Startup tools

Proven Guide: Figma vs ClickUp , Which Is the Best Tool for Project Management and Collaboration in 2026?

In 2026, startups, freelancers, and SMEs know that effective project management and collaboration are pivotal to success. But with tools like ClickUp and Figma leading the charge, which should you choose? While both platforms excel in their respective areas, they cater to slightly different needs and challenges.
Read on to uncover actionable insights, statistics, and tips for making the right choice, and avoid the most common mistakes entrepreneurs face when selecting project management and collaboration tools.

ClickUp: The All-in-One Powerhouse

ClickUp isn’t just a project management tool, it’s a comprehensive ecosystem of features tailored to businesses of all sizes. Praised as one of the Best Project Management Tools for SMEs, ClickUp offers task management, real-time collaboration, scheduling, goal tracking, and automation.

Why ClickUp Is Ideal for Startups and SMEs:

  1. Scalability: Whether you’re a two-person team or operating across global markets, ClickUp caters to all-size teams.
  2. Cost Savings: Many startups estimate ClickUp replaces at least four apps, often saving them thousands annually in software costs.
  3. Features for Every Workflow: ClickUp’s customization extends to things like agile board views, real-time chat, progress tracking, and integrations with marketing tools like Trello and HubSpot.
Pro Tip: Startups often struggle with validation, make sure your idea attracts interest before spending excessively. Use the ClickUp goal-tracking features to measure early metrics like user acquisition or minimum viable product progress.

Figma: For Seamless Design Collaboration

When it comes to collaboration in UI/UX design, Figma arguably leads the pack. Real-time editing, cloud-based access, and deep integrations with visual and design workflows make Figma perfect for creatives who depend heavily on collaboration tools.

Why Choose Figma for Collaborative Design?

  1. Real-Time Feedback: Multiple users can edit the same design simultaneously, streamlining team discussions and approvals.
  2. Ease of Use for Visual Projects: Figma makes it incredibly simple for non-designers to comment on design iterations or view prototypes, reducing miscommunication between teams.
  3. Innovation in Marketing Tools: Figma integrates seamlessly with whiteboarding tools like FigJam, ideal for brainstorming marketing campaigns, customer journeys, and sales funnels. Explore how FigJam enhances cross-team collaboration.

Figma vs ClickUp in Numbers:

Statistics show that both tools are widely used, but they serve distinct purposes:
  • ClickUp: SMEs report using it for over 75% of their workflows, from task management to financial reporting (source).
  • Figma: Over 80% of creative teams say it’s their go-to tool for prototyping and collaborative design projects (source).

How to Choose Between ClickUp and Figma

Step 1: Understand Your Workflow

Ask yourself: Do I need a design-centric tool, or one that combines collaboration, tasks, and automation?

Step 2: Assess Team Size

For smaller teams, Figma works beautifully to create design synergy, while ClickUp’s free plan covers unlimited projects and users (Learn why ClickUp’s free plan is a favorite).

Step 3: Map Budget and Learning Curve

While ClickUp offers long-term scalability, its depth can overwhelm newcomers. Conversely, Figma excels in intuitive simplicity for creative users.

Avoid These Mistakes When Choosing Project Management Tools

  1. Overloading with Features: Don’t opt for a tool with features you’ll never use, integrate tools gradually to avoid complexity.
  2. Ignoring Marketing from Day One: Startup founders often focus on building their product but forget the importance of marketing. Tools that double as collaboration boosters (like Figma for creating ad visuals or ClickUp for multi-department alignment) offer indirect marketing advantages.
Tip: Before diving into full-scale production, validate your startup idea through marketing automation strategies. The F/MS AI SEO Tool can help automate outreach and SEO, ensuring your startup gains visibility organically.

Secrets to Winning at Project Management with AI Tools

While Figma and ClickUp are exceptional on their own, combining them with AI-driven marketing tools enhances their potential. The all-new F/MS AI Article Writing Tool makes SEO and branding effortless, helping startups rank on Google, Bing, and even in AI search tools like ChatGPT.

Benefits of AI Marketing Tools:

  • Convert blog posts into high-performing social media campaigns with zero effort.
  • Automate lead funnels with custom outreach sequences built directly in ClickUp dashboards.
  • Establish LinkedIn authority by automating design-first branding posts through Figma.

Final Verdict: Figma or ClickUp in 2026?

For SMEs or startups seeking robust multifunctionality (including project and workflow management, goal tracking, and CRM integrations), ClickUp remains the preferred choice.
For design-heavy startups or digital agencies, Figma offers unparalleled support in real-time collaboration, prototyping, and creative brainstorming.
Need a tool that handles marketing, SEO, and content creation simultaneously? Don’t miss the chance to explore F/MS Marketing Solutions, your partner in building brand visibility with ease.
Choose wisely, and remember, the best tool is the one that caters to your startup’s specific needs and scalability goals.

FAQ on Figma vs ClickUp: Best Tool for Project Management and Collaboration in 2026

1. What is the primary difference between Figma and ClickUp?

Figma is ideal for design collaboration, real-time prototyping, and UI/UX workflows, while ClickUp is a robust all-in-one platform for task management, goal tracking, automation, and multi-department alignment. Learn about ClickUp’s features

2. Where can I submit a guest post about my startup?

If your startups needs to drive targeted traffic and build authority with high-volume, niche-relevant content placements in articles that rank well not only in Google, but also in Perplexity and ChatGPT, then you might want to publish your guest post in one of the F/MS Startup Game's blogs. Get a quality backlink

3. Which tool is better for startups on a tight budget?

ClickUp’s free plan supports unlimited users and projects, making it the go-to choice for startups balancing costs with functionality. Learn why ClickUp’s free plan is a favorite

4. Does Figma work well for non-designers?

Yes, Figma empowers non-designers to engage with prototypes and visual projects effortlessly, enhancing communication between design and non-design teams. Discover how Figma simplifies workflows

5. What industries benefit most from using ClickUp?

ClickUp caters to a variety of industries, from marketing teams to technical project management, providing extensive integrations and flexible workflows. Check out ClickUp integrations and features

6. How do Figma and ClickUp handle team collaboration?

Figma allows real-time design collaboration across global teams, while ClickUp integrates task, goal, and communication tools within a single platform for seamless teamwork. Compare Figma and ClickUp in detail

7. Can I use AI to write SEO-optimized articles that help my brand grow?

Most business owners don't understand how SEO works, let alone how to use AI for writing blog articles. That's why for busy business owners there's a great free tool that doesn't require much knowledge. Write articles for free

8. Which tool is better for global remote teams?

Both tools excel for remote work, but Figma shines in global design collaboration, while ClickUp supports versatile workflows for teams across time zones.

9. How do these tools contribute to cost savings for SMEs?

ClickUp can replace multiple apps, saving SMEs thousands annually, whereas Figma centralizes design projects, reducing inefficiencies in creative workflows. Learn more about ClickUp’s cost efficiency

10. How can startups measure productivity using these tools?

ClickUp offers goal tracking and customizable dashboards to monitor productivity, while Figma enables easy updates and design feedback for iterative improvements. Track goals with ClickUp

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain

Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
  • Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
  • She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
  • Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
  • Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
  • She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
  • Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
  • Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
  • She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
  • Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
  • Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
  • Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
  • AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
  • SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
  • Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
  • Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
  • 3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
  • 100+ startup tools built
  • 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
2026-01-17 10:28 Tool comparisons