Insightly vs Trello
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Insightly
Insightly is a CRM and project management platform designed for growing businesses. It uniquely combines sales pipeline management with post-sale project delivery so teams can manage the full customer lifecycle in one place. Insightly is popular with professional services firms and companies that need to track complex projects alongside their sales pipeline.
Trello
Trello is a visual project management tool based on the Kanban board methodology. It uses cards, lists, and boards to help teams organize tasks and workflows in a simple, visual way. Owned by Atlassian, Trello is one of the most widely used project management tools in the world, known for its simplicity and ease of use.
Pros
- ✓Unique combination of CRM and project management in one tool
- ✓Good free plan for up to 2 users
- ✓Strong workflow automation on paid plans
- ✓Good fit for professional services businesses
Cons
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern CRM tools
- ✗Customer support can be slow on lower tiers
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
Pros
- ✓Extremely easy to learn and use — teams are productive within minutes
- ✓Generous free plan with unlimited cards
- ✓Familiar Kanban interface that most people already understand
- ✓Large library of power-ups and integrations
Cons
- ✗Limited project management features beyond Kanban boards
- ✗Not suitable for complex projects with dependencies
- ✗Reporting and analytics are basic
- ✗Timeline and calendar views require paid plan
Insightly vs Trello: Side by Side
| Factor | Insightly | Trello |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | CRM Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Best For | Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform | Small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual Kanban-based task management |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Insightly Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓project management
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓email marketing
- ✓reporting
- ✓integrations
Trello Features
- ✓Kanban boards
- ✓cards and checklists
- ✓power-ups and integrations
- ✓automation
- ✓timeline view
- ✓calendar view
- ✓mobile app
- ✓templates
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Trello if small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual kanban-based task management.
Best For
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Best For
Small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual Kanban-based task management
Also Consider
If neither Insightly nor Trello is the right fit, Monday.com CRM is worth evaluating.
Monday.com CRM
Teams that want CRM and project management combined in one visual platform
From $12/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Insightly and Trello?
Insightly is best for growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Trello is best for small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual kanban-based task management.
Which is better, Insightly or Trello?
Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform. Choose Trello if small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual kanban-based task management.
How much does Insightly cost?
Insightly starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Trello cost?
Trello starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Insightly?
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Who should use Trello?
Small teams and individuals wanting simple, visual Kanban-based task management