The Problem
Why teams leave ClickUp
Performance issues — slow loading, laggy interfaces
Feature bloat creates steep learning curve
Frequent UI changes disrupt established workflows
AI features cost extra ($5/user/month)
Reliability issues with uptime and data sync
What We Build Instead
Your custom project management tool
Focused project management with only the features you need
Fast, responsive interface without bloat
Docs, tasks, and goals in one stable platform
Custom views without performance degradation
AI features built-in, not bolt-on
The Math
ClickUp vs. custom build
Based on 50 seats at $12/seat/month, with ~10% annual SaaS price increases.
Keep paying ClickUp
Build with 86 SaaS
3-year savings with 50 seats
-$14,665
-62% less than ClickUp
Pricing Breakdown
ClickUp tier pricing vs. one-time custom build
Compare what you pay per seat across ClickUp's tiers against a single investment in software you own forever.
| Tier | Monthly/Seat | Annual/Seat | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | Unlimited tasks, Unlimited members, 100MB storage, Docs & whiteboards |
| Unlimited | $7/mo | $7/mo | Unlimited storage, Unlimited views, Unlimited automations, Dashboards |
| Business | $12/mo | $12/mo | Timelines & workload, Custom exporting, Advanced automations, Goal folders |
| Enterprise | $20/mo | $20/mo | Advanced permissions, Universal search, Custom roles, Live onboarding |
| Custom Build by 86 SaaS | $18,000–$35,000 one-time | $0/seat | Unlimited users, full ownership, no recurring fees |
Migration Timeline
From ClickUp to ownership — week by week
A structured migration plan to move off ClickUp in 5-8 weeks with zero downtime.
Discovery & Audit
1 weekAudit ClickUp spaces, folders, lists, views, and automation workflows. Identify active feature usage vs. bloat.
Architecture & Design
1 weekDesign focused PM tool with selected features, optimized for performance. Strip unnecessary complexity.
Core Development
2-4 weeksBuild task management, docs, goals, custom views, and AI features. Optimize for speed and stability.
Data Migration & Testing
1-2 weeksMigrate spaces, tasks, docs, and automations from ClickUp. Verify data integrity and view configurations.
Deployment & Training
1 weekDeploy platform, train teams on streamlined workflows, monitor performance.
Total build time
5-8 weeks
Feature Comparison
What you keep, what you skip, and why
A transparent comparison of ClickUp features vs. your custom-built alternative.
| Feature | ClickUp | Custom Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task Management | |||
| Multiple Views (Board, List, Gantt) | |||
| Docs & Wikis | |||
| Goals & OKRs | |||
| Whiteboards | |||
| Time Tracking | |||
| Automations | |||
| Fast, Stable Performance | Built for speed — no performance degradation at scale | ||
| AI Features | Built-in, not a $5/user/month add-on | ||
| Sprints & Agile | |||
| Everything View | Intentionally omitted — cross-space views create performance issues | ||
| Data Ownership | Your infrastructure, stable and predictable |
Your custom build focuses on the features your team actually uses — typically 15-20% of what ClickUp offers — built exactly for your workflow.
How It Works
From ClickUp to ownership in 5-8 weeks
Free Audit
We analyze your ClickUp usage and identify exactly which features your team actually uses.
Scope & Build
We build your custom project management tool with only the features you need. 5-8 weeks.
Deploy & Migrate
We deploy to your infrastructure, migrate your data from ClickUp, and train your team.
You Own It
Full source code, documentation, and optional maintenance retainer. No vendor lock-in. Ever.