Wrike is a project management platform designed to help teams organize tasks, track time, and collaborate on work. It serves businesses of all sizes with tools for planning, scheduling, and managing both projects and everyday tasks.
The software includes features like task views, resource management, budgeting tools, and digital asset management. Wrike offers a clear interface with multiple ways to view tasks, built-in proofing tools, and plans that scale from small teams to large organizations.
The platform aims to balance project management with ongoing work management. It provides time tracking, risk management features, and capacity planning tools that help teams stay on schedule and within budget.
This review covers Wrike's key features, pricing options, security measures, and how it compares to other project management tools. Readers will learn about the platform's collaboration capabilities, automation features, and integration options.
The review also examines user experience feedback to help determine if Wrike fits specific team needs.
Key Takeaways
- Wrike is a project management platform that helps teams organize tasks, track time, and manage resources with flexible viewing options.
- The software includes collaboration tools, automation features, and integrations that work for teams of different sizes.
- Pricing starts at $9.80 per month and includes various plans with different feature sets for security, reporting, and project management capabilities.
What Is Wrike?
Wrike is a web-based project management platform that helps teams organize their work and track projects from start to finish. The software serves enterprise teams and businesses that need advanced workflows and tools to manage complex projects.
Overview of Wrike as a Project Management Tool
Wrike functions as a complete work management platform. The software includes task management, time tracking, and team collaboration features.
Users can create projects, assign tasks to team members, and monitor progress through different views. The platform offers more than 400 integrations with other business tools.
Teams can connect Wrike to their existing software stack. Key features include resource management, capacity planning, and budgeting tools.
The software also provides risk management capabilities to help teams spot potential problems early. Wrike includes a digital asset management (DAM) tool for storing and organizing files.
Teams can view their work in multiple formats like lists, boards, and timelines. The platform supports custom workflows that match specific business processes.
Target Users and Use Cases
Wrike works best for enterprise teams that need advanced project management capabilities. The platform suits organizations with complex workflows and multiple departments working together.
Companies that manage large portfolios of projects benefit from Wrike's planning features. The software serves teams across different industries.
Marketing teams use it to manage campaigns and creative assets. IT departments track development projects and technical tasks.
Professional services firms manage client work and billable hours through the time tracking features. Teams with 10 or more members typically get the most value from Wrike.
The platform requires some technical knowledge to set up and use effectively.
Company Background and Recent Developments
Wrike operates as an established project management software company. The platform has built its reputation serving large enterprise clients over multiple years.
The company continues to expand its feature set and integration options. Current pricing starts at $9.80 per user per month for basic plans.
The software offers several tiers to match different team sizes and needs. Enterprise customers can access the full range of features including advanced security and custom workflows.
Core Features and Functionality
Wrike provides a comprehensive set of project management tools built around flexible task organization and multiple viewing options. The platform supports everything from basic task lists to complex project workflows with customizable fields and automation.
Project and Task Management Capabilities
Wrike organizes work through a hierarchy of workspaces, projects, and tasks. Users can create tasks and break them down into subtasks for better organization.
Each task includes fields for assignees, due dates, priority levels, and custom fields that teams can add based on their needs. The platform tracks task status through customizable labels.
Teams can modify task statuses to match their specific workflow stages beyond the default options. Tasks support file attachments, comments, and @mentions for team collaboration.
Dependencies between tasks allow users to link related work items. When one task changes, connected tasks update automatically.
Wrike also includes time tracking functionality built directly into tasks, letting team members log hours without switching tools.
Workflows and Customization Options
Custom workflows let teams automate repetitive processes. Users can set up rules that trigger specific actions when conditions are met.
For example, tasks can automatically move to a new status when marked complete or assign work to specific team members based on project type. The platform supports custom fields for tracking unique project data.
Teams can add dropdown menus, text fields, numbers, or date fields to capture information specific to their work. These custom fields appear across all project views and filter options.
Automation rules reduce manual work by handling routine updates. Teams can configure Wrike to send notifications, change task properties, or create new tasks based on triggers they define.
Project Views: Gantt Chart, Kanban Board, List, and Calendar
Wrike offers multiple ways to visualize project data. The list view displays tasks in a simple table format with sortable columns.
