Hubstaff Tasks vs. Trello
Like the coolest kid in school, almost everyone has heard of Trello. But don’t let its popularity fool you.
Trello is one of the most popular project management tools for a reason: it’s simple, easy-to-use, and built around powerful Kanban boards. But Trello lacks the features needed to manage more complex projects while improving team productivity.
Despite having millions of users, Trello isn’t the right project management tool for every industry or use case. And it might actually hurt your team’s productivity in some instances.
Hubstaff Tasks, on the other hand, blends the simplicity of Trello with time tracking and Agile project management tools to create a more comprehensive way to manage projects.
Based on the features you’re looking for and your team size, this page will help you figure out if Trello or Hubstaff Tasks will work best for you.
The difference between Hubstaff Tasks and Trello
While Trello has a polished look and simplistic design, its most useful features require additional Power-Ups or plugins that cost extra. Trello doesn’t call itself Agile software or offer Agile features beyond the Kanban-style cards and boards and the ability to create a Sprint “list” within them. As a result, users who manage large or complex projects may need more robust tools.
Hubstaff Tasks, however, incorporates the best parts of Agile methodology in a way that works for any business — even if team members aren’t familiar with Agile. It also integrates with Hubstaff time tracking, providing a true all-in-one work management solution.
| Feature | Hubstaff Tasks | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Kanban boards | Yes | Yes |
| Sprints | Yes | No |
| Automated workflows | Yes | No |
| Stand-ups | Yes | No |
| Time tracking | Yes | No |
| Collaboration tools | Yes | Yes |
| Personal to-do lists | Yes | No |
User experience
Hubstaff Tasks
Hubstaff Tasks is light and nimble with a very small learning curve. The features are intuitive to use, making it easy for anyone to manage projects or get up-to-speed on what’s going on. For example, you can dig into the details of tasks and projects on Kanban boards and then see what everyone is working on individually by switching to the Sprint view. This helps you avoid bottlenecks and other problems by viewing the work on each person’s plate.
The homepage shows you recent and most viewed projects, along with the latest comments. You can use the simple to-do list under “My Stuff” to plan out your day, which works like a personal checklist. When creating new projects, templates make it easy to start with an existing workflow with a minimal amount of setup.
Finally, you can modify notification settings to your preferences, getting emails for everything going on or only when you’re mentioned or assigned to a task, for example.
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Trello
Trello’s biggest strength is its intuitive Kanban boards. New users start with a simple ‘example’ board with columns for To Do, Doing, and Done categories. That alone is enough to get most people up and running with Trello.
Although things can get a bit more complicated once you start adding Power-Ups and automations, Trello is a wonderfully straightforward piece of software. Things can get clunky, however, if you’re managing large or complex projects. That’s when more Agile-focused tools can help.
Reporting features
Hubstaff Tasks
Hubstaff Tasks comes with a basic time tracker, which allows you and your team to see how much time was spent on each project or task. You can also set time estimates and then compare them to the hours actually worked.
Gain even deeper insights by syncing your Hubstaff Tasks account with Hubstaff time tracking. This gives you a better understanding of how your team works and what projects or clients are delivering the biggest ROI. You can track time to Hubstaff Tasks projects through Hubstaff’s desktop, mobile, or web apps or the Chrome extension.
Mendel Kras / OS Solutions
Trello
Although Trello doesn’t come with reporting or analytics out-of-the-box, you can use a Power-Up to get similar functionality via third-party apps. This includes time tracking tools, timesheets, and data reporting tools. You can also use the Trello automation feature ‘Butler’ to create limited reports by entering commands.
| Feature | Hubstaff Tasks | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in time tracking | Yes | No |
| Reporting & analytics | Yes (with Hubstaff time tracking) | No |
| Reporting via third-party apps | Yes (with Hubstaff time tracking) | Yes |
| Time estimates for tasks | Yes | No |
Automation features
Hubstaff Tasks
Automation is baked into almost every aspect of Tasks. For example, you can set up custom workflows for Kanban boards to move tasks forward with one click. This eliminates the need to assign the same people to the same tasks repeatedly.
Create automated Stand-ups that remind team members to give you a status update every day or every week. It’s a quick way to stay connected without having to pester your team.
You can also automate the work you’re going to focus on as a team. You can plan two Sprints into the future and Hubstaff Tasks will automatically move those tasks into “Current Sprint” when the date approaches. Remaining tasks will roll over and remain in your Current Sprint, as well.
Trevor Wallace / The Painting Hub Inc
Trello
Trello uses a no-code automation tool called Butler to automate certain tasks based on a schedule or when a specific action occurs. This includes automatically archiving cards, sorting lists, or assigning due dates.
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| Feature | Hubstaff Tasks | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-assign users to tasks | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Stand-up reminders | Yes | No |
| Workflow automations | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-start Sprints based on a set duration | Yes | No |
Agile management features
Hubstaff Tasks
Tasks was built around the core principles of Agile, which is a method for managing projects by breaking them up into manageable phases. But you don’t have to be an Agile expert to use Tasks. Its intuitive workflows are designed to make it easy for anyone to adopt an Agile mindset, even if they’re just getting started with this method.
Users can plan Sprints and Epics, schedule Stand-ups to stay in the loop, and visualize project Timelines with a Gantt chart-style Roadmap view. All the tools are beginner-friendly and Agile rookies can build their skills with educational videos and walk-throughs.
Trello
Trello is best known for its Kanban boards, which are a key part of Agile project management. This tool gives you full visibility into project stages, roles, and deadlines. However, you’ll need a Power-Up or three to get more robust Agile features.
More than a dozen third-party apps can help you manage Sprints or Epics, add Gantt charts, or bring other Agile-inspired features into Trello. The tricky part is figuring out which apps will best match your needs.
| Feature | Hubstaff Tasks | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Sprint planning | Yes | No |
| Epics | Yes | No |
| Kanban boards | Yes | Yes |
| Stand-ups | Yes | No |
| Gantt chart/Roadmap | Yes | No |
Pricing
Hubstaff Tasks
Hubstaff Tasks’ free plan gives you five users at no cost. You get access to the most important features but have limits on the number of projects, Epics, and data storage. This might be enough for some small teams, but the Premium plan provides much more value for just $5/user per month.
Free
Trello
Like Tasks, Trello also has a free plan that may work fine for some small teams. Their Business Class plan, which includes additional features like unlimited Power-Ups and multiple project views, comes in at $10/user per month. This price is comparable to similar project management and collaboration tools.
Free
Business Class
Hubstaff Tasks vs. Trello: Which one is right for you?
Now that you’ve compared features, pricing, and pros and cons, it should be easier to see which tool is a better fit for your business.
If you’re a freelancer or solopreneur that needs basic project management software, give Trello a try.
But for businesses that want an all-in-one work management tool that boosts productivity and has no hidden costs, Hubstaff Tasks is your best option. The Agile features are ideal for tackling projects of all sizes, while the time tracking helps managers make informed decisions.
Try Hubstaff Tasks free for 14 days
Get full access to Agile features for your team with a free trial.
After that, Hubstaff Tasks is free for teams of five.