Wrike Review 2023: Best Project Management Software?

What are the Limitations of Wrike?

No project management software is perfect. Wrike does have a few limitations that are worth noting.

• The steep learning curve – Wrike can be an overwhelming platform to use for those who are not familiar with project management tools. It has a lot of features and functions that novice users may find difficult to navigate, which could lead to missteps or mistakes.
• Wrike is a bit pricey – While Wrike offers a wide variety of features, it’s on the pricier side compared to other (more basic) project management software solutions. However, it’s worth noting that Wrike’s powerful features more than make up for the higher cost.

Wrike Integrations

When it comes to powerful integrations, Wrike doesn’t mess around.

The powerful project management app offers tons of integrations for everything from collaboration and communication to marketing and sales.

Some of our favorite integrations include:

• Google Drive
• Google Sheets
• Jira
• Asana
• Slack
• Trello

Here’s a screenshot of the app directory to show just how many options are available with Wrike.

At SBB, we use Slack for the majority of our internal communications, so we were thrilled to learn that Wrike offers seamless integration with Slack.

This integration allowed us to centralize our communications and project management in one place, enabling us to reduce the time spent switching between apps.

The integration also facilitated real-time updates on task status, reminders for deadlines, and the ability to create new tasks directly from Slack.

In essence, it felt like having a mini-Wrike within our beloved Slack workspace.

The efficiency was palpable, and our team members certainly appreciated the convenience!

If you’re a project manager looking to streamline your SMB (and your professional services across the board), you can’t go wrong with Wrike.

How to Get Started with Wrike Project Management Tool

The onboarding process with Wrike was easy!

First, we navigated to the homepage, where we were greeted with an easy-to-see call to action (CTA) and a helpful 3-minute video.

We watched the video and then clicked, “try Wrike for free.”

We got started by entering our Small Business Bonfire email (shown below).

Next, we entered the following fields:

• Name
• Phone number
• Business name

From there, we filled out how many members we had, our field of business and then named our first project (pictured below).

Then we chose our preferred project view from a list of the following:

We went with the board view because we love a good drag-and-drop interface. It makes it much easier to move everything around in just a few seconds.

Last, but not least, we were invited to bring our team on board (which took only a few minutes from start to finish).

Overall, onboarding with Wrike was a cinch. It took us only minutes to get up and running, and we were ready to tackle our projects.

It’s easy to see why Wrike has become one of the most popular tools on the market for managing projects!

Is Wrike Easy to Use?

In the effort of full transparency, we’ve got to mention the rather steep learning curve of Wrike.

Wrike, despite its many impressive features, did present a challenge for us at first. 

Now, we at Small Business Bonfire are no strangers to the turbulent seas of technology, having tested a plethora of software tools. But even for us seasoned sailors, Wrike’s wave was a bit harder to ride.

Here’s a detailed account of our initial encounter with Wrike:

• Intricate navigation: Wrike’s interface, while visually appealing, was a labyrinth of sorts. The multitude of features and options were not immediately intuitive, and it felt like we were exploring a complex maze. The tool seemed to have its own language, and it took us some time to decipher it.
• Feature overload: The extensive range of features offered by Wrike, while impressive, contributed to the initial overwhelm. It was like walking into a vast supermarket, all aisles brimming with products and not knowing where to start. We had to invest time in learning about each feature and figuring out how to use it to our advantage.
• Customization challenges: Wrike’s high degree of customization is undoubtedly one of its strengths, but it also added to the complexity. With the power to tailor almost every aspect of the platform to our needs, we found ourselves a bit lost in the beginning, struggling to decide how best to set things up.

After overcoming the learning curve, we found ourselves in calmer waters.

Wrike became a powerful ally, streamlining our project management process and boosting productivity.

Here’s a rundown of our experience post the initial hiccups:

• Smooth navigation: Once we got the hang of it, navigating through Wrike’s interface was a breeze. The tool’s design, which had initially seemed like a complex maze, now made perfect sense, guiding us efficiently to the required features.
• Feature mastery: Having spent time understanding Wrike’s features, we were now able to fully leverage them. From tracking project progress to generating detailed reports, we were in control, using the tool’s capabilities to our advantage.
• Customization comfort: After the initial struggle, we got the hang of customizing Wrike to our needs. We could fine-tune the platform to mirror our processes, which made project management even more efficient.
• Seamless integrations: Once we mastered the art of integrating Wrike with other tools, we were able to create a synchronized ecosystem. This facilitated a smooth workflow, eliminating the need for juggling between multiple platforms.

In conclusion, it’s safe to say that while Wrike’s learning curve is steep, the rewards that lie beyond it are well worth the initial struggle.

Once you get past the learning curve, Wrike is a dream to use.

The meticulous design and advanced features of this tool, combined with its high degree of customization, make it a strong contender in the realm of project management software.

Wrike Customer Service Review

During our testing phase, we found ourselves reaching out to Wrike’s customer service more often than we initially anticipated.

The steep learning curve of the tool made sure we kept in contact with the Wrike service team quite often.

Here’s how the journey unfolded:

• Initiating contact: We first reached out during the setup process. We were stumped by a couple of features and needed a guiding hand. We quickly emailed Wrike’s support, and the response was prompt and helpful.
• Technical queries: As we dug deeper into the project management tool, there were moments when our team was unsure of how to best utilize certain functionalities. Each time we made a call, Wrike’s customer service proved to be well-trained, patient, and knowledgeable, guiding us through our queries with precision and understanding.
• Problem-solving: There were a few instances where we encountered minor technical glitches. Wrike’s customer service was vigilant and responsive in such situations, providing us with swift solutions.
• Proactive follow-ups: What impressed us the most was their proactive approach. Following each interaction, they would check back to ensure our issues were resolved and to answer any further questions.
• Resourceful knowledge base: Besides their active support, Wrike boasts a comprehensive knowledge base and a community forum. These resources were immensely helpful in navigating the learning curve, providing us with tips, tricks, and best practices.

From the initial setup to the intricacies of advanced features, Wrike’s customer service was always just a call or email away, ready to help.

We, therefore, find ourselves applauding the quality of their customer service, making it one of Wrike’s strongest assets.

Here’s an example of a question we quick question we had regarding Slack integration. We heard back within just a few minutes.

To our surprise, however, we were able to answer the question ourselves with their helpful knowledge base!