Table view provides a spreadsheet-like interface for managing multiple tasks at once with inline editing. Gantt charts show project timelines with task dependencies and milestone tracking.
Users can drag and drop tasks to adjust dates and see how changes affect the overall schedule. The Gantt chart updates in real-time when team members modify task details.
Kanban boards organize work into columns representing different stages. Teams can drag tasks between columns as work progresses.
The kanban board view works well for teams following agile methods or managing ongoing workflows. Calendar view displays tasks and deadlines in a traditional calendar format.
Users can switch between day, week, and month views to see upcoming work.
Templates and Pre-Made Project Structures
Wrike includes pre-made templates for common project types. These templates contain preset tasks, workflows, and custom fields that teams can use immediately.
Templates cover areas like marketing campaigns, product launches, and event planning. Users can create their own templates from existing projects.
This feature helps teams standardize processes across similar projects. When starting a new project from a template, Wrike copies the entire structure including tasks, subtasks, and custom fields.
Template libraries can be shared across the organization. Teams save time by reusing proven project structures.
Collaboration and Communication
Wrike provides multiple tools for teams to work together on projects, including real-time commenting, file sharing, and direct task communication. The platform supports document collaboration and uses @ mentions to keep team members informed about important updates.
Team Collaboration Tools
Wrike offers a centralized workspace where team members can share files, track updates, and communicate about tasks without switching between different apps. The platform sends live notifications when changes occur, which helps everyone stay current with project developments.
Teams can access shared dashboards that display project status and assigned work. The software allows multiple users to view and edit the same information at once.
This reduces the need for status meetings and email updates. Remote teams benefit from Wrike's cloud-based structure.
Team members can access projects from any location and see real-time changes as they happen. The platform stores all project files and conversations in one place, making it easier to find information quickly.
Document Editing and Proofing
Wrike includes document sharing capabilities that let teams upload and store files directly within tasks and projects. Team members can attach various file types to specific tasks for easy reference.
The platform supports basic document collaboration features. Users can preview certain file types without downloading them.
This saves time when team members need to quickly review documents. Wrike integrates with external document editing tools to expand its capabilities.
Teams can connect their preferred software to work on documents while keeping everything linked to the relevant tasks and projects.
Commenting and @ Mention Capabilities
The in-task commenting system lets team members discuss work without creating long email chains. Users can leave comments directly on specific tasks, which keeps all relevant conversation in one place.
The @ mention feature alerts specific team members when they need to take action or review something. When someone uses @ followed by a name, that person receives an instant notification.
Comments support threaded discussions, making it easier to follow conversations about specific issues. Team members can attach files to comments and reference previous messages when needed.
Automation and Work Intelligence
Wrike provides tools to reduce manual work through its automation builder and AI-powered Work Intelligence features. Teams can set up workflow automations, create recurring tasks, and use AI to generate content and uncover project insights.
Workflow Automation Builder
The automation builder in Wrike lets teams turn repetitive workflows into automatic processes. Users can create custom automation rules based on specific triggers and actions.
For example, when a task status changes to “complete,” the system can automatically notify team members, update related tasks, or move items to the next project phase. Teams can build automations at both the project and task levels.
The platform offers templates for common automation scenarios to help users get started quickly. These automations work across different project views and integrate with other Wrike features like custom fields and workflows.
Artificial Intelligence and Wrike AI
Wrike AI brings intelligent capabilities into project management through its Work Intelligence system. The AI tools help teams generate content, analyze project data, and identify potential risks before they become problems.
Work Intelligence integrates into multiple layers of the platform rather than existing as a standalone feature. The AI features can predict project risks and provide insights based on team performance data.
Users can leverage generative AI to create project descriptions, task summaries, and other written content. These AI-driven tools aim to speed up decision-making and reduce time spent on routine documentation tasks.
Recurring Tasks and Automations
Recurring tasks in Wrike let teams automate work that happens on a regular schedule. Users can set tasks to repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or on custom intervals.
The system automatically creates new task instances based on the defined schedule. Teams can combine recurring tasks with other automation rules to build more complex workflows.
When a recurring task generates, it can trigger additional automations like assigning team members, setting due dates, or creating subtasks. This combination helps teams maintain consistent processes.
Integrations and Extensibility
Wrike connects with over 400 business applications and provides tools for custom integrations through its API and dedicated platforms. The software supports both pre-built connections and custom workflows to fit different team requirements.
