How to Get Started With ClickUp

ClickUp gives teams a single workspace to manage tasks, documents, goals, and collaboration so you can simplify work that might otherwise be spread across tools like Freedcamp, spreadsheets, and chat apps.

This step-by-step guide shows you how to set up your workspace, build task structures, and start managing projects efficiently from day one.

1. Understand Why ClickUp Replaces Multiple Tools

Before setting anything up, it helps to understand what you can centralize in ClickUp instead of juggling several separate apps.

• Project and task management
• Team communication and comments
• Docs and knowledge bases
• Goals, sprints, and agile workflows
• Reporting and workload views

The comparison in the original ClickUp vs Freedcamp article highlights how you can move beyond only task lists toward a full work management system.

2. Create Your ClickUp Workspace

To begin, set up the main workspace that will contain your teams, projects, and documents.

1. Sign up for an account using your email or SSO option.

2. Name your workspace after your company or team.

3. Invite core teammates who will manage projects with you.

4. Pick an initial theme and time zone so dates and times display correctly.

Your workspace is the highest level of organization in ClickUp and will hold Spaces, Folders, and Lists beneath it.

3. Plan Spaces in ClickUp for Teams or Functions

Spaces in ClickUp group work by department, function, or major initiative. Compared with simple project lists in tools like Freedcamp, Spaces support different workflows under one roof.

Common examples:

• Marketing
• Product & Engineering
• Operations
• Client Projects
• Internal IT or Support

To create a Space:

1. Open your workspace sidebar.

2. Click the option to add a new Space.

3. Give it a descriptive name (for example, “Client Delivery”).

4. Choose default features you want enabled, such as sprints, time tracking, or custom fields.

5. Assign members who should see this Space.

Using Spaces in ClickUp keeps unrelated work separated while still allowing cross-space reporting and collaboration.

4. Use Folders and Lists in ClickUp to Organize Work

After defining Spaces, add Folders and Lists to mirror your real projects and processes.

Set Up Folders in ClickUp

Folders group related Lists. For example, in a Client Projects Space you might use folders like:

• Active Clients
• Onboarding
• Internal Templates

To create a folder:

1. Open the relevant Space.

2. Select the option to add a Folder.

3. Name it based on a project phase, portfolio, or domain.

4. Set sharing and permissions if needed.

Create Task Lists in ClickUp

Lists contain your actual tasks and subtasks. Each List can represent a single project, a sprint, or a workflow stage.

To create a List:

1. Choose the Folder (or Space if you prefer List-only organization).

2. Add a new List and give it a clear, action-oriented name.

3. Pick a default view such as Board or List.

4. Decide which custom fields should appear on tasks in this List.

This layered structure is one reason teams move from simple tools such as Freedcamp to ClickUp, because it scales as work grows more complex.

5. Create and Manage Tasks in ClickUp

Tasks are the core building blocks of your projects. Each task can store all details, attachments, comments, and related work.

How to Add Tasks in ClickUp

1. Open the List where you want to add work items.

2. Click the button to create a new task.

3. Write a clear, outcome-focused task name.

4. Add a description outlining requirements or acceptance criteria.

5. Assign the task to the right teammate.

6. Set due dates and priorities.

7. Attach files or link related docs.

Use Subtasks and Checklists in ClickUp

Break large tasks into smaller, trackable pieces:

• Subtasks for work that may need its own assignee or due date.
• Checklists for simple to-do items that stay inside the parent task.

This structure makes execution clearer than a flat list of items in lighter tools.

6. Customize Views in ClickUp

One powerful benefit of ClickUp is the ability to switch between different views of the same data without duplicating tasks.

Popular ClickUp Views to Turn On

• List view for detailed, spreadsheet-like task management.
• Board view for Kanban workflows similar to other task tools.
• Calendar view to visualize work by due date.
• Gantt view for timelines and dependencies.
• Dashboard view for high-level reporting and widgets.

To add a view:

1. Open a Space, Folder, or List.

2. Click to add a new view.

3. Select the layout you want (Board, List, Calendar, etc.).

4. Save filters and sorting so your team sees the most relevant tasks first.

The article comparing ClickUp and Freedcamp emphasizes that flexible views make it easier for different roles to work together in one tool.

7. Collaborate With Your Team in ClickUp

Collaboration is more effective when conversations, files, and updates live with the work itself instead of being scattered across email threads.

Use Comments and Mentions in ClickUp

• Add comments directly on tasks to discuss requirements or share updates.

• Use @mentions to notify teammates or reference other tasks and docs.

• Resolve comments once issues are addressed to keep threads clean.

Share Docs and Knowledge in ClickUp

Docs let you build wikis, meeting notes, and project briefs within the same platform.

1. Create a new Doc for guidelines, SOPs, or project plans.

2. Use headings, tables, and checklists to structure content.

3. Link tasks inside Docs so people can jump straight into action.

4. Share Docs with teammates or clients as needed.

Because docs and tasks live together, you get more context than you would switching between a basic project tool and separate document apps.

8. Track Progress and Reporting in ClickUp

Once work is flowing, use built-in tracking features to understand progress, workloads, and bottlenecks.

• Status updates show exactly where each task stands.
• Time tracking lets you estimate and log effort.
• Dashboards visualize key metrics and workloads.
• Goals connect tasks to higher-level outcomes.

In teams that previously relied on simple lists such as Freedcamp boards, these reporting options provide a more complete picture of performance.

9. Optimize Your Setup and Get Help

As your usage grows, keep refining how you use ClickUp.

• Review Spaces and Lists every few months and archive what you no longer need.
• Standardize templates for recurring projects.
• Automate repetitive steps where possible.
• Document best practices in internal Docs.

If you need expert help implementing or optimizing your setup, you can work with a specialist consultancy such as Consultevo to design structures, automations, and workflows that match your business.

10. Next Steps With ClickUp

By now you have a clear path to get started: create your workspace, build Spaces, Folders, and Lists, set up tasks with views that fit your team, and centralize collaboration and documents.

For additional context on how the platform stacks up against other tools, review the full comparison at the original ClickUp vs Freedcamp guide, then continue iterating on your workspace as your processes evolve.

The more consistently your team uses ClickUp as the single source of truth, the easier it becomes to plan, execute, and ship work without bouncing between multiple disconnected apps.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

Get Help

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