Last updated: January 2026

What Is Wrike?

When projects involve dozens of people, hundreds of tasks, and constant changes, simple task lists collapse under their own weight. Wrike is an enterprise-grade work management platform designed for the complexity that real organizations face—not hypothetical project management, but the messy reality of cross-functional teams, shifting priorities, and stakeholder demands.

Founded in 2006 and now serving 20,000+ organizations including Google, Airbnb, and Dell, Wrike has evolved from project management software into a comprehensive work operating system. The platform handles everything from simple task tracking to complex portfolio management, resource planning, and workflow automation.

For teams that have outgrown basic tools like Trello or Asana—where real projects require dependencies, resource allocation, custom workflows, and enterprise security—Wrike provides the sophistication that scale demands without sacrificing usability.

Key Features Explained

Flexible Work Views

Different people think differently about work. Wrike accommodates all preferences: Kanban boards for visual thinkers, Gantt charts for traditional project managers, tables for spreadsheet lovers, calendars for time-oriented planners, and list views for detail-focused individuals. Same underlying data, presented however makes sense for each team member.

Custom Workflows

Every team has unique processes. Wrike's workflow engine lets you define custom statuses, approval stages, and automated transitions. Marketing teams create different workflows than engineering teams, and both can coexist in the same workspace. Status changes can trigger notifications, assignment changes, or integration actions.

Cross-Tagging and Folder Structure

Traditional folder hierarchies break down when tasks belong to multiple contexts. Wrike's cross-tagging lets a single task live in multiple folders—a marketing campaign task can appear in both the Marketing folder and the Q1 Goals folder without duplication. This mirrors how real work actually operates.

Proofing and Approvals

Creative teams need more than task tracking—they need feedback on actual deliverables. Wrike's proofing tools let stakeholders mark up images, videos, and documents directly, with comments tied to specific elements. Approval workflows route creative through proper channels before delivery.

Resource Management

Knowing who's working on what—and who has capacity—prevents bottlenecks and burnout. Wrike's resource management shows workload distribution across teams, helping managers balance assignments and plan realistic timelines based on actual availability.

Automation Engine

Repetitive work wastes human potential. Wrike's automation rules trigger actions based on conditions: when status changes, when due dates approach, when fields update. Create tasks from templates, send notifications, reassign work, and connect systems without manual intervention.

Time Tracking

Built-in time tracking captures effort at the task level. Teams track hours for client billing, project accounting, or productivity analysis. Timesheets aggregate individual entries for reporting and approval.

Integrations

Wrike connects with 400+ tools including Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, and major development platforms. Two-way syncs keep information flowing; triggers enable cross-platform automation.

Pricing (2026)

Free — $0 for individuals and small teams. Basic task and project management, limited to small groups with core features.

Team — $9.80/user/month billed annually. Adds Gantt charts, dashboards, integrations, and collaborative features for growing teams.

Business — $24.80/user/month billed annually. Custom workflows, automation, resource management, proofing, and advanced reporting for mature teams.

Enterprise — Custom pricing. Security controls, advanced permissions, dedicated support, and enterprise integrations for large organizations.

Pinnacle — Custom pricing. Full platform capabilities including advanced analytics, locked spaces, and sophisticated permission models.

Annual billing required for listed pricing; monthly options cost more. Free trial available on all paid tiers.

Who Uses Wrike?

Marketing Teams

Campaign management, creative production, event coordination—marketing generates complex, deadline-driven work. Wrike's proofing and approval workflows suit creative processes specifically.

Professional Services

Agencies, consultancies, and service businesses track billable work across multiple clients. Resource management and time tracking support profitability analysis.

Product Development

Cross-functional product teams coordinate across engineering, design, and go-to-market functions. Wrike complements development tools for non-engineering work management.

Operations Teams

Process-driven teams managing recurring work benefit from automation and templates. Standardized workflows ensure consistency across repetitive operations.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

Sophisticated enough for enterprise complexity

Multiple view options suit different working styles

Powerful automation reduces manual work

Built-in proofing for creative workflows

Resource management provides workload visibility

Extensive integration ecosystem

What Could Be Better

Learning curve steeper than simpler tools

Pricing adds up for larger teams

Interface can feel overwhelming initially

Some features locked to higher tiers

Mobile app less capable than desktop

Wrike vs. Alternatives

vs. Asana: Asana focuses on simplicity; Wrike offers more enterprise features. Choose based on complexity needs—startups often prefer Asana, enterprises choose Wrike.

vs. Monday.com: Monday.com emphasizes visual appeal; Wrike emphasizes depth. Both serve similar markets with different philosophies.

vs. Jira: Jira dominates software development; Wrike serves broader business functions. Many organizations use both for different departments.

vs. ClickUp: ClickUp competes on features-per-dollar; Wrike competes on enterprise reliability. Compare specific capabilities for your needs.

For teams also needing CRM functionality alongside project management, consider pairing with Close or Salesflare.

Tips for Implementation

Start with one team: Pilot with a single team before organization-wide rollout. Learn what works before scaling.

Define workflows first: Map your processes before configuring Wrike. Technology should enable workflows, not dictate them.

Train power users: Invest in training key users who can help colleagues and champion adoption.

Use templates: Create project templates for recurring work. Consistency saves setup time and improves quality.

FAQ

How long does implementation take?

Simple team deployments take days; enterprise implementations take weeks or months depending on complexity, integrations, and change management needs.

Can Wrike replace multiple tools?

For many teams, yes. Wrike consolidates task management, project tracking, time tracking, and approval workflows that might otherwise require separate tools.

Is Wrike suitable for small teams?

Yes, though small teams may find Wrike's depth unnecessary. The free tier works for basics; evaluate whether you need enterprise features before paying.

How does Wrike handle security?

Enterprise-grade security including SSO, two-factor authentication, data encryption, audit logs, and compliance certifications (SOC 2, GDPR, etc.).

Final Verdict

Wrike occupies the professional tier of work management—sophisticated enough for enterprise requirements, flexible enough to serve diverse team types. The platform excels when basic tools have become limiting but full-blown enterprise platforms seem excessive.

Marketing teams, professional services firms, and operations-heavy organizations find particular value in Wrike's proofing, resource management, and automation capabilities. The learning investment pays off in reduced friction and better visibility across complex work.

For teams ready to graduate from consumer-grade tools to professional-grade work management, Wrike merits serious consideration.

Rating: 4.4/5