Shortcut
📝 Docs & PlanningProject management for software teams. Simpler than Jira, more structured than Trello. The Goldilocks zone.
Our Take
Project management for software teams who think Jira is bloated and Trello is too simple. Shortcut (formerly Clubhouse) hits the sweet spot — stories, epics, iterations, and a clean interface that respects developers' time. It's opinionated about software workflows in the way that good tools should be.
What we like
- Clean, fast UI that doesn't make you click through five menus to update a ticket
- Stories, epics, and iterations map naturally to how software teams actually work
- Excellent API and integrations — GitHub, GitLab, Slack, and Figma links work smoothly
- Free tier supports up to 10 users with most features included
Where it falls short
- Less known than Jira or Linear — finding experienced users when hiring is harder
- Limited views compared to Jira — no advanced reporting, custom dashboards, or portfolio views
- Not designed for non-engineering teams — marketing or operations teams won't find what they need
Verdict
The best-kept secret in engineering project management. If your team is 5-50 developers and Jira feels like punishment, try Shortcut. It's not as trendy as Linear, but it's more feature-complete and the free tier is generous. Skip it if you need cross-team PM beyond engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shortcut free?
Shortcut offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans unlock additional functionality.
What are the best Shortcut alternatives?
Popular alternatives to Shortcut in the Docs & Planning category include Notion, Linear, Coda, Obsidian, Basecamp. Each has different strengths depending on your specific needs and budget.
How much does Shortcut cost?
Free for up to 10 users. Team at $8.50/user/month. Business at $12/user/month with advanced features. Enterprise on request.
Is Shortcut worth it in 2026?
The best-kept secret in engineering project management. If your team is 5-50 developers and Jira feels like punishment, try Shortcut. It's not as trendy as Linear, but it's more feature-complete and the free tier is generous. Skip it if you need cross-team PM beyond engineering.
The Docs & Planning Landscape
There are 37 tools in the Docs & Planning category on Fewer Tools. Our top pick is Notion. The right choice depends on your stage, budget, and specific needs.
The everything workspace. Docs, wikis, databases, projects. Your second brain's second brain.
Issue tracking that doesn't suck. Keyboard-first, blazing fast, beautiful. Jira is shaking.
Docs that work like apps. Tables, automations, buttons. Notion on steroids for power users.
Local-first markdown notes with a graph view. Your brain, mapped. Plugin ecosystem is bonkers.
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