Last updated: January 2026
What Is ClickUp Brain Max?
Modern knowledge workers live across dozens of applications—project management, documents, chat, email, cloud storage, code repositories, design tools. Finding information means remembering which app contains it, then navigating to the right location. ClickUp Brain Max is a native desktop application that unifies search and AI assistance across all these tools through a single command bar.
Instead of hopping between browser tabs, opening separate AI chats, and searching each application individually, you press a hotkey, type or speak your question, and Brain Max searches across ClickUp workspace, connected apps (GitHub, Figma, SharePoint, Google Drive), and the web simultaneously.
The application runs natively on Windows and macOS, integrating multiple large language models with your actual work context. The result: an AI that understands your projects, teammates, deadlines, and documents—not just generic knowledge.
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Key Features Explained
Contextual Universal Search
Brain Max's core value is unified search. Open the command bar with your designated shortcut, type or speak a query, and the system searches across:
ClickUp tasks, Docs, and comments; connected cloud drives (Google Drive, SharePoint, Dropbox); integrated tools (GitHub, Figma, Slack); and optionally the web.
Results surface from wherever relevant information lives, with source attribution. No more cryptic filenames, nested folder navigation, or wondering "which app has that document."
Multi-Model AI Chat
Swap between ClickUp's contextual Brain model, GPT-4.1, Claude Opus, and Gemini 2.5 without losing conversation history. Each message can reference internal workspace data or external web sources.
Model switching is useful when different models excel at different tasks—one for creative brainstorming, another for technical analysis, another for writing polish.
For multi-model AI chat without workspace integration, see ChatGOT.
Talk to Text Dictation
Voice input transforms verbal thoughts into text anywhere your cursor sits. Hold a custom hotkey, speak naturally, release, and polished text appears. Choose cleanup modes:
Minimal: Direct transcription with basic punctuation.
Smart: Grammatical corrections and sentence structure improvement.
Polished: Professional rewriting while preserving meaning.
Personal vocabulary settings handle names, technical terms, and industry jargon that generic speech-to-text misses.
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Task Creation and Automation
While chatting with Brain Max, create tasks directly: @mention teammates, spin up entire projects, or let AI assign priorities based on context. Standard tier includes automations like AI Assign, AI Cards, and AI Prioritize that reduce manual task management overhead.
The chat interface doubles as a command center—research, decide, and execute without leaving the conversation.
Security and Privacy
Enterprise requirements are built in: third-party AI providers never retain prompts or train on your data. SOC-2 compliance, enterprise SSO, and two-factor authentication protect organizational information. Workspaces can restrict which integrations AI can search.
Real-World Use Cases
Knowledge Workers
Anyone drowning in apps and tabs uses Brain Max to find information without remembering where it lives. One search, all sources, instant answers.
Developers
Engineers search code repositories, documentation, and task context simultaneously. Voice dictation speeds up commit messages and documentation without leaving the IDE context.
Executives
Leaders get quick answers about project status, team assignments, and organizational decisions without navigating into operational tools.
Remote Teams
Distributed teams benefit from universal search across scattered digital workspaces. Information is accessible regardless of which tool originally captured it.
Pricing (2026)
See official pricing for current rates.
Free Forever — $0. Trial access to AI essentials with usage caps.
AI Standard — $9/user/month. Unlimited Brain Max, Talk to Text, premium models, standard automations.
AI Autopilot — $28/user/month. Everything in Standard plus unlimited automations, custom agents, enterprise search, AI Notetaker.
Add-ons: Talk to Text ($9/user), AI Notetaker ($12 for 60 hours).
Download ClickUp Brain Max for Free
Pros and Cons
What We Like
Universal search across all connected apps and workspace
Multi-model support (GPT-4.1, Claude, Gemini)—choose per task
Voice dictation with intelligent cleanup modes
Native desktop app for Mac and Windows—faster than browser tabs
Enterprise-grade security (SOC-2, no data retention by AI providers)
Task creation directly from chat interface
What Could Be Better
Requires macOS 13+ or Windows 10/11—no Linux or mobile
Full features require $9+ per user
Learning curve for advanced automation configuration
Best value when used alongside ClickUp workspace
Internet required—no offline mode
ClickUp Brain Max vs. Alternatives
vs. ClickUp Brain: ClickUp Brain is web-based AI within the ClickUp platform. Brain Max is a native desktop app adding universal search and voice dictation.
vs. flowith: flowith is canvas-based for visual brainstorming. Brain Max is a command-bar tool for quick answers and task execution.
vs. Raycast AI: Raycast is Mac-only with general productivity focus. Brain Max works on Windows too and integrates deeply with ClickUp workspace context.
vs. ChatGPT Desktop: ChatGPT lacks your workspace context entirely. Brain Max searches your actual tasks, docs, and connected applications.
vs. Alfred/Spotlight: Local system search tools. Brain Max adds AI conversation and cross-application cloud search.
Tips for Best Results
Configure integrations: Connect all your frequently-used apps—search value increases with each connection.
Learn the hotkey: Muscle memory for the command bar makes access instant.
Use voice for drafts: Talk to Text is faster than typing for initial thoughts and messages.
Scope searches when needed: Toggle off certain integrations to focus search on specific sources.
Create tasks from chat: When conversations reveal action items, create them immediately without context switching.
FAQ
Does Brain Max work on the Free Forever plan?
Yes, with usage limits. Explore features in trial mode before deciding whether Standard or Autopilot tiers are worth upgrading.
What operating systems are supported?
macOS 13+ and Windows 10/11. Apple Silicon support is native—M-series Macs run without Rosetta emulation.
Can I control which apps the AI searches?
Yes. Toggle individual integrations on/off to restrict queries to specific sources when focus matters or privacy requires it.
Which language models are included?
ClickUp's contextual Brain model, GPT-4.1, multiple Claude variants, and Gemini options. Switching between models is simple.
How is my data protected?
No prompt data is stored or used to train external models. Zero third-party retention, SOC-2 compliance, and optional workspace encryption.
Final Verdict
ClickUp Brain Max addresses a real problem: information scattered across too many applications. By unifying search and AI assistance in a native desktop command bar, it reduces the cognitive overhead of modern knowledge work.
The tool shines for teams already using ClickUp—workspace context makes AI responses more relevant. But the universal search value exists even for light ClickUp users who connect other applications.
If your browser tab bar looks like Tetris and you spend more time hunting for information than acting on it, Brain Max is worth testing.