Native and Third-Party Integrations
Wrike offers direct integrations with popular business tools across multiple categories. Users can connect their accounts with Salesforce for CRM data sync, Jira for development tracking, and communication platforms like Zoom for video meetings.
The platform includes integrations with other project management tools such as Smartsheet, Monday.com, and Asana for data migration and cross-platform workflows. Email integration works with Gmail and Outlook, letting teams create tasks directly from their inbox.
Popular Integration Categories:
- Analytics and reporting: Tableau integration for data visualization
- Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
- File storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive
- CRM systems: Salesforce, HubSpot
- Automation: Zapier for connecting non-native apps
The desktop app and mobile app maintain access to these integrations across devices. Both Windows and Mac users can install the desktop version for offline work and faster performance.
Wrike Integrate and Wrike Sync
Wrike Integrate provides a no-code solution for building custom connections between Wrike and other business systems. Teams can create automated workflows without developer assistance.
The tool uses a visual interface where users select triggers and actions. Wrike Sync handles two-way data synchronization between platforms.
It keeps information current across connected systems in real-time. This prevents duplicate work and reduces manual data entry errors.
These tools are available on higher-tier plans. They give technical and non-technical users the ability to customize how Wrike works with their existing software stack.
API and Connectivity with Other Platforms
The Wrike API lets developers build custom integrations and extend platform functionality. It uses RESTful architecture and supports standard authentication methods.
Development teams can access project data, tasks, folders, and user information programmatically. The API documentation includes code examples and endpoint references.
Developers can create custom dashboards, automate workflows, or build proprietary connections to internal systems. Third-party automation platforms like Zapier expand integration options without coding.
Users can set up multi-step workflows connecting Wrike to thousands of apps. This approach works well for teams without dedicated development resources.
Analytics, Reporting, and Dashboards
Wrike provides tools to track project performance and team productivity through custom reports and visual dashboards. The platform includes features for monitoring resource allocation and workload distribution across teams.
Reporting Tools and Custom Reports
Wrike offers advanced reporting capabilities that let users create custom reports to track specific metrics. Teams can build reports from scratch or use pre-built templates to monitor project performance, budget spending, and resource allocation.
The platform generates automated reports using data from time tracking and project management activities. These reports provide visual statistics that help teams understand how work is progressing.
Users can add widgets to their reports to display different types of data. Wrike integrates with external analytics tools like Power BI and Tableau.
This allows teams to connect their project data with other business intelligence systems. The reporting features work across different plan levels, though more advanced options are available on higher-tier plans.
Dashboards and Data Visualization
The platform includes customizable dashboards that display project information in visual formats. Users can create boards with various widgets to show the data most relevant to their work.
Charts, graphs, and other visual elements make it easier to understand complex project information at a glance. Teams can build multiple dashboards for different purposes or audiences.
Each dashboard can be configured to show specific metrics, timelines, or performance indicators. The real-time nature of these dashboards means they update automatically as project data changes.
Wrike Analyze is the dedicated analytics tool within the platform. It provides deeper insights into workflows and team performance through more sophisticated data visualization options.
Resource and Capacity Planning
Wrike includes resource management features that help teams plan workload distribution. Managers can view team capacity and see who has available time for new tasks.
This prevents overallocation and helps balance work across team members. The platform shows resource utilization through visual reports and charts.
Teams can track how time is spent across different projects and identify potential bottlenecks. These insights support better planning for future projects and help optimize team performance over time.
Pricing and Plans
Wrike structures its pricing around five distinct tiers that range from a no-cost option to enterprise-grade plans with advanced features. Each plan includes different user limits, features, and capabilities designed to match team size and project complexity.
Overview of Pricing Tiers
Wrike offers five pricing tiers: Free, Team, Business, Enterprise, and Pinnacle. The Free plan supports basic task management for small teams.
The Team plan provides core project management tools for growing teams that need more structure. The Business plan adds advanced features like custom fields and automation.
Enterprise and Pinnacle plans target large organizations that require enhanced security, analytics, and extensive customization options. Pricing scales based on the number of users and whether teams choose monthly or annual billing.
Annual subscriptions typically cost less than monthly payments. The exact pricing for paid plans varies, so teams need to contact Wrike directly for specific rates.
