp: editorial side-by-side

S7.5

SmartSuite grinds through Forms 2.0, governance, and an AI Center refresh — no-code aimed at GRC and PMO.

◆ Current state

SmartSuite is a no-code work-management platform positioning hard at regulated operations — GRC, ITSM, PMO, and service desk. The current release stream is dominated by three arcs: a year-long Forms 2.0 buildout, a Default Values framework spanning field types, and governance features like Dynamic Record Permissions. Its AI Center keeps a multi-provider, bring-your-own-model catalog (Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini) current.

◆ Where it's heading

The roadmap reads as methodical breadth rather than big bets: forms are becoming a first-class internal submission surface, record- and field-level permissions are getting granular for auditors, and automation runs are gaining end-to-end traceability. The AI Center is maintained as a cost-tiered model layer rather than a differentiated capability, tracking new flagship releases as they ship.

◆ Prediction

Expect the Forms 2.0 and Default Values rollouts to keep shipping incrementally, and the AI Center to track new flagship models with tier reclassifications rather than net-new AI features.

C6.3

ClickUp bets its future on Brain², a ground-up AI coworker rebuilt to complete work

◆ Current state

ClickUp's changelog has shifted almost entirely onto AI. After launching Super Agents in early 2026, it has now rebuilt ClickUp Brain from the ground up as Brain², positioned not as a chatbot but as a context-aware AI coworker that self-improves, routes across models, and completes work: building sites, slides, and managing projects, all under one price. Conventional release notes (Gantt Baselines, Google Drive automations, task-type management) still ship underneath, but they've become the supporting cast to the AI narrative.

◆ Where it's heading

ClickUp is repositioning from a work-management app into an AI work-execution platform, with Brain² as the flagship and Super Agents as the autonomous layer beneath it. The messaging (multiplayer AI, every model, one price) targets the model-router and AI-coworker category directly. Expect the roadmap to keep folding traditional PM features into the Brain² surface rather than shipping them standalone.

◆ Prediction

Expect Brain² to expand across ClickUp's surface area (docs, chat, mobile, and third-party assistants like ChatGPT) and a continued push to make autonomous task completion, not just chat, the headline capability.

Alternatives to SmartSuite and ClickUp

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 SmartSuite or ClickUp.

See all SmartSuite alternatives → · See all ClickUp alternatives →

Recent activity from SmartSuite and ClickUp

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 23h agoSmartSuiteAutomations: Run Links in Activity History
  2. 23h agoSmartSuiteLinked Record: Default Value Support
  3. 23h agoSmartSuiteAI Center: Support for new models
  4. 1d agoClickUpBrain²: Release Notes Takeover
  5. 2d agoClickUp👋 Ask ClickUp's Head of AI anything about Brain² (Reddit AMA)
  6. 8d agoSmartSuiteForms: Yes/No Default Value Support
  7. 8d agoSmartSuiteFilter Widget: Static Filters
  8. 8d agoSmartSuiteForms: Layout and Appearance
  9. 10d agoClickUpThe best AI is your AI. Brain² is here.
  10. 1mo agoClickUpRelease Notes 4.04
  11. 2mo agoClickUpRelease Notes 4.03
  12. 4mo agoClickUpRelease Notes 4.02

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SmartSuite and ClickUp?

Both compete on the same themes — automation — within PM. SmartSuite is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 6.3), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 1. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is SmartSuite better than ClickUp?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. SmartSuite is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 7.5 vs 6.3), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 1. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.

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.

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.