Wrike is a dynamic project management tool built to streamline teamwork, enhance organization, and keep projects on track. Its diverse features, including interactive Gantt charts and customizable dashboards, adapt to various workflows. While it offers flexibility and efficiency, it also comes with its own set of advantages and limitations.
What Does Wrike Do?
Wrike serves as a centralized hub for managing projects, tasks, and team collaboration. It enables users to assign work, set deadlines, track progress, and communicate seamlessly. With multiple viewing options, including Gantt charts, lists, and boards, teams can tailor their workflow to their preferences.
The platform integrates effortlessly with popular tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams, allowing teams to stay connected. One of its key strengths is automation—reports update in real-time, reducing the need for manual tracking. Task dependencies keep projects on schedule, making Wrike a scalable solution for teams handling anything from small assignments to complex enterprise workflows.
User Experience and Interface
Wrike features a well-organized interface that balances simplicity and functionality, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced users. The dashboard offers a clear snapshot of ongoing projects, upcoming deadlines, and assigned tasks. Users can personalize their workspace, ensuring they see the most relevant information and streamline their workflow efficiently.
Drag-and-Drop Editing
Wrike makes editing tasks simple with drag-and-drop functionality. Users can adjust due dates, move tasks between columns, and set dependencies effortlessly.
- Gantt View: Adjust task durations and create dependencies between tasks with a quick drag-and-drop motion.
- Board View: Move tasks between columns to reflect their progress.
- List View: Requires more precision when dragging and dropping, but still offers flexibility.
While the interface is user-friendly, the List View can be tricky when repositioning tasks. Clicking the calendar icon to change dates adds an extra step, which can slow down the workflow.
Wrike Pros and Cons
Every project management tool has strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a breakdown of what Wrike does well and where it falls short.
Pros
User-Friendly Interface – Wrike’s intuitive layout allows teams to start using it quickly without needing in-depth training.
Multiple Viewing Options – Teams can switch between Gantt charts, boards, and lists to manage tasks in a way that suits them.
Seamless Team Collaboration – Features like @mentions, comments, and file sharing keep communication efficient, minimizing reliance on lengthy email chains.
Automation and Reports – Customizable reports update automatically, saving time on tracking and manual updates.
Mobile Accessibility – Wrike’s Android and iOS apps let users stay on top of tasks and projects from anywhere.
Cons
Limited Communication Features – Wrike lacks built-in live chat and video conferencing, requiring third-party integrations.
Steep Pricing for Teams – Plans start at an affordable rate but require a minimum of five users, increasing costs.
List View Dragging Issues – Moving tasks within List View requires precision, making it less smooth compared to other views.
No In-App Tutorials for Mobile – The mobile app doesn’t provide direct access to learning materials, which can slow down onboarding.
Collaboration and Team Management
Wrike is designed for teamwork, offering multiple ways to assign tasks, track work, and communicate.
Team Dashboards
Wrike dashboards provide an overview of active tasks, due dates, and assignees. The default columns include:
- Overdue Tasks
- Due Today
- Due This Week
- Due This Month
Users can customize dashboards by adding widgets to focus on specific projects, clients, or deadlines. A dedicated client dashboard makes it easy to track client-related tasks separately.
File Sharing and Attachments
Sharing files is seamless with Wrike. Users can upload documents from their devices or integrate with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
- YouTube videos can be shared by pasting the video URL.
- Files can be previewed directly in Wrike without downloading.
- Task descriptions can be printed or saved as PDFs for easy sharing.
Communication Tools
Wrike supports @mentions and comments for quick discussions. However, live chat, calls, and video conferencing require third-party integrations. This may be a downside for teams that need a single platform for both communication and project management.
Mobile App Features
Wrike’s mobile app keeps teams engaged and efficient, even when working remotely. The app is available for Android (2.3 or later) and iOS (13.4 or later).
What Can You Do on the Mobile App?
- Assign and schedule work
- Respond to @mentions and inbox notifications
- Submit project requests
- Attach files and images
The iOS app includes a document scanner for saving physical documents as PDFs or PNGs. Android users benefit from Smart Replies, which offer quick response suggestions.
However, some features, like time tracking, require a Business Plus plan or higher. Also, older devices like the iPhone 6 are not supported.
Support and Customer Service
Wrike offers various support options, but access depends on whether you are a paying subscriber.
Support Options
- Live Chat – Available only for subscribers. Non-subscribers get a chatbot with limited responses.
- Email Support – Quick response times, often within four hours.
- Phone Support – Available for subscribers, but not for free users.
- Knowledge Base and Community Forum – Useful for self-help and troubleshooting.
Premium support packages include priority phone support, weekend callbacks, and a guaranteed one-hour response time.
One downside is that basic pricing and feature questions require speaking with a sales representative, making it harder for potential users to get quick answers.
Pricing and Plans
Wrike offers multiple plans, but pricing can be misleading due to minimum user requirements.
Plan Breakdown
- Free – Supports up to five users, includes 2GB storage, unlimited projects, and integrations.
- Team ($10/user/month) – Good for 2 – 15 users and supports Calendars and Gantt charts.
- Business Plus ($25/user/month) – Supports 5 – 200 users and adds time tracking, automation, client management tools, and up to 5GB storage.
- Enterprise Plans – Custom pricing for large organizations with advanced security features and up to 10GB storage.
- Pinnacle Plans – Also custom pricing for large organizations but has higher storage with 15GB.
While Wrike’s Business Plus plan is feature-rich, it costs five times the displayed rate due to the minimum seat requirement. Additionally, all plans require annual billing, increasing upfront costs.
Is Wrike the Right Project Management Tool for You?
Wrike is a strong choice for teams that need a structured, feature-rich project management tool. Its multiple views, automation, and real-time collaboration features make it a great option for businesses of all sizes.
However, it may not be the best fit for teams looking for built-in communication tools or those who want month-to-month billing. The minimum seat requirement also makes Wrike less budget-friendly for small teams.
Who Should Use Wrike?
- Mid-sized to large teams needing structured workflows
- Businesses managing multiple clients and projects
- Teams that use third-party tools like Slack for communication
- Companies looking for strong automation and reporting tools
Who Might Struggle with Wrike?
- Freelancers or small teams who don’t need a five-seat minimum plan
- Teams needing built-in chat and video calls
- Companies looking for affordable monthly billing
Wrike’s versatility makes it a great project management solution, but it’s important to consider pricing and communication limitations before committing.
Verdict: A Good and Efficient Project Management Tool
Wrike stands out as a versatile project management tool, offering automation, flexibility, and strong collaboration features. Its multiple views, customizable reports, and integrations make it ideal for managing complex workflows. While it has a learning curve and lacks built-in communication tools, its structured task management keeps teams organized and efficient.
For businesses seeking a scalable and feature-rich solution, Wrike is a solid choice. Teams that fully utilize its capabilities will benefit from a reliable and effective platform for streamlining projects and boosting productivity.