Free Plan and Paid Options
The Free plan allows unlimited users but limits features to basic task management. It includes task boards, file sharing, and real-time activity streams.
This plan works for small teams testing the platform or managing simple projects. Paid plans unlock more powerful capabilities.
The Team plan adds Gantt charts, subtasks, and integrations with popular apps. The Business plan includes time tracking, custom workflows, and branded workspaces.
Enterprise and Pinnacle plans provide dedicated support, advanced security controls, and API access for custom integrations.
Feature Differences by Plan
Key features by tier:
- Free: Task management, basic collaboration, file sharing
- Team: Gantt charts, calendar view, 2GB storage per user
- Business: Custom fields, automation, request forms, 5GB storage per user
- Enterprise: Advanced reporting, admin controls, user groups, 10GB storage per user
- Pinnacle: Performance reports, workload management, comparison reports, custom storage
Storage limits increase with each tier. Collaboration tools like proofing and approval workflows appear in higher plans.
The Business plan marks the entry point for automation and custom branding. Enterprise and Pinnacle plans separate themselves through analytics depth and administrative controls that support larger teams with complex budgeting and resource management needs.
Security, Privacy, and Compliance
Wrike builds its platform on multiple layers of security controls and compliance certifications. The software includes enterprise-grade protection, advanced encryption options, authentication methods, and healthcare industry compliance features.
Enterprise-Grade Security Features
Wrike integrates security into every stage of its Software Development Lifecycle. The platform uses role-based access control to manage who can view and edit specific content.
Administrators can set permissions for individual users or entire teams. The system runs on secure cloud infrastructure with continuous monitoring.
Wrike maintains compliance with global security standards including GDPR and CCPA. These certifications ensure the platform meets international data privacy requirements.
Regular security audits and automated testing help identify vulnerabilities before they become problems. The company follows industry best practices for data protection.
All data transfers use secure protocols to prevent unauthorized access during transmission.
Wrike Lock and Encryption Keys
Wrike Lock provides an additional security layer for sensitive projects. This feature creates locked spaces where only authorized users can access specific folders and files.
Organizations can isolate confidential information from the rest of their workspace. The platform offers custom encryption keys for enterprise clients.
Companies can manage their own encryption keys rather than relying solely on Wrike's default encryption. This gives organizations direct control over how their data gets encrypted and stored.
Locked spaces work alongside standard permissions to create multiple security barriers. Teams working with confidential client information or proprietary data benefit most from this feature.
The encryption remains active whether data is stored or moving between systems.
Single Sign-On, Two-Factor Authentication, and SAML
Wrike supports single sign-on through SAML 2.0 integration. Users can log in through their existing company credentials without creating separate passwords.
This reduces the number of login credentials employees need to remember and manage. Two-factor authentication adds another verification step beyond passwords.
Users must confirm their identity through a second device or method before accessing their account. This prevents unauthorized access even if someone obtains a user's password.
The platform's SAML support works with popular identity providers like Okta, Azure AD, and Google Workspace. IT departments can manage user access centrally through their existing identity management systems.
HIPAA Compliance and Password Policies
Wrike offers HIPAA compliant configurations for healthcare organizations. The platform signs Business Associate Agreements and implements technical safeguards required under HIPAA regulations.
Healthcare teams can use Wrike to manage projects containing protected health information. The software enforces customizable password policies to meet organizational security requirements.
Administrators can set minimum password length, require special characters, and mandate regular password changes. They can also control session timeouts and limit login attempts.
Organizations can configure these policies to match their internal security standards or regulatory requirements. The system tracks failed login attempts and can automatically lock accounts after suspicious activity.
Pros, Cons, and User Experience
Wrike stands out for its powerful features and adaptability to complex workflows. The platform's usability varies based on team size and technical experience.
Strengths and Notable Advantages
Wrike excels at managing complex projects through its comprehensive toolset. The platform offers customizable dashboards, Gantt charts, and detailed reporting features that help teams track multiple initiatives at once.
The software integrates with over 400 applications, including popular tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace. This connectivity allows teams to maintain their existing workflows while adding Wrike's project management capabilities.
Collaboration tools enable real-time updates and communication within tasks. Team members can tag colleagues, share files, and leave comments directly on project items.
The platform also provides automation features that reduce repetitive work by triggering actions based on specific conditions. Wrike's enterprise-grade security includes role-based permissions and data encryption.
The system supports multiple views such as list, board, table, and timeline formats, letting users choose their preferred way to visualize work.
Limitations and Challenges
Pricing starts at $9.80 per user monthly but costs increase quickly as teams need advanced features. Smaller businesses often find the expense difficult to justify, especially when entry-level plans lack key functionality.
The interface can feel overwhelming with its numerous menus and options. New users frequently report confusion about where to find specific features or how to set up basic workflows properly.
Mobile apps offer limited functionality compared to the desktop version. Some users note that editing tasks or viewing detailed reports on smartphones proves cumbersome.
The platform requires substantial configuration time before teams can work efficiently. Organizations must invest resources in customizing fields, workflows, and templates to match their processes.
Learning Curve and Usability
Wrike presents a steeper learning curve than simpler project management apps. New users typically need several weeks to become comfortable with the platform's full capabilities.
The onboarding experience includes tutorials and help documentation. Teams often benefit from dedicated training sessions.
Organizations with technical staff adapt more quickly than those without IT support. Once users master the basics, the project management tool becomes more intuitive.
The interface follows consistent patterns across different features, which helps after the initial adjustment period.
Comparison With Other Project Management Tools
Wrike competes with several established project management platforms, each offering distinct approaches to team collaboration and task management. Asana provides a simpler interface for general project work, while Monday.com emphasizes visual customization and Smartsheet focuses on spreadsheet-based planning.
Wrike vs Asana
Wrike offers more advanced reporting capabilities and resource management tools compared to Asana. Teams that need detailed project analytics and workload tracking often prefer Wrike's enterprise-grade features.
Asana provides a cleaner, more intuitive interface that requires less training time. The pricing structure differs significantly between these tools.
Asana allows unlimited free users with basic features, while Wrike limits free plans to smaller teams. However, Wrike includes Gantt charts and custom workflows in lower-tier paid plans, which Asana reserves for premium subscriptions.
Asana works better for marketing teams and general business projects. Wrike handles complex project dependencies and cross-team collaboration more effectively.
Both platforms integrate with popular tools like Slack and Google Workspace. Wrike supports more native integrations overall.
Wrike vs Monday.com
Monday.com stands out for its colorful, visual approach to project management. The platform uses customizable boards that feel more approachable than Wrike's interface.
Teams without technical backgrounds often find Monday.com easier to adopt initially. Wrike provides stronger features for traditional project management methodologies.
It includes built-in time tracking, more sophisticated automation options, and better support for agile workflows. Monday.com focuses on flexibility and visual communication rather than structured project frameworks.
Both tools offer comparable pricing for small teams. Wrike becomes more cost-effective at enterprise scale with its unlimited user options on higher tiers.
Monday.com charges per seat across all plans, which increases costs as teams grow.
Wrike vs Smartsheet
Smartsheet appeals to users who prefer spreadsheet-based project management. The platform replicates Excel's familiar grid layout while adding collaboration features.
Teams comfortable with spreadsheets transition to Smartsheet more naturally than to Wrike's task-based interface. Wrike delivers better native project views, including Kanban boards, calendars, and lists.
Smartsheet requires more manual configuration to achieve similar visualization options. However, Smartsheet excels at creating custom forms and automated workflows based on spreadsheet logic.
The reporting capabilities differ in approach. Wrike provides pre-built dashboards and analytics tailored for project managers.
Smartsheet offers deeper customization through formulas and cell linking, which requires more technical knowledge to implement effectively.
Other Leading Competitors
ClickUp positions itself as an all-in-one solution with features spanning project management, documentation, and goal tracking. The platform includes more built-in tools than Wrike but can feel overwhelming for new users.
ClickUp offers more generous free tier options with unlimited tasks and users.
Jira dominates software development environments with its focus on agile methodologies and issue tracking. Development teams often choose Jira over Wrike for its deeper integration with coding workflows and bug tracking systems.
Other project management tools like Trello and Basecamp target simpler use cases. These platforms lack the enterprise features and customization depth that Wrike provides.
Teams managing straightforward projects may find these lighter alternatives sufficient at lower price